Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Advanced Server Patch 2.1.90: A Deep Dive into Hero Reworks, Balance Shifts, and Evolving Game Modes

MOONTON Games, the developer behind the globally acclaimed mobile MOBA, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB), has rolled out a significant update to its Advanced Server – Patch 2.1.90. This patch introduces a comprehensive visual and mechanical revamp for a classic Marksman, Bruno, alongside crucial balance adjustments for several prominent heroes and refinements to popular game modes. These changes signal a proactive approach from the developers to maintain game balance, inject fresh gameplay experiences, and prepare for future meta shifts as MLBB approaches its 10th Anniversary.

Main Facts: A Glimpse into the Shifting Tides of Battle

The Patch 2.1.90 update on the Advanced Server is headlined by the much-anticipated rework of Bruno, "The Protector." This revamp encompasses not only a visual overhaul but also significant adjustments to his core abilities, aiming to enhance his agility and impact on the battlefield. Beyond Bruno, the patch includes a series of strategic hero adjustments: a notable buff for the Revamped Kaja, nerfs for the powerful Mage Odette and the resilient Fighter Masha, and a targeted nerf for the Jungler Aulus. Furthermore, the developers have addressed gameplay dynamics in the "Chaos Brawl" and "Chaos Clash" modes, implementing changes designed to foster more balanced and engaging experiences.

The introduction of these changes on the Advanced Server allows players to test the modifications in a live environment, providing valuable feedback before the patch transitions to the Official Server. This iterative development cycle is crucial for MLBB, ensuring that major updates are thoroughly vetted and finely tuned to meet the expectations of its vast player base.

Chronology of Evolution: MLBB’s Continuous Quest for Balance

Mobile Legends: Bang Bang has consistently evolved since its inception, with regular patches being a cornerstone of its sustained popularity. The Advanced Server serves as a crucial testing ground in this continuous development cycle, acting as a precursor to official server updates. Patch 2.1.90 follows a long line of such updates, each contributing to the dynamic and ever-changing meta of the game.

Historically, hero revamps like Bruno’s are strategic moves by MOONTON to revitalize older characters, making them relevant in contemporary gameplay while preserving their unique identity. These reworks often address issues of outdated mechanics, visual fidelity, or an inability to keep pace with power creep from newer heroes. Similarly, hero balance adjustments (buffs and nerfs) are a constant necessity to prevent any single hero or strategy from dominating the competitive landscape, ensuring a diverse and skill-based environment. The adjustments to game modes like Chaos Brawl and Chaos Clash underscore the developers’ commitment to enhancing the player experience across all facets of MLBB, not just the ranked competitive scene. These changes are part of a broader, ongoing narrative of refinement and innovation that defines MLBB’s journey towards its milestone 10th Anniversary.

Supporting Data: Deciphering the Numerical and Mechanical Shifts

The patch notes utilize a clear system of indicators – (â  ) for Buff, (â  ) for Nerf, and (~) for Adjustment – to delineate the nature of each change. Let’s break down the specific modifications and their immediate implications.

Revamped Hero: The Protector – Bruno

Bruno, a classic Marksman, is receiving a comprehensive visual and mechanical overhaul. As MLBB nears its 10th Anniversary, this revamp aims to bring Bruno’s aesthetic up to modern standards while refining his gameplay. The developers’ goal is to make him a more "agile and intimidating striker" by improving his controls and overall balance.

• Visual Revamp: New model, hero portrait, and other visual assets are being introduced, promising a fresh look for veteran players and a more appealing character for newcomers.
• Skill 1: Volley Shot:
  • Developer Insight: The original ability placed a high burden on players, often failing to reward precise movement and positioning for Powerball retrieval.
  • Changes: Optimized to better reward players who make correct decisions and improved control experience. While specific numerical changes are not detailed, this suggests easier Powerball management and potentially more consistent damage output.
• Skill 2: Flying Tackle:
  • Developer Insight: The original Flying Tackle could lead players into dangerous positions, limiting its utility.
  • Changes: Redesigned to focus more on assisting players with pursuit or escape. This implies increased reliability as a mobility tool, potentially offering more consistent initiation or disengagement without putting Bruno excessively at risk. This could mean a longer dash, a wider hitbox for stun, or improved immunity frames.
• Ultimate Ability: Worldie:
  • Developer Insight: The original Worldie was deemed too complex with too many effects, hindering correct usage.
  • Changes: Redesigned to focus on initiating team fights from a distance and rapidly gaining Mecha Legs stacks. This suggests a more straightforward ultimate, likely with clearer area-of-effect capabilities for engagement and a faster way to empower his basic attacks through Mecha Legs. This simplification could make Bruno’s ultimate a more reliable team fight tool.

Hero Adjustments: Balancing the Battlefield

Aulus (Nerfed):

• Passive (~) – Enhanced Basic Attack Base Damage: Reduced from 160 to 135.
  • Implication: This is a direct hit to Aulus’s early game jungle clear speed and dueling potential. As a Jungler who relies on quickly clearing camps and securing objectives, a reduction in basic attack damage, especially early on, will slow his farming pace and make early skirmishes riskier. Players will need to be more cautious in the early to mid-game, focusing more on scaling than aggressive plays.

