ML Draft Pick Ban: Strategy & Tier List

Nov 3, 2025 by Team 40 views

Let's dive deep into the world of Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) and explore the crucial aspect of the draft pick ban phase. For those of you new to the game or looking to up your competitive edge, understanding the draft pick ban system is absolutely essential. This phase is where games are often won or lost before the first minion even spawns. It's all about strategy, mind games, and knowing your heroes. So, grab your favorite drink, get comfortable, and let's break down everything you need to know about MLBB's draft pick ban.

Understanding the Draft Pick Ban Phase

Okay, guys, so what exactly is the draft pick ban phase in Mobile Legends? Simply put, it's a pre-game phase in Ranked and Tournament modes where each team gets to ban certain heroes from being picked and then strategically select their own heroes to form their team composition. This isn't just some random selection process; it's a tactical battle of wits where you're trying to outsmart your opponent and gain a significant advantage right from the start. The draft pick ban phase typically involves the following steps:

Banning Phase: Each team takes turns banning heroes they don't want to face or don't want the enemy team to have. This is where you can eliminate powerful meta heroes, counter-picks to your team's strategy, or heroes that your opponent is known to be exceptionally good at.
Picking Phase: After the banning phase, teams alternate picking heroes for their team. This is where you need to consider synergy, role balance, and counter-picks to the enemy's potential team composition.
Adjustment Phase: In some formats, there might be a final adjustment phase where teams can make small tweaks to their hero selection based on what the opponent has picked.

The draft pick ban order usually follows a specific pattern (e.g., 1-2-2-2-2-1), which can vary depending on the specific tournament or ranked mode. Understanding this order is crucial for planning your strategy and anticipating your opponent's moves.

Why is the Draft Pick Ban Phase Important?

Alright, so why should you even care about this draft pick ban stuff? Well, the draft significantly influences the outcome of the game. A well-executed draft can give your team a massive advantage in several ways:

Countering the Enemy: You can ban or pick heroes that specifically counter the enemy's strategy or their key players. For example, if you know the enemy team loves to run a hyper-carry composition, you can ban their core damage dealer or pick heroes that excel at shutting down hyper-carries.
Securing Powerful Heroes: The draft allows you to secure powerful meta heroes that can significantly increase your chances of winning. These heroes often have strong early-game presence, high damage output, or unique abilities that make them difficult to deal with.
Creating a Synergistic Team: A good draft focuses on building a team with strong synergy between the heroes. This means picking heroes whose abilities complement each other and work well together in team fights. For example, a team with strong crowd control and high burst damage can be devastating in the right hands.
Denying the Enemy Strategy: Banning heroes can disrupt the enemy's planned strategy and force them to adapt, potentially putting them at a disadvantage. This is especially effective against teams that rely on specific hero combinations or strategies.

Basically, mastering the draft pick ban phase is like having a cheat code to success in Mobile Legends. It's not just about picking your favorite heroes; it's about strategically selecting heroes that will give you the best chance of winning.

Key Strategies for Draft Pick Ban

Now that we understand the importance of the draft pick ban phase, let's discuss some key strategies you can use to improve your drafting skills:

1. Know the Meta

Staying up-to-date with the current meta is crucial for effective drafting. You need to know which heroes are strong, which heroes are weak, and which heroes are popular picks. This knowledge will help you make informed decisions about which heroes to ban and which heroes to prioritize picking.

Research: Follow pro players, watch MPL tournaments, and read patch notes to understand the current meta. Websites like Mobile Legends official website and various MLBB content creators on YouTube are great resources.
Experiment: Play different heroes and try out different team compositions to see what works well in the current meta. Don't be afraid to experiment and try new things.

2. Identify Your Opponent's Strengths and Weaknesses

Before the draft even begins, try to gather as much information as possible about your opponent. Look at their recent match history, their favorite heroes, and their preferred roles. This information will help you identify their strengths and weaknesses, which you can then exploit during the draft.

Track their Match History: Use in-game tools or third-party websites to track your opponent's match history. This will give you insights into their favorite heroes and their win rates.
Observe their Playstyle: If you've played against your opponent before, try to remember their playstyle. Are they aggressive early-game players, or do they prefer to farm and scale into the late game?

3. Prioritize Banning Key Heroes

Banning is a powerful tool that you should use strategically. Don't just ban random heroes; focus on banning heroes that will significantly disrupt the enemy's strategy or counter your own team composition. Here are some common banning strategies:

Ban Meta Heroes: Banning the most powerful meta heroes can prevent the enemy team from gaining an unfair advantage.
Ban Counter-Picks: If you have a specific strategy in mind, ban heroes that counter that strategy.
Ban Comfort Picks: If you know that your opponent is exceptionally good at a particular hero, ban that hero to prevent them from carrying the game.

4. Communicate with Your Team

Communication is key to a successful draft. Discuss your strategy with your team, share your hero preferences, and coordinate your picks to create a cohesive and synergistic team composition. Use the in-game chat or voice communication to stay on the same page.

Pre-Draft Discussion: Before the draft begins, discuss your overall strategy with your team. What roles do you want to fill? What heroes do you want to prioritize?
Real-Time Communication: During the draft, communicate your picks and bans to your team. Let them know what you're thinking and ask for their input.

