In Arena of Valor you are placed in a team with four other players and then face another team of five players. You choose who you want to play as from a wide range of characters each of which will have a passive, two normal skills, and an ultimate ability. The battlefield you play on is a jungle map that has three lanes and multiple layers of towers that culminate in an enemy base that has a crystal you need to destroy while at the same time protecting your base which houses your crystal. To be successful in these objectives entails coordination and teamwork.
During gameplay you will be fighting your opposing team's heroes and pushing lanes by killing enemy minions and destroying enemy towers. As you do this you will be able to earn gold and recieve player specific-buffs for your character by killing the NPCs.