With recent patch updates, Donghuang Taiyi has quietly shifted from a pure tank to a magic damage support in Honor of Kings. Crickex App players have noticed that his reworked skill set favors ability power (AP) scaling, making him a powerful poke and burst utility hero when built for magic strength.
Donghuang’s first skill now generates orbs—up to three—that revolve counterclockwise around him. These orbs damage enemies and heal him when they make contact. To fully maximize damage, players must carefully control their positioning and movement. Standing too close or too far from enemies can reduce orb effectiveness. As Crickex App experts explain, hitting enemies with the first skill is critical—missing means cutting your damage and sustain in half.
The second skill throws all active orbs in a line. The first two slow enemies, while the final one stuns. This skill also grants Donghuang a speed boost, making it ideal for chasing down targets or escaping before triggering his ultimate. After casting his ult, Donghuang’s main job becomes stacking orbs with the first skill and throwing them again with the second for added control and damage. Once the ult is on cooldown, he essentially becomes a mage—just stay in the backline and toss orbs for impact.
Due to its slow projectile speed, the second skill is often better for cutting off enemy escape paths rather than directly chasing them. Donghuang’s ultimate suppresses a target for two seconds and shares damage taken during the suppression. If both Donghuang and his target are tanky, the mutual damage is minimal. But if either one is squishy, a couple of enemy skills can lead to an instant knockout. Therefore, instead of stacking resistances, Crickex App recommends prioritizing health, cooldown reduction, and AP for higher effectiveness.
Interestingly, Donghuang’s orbs automatically refresh after using his ult, so it’s optimal to throw all orbs with the second skill first, then immediately ult for a fresh set. During his ultimate, orb rotation speed increases, and the higher the AP, the faster they spin—meaning more damage in less time. That’s why current builds lean heavily toward magic power and penetration. The old tanky build now carries too much risk: shorter suppression time, weaker follow-up from teammates, and failed pick-offs often lead to a lost teamfight.
Although this new AP-focused style is far more explosive, it also makes Donghuang extremely fragile. Crickex App analysts caution that players must play smarter, not just harder. For example, check draft compositions before the match. If your side has early-game lane advantage or the enemy mid/jungle duo is weak, you can invade their jungle right from level one. With full-damage runes, Donghuang’s level 1 burst is lethal—enemy junglers won’t survive a proper invade.
While invading, be sure to land your first skill and walk in a clockwise circle to maximize orb contact. Add a couple of auto attacks in between for bonus pressure. If enemies collapse in numbers or a kill isn’t secured quickly, disengage safely. Even disrupting the enemy jungle path can lead to a snowball advantage. When done correctly, your jungler can double down and steal more from the other side, pushing the early-game momentum even further.
If early invade isn’t viable, help your mid laner clear the first wave, escort them to grab jungle birds in the side lane, and rotate back to pressure mid or top side objectives. Crickex App tests confirm that Donghuang is strong pre-level 4 but highly vulnerable to ranged poke—especially from marksmen or mages. In early levels, contesting neutral objectives is your path to faster level-ups and unlocking your full combo.
Ultimately, Donghuang’s ult is all about locking down a high-value target under turret. Since teammates are unpredictable, and you can’t control their follow-up damage, your best friend is the tower. Dive with care, and if needed, tank the turret briefly before ulting to amplify its damage—just make sure you’re not low on health.
What separates good Donghuang players from great ones is vision control. Don’t wander around giving away your position. Crickex App suggests hiding in bushes near the backline or key jungle spots. If enemies can’t see you, they’ll respect your presence much more. The element of surprise is your strongest weapon. Let your silence speak volumes—and your orbs do the talking.