Honor of Kings Input Delay Fix: Best Settings for 120Hz, Ping and Skill Response

Input Delay Has Three Causes — Here's Which One You Have

When your skill doesn't fire the moment you tap the button, the cause could be:

Delay Type	Root Cause	Fix Category
Display lag	Frame rate too low or screen refresh mismatch	Graphics / frame rate settings
Network lag	Ping spikes, packet loss, or wrong server	Network / server settings
Touch lag	Low touch sampling rate, system throttling, wrong control mode	Device / control settings

Most players blame "the server" when the real problem is display or touch lag. This guide separates the three causes and gives specific settings for each.

Part 1: Display Lag — Frame Rate and Refresh Rate Settings

The 120 FPS Difference

At 60 FPS, each frame takes 16.67ms to render. At 120 FPS, that drops to 8.33ms — half the time between your tap and what you see on screen. It's not just about smooth visuals — it's about how fast you see your tap register.

From HoK's settings menu and device compatibility data:

FPS Setting	Input Display Delay	Minimum Device Requirement
30 FPS (Energy Saving)	33.3ms	Any device
60 FPS (High)	16.67ms	Snapdragon 660+, 2GB RAM
90 FPS (Ultra High)	11.1ms	Snapdragon 778G+, 6GB RAM, 90Hz screen
120 FPS (Extreme)	8.33ms	Snapdragon 855+, 6GB RAM, 120Hz screen
144 FPS (Ultimate)	6.9ms	Snapdragon 8 Gen 2+, 120Hz+ screen

How to Enable 120 FPS

Step 1: Game Settings

Open Settings → Graphics

Set Frame Rate to "Extreme" (120 FPS) — if "Ultimate" (144) is available and your device supports it, choose that

Set Resolution to "High" (not Ultra/Extreme — higher resolution adds GPU load that can cause frame drops during team fights)

Enable Anti-Aliasing (minimal FPS cost, sharpens edges for better target identification)

Disable UI Animations (saves ~3–5 FPS with no gameplay cost)

Step 2: System Settings (Critical) Many players enable 120 FPS in-game but never lock their phone's screen refresh rate to match:

Go to phone Settings → Display → Screen Refresh Rate

Set to 120Hz (or 144Hz if available) — do NOT use "Auto/Smart Switch"

Auto-switch modes drop to 60Hz during menu navigation and may not ramp up fast enough when combat starts

Step 3: Disable Frame Rate Throttles

Turn OFF Power Saving / Battery Saver mode — this caps GPU at 60 FPS

Close all background apps before launching HoK — social media apps (WhatsApp, TikTok, Discord) steal RAM and GPU cycles

If your phone has a Game Mode / Performance Mode, enable it — this prevents the OS from throttling the CPU during sustained load

Graphics Quality Balance for Stable 120 FPS

120 FPS is only useful if it is stable. Frame drops from 120 to 60 during a team fight feel worse than a consistent 60 FPS because the sudden slowdown disrupts your input rhythm.

Setting	Recommended Value	FPS Impact	Why
Frame Rate	Extreme (120)	Baseline	This is the setting you are optimizing around
Resolution	High	Moderate	Ultra resolution can cause 20+ FPS drops in 5v5 fights
Overall Quality	Standard	Significant	"Ultra" overall adds shadows, particles, and post-processing that tank FPS
Shadow Quality	Low/Medium	High	Shadows are the single biggest FPS killer in team fights
Particle Quality	Medium/Low	Moderate	Skill effects generate massive particle loads in clashes
Anti-Aliasing	ON	Low (~2–3 FPS)	Improves edge clarity for target identification
UI Animations	OFF	Low (~3–5 FPS)	Pure visual clutter, no gameplay benefit
Camera Height	Highest	None	Wider FOV = better map awareness, zero FPS cost

Part 2: Network Lag — Ping and Server Optimization

Ping Targets by Role

Role	Target Ping	Max Acceptable	Impact Above Max
Jungle (skill-shot reliant)	<30ms	60ms	Ganks fail, skill shots miss
Mid (combo-based)	<40ms	80ms	Combo windows close before input registers
Clash/Marksman	<50ms	100ms	Positioning delays, missed auto-attacks
Support	<60ms	120ms	Delayed heals/shields still partially effective

In-Game Network Settings

Open Settings → Network Optimization: ON

This enables HTTPDNS, which bypasses your ISP's default DNS routing and connects you to HoK servers through optimized paths

Select the nearest server region — MENA, SEA, NA, LATAM, or EU depending on your location

Close in-game voice chat if your ping is above 60ms — voice packets compete with game data packets on the same connection

DNS Optimization

Changing your DNS can reduce routing hops between you and the game server:

Go to phone Settings → Network → Private DNS (or Wi-Fi settings → Advanced)

Set DNS to 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare) — globally optimized for game server routing across all HoK regions

Or use 8.8.8.8 (Google DNS) as a general alternative

After changing DNS, toggle Airplane Mode ON for 10 seconds, then OFF — this forces a fresh DNS resolution

Wi-Fi vs Mobile Data Decision

Condition	Use Wi-Fi	Use Mobile Data
5GHz Wi-Fi, router in same room, <3 other devices	★★★★★	★★★☆☆
2.4GHz Wi-Fi, router behind walls	★★☆☆☆	★★★★☆
Crowded area (dorms, malls, events) on 5G	★★☆☆☆	★★★★★ (switch to 4G LTE if 5G is congested)
ISP mismatch (cross-ISP routing adds latency)	★★☆☆☆	★★★★☆ or use gaming VPN/accelerator

The 460 Emergency Protocol

When ping suddenly jumps to 460ms (the red warning indicator in HoK):

Send "I'm lagging" ping right away — teammates need to know you can't fight

Toggle Airplane Mode for 10 seconds — forces a new network connection

If still 460 after reconnecting, switch from Wi-Fi to mobile data (or vice versa)

Do NOT keep fighting at 460 — retreat to base or jungle, avoid all engagements until ping stabilizes

Part 3: Touch Lag — Control Settings and Device Tuning

The Control Configuration That Minimizes Delay

Most players use default control settings that add unnecessary input delays. The configuration below strips out every possible delay between your tap and the game's response:

Settings → Controls:

Setting	Optimal Value	Why
Free Attack Mode	Advanced	Allows manual target selection instead of auto-targeting (auto adds a decision delay)
Target Prioritization	Nearest Unit (or Lowest HP for assassins)	Removes the auto-search delay for finding targets
Enemy Avatar Display	OFF	Visual clutter that adds rendering time per frame
Auto Basic Attack	ON	Keeps auto-attacks flowing during micro-delays
Auto Chase Distance	Close Range	Prevents the hero from chasing targets far away (which creates visible "stuck" moments)
Skill Use Method	Fixed Position	Skill wheel stays in one place — no repositioning delay
Camera Follow Skills	Fixed Camera	Camera does not auto-move when casting — eliminates camera animation delay
Cast Without Target	Cancel Cast	If you tap a skill with no target, it cancels instead of entering "waiting for target" mode
Skill Cancel Protection	0 seconds	No buffer between cancel input and cancel execution
Directional Indicator	Precision	Shows exact skill trajectory — reduces misfires from imprecise aiming
Camera Sensitivity	Fast	Faster camera panning = faster map scanning = faster decision-making

Touch Sampling Rate Check

Your phone's touch sampling rate determines how quickly it registers your finger position. A phone with a 120Hz display but only a 60Hz touch sampling rate will still feel delayed because the screen refreshes twice per input sample.

Touch Sampling Rate	Input Registration Delay	Common Devices
60Hz	~16.7ms	Budget phones, older iPhones
120Hz	~8.3ms	Most mid-range gaming phones
240Hz	~4.2ms	Flagship gaming phones (ROG, Black Shark, RedMagic)
360Hz	~2.8ms	Top-tier 2026 gaming phones

How to check your device's touch sampling rate: Enable Developer Options (tap Build Number 7 times in phone Settings → About), then enable "Pointer Location" and "Show Touch Operations." In a training match, rapidly tap and observe whether the pointer dot appears instantly or trails behind your finger. Visible trailing indicates low sampling rate.

Device-Specific Touch Enhancements

Brand	Feature	How to Enable	Reported Improvement
Xiaomi / Redmi	HyperCore Touch Enhancement	Game Toolbox sidebar → Touch Enhancement	~15-20% response improvement
Samsung	Touch Sensitivity Boost	Settings → Display → Touch Sensitivity	Improves wet/hot hand performance
Huawei / Honor	Touch Enhancement	Game Assistant → Touch Enhancement ON	~15-20% response improvement
iPhone	No user-adjustable option	Native 120Hz+ touch on iPhone 13+ models	Already optimized at hardware level

Part 4: Background and Storage Optimization

These aren't "settings" but they directly affect input delay by preventing system-level throttling:

Storage Space Requirements

Free Storage	Performance Impact
<2GB	Frequent micro-stutters, delayed asset loading, possible disconnects
2–4GB	Occasional frame drops during heavy team fights
4–6GB	Target — stable 120 FPS with minimal frame variance
>6GB	Optimal, but no additional benefit beyond 6GB

If your storage is below 4GB, clear game cache (Settings → Storage → Clear Cache) and delete unused apps/photos before ranked sessions.

Background App Kill List

These apps specifically steal resources that HoK needs for responsive input:

App	RAM Impact	Network Impact	GPU Impact
WhatsApp	Moderate	Constant (message sync)	None
TikTok / YouTube	High	Constant (video buffering)	Moderate (video decode)
Discord	Moderate	Constant (voice/data)	None
Cloud Sync (Google Drive, iCloud)	Low	Periodic spikes	None
Social media (Instagram, Facebook)	Moderate	Constant	Low

Rule: Before any ranked session, close ALL apps except HoK. On Android, use the "Clear All" button in the recent apps view. On iOS, swipe up on all apps in the app switcher.

Thermal Management

Phone overheating causes the CPU/GPU to throttle — which drops both frame rate AND touch processing speed:

Remove your phone case before long ranked sessions

Use a clip-on cooling fan if playing for more than 30 minutes continuously

Never charge while playing ranked — charging generates heat that compounds with gaming heat

Restart your phone before a ranked session if you have been using it heavily for the past hour

Quick Reference: Complete Optimal Settings Checklist

Category	Setting	Value
Graphics	Frame Rate	Extreme (120)
	Resolution	High
	Overall Quality	Standard
	Shadows	Low/Medium
	Particles	Medium/Low
	Anti-Aliasing	ON
	UI Animations	OFF
	Camera Height	Highest
Network	Network Optimization	ON
	Server Region	Nearest
	Voice Chat	OFF (if ping >60ms)
	DNS	1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare) or 8.8.8.8 (Google)
Controls	Free Attack Mode	Advanced
	Target Priority	Nearest Unit
	Skill Position	Fixed
	Camera Follow	Fixed
	Cast Without Target	Cancel Cast
	Cancel Protection	0s
	Directional Indicator	Precision
	Camera Sensitivity	Fast
Device	Screen Refresh Rate	120Hz locked
	Power Mode	Performance/Game Mode
	Background Apps	All closed
	Storage Free	4–6GB minimum
	Phone Case	Removed