Mobile Legends: Bang Bang: How to win in ranked matches without a Tank

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You’ll get an idea on how to run 2-support strategy in MLBB!
This guide valuable tips, what heroes to pick, and more!

With Season 39 now underway in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang’s ranked mode, the popular strategies and hero choices are changing. Players are focusing on quick, objective-based gameplay, aiming to win matches as quickly as possible. This article will explore how to succeed in ranked matches without using a Tank hero, and suggest effective team compositions for this approach in Mobile Legends.

Getting Started

This strategy begins during the initial team selection phase. Instead of choosing one tank and one mage/support for the mid lane, teams will prioritize picking two mages or supports. The main goal of not having a tank is to gain an advantage early and mid-game, and to finish the match quickly before the late game, where a lack of a tank could become a disadvantage.

Mage and Support characters generally deal more damage early in the game than Tanks. To make this strategy work, you’ll need 4 or 5 heroes on your team who can perform well in the early game, and that includes your Jungler. Right now, Assassin or Fighter Junglers – like Suyou – are good choices because they’re effective at quickly gaining resources and securing early kills.

Ideally, your team should include one powerful Mage who can deal a lot of damage early in the game, one Mage or Support character with strong Crowd Control abilities (like Carmilla), an Assassin Jungler such as Lancelot who can quickly eliminate opponents and gain resources, and then one player each for the offlane and gold lane who excel at clearing minion waves and destroying enemy towers.

Mages that suit this playstyle

As a big fan of this strategy, I’ve found that your Mage really needs to deal a lot of damage. That means choosing a hero who can consistently dish out damage and also has powerful bursts when the opportunity arises. It’s also super helpful if your Mage has some way to control enemies – things like stuns or slows – because we’re relying on them to fill some of the control gap since our Tank might not have as much of that.

Valir

Valir is known for his powerful, long-range attacks and abilities that disrupt enemies with stuns and slows, making him a threat from the very beginning of the game. Prioritizing his first skill allows you to constantly apply damage and pressure opponents. If you hit an enemy hero directly with this skill, it resets its cooldown and lets you use it again immediately, giving you an early advantage and letting you play aggressively.

He’s also a strong support option, capable of replacing a traditional tank. His second ability can knock enemies back, protecting you and your team from surprise attacks. Plus, with the new Sky Piercer item, he can quickly become a powerful threat throughout the entire game.

Lylia

Lylia might seem adorable, but she’s surprisingly powerful early in the game, and she’s one of my favorite mages to play. She starts with both her first and second skills, allowing you to quickly deal significant damage before your opponent can respond, thanks to the combo of Skill 1 and Skill 2. While she doesn’t have much crowd control on her own, her slow effect helps, so it’s best to team her up with a Support hero who does have strong CC abilities.

Luo Yi

Luo Yi, the Yin-yang Geomancer, can also be effective with this strategy, though she really shines once you reach level 2 and learn how to use her Yin-Yang Reactions well. Because she lacks a quick escape ability, it’s important to team her up with a Support character who can help her avoid enemy attacks.

Supports that suit this playstyle

The Support player has a really important job in this game. They need to focus on keeping the team aware of potential ambushes by scouting the map, helping the Jungler succeed, and consistently chipping away at the enemy’s health.

Diggie

Okay, so I’m a huge Diggie fan, and let me tell you, this little guy is a beast! People might think of him as support, but honestly, building him as a Tank is way more effective. He’s amazing at setting up kills for your Jungler and damage dealers, and it’s all thanks to his Skill 2. Seriously, it’s like he can rewind time – pulling enemies back to where they were! It’s a game changer on the battlefield.

This disrupts the enemy’s attack, buying your team time to either strike back or retreat. You can also use your Ultimate ability to instantly remove any crowd control effects on your teammates and give them a temporary shield.

Mathilda

Mathilda is a great support hero because her Skill 2 lets her give allies an extra dash, which is especially helpful for mages like Luo Yi who lack their own mobility. Her ultimate can also help allies escape danger or set up successful ganks with the jungler.

Rafaela

Rafaela is a long-standing support character who’s recently become a strong pick in the current meta. Her skills to slow and stun enemies can be surprisingly helpful in team fights, but she works best with a durable offlaner who can take a lot of damage.

Just like Mathilda, you can assist your teammates by boosting their movement speed and healing them with her Skill 2. Although she isn’t a traditional support hero, a skilled player can make her incredibly effective, quickly moving allies around the battlefield while hindering enemies with slows.

Recommended Junglers and Offlaners

Typically, players prioritize picking Offlaners and Supports before Junglers, as Junglers can be easily countered if picked too early. Once the Mage and Support picks are settled, focus on choosing Junglers and Offlaners. For the Jungler role, Assassin heroes like Lancelot, Hayabusa, and Yi Sun-Shin are often more effective than Marksman heroes, especially in the early stages of the game, due to their greater damage potential.

When choosing an exp laner, consider heroes who can stay in lane for a long time without needing to retreat, like Lapu-Lapu or Yu Zhong. These heroes give your team more options and let you confidently join – or even start – team battles.

Final Thoughts

The “2-support meta” isn’t a good fit for all players. It can give you a strong start to the game, but it often means you’ll be weaker later on, which might not be worth the trade-off. If you want to try this strategy, it’s best to play with a full team of five players so you can communicate effectively.

Choose heroes you’re good at and enjoy playing, even if they aren’t currently considered the ‘best’ by everyone else. Tier lists can be useful guides, but ultimately, your skill matters most. Focus on heroes that allow you to play aggressively from the beginning and constantly put pressure on your opponents across all lanes. With a bit of luck and enough skill, you can win in Mobile Legends without always needing a dedicated Tank.

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2026-01-05 10:48