Liu Bei is a powerful Jungler/Assassin in Honor of Kings who plays more like a “shotgun warrior.” He thrives in close-quarters combat, using his mobility to get in the enemy’s face and his ultimate to shrug off crowd control. He is a nightmare for squishy marksmen but requires precise positioning to ensure all his shotgun pellets land.
Skill Breakdown
Passive: Reinforced Shells
- The Mechanic: Each basic attack fires 4 pellets. The 2 central pellets deal the most damage and are the only ones that can Critical Strike.
- Combat Instinct: Every pellet hit grants stacks of physical penetration (up to 12 stacks).
- Tip: Distance is your enemy. To maximize damage and penetration stacks, you must stand as close to the enemy as possible so all 4 pellets hit the same target.
Skill 1: Dual Shot
- Mobility & Burst: Liu Bei gains a 40% movement speed burst, and his next attack fires twice in rapid succession.
- Tip: Activate this before you enter a fight. The speed helps you close the gap, and the “double shot” burst can delete half an enemy’s health bar instantly.
Skill 2: Leading the Charge
- The Dash: A forward charge that knocks back enemies. If you hit a hero, the cooldown is reduced by 2 seconds.
- Tip: This is your only hard crowd control. Use it to cancel enemy channels or to pin a target against a wall so you can blast them with your Skill 1.
Ultimate: Hearts and Minds
- The God Mode: Instantly removes all CC and grants 3 seconds of CC immunity. He also gains a massive shield and bonus Physical Attack.
- Shield Vamp: While the shield is active, a percentage of the damage Liu Bei deals is converted back into shield strength.
- Tip: Do not use this too early. Wait for the enemy to use their stuns on you, then pop the Ult to cleanse the effect and turn the fight around.
Core Combos
| Combo Name | Sequence | Purpose |
| The Ambush | $S1 (Pre-cast) \rightarrow S2 \rightarrow$ Auto $\rightarrow$ $S1$ | Classic gank. Dash in, knock them back, and fire two sets of double-shots. |
| The Unstoppable | $S1 \rightarrow Ult \rightarrow S2 \rightarrow$ Auto | Forcing a dive through heavy enemy crowd control. |
| The Shield Build | $Ult \rightarrow S1 \rightarrow$ Point-blank Autos | Maximizing the damage output to keep the shield at its 150% maximum value. |
Counter Matchups
| Counter Hero | Why they win |
| Kaizer | Kaizer’s ultimate grants him damage block per hit. Since Liu Bei’s damage is split into 4 pellets, Kaizer’s passive armor blocks a huge portion of Liu Bei’s total damage. |
| Dian Wei | Dian Wei thrives in sustained “slugfests.” His true damage and high attack speed allow him to shred Liu Bei’s shield faster than Liu Bei can regenerate it. |
How to Counter Liu Bei:
- Keep Your Distance: Liu Bei’s damage drops off significantly at mid-to-long range because his pellets spread out. Kiting him is the best strategy.
- Wait Out the Ult: His CC immunity only lasts 3 seconds. If you can survive that window using movement abilities or Zhuge’s hourglass, he becomes vulnerable to stuns again.
- Vision: Liu Bei relies on ambushing from bushes to get close. Proper warding and vision control prevent him from getting into shotgun range.