By Rizky Pratama
MPL Indonesia S17 in 2026 is finally here, and this might be the wildest season we’ve seen in years. After ONIC’s dominant Season 16 title run and a record-breaking M7 World Championship in Jakarta, the Indonesian MLBB scene is entering a brand new chapter. Nine franchise teams. A massive roster shuffle. Filipino imports going both ways. And the road to MSC 2026 starts right now.
The Regular Season kicks off on March 27 and runs through May 24, 2026 at the MPL Arena in West Jakarta. Playoffs follow through mid-June, with the Champion and Runner-up earning direct slots to MSC 2026 in Riyadh. If you care about competitive Mobile Legends at all, this is where you need to be paying attention.
Let’s break it all down.
Format and Stakes
The structure stays familiar. Nine teams play a double round-robin over nine weeks, every match in a Best-of-3 format. One point per series win, zero for a loss. The top six advance to Playoffs, which use a hybrid elimination bracket with Bo5 matches (Bo7 for the Lower Bracket Final and Grand Final).
The total prize pool sits at approximately Rp 4.86 billion (~$290,000 USD), split across team placements and individual awards. But let’s be real: the money isn’t the main prize. The top two finishers qualify for MSC 2026, which returns to Riyadh as part of the Esports World Cup. That’s the real trophy this split.
All matches are broadcast live on YouTube MLBB Indonesia, TikTok, and Facebook Gaming. You can also grab tickets to watch at the MPL Arena in person through the official site or the GoPay app.
๐ The Nine Teams โ Who’s Who
ONIC Esports โ The Favorites
ONIC enter Season 17 as the team to beat, and they know it. Fresh off their sixth domestic title overall and an M7 appearance, the Hedgehogs have made the biggest move of the offseason: signing Kelra from ONIC Philippines.
Kelra joins Kairi in what fans are already calling the “K-Duo.” One of the best Gold Laners in the world paired with arguably the best Jungler in Southeast Asia. That alone gives ONIC an absurd amount of firepower. Add Sanz in the Mid Lane, Lutpi on the EXP Lane, and the versatile Kiboy/SsamueL Roamer rotation, and you have three distinct carry threats that any opponent has to respect.
CW steps up from player to Head Coach this season, bringing championship experience to the strategic side. This is the lineup everyone else will be measured against.
Alter Ego โ The Quiet Contenders
While everyone was watching ONIC and RRQ make headlines, Alter Ego stayed quiet. That’s exactly how they like it. As Season 16 Runners-up and M7 finalists, El Familia proved that chemistry beats hype. The core returns almost untouched: Nino (EXP Laner), Hijumee (Mid Laner), Arfy (Gold Laner), Alekk (Roamer), and Yazuke (Jungler). The only notable addition is Reyy, formerly of Dewa United, as a backup Jungler, with Cyruz providing Mid Lane depth.
Head Coach Xepher continues to run the show. Alter Ego’s strength has always been discipline and macro play. If the meta rewards patience and clean execution, they’ll be right back in the Grand Final conversation.
RRQ Hoshi โ The Redemption Arc
Season 16 was a disaster for the Kings. A seventh-place finish and an early exit shook the organization to its core. The response? A near-complete rebuild.
Super Kenn takes over the Jungle after impressing at M7 with DFYG in China. Coach Khezcute actually developed Kenn during his early days at Bigetron, so this reunion has real potential. Dan, a Filipino EXP Laner from RRQ Kaito/Smart Omega Neos, brings an aggressive lane style that could catch opponents off guard. The retained core of Rinz (Mid), Idok (Roamer), and Toyy (Gold) provides stability.
The late additions of Yehezkiel (formerly Team Liquid ID, MPL champion pedigree) and Kuroky give RRQ genuine depth in the Mid and Gold Lane. This is a roster that looks much stronger on paper than last season. Whether the chemistry clicks fast enough is the real question.
EVOS โ Building Something New
EVOS finished third in Season 16 but lost key pieces during the transfer window. The team reportedly brought in new Mid Lane talent and retains its solid foundation around Alberttt and EgaTzy. With two Mid Laners and two EXP Laners on the books, strategic flexibility appears to be the game plan. Expect EVOS to be competitive but potentially inconsistent while the new pieces gel.
NAVI โ The Wild Card
Natus Vincere went all-in on the “globalized roster” concept. The headline signing is uK1r, a Filipino Mid Laner known for his “shove-and-roam” playstyle, paired with local Jungler Andoryuuu. The coaching staff is reportedly running a system focused on early-game tempo, jungle control, and rapid rotations. If the Mid-Jungle-Roam triangle clicks, NAVI could challenge for a top-four spot. Their opening match against RRQ Hoshi on Day 1 will tell us a lot right away.
Bigetron by Vitality, Dewa United, Geek Fam, Team Liquid ID
These four enter the season with different levels of ambition. Bigetron remains aggressive in style with strong roster depth in the Gold and EXP Lanes. Dewa United is leaning on flexibility with dual Roamer and Jungler options but still has question marks. Geek Fam added Ye3 and operates as the roster with the most to prove. Team Liquid ID lost Yehezkiel to RRQ, and filling that mid lane gap will define their ceiling this split.
๐ MPL Indonesia Schedule โ Week 1
The season opens with eight matches across three days. Here’s what’s coming:
| Date | Time (WIB) | Match |
| Fri, Mar 27 | 15:15 | BTR vs Alter Ego |
| Fri, Mar 27 | 18:15 | NAVI vs RRQ Hoshi |
| Sat, Mar 28 | 14:15 | EVOS vs Geek Fam |
| Sat, Mar 28 | 17:15 | Alter Ego vs ONIC |
| Sat, Mar 28 | 20:15 | Team Liquid ID vs NAVI |
| Sun, Mar 29 | 14:15 | Dewa United vs BTR |
| Sun, Mar 29 | 17:15 | EVOS vs Team Liquid ID |
| Sun, Mar 29 | 20:15 | RRQ Hoshi vs ONIC |
The two matches to circle right now: Alter Ego vs ONIC on Saturday (tickets are already gone, by the way) and RRQ Hoshi vs ONIC closing out Sunday. That’s a Season 16 Grand Final rematch followed by the biggest rivalry in Indonesian MLBB, all in the opening week.
๐ฎ Title Prediction
Let’s keep it straightforward.
ONIC Esports are the clear favorites. The Kelra-Kairi duo on paper is the scariest offensive pairing in MPL Indonesia history. If CW can get the coaching side right and the team avoids early-season complacency, a three-peat is very much on the table.
Alter Ego is the safest bet for a top-two finish. They don’t need time to build chemistry because they already have it. In a long season where consistency matters, that’s a massive advantage.
RRQ Hoshi is the most interesting team. The ceiling is Grand Finals. The floor is another mid-table finish if Super Kenn and Dan take too long to integrate. Week 1 results against NAVI and ONIC will be the first real indicator.
My pick: ONIC lifts the trophy, with Alter Ego pushing them hardest. RRQ makes Playoffs but falls short in the Upper Bracket.
Where to Watch
Catch every match live on the official MPL Indonesia channels:
- YouTube: MLBB Indonesia
- TikTok: MPL Indonesia
- Facebook Gaming: MPL Indonesia
- In-person: MPL Arena, Jakarta (tickets at id-mpl.com/ticket or via GoPay)
The first season of 2026 is about to kick off, and MPL ID S17 has everything: super teams, revenge arcs, international imports, and a direct path to MSC 2026. Don’t sleep on this one.
See you in the MPL Arena.
