What does MPL and MDL mean in MLBB

The Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) esports has two primary leagues that play a huge role in shaping the game’s competitive scene. The two leagues work hand in hand to develop talents and test their skills on the big stage every year.

In this guide, let’s talk about the two leagues, MPL and MDL, in MLBB and know what the difference is between them.

The MLBB Professional League (MPL) is the premier regional league for ML where the best of the best compete for glory. This esports tournament serves as a qualifier event where the top teams will represent their region in international tournaments. Some notable global events include the MLBB Mid-Season Cup (MSC) and the M-World Championship. 

Currently, there are seven MPL regions, namely:

The list is supposed to be eight but MPL Myanmar has been on pause since the year 2020. The return of the league is yet to be confirmed. However, Myanmar does host a separate qualifier event to decide the representative for international events.

The MLBB Development League (MDL) is an ML tournament and a training ground for new talents before they step into the big league. This esports event is only available for regions that follow a franchise league format like the Philippines and Indonesia. Each of the MPL organizations hosts their own MDL teams.

During a competitive season, organizations can swap out team rosters from their own professional and amateur teams. They can choose to relegate MPL players to MDL and vice versa. 

During a tournament, MDL also welcomes other amateur teams who are not tied to any of the franchise leagues. This is a good way to show off the players' potential to possibly get a partnership or a partial or full buyout of their team roster.

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