Honor Of Kings Gao Build: Items, Counters, And Arcana

Explore the ultimate Honor of Kings Gao guide, covering his abilities, best items, arcana, playstyle, and counters.

Gao is a mage hero in Honor of Kings who excels in dealing burst damage and controlling teamfights. Currently sitting in the B-tier, Gao is primarily played in the mid-lane.

While not considered top-tier, he can be effective when played skillfully. Gao’s strengths lie in his ability to poke enemies and unleash devastating damage during teamfights, particularly against squishy compositions.

Gao Abilities in HoK

Ability	Description
Passive – Guitar Solo	For every 3 Basic Attacks or skills Gao uses, his Basic Attack is enhanced, dealing damage on hit.
Skill 1 – Wild Chord	Launches musical notes that bounce between enemies, dealing damage.
Skill 2 – String Bender	Damages and slows enemies within range. Hits on heroes restore Health, and he gains damage reduction during the dash.
Skill 3 – Rock Out	Gains Movement Speed and damage reduction while dealing continuous damage to enemies within range.

Fun Fact: Jinnar is the AoV Counterpart of Gao.

Best Gao Build in HoK

Best Items for Gao:

Insatiable Tome	Boots of Resistance	Savant’s Wrath	Void Staff	Tome of Wisdom	Splendor

Best Arcana for Gao:

Nightmare	Hunt	Mind’s Eye

How to Play Gao in HoK

• Early Game: Gao’s early game is relatively weak until he reaches level 4. Focus on farming and staying safe in the lane. Use Skill 1 (Wild Chord) to clear minion waves and poke enemies from a safe distance. Avoid aggressive plays and prioritize reaching level 4 as quickly as possible.
• Mid Game: Once Gao learns Skill 3 (Rock Out) at level 4, his combat ability significantly improves. Start roaming to support allies and look for kill opportunities. Use Skill 1 and enhanced basic attacks to poke down enemy HP before engaging in teamfights. When entering a fight, wait for the enemy to use their control skills before cutting in with Skill 3.
• Late Game: In late-game teamfights, Gao’s role is to burst down squishy targets. Position yourself carefully and wait for the right moment to engage. Use Flicker to quickly close the gap and unleash your ultimate on enemy carries, ignoring the front line. Coordinate with your team to create all-in-dive compositions for maximum effectiveness.

Tips:

• Activate an enhanced basic attack before using Skill 3.
• Ideally, have only 1 stack of the passive before using Skill 3 to maximize damage output.
• Pair Gao with heroes like Dolia for complementary ultimate.

Gao Counters in HoK

Hero Counters: Gao struggles against long-ranged heroes and high HP targets that can withstand his burst damage. To counter Gao:

• Pick heroes with high mobility to avoid his skill shots.
• Choose tanky heroes that can survive his initial burst.

Note: We are researching more direct counters for Gao and will update this page soon.

Summary Table

	Details
Role	Mage
Lane	Mid
Strengths	Burst damage, teamfight control
Weaknesses	Weak early game, reliant on ultimate
Core Items	Insatiable Tome, Savant’s Wrath, Void Staff
Best Arcana	Hunt, Mind’s Eye, Nightmare
Counters	Long-range heroes, high HP targets
Similar Hero	Jinnar (Arena of Valor)

In conclusion, Gao is a burst mage who excels in teamfights and against squishy compositions. While he may not be top-tier, mastering his playstyle can lead to impactful performances.