MLBB (Mobile Legends: Bang Bang) is a popular multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game that has captivated millions of players worldwide. Known for its fast-paced gameplay, strategic team battles, and diverse hero selection, MLBB has become a staple in the mobile gaming community.
This Mobile Legends guide will walk you through everything you need to know about the game. From understanding the mechanics to discovering the best heroes to choose for your playstyle, this article will cover it all. With helpful tips, hero recommendations, and strategic insights, you’ll soon be well-equipped to conquer the battlefield in MLBB.
What is MLBB?
MLBB, or Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, is a free-to-play multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game developed by Moonton. It is designed specifically for mobile devices and has gained massive popularity worldwide. In the MLBB game, players form teams of five and compete against each other in 5v5 matches, where they must work together to destroy the enemy’s base while defending their own.
The game features a large roster of heroes, each with unique abilities and roles, such as assassins, mages, tanks, and marksmen. Players choose their heroes, level up during matches, and collaborate with teammates to outsmart and outmaneuver their opponents. The game focuses on strategy, teamwork, and quick decision-making.
MLBB has become one of the most prominent mobile esports titles, hosting numerous tournaments and leagues globally. Its accessibility, fast gameplay, and strategic depth make it a favorite among competitive gamers.
Gameplay tips
These are some essential gameplay tips to help you excel in MLBB:
1. Know your hero’s role
Each hero in MLBB has a specific role, such as tank, marksman, mage, assassin, or support. Understanding your hero’s role is crucial for effective gameplay. For example, tanks should initiate fights and absorb damage, while marksmen focus on dealing damage from a distance. Playing your hero correctly ensures you contribute maximally to your team’s success.
2. Map awareness
Always keep an eye on the minimap. This helps you spot potential threats, teammates in need of assistance, or opportunities to attack. Good map awareness can also help you avoid ganks and secure objectives like turrets, Lord, or Turtle.
3. Communicate with your team
Use in-game pings or the chat to coordinate with your teammates. Effective communication helps plan attacks, retreats, and rotations. Don’t rely on the automatic matchmaking system—take initiative to lead your team.
4. Farm efficiently
Farming (killing minions and jungle monsters) is key to gaining gold and experience. Focus on clearing minion waves and jungle camps efficiently to level up quickly and buy important items. The more gold you have, the stronger you become.
5. Master hero abilities
Understanding how your hero’s skills work is essential. Take time to learn how your abilities can combo with those of your teammates or counter enemy heroes. Practice your skill timing and placement to maximize damage or utility.
6. Positioning Is key
In team fights, your positioning can make or break a match. For example, marksmen should stay in the backline to avoid being easily killed, while tanks need to be on the frontline to absorb damage. Be aware of your surroundings and adjust your position accordingly.
7. Item build optimization
Items play a huge role in enhancing your hero’s abilities. Customize your item build based on the match and the enemy team’s composition. For example, building defensive items if the enemy has high burst damage, or offensive items if you’re ahead.
8. Objectives over kills
While killing enemies is important, securing objectives like turrets, Lord, and Turtle can swing the game in your favor. Focus on taking down objectives when it’s safe rather than chasing after kills, as they contribute more to your team’s overall success.
9. Team fights
During team fights, aim to focus on priority targets—such as enemy marksmen or mages—who deal high damage. Don’t overextend and risk getting caught out of position. Team fights should be approached with caution, especially if you’re outnumbered or behind in gold and experience.
10. Know when to back off
If you’re low on health or out of position, retreat rather than risking an unnecessary death. Regroup with your team, heal, and then re-enter the fight when it’s safe. Overextending can often lead to being ambushed or losing important objectives.
Hero selection strategies
Choosing the right hero in MLBB is essential to your team’s success. Hero selection can depend on your team composition, the enemy’s lineup, and the current meta. These are some hero selection strategies to help you make the best pick for any match:
1. Balance your team composition
A well-rounded team composition is key to success. Aim for a mix of roles:
- Tank: someone who can absorb damage and initiate fights.