5. Adapt to the Situation

No matter how well you plan, the draft is always unpredictable. Be prepared to adapt your strategy based on what the enemy team picks. If they counter your initial plan, be ready to switch to a different strategy or pick different heroes.

Be Flexible: Don't be afraid to deviate from your original plan if the situation calls for it. Be willing to try new things and experiment with different hero combinations.
Think on Your Feet: The draft is a dynamic process. You need to be able to think on your feet and make quick decisions based on the information available to you.

MLBB Tier List for Draft Pick Ban (Patch-Specific)

Alright, let's get to the juicy part – the tier list! Keep in mind that tier lists are always subject to change based on patches, meta shifts, and player skill. This tier list is a general guideline to help you prioritize your picks and bans.

Disclaimer: This tier list is based on the current meta and is intended as a general guide. Individual hero performance may vary depending on player skill, team composition, and game situation.

Explanation of Tiers:

S-Tier (Must Pick/Ban): These heroes are incredibly strong in the current meta and are often considered game-changing. They should be prioritized for picking or banning.
A-Tier (High Priority): These heroes are very strong and versatile. They are excellent choices for filling key roles in your team composition.
B-Tier (Situational): These heroes are good in certain situations or against specific team compositions. They can be effective picks, but they require careful consideration.
C-Tier (Niche): These heroes are niche picks that are only effective in very specific situations. They are generally not recommended for beginners.
D-Tier (Low Priority): These heroes are currently underpowered or outclassed by other heroes in the meta. They should generally be avoided.

(Note: This Tier List is a placeholder and needs to be updated with current data.)

Role	S-Tier	A-Tier	B-Tier	C-Tier	D-Tier
Tank	(Example Hero)	(Example Hero)	(Example Hero)	(Example Hero)	(Example Hero)
Fighter	(Example Hero)	(Example Hero)	(Example Hero)	(Example Hero)	(Example Hero)
Assassin	(Example Hero)	(Example Hero)	(Example Hero)	(Example Hero)	(Example Hero)
Mage	(Example Hero)	(Example Hero)	(Example Hero)	(Example Hero)	(Example Hero)
Marksman	(Example Hero)	(Example Hero)	(Example Hero)	(Example Hero)	(Example Hero)
Support	(Example Hero)	(Example Hero)	(Example Hero)	(Example Hero)	(Example Hero)

Remember to consult other tier lists and resources, and to adapt your picks and bans based on your own playstyle and team composition.

Advanced Draft Pick Ban Strategies

Alright, you've got the basics down. Now, let's take your draft pick ban game to the next level with some advanced strategies:

1. Psychological Warfare

The draft pick ban phase isn't just about picking the best heroes; it's also about playing mind games with your opponent. Use your bans and picks to try to tilt them, make them uncomfortable, or force them into making mistakes.

Targeted Bans: Ban heroes that you know your opponent is good at, even if they're not meta. This can frustrate them and throw them off their game.
Unexpected Picks: Pick heroes that are out of the meta or that your opponent wouldn't expect. This can catch them off guard and give you an advantage.
Fake Picks: Hover over a hero that you don't actually intend to pick, just to make your opponent think you're going to pick it. This can force them to waste a ban or pick a counter-pick that you don't actually need.

2. Counter-Drafting

Counter-drafting is the art of picking heroes that specifically counter the enemy's team composition. This requires a deep understanding of hero matchups and team synergies.

Identify Key Threats: Identify the most dangerous heroes on the enemy team and pick heroes that can shut them down.
Exploit Weaknesses: Look for weaknesses in the enemy team composition and pick heroes that can exploit those weaknesses.
Consider Item Builds: Think about how your item builds will affect the matchup. A well-timed item purchase can completely change the dynamic of a fight.

3. Bait and Switch

The bait and switch is a strategy where you intentionally pick a hero that looks like it's going to play one role, but then switch it to a different role later in the game. This can confuse the enemy team and make it difficult for them to plan their strategy.

Versatile Heroes: Pick heroes that can be played in multiple roles, such as fighters who can also jungle or mages who can also support.
Communicate with Your Team: Make sure your team is aware of your plan so that they can adjust their strategy accordingly.

4. Understanding Win Conditions

Every team composition has a specific win condition. This is the strategy that your team needs to execute in order to win the game. Understanding your team's win condition is crucial for making effective decisions during the draft.

Early Game Domination: If your team has a strong early game composition, your win condition might be to snowball your lead and end the game quickly.
Late Game Scaling: If your team has a strong late game composition, your win condition might be to farm safely and scale into the late game.
Objective Control: If your team has strong objective control, your win condition might be to secure key objectives like the Turtle and Lord.

Conclusion

So there you have it – a comprehensive guide to MLBB's draft pick ban phase! Mastering this phase is essential for climbing the ranks and competing at a high level. Remember to stay up-to-date with the meta, communicate with your team, and adapt to the situation. With practice and dedication, you'll be drafting like a pro in no time!

Now go out there, dominate the draft, and crush your opponents! Good luck, and have fun!