Synn Store BLOG - Mobile Legends: The New Lane Selection System is a New Frustration

Mobile Legends: Bang Bang recently rolled out a new lane selection system, aiming to bring order to the often-chaotic draft phase and ensure players get into roles they're comfortable with. While the intentions are noble, the reality for many players, like our friend Nan, has been a mix of relief and renewed frustration.

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The Promise: Smoother Drafts and Less Toxicity

The core idea is simple: before queuing, players now select two preferred lanes. This is designed to:

• Prevent role fights: No more mad dashes to pick a hero and claim a lane.

  
  

• Reduce random lane clashes: Teams are theoretically more balanced from the get-go.

  
  

• Increase player comfort: Players are supposed to get roles they actually want to play.

  
  

Moonton also added some welcome features:

• Extra protection points for Roamers: Encouraging more players to embrace the support role without fearing rank drops.

  
  

• Retribution Lock: Only the assigned jungler can use Retribution, preventing disruptive "double Retri" scenarios.

  
  

On paper, this sounds like a significant improvement over the old, unpredictable draft system where first pick often dictated roles, leading to trolls, AFKs, or players intentionally sabotaging games if they didn't get their desired lane.

The Problem: New Frustrations Emerge

Despite the good intentions, the new system has introduced a fresh set of frustrations for players:

• Forced Second Choice: A prevalent complaint is that players are almost consistently pushed into their second preferred role, even when their first choice is highly desired. This is particularly frustrating for "one-trick" players who specialize in a single lane, as the system forces them to pick two roles to queue. There's currently no option to wait longer for a single, specific role.

  
  

• Continued Role Stealing: Even with pre-assigned lanes, mispicks or last-second swaps still occur, especially when communication is lacking or a player refuses to cooperate.

  
  

• Lack of Transparency: Players are left in the dark about why they received a particular role. Was it due to other players' preferences, or simply a low priority? The system offers no insight.

  
  

• Off-Meta Picks Persist: Despite assigned lanes, players are still seen taking heroes like Layla into the jungle, Hanabi mid, or Natan EXP lane. These "dark system players" seem unwilling to adapt, leading to just as much, if not more, toxicity.

  
  

• Less Proficient Players Get Priority: Perhaps the most infuriating issue for many is when a player with significantly less experience or lower proficiency in a role gets assigned it over a more skilled and experienced player.

  
  

Moonton's Response: Addressing Key Concerns

Moonton has acknowledged these issues and provided official responses, promising upcoming adjustments:

• "I keep getting my second choice lane": Moonton confirmed they are working to adjust the system to prevent players from constantly being shoved into the same backup role. Expect an update in the coming weeks.

  
  

• "Why is someone with fewer games in this role getting the lane over me?": Moonton admits this is a problem and is developing a "lane proficiency rating." This new system will prioritize players with more experience and better performance in a specific role, increasing their chances of getting it. They will also consider past match performance.

  
  

• "Why does the system let people play the wrong heroes in the wrong lane?": While Moonton considered hard restrictions on hero picks per lane, they ultimately decided against it to preserve creativity and flexibility. Instead, they will implement a "recommendation-based hero selection" system in future drafts, suggesting optimal picks based on the assigned lane without forcing them. They will also monitor the impact of off-meta combinations on match quality.

  
  

Moving Forward: Player Suggestions for a Better System

For the new lane selection system to truly succeed, players suggest several key improvements:

• Single-Role Queue Option: Allow players to queue for just one preferred role, even if it means longer wait times.

  
  

• Estimated Queue Times: Provide transparency by showing estimated queue times for each role, enabling players to make informed decisions.

  
  

• Rewards for Role Flexibility: Incentivize players to step out of their comfort zone and play less-desired roles with small but encouraging bonuses.

  
  

• Enhanced Transparency: Implement a screen showing lane priority or queue demand to give players a better understanding of how roles are assigned.

  
  

• Lane Restrictions (Soft or Hard): While Moonton is leaning towards recommendations, some form of soft or conditional restrictions on certain heroes in specific lanes could further improve game quality.

  
  

• Make Under-Played Roles More Appealing: Introduce special quests, unique rewards, or new mechanics to make roles like Roamer more attractive.

  
  

The new Mobile Legends lane selection system is a step towards a more structured and less chaotic ranked experience. However, as Nan and many other players have experienced, there are still significant kinks to iron out. Moonton's commitment to addressing these issues, particularly with the upcoming lane proficiency rating and recommendation-based hero selection, offers hope for a truly optimized matchmaking system in the future.