- Marksman: a damage dealer who excels at attacking from a distance.
- Mage: a hero with powerful area-of-effect (AoE) damage or crowd control.
- Assassin: a mobile hero that can quickly eliminate high-priority targets.
- Support: a hero who can heal, shield, or provide crowd control for the team.
Having a balanced composition ensures you have the necessary tools to deal with a variety of situations in the game.
2. Counter the enemy’s picks
When choosing your hero, consider the enemy’s lineup and select heroes that can counter their picks effectively. For instance:
- Against Tanks: pick heroes that deal high burst damage or can bypass tanky defenses, like assassins or mages with high magic damage.
- Against Marksmen: choose heroes with crowd control (CC) abilities, such as tanks or fighters, to prevent them from freely dealing damage.
- Against Mages: consider building heroes with high magic resistance or heroes that can dive and eliminate mages quickly, like assassins.
3. Pick heroes for map control
Some heroes are particularly good at securing objectives and controlling areas of the map:
- Junglers: Heroes who can clear jungle camps quickly and efficiently are critical. Assassins like Hayabusa or Lancelot can control the map by securing kills and objectives like Turtle and Lord.
- Tank/Support heroes with crowd control: Tanks like Tigreal or Khufra can initiate fights and lock down enemies, providing map control during team fights or ambushes.
4. Understand our playstyle
Pick a hero that fits your personal strengths and playstyle:
- If you prefer aggressive gameplay, go for an assassin or fighter who can deal high damage and make quick kills.
- If you enjoy protecting teammates, select a tank or support hero who can shield, heal, or provide crowd control during team fights.
- If you’re more tactical, mages can help control the battlefield from a distance with their spells.
5. Adapt to the current meta
Certain heroes may perform better in the current game meta. The meta changes frequently due to updates, patches, and balancing changes. For example, some heroes may receive buffs or nerfs that make them more viable or less effective. Stay updated on the patch notes and understand which heroes are strong in the current meta.
6. Avoid picking the same role multiple times
To avoid a situation where your team has multiple heroes in the same role, communicate with your teammates early on and coordinate hero picks. It’s essential that your team doesn’t lack essential roles such as a tank or a marksman. Pick your hero based on what your team needs, not just what you’re most comfortable with.
7. Pick heroes with synergy
Some heroes work exceptionally well when paired with others. For example:
- Fighter + Support: fighters like Leomord can benefit from supports like Rafaela who provide healing and buffs, allowing the fighter to engage aggressively.
- Mage + Tank: a tank like Tigreal can initiate fights, setting up enemies for a follow-up burst from a mage like Lylia or Lunox.
- Marksman + Tank: pair a marksman like Claude with a tank like Aldous or Grock to create a balanced frontline and backline synergy.
8. Flexibility is key
In ranked matches or competitive play, it’s important to be flexible with your hero picks. You may be asked to play a different role or hero than you are accustomed to, so it’s a good idea to have a diverse hero pool. Practice heroes in different roles (e.g., jungle, mid-lane, or support) to be adaptable in various team compositions.
9. Consider the early, mid, and late game
Different heroes shine at various stages of the game:
- Early game: pick heroes who can help secure objectives, gank lanes, or secure early kills (e.g., assassins or junglers).
- Mid game: choose heroes with solid scaling that can carry the team into the late game, like marksmen or mid-lane mages.
- Late game: opt for heroes who can consistently deal damage or provide utility, such as late-game carries like Granger or Irithel.
10. Experiment and learn
Finally, experiment with different heroes and strategies to discover what works best for you and your team. The more you understand the strengths and weaknesses of different heroes, the better you’ll be at selecting the right one based on the situation.To enhance your MLBB experience and minimize lag, consider using ExitLag, a powerful tool that ensures smooth gameplay and better connection stability.