Revamped Kaja (Buffed):

• Passive Attributes (â  ) – Base HP: Increased from 2500 to 2600.
  • Implication: A direct increase in Kaja’s survivability, making him slightly tankier, which is beneficial for a frontline initiator/support. This extra HP allows him to absorb more damage, stay in fights longer, and execute his skill combinations with less risk of being burst down.
• Skill 2 (â  ) – Removed Effect: Exits the Soaring state on failing to hit an allied hero, enemy hero, or creep.
  • Implication: This is a significant quality-of-life buff. Kaja’s Skill 2, "Ring of Order," involves a dash that previously had a restrictive condition. Removing the penalty for missing a target makes his mobility much more fluid and forgiving. Players can now use his dash more freely for positioning, rotation, or escaping without the fear of being stranded if they miscalculate a hit. This enhances his engagement and disengagement capabilities.

Odette (Nerfed):

• Ultimate (â  ): Developers have "slightly reduced Odette’s Ultimate benefits."
  • Implication: While specific numerical values are not provided, this typically means a reduction in damage scaling, base damage, or perhaps the duration/slow effect of her ultimate, "Swan Song." Odette’s ultimate is a potent area-of-effect damage ability that can turn team fights. This nerf aims to curb her overall burst potential and reduce her impact in clustered engagements, forcing players to be more strategic with its deployment.

Masha (Nerfed):

• Developer Insight: Masha was "overperforming on the Advanced Server," leading to adjustments to her "early-to-mid game combat capabilities."
• Passive (â  ) – Extra Attributes from Feral: Adjusted to (15% + 1% × Hero Level) for Movement Speed, Attack Speed, and Resilience.
  • Implication: This adjustment likely refines how Masha gains power from her unique multi-HP bar passive, "Feral Energy." The change suggests a potentially slower or more linear scaling for her core attributes, reducing her early game dominance and making her more reliant on leveling up to reach her full potential.
• Skill 2 (~) – Damage Bonus: Changed from 60% Total Physical Attack to 100% Extra Physical Attack.
  • Implication: This is a significant scaling adjustment. "Total Physical Attack" includes base attack and bonus attack from items, while "Extra Physical Attack" only accounts for bonus attack from items. This shift means Masha’s Skill 2, "Wild Power," will scale more heavily with itemization rather than simply her inherent strength or early game purchases. This makes her early game damage less potent and pushes her power spike later into the game.
• Ultimate (~) – Damage Bonus: Changed from 150% Total Physical Attack to 180% Extra Physical Attack.
  • Implication: Similar to Skill 2, her ultimate, "Thunderclap," will now scale more exclusively with bonus physical attack. While the percentage is higher (180% vs. 150%), the change from "Total" to "Extra" Physical Attack means it will require more dedicated damage itemization to reach its full potential. This reinforces the idea of tempering her early-to-mid game power and emphasizing her late-game scaling.

Game Mode Adjustments

A. Chaos Brawl Mode:

• Changes: Adjusted EXP and Gold gained from kills, and increased the Bounty for ending kill streaks.
  • Implication: These changes are designed to minimize one-sided matches. By reducing the snowball effect from early kills (less EXP/Gold) and providing a greater reward for stopping a dominant enemy (increased Bounty), the developers aim to create more comeback opportunities and keep games competitive for longer. This addresses a common frustration in casual modes where early leads often become insurmountable.

B. Chaos Clash Mode:

• Changes: Adjusted several buffs of Chaos Clash mode, including nerfs in the rarity of some buffs.
  • Implication: Chaos Clash is known for its randomized and often chaotic buff system. Adjusting buff effects and their rarity aims to prevent certain buff combinations from becoming overly dominant or creating unfair advantages. By diversifying the buff pool and potentially making powerful buffs less common, the mode should feel more balanced and encourage players to adapt to various situations rather than relying on specific overpowered combinations.

Official Responses: Developer Insights and Intentions

MOONTON’s developer notes embedded within the patch information provide crucial context for these changes. For Bruno, the stated goal is to preserve his "original characteristics" while improving "controls" and overall "balance tuning" to make him an "agile and intimidating striker." This indicates a desire to retain his identity as a high-damage Marksman but with a more modern and responsive feel. The 10th Anniversary tie-in suggests a celebratory revitalization of a foundational hero.

Regarding individual hero adjustments, the developers explicitly state their reasoning:

• Aulus: While not explicitly detailed, the nerf to his basic attack damage clearly targets his early-game dominance and jungle efficiency, implying he was performing too strongly in these phases.
• Kaja: The buffs suggest Kaja was perhaps struggling with survivability or fluidity in his engagements, making him less impactful in team fights than desired. The Skill 2 change directly addresses a control "burden."
• Odette: The reduction in her ultimate’s "benefits" stems from a perception that she was overly powerful in team fights, likely dealing excessive damage without sufficient counterplay for her engagement risk.
• Masha: The direct statement that Masha was "overperforming on the Advanced Server" in the early-to-mid game is a clear justification for the passive and skill scaling adjustments. These changes are intended to temper her early power spikes.

For the game modes, the developers explicitly state their aim to "minimize one-sided matches" in Chaos Brawl and to "adjust several buffs" in Chaos Clash, indicating a focus on overall game health and fairness even in non-ranked environments. These insights highlight MOONTON’s commitment to continuous improvement based on internal data and player feedback, ensuring a dynamic and enjoyable experience for the MLBB community.

Implications: Shaping the Future Meta

The Patch 2.1.90 update carries significant implications for the MLBB meta, both in competitive and casual play.

Bruno’s Resurgence: A successful revