King of the Hill

The goal

One zone, one clock, both teams. King of the Hill banks seconds instead of kills, which changes what a fight is for: winning on the hill matters, and winning somewhere else does not count at all. The hill starts in the centre and moves every minute or so.

How to win

The clock banks seconds, not kills, and that changes what a fight is worth. A kill inside the zone is worth having; the same kill on the far side of the arena is worth nothing, which makes chasing the single most expensive habit in the mode. Contested means neither side banks, so one ship parked on the hill denying it is doing more work than two winning a duel outside it. The hill relocates through the match, so the team that took it early has to take it again. It is drawn on the minimap at its true size, so there is no excuse for sitting on the edge of it and wondering why the counter isn't moving.

How many to bring

King of the Hill supports 4 to 8. Because contested time counts for nobody, a bigger lobby doesn't simply mean more scoring. It means longer stretches where the zone is locked and neither side banks a thing. Four players is a scrappy back-and-forth. Eight is a siege with a clock on it.

Know before you drop in

• Time in the zone is the score. Kills only clear the way.
• Contested means neither side banks; you have to clear it.
• The hill moves during the match; the minimap shows it at its true size.