Starter Dominion brings a stripped-back 4v4 to For Honor

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For Honor is adding a new way to learn – and relearn – its most played mode. Starter Dominion, a beginner-friendly variant of Dominion, will rotate into the multiplayer playlist for limited-time tests. The first run arrives December 4-18, followed by a second window from January 29 to February 12. The setup pares back systems that typically reward progression, keeping the focus on raw dueling and team coordination. It’s aimed at new and returning players who want to jump in without facing gear-driven disadvantages.

What Starter Dominion is, at its core

Starter Dominion follows the same ruleset as Dominion: two teams of four battle over three control zones. Holding zones steadily builds points for your team; reaching 1000 points triggers the enemy’s breaking state, removing their ability to respawn. Eliminate the opposing team while they’re breaking to close out the match.

You can still matchmake with friends, and any empty spots are automatically filled by the game’s level 3 bots to keep matches full.

How it differs from standard Dominion

To level the playing field, Starter Dominion disables progression-driven and snowball mechanics. With these systems off, skill and fundamentals decide most encounters:

• Gear Perks – passive bonuses from acquired gear are turned off.
• Feats – passive and active abilities that buff allies or debuff enemies are disabled.
• Stamina – the resource that normally limits attack output is not used.
• Revenge – the anti-gank meter and its instant shield/stamina activation are disabled.

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These features are customizable in regular Dominion and can swing fights for veteran builds. Without them, Starter Dominion simplifies the mode, removing unlock-based advantages to let players focus on timing, positioning, and team play.

When you can play

Starter Dominion will be available in two time-limited tests. The schedule is below for quick reference.

Starter Dominion – Test Windows

Why it matters

Back-to-basics combat gives newcomers a fair entry point and offers veterans a clean sandbox to sharpen fundamentals. If you’ve been hesitant to queue for Dominion due to gear gaps or layered mechanics, these tests provide a focused alternative – learn the objectives, practice team fights, and compete on even footing.