Mobile Legends: Bang Bang recently rolled out its new lane matchmaking system, a highly anticipated change aimed at bringing order to the often-chaotic ranked draft phase.
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Before this update, the ranked draft was a wild west. Players would instantly lock their preferred heroes, leading to unbalanced team compositions or, worse, AFK players who didn't get their desired role. The new system tackles this head-on by allowing players to pre-select two preferred lanes before matchmaking begins.
While the intentions behind these changes are commendable, the implementation hasn't been without its bumps. A widespread complaint among players is the frequent denial of their primary lane, often being shunted into their secondary role.
Another pain point is the mandatory two-lane selection.
Furthermore, despite the system's efforts, "role stealing" and intentional "mispicks" persist. Examples like a Hanabi Roamer or a Sun in the Gold Lane highlight a crucial distinction: innovative off-meta strategies are welcome, but picks that clearly disrupt team composition and actively sabotage the game remain an issue. This isn't about pushing boundaries; it's about active trolling.
So, the burning question remains: which was better – the old chaos or the new controlled frustration? The old system, while chaotic, offered a slim chance for instant role locks if you were high in the draft order. The new system eliminates that chaos, a definite improvement, but for many, it introduces a different kind of frustration by consistently denying their top choice.
As players, we have a role to play in nudging this system towards perfection. Don't shy away from hitting that report button for players intentionally throwing or refusing to play their assigned lanes. While one report might seem insignificant, a collective effort can quickly make problematic players understand the true power of a united community, encouraging fairer play.
For Moonton, the developers behind Mobile Legends, several improvements could significantly enhance the player experience, especially for solo queue warriors:
Single Lane Queue with Transparency: Allowing players to queue for a single lane, coupled with a clear indication of estimated wait times, would be a massive step. Many players wouldn't mind waiting longer for the guarantee of playing their preferred role.
Boosting Roamer Popularity: If less popular roles like Roam contribute to longer queue times, Moonton could explore introducing more appealing Roam heroes, adjusting Roam itemization, or adding unique benefits exclusive to roamers to naturally increase their popularity, rather than forcing players into the role.
Enhanced Transparency: If a single-lane queue isn't feasible, offering better transparency on why a player is assigned a particular lane – perhaps by showing the number of players waiting for each role – could help manage player expectations.
It's encouraging to note that Moonton has stated they are continually gathering feedback and looking to optimize the matchmaking system.
What are your thoughts on the new lane matchmaking system? Do you love it, hate it, or find yourself somewhere in between? How do you think Moonton can further improve it for everyone?