Arke is an alluring and potent Assassin in Honor of Kings, specializing in stealth, flanking, and critical backstabs—much like the Prince of Lanling. Mastering Arke requires knowing her strengths and how to maximize her burst damage. This guide details the optimal build, Arcana, battle spell, and strategy to dominate the Gorge with Arke.
Arke’s Core Abilities (Know Thyself)
Understanding Arke’s kit is crucial for executing successful ambushes.
| Skill Name | Type | Key Effect | Strategy Focus |
| Passive: Kiss of Death | Critical | Attacks from behind (6 o’clock) are guaranteed critical strikes. Crit Damage starts at 125% and scales with Crit Rate. Increased damage (up to 2000) against non-hero enemies. | Always attack from behind! Essential for farming and ganking. |
| Skill 1: Arclight | Physical | A quick, dual-blade attack that hits twice, dealing high physical damage. | Primary damage and wave/monster clearing tool. |
| Skill 2: Untouchable | Physical/Utility | Deals damage, applies a 10-second Mark. Marked enemies are slowed, deal 30% less damage, and reduce Untouchable’s cooldown when hit. Grants a 40% Attack Speed buff for 3 seconds. | Use as an opener to apply the Mark, reduce enemy damage, and increase your farming speed. |
| Ultimate: Phantom Dance | Stealth/Heal | Enters Stealth (invisibility), granting 40% increased Movement Speed and health regeneration for 4 seconds. Stealth breaks upon attacking. Initial attack after stealth is buffed (120-160 bonus damage for 3s), granting a 30% Movement Speed boost for 1s. | The main initiation and escape tool. Use it to reposition, ambush, or recover. |
🌟 Optimal Arcana & Battle Spell
To maximize Arke’s unique passive, we prioritize Critical Rate, Critical Damage, and Physical Attack.
Arcana Setup (Jungle Focus)
- 10x Unparalleled: Increases Crit Rate and Crit Damage. Crucial for scaling your passive.
- 10x Eagle Eye: Increases Physical Attack and Physical Penetration. Standard damage boost.
- 5x Hunt: Increases Attack Speed and Movement Speed. Helps clear speed and general mobility.
- 5x Stealth: Increases Physical Attack and Movement Speed. More burst damage and mobility.
Battle Spell
- Smite: The mandatory spell for Junglers. It enables faster camp clearing and is essential for securing main objectives like Tyrant or Overlord.
🛡️ Best Item Build (The Backstabber’s Arsenal)
This build is designed for maximum critical burst damage and utility.
| Slot | Item Name | Primary Benefits for Arke | Rationale |
| 1 | Rapacious Bite | Physical Attack, Cooldown Reduction (CDR) | Essential Jungler item, provides burst damage and CDR for more Phantom Dance uptime. |
| 2 | Boots of Resistance | Movement Speed, Crowd Control Resist | High mobility is vital for flanking; CC resist is crucial for assassins who must commit to fights. (Alternative: Boots of Tranquillity for max CDR). |
| 3 | Eternity Blade | Physical Attack, Crit Rate | Synergizes perfectly with Kiss of Death, pushing the critical strike damage potential higher. |
| 4 | Axe of Torment | Physical Attack, CDR, Health | Provides good offensive stats and a much-needed health buffer for survivability. |
| 5 | Master Sword | Physical Attack, Crit Rate, Health, Enhanced Attack after Ult | The enhanced attack is gold after exiting Phantom Dance, massively spiking your burst damage. |
| 6 | Sage’s Sanctuary | Physical & Magic Defense | A strong defensive item to protect you against both damage types late game. (Alternative: Cuirass of Savagery for a more aggressive defense with Physical Defense/Health/Attack). |
🗺️ Strategy Guide: Playing Arke
Arke excels at disruption, ganking, and picking off squishy targets.
Early Game (Lvl 1-4)
- Focus on Farming: Efficiently clear the jungle, alternating between red and blue buffs. Utilize the back-attack mechanic on monsters to clear camps rapidly.
- Gank Opportunistically: Look for overextended lanes. Use Phantom Dance to enter stealth, move behind the enemy, and initiate the ambush with Untouchable (2nd Skill) into an auto-attack/Skill 1 combo for the critical backstab.
- Secure Vision: Maintain control over the jungle entrances.
Mid Game (Lvl 5-11)
- Flank and Disrupt: This is where Arke shines. Always approach targets from the side or behind. Your objective is to assert control over the main objectives (Tyrant/Overlord).
- Target Selection: Prioritize the enemy Marksman and Mage. Use your ultimate to bypass the frontline and instantly eliminate high-value squishy targets.
- Coordinate: Use the slow and damage reduction from Untouchable to set up kills for your teammates.
Late Game (Lvl 12+)
- The Ambush Master: Position yourself near crucial choke points or around key objectives. Avoid full, prolonged frontal assaults.
- Hit and Run: Use Phantom Dance to enter a fight, burst down one enemy (always from behind!), and then use the subsequent movement speed buff or a fresh ultimate to reposition or escape.
- Game-Winning Pick-Offs: A perfectly timed ambush on a key enemy can turn the tide of the entire battle and secure a victorious push.