MPL Season 18 predictions
The Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League (MPL) Season 18 has officially kicked off in Indonesia (MPL-ID) and is days away from launching in the Philippines (MPL-PH). While traditional gaming media is simply listing the rosters, they are missing the massive tectonic shifts happening beneath the surface of the game.
To make accurate MPL Season 18 predictions, we have to take a holistic approach. We must analyze the historical data of the past, the chaotic meta of the present, and mathematically project how these teams will perform in the future.
1. The Past: The Era of Discipline
To understand where we are going, we must look at Season 17. The previous season was entirely defined by macro-discipline and the “Utility Jungler.”
Teams like Team Liquid PH (who secured a historic three-peat in the Philippines) and Bigetron by Vitality (the defending champions of Indonesia) did not win because they had the fastest reaction times. They won because they drafted heavy, unkillable tanks like Fredrinn and Barats, slowly choking their opponents out of map control. It was an era of slow, methodical 20-minute matches.
The past rewarded patience. The future, however, will punish it.
2. The Present: The Assassin Chaos
As we detailed in our opening weekend analysis, the present meta has violently shifted. Moonton’s recent equipment adjustments completely killed the tank jungler.
We are now in the era of high-burst Assassins (Fanny, Ling, Hayabusa). Because these heroes are incredibly squishy but deal massive damage, the game has fundamentally changed from “macro-patience” to “micro-aggression.” Matches are suddenly ending in 13 minutes.
This presents a massive problem for the defending champions. Team Liquid PH and Bigetron built their entire dynasties on slow, methodical gameplay. Can their veteran rosters suddenly adapt to a chaotic, high-speed skirmish meta? Our data suggests they will struggle.
ALSO READ: Did you miss the opening matches in Indonesia? Catch up on our exclusive “MPL Season 18 Week 1 Meta Analysis” to understand the Assassin shift!
3. The Future: Official MPL Season 18 Predictions
Based on this massive shift in the meta, here are our official, data-driven predictions for both major leagues.
MPL-Philippines (MPL-PH) Predictions
- The Massive Upset: We mathematically project that ONIC Philippines will dethrone Team Liquid PH this season.
- The Analysis: ONIC PH recently signed veteran Pheww as their head coach. Pheww is notoriously famous for drafting aggressive, snowball-heavy compositions. While Team Liquid tries to adapt to the new Assassin meta, ONIC is already built for it. We expect ONIC’s jungler to completely overrun Liquid during the early-game Turtle contests.
- Sleeper Pick: AP.Bren. Never count out the world champions. If anyone can figure out how to slow down the Assassin meta using heavy crowd-control mages, it is AP.Bren’s legendary coaching staff.
MPL-Indonesia (MPL-ID) Predictions
- The New Kings: We project that RRQ Hoshi will return to absolute dominance and steal the crown from Bigetron by Vitality.
- The Analysis: RRQ Hoshi has always possessed the most mechanically gifted, aggressive players in Indonesia. During the Tank meta, their aggression was often a weakness, leading to over-extensions. But in Season 18, absolute aggression is the primary win condition. RRQ is perfectly positioned to capitalize on this fast-paced meta.
- Sleeper Pick: Alter Ego. After a phenomenal opening weekend, Alter Ego proved they have fully embraced the new control-mage mid-lane meta. If their gold laner can survive the early game, they will be a massive threat in the playoffs.
The landscape of Mobile Legends has completely changed. Do you agree with our MPL Season 18 predictions, or do you think Team Liquid PH will secure a legendary four-peat? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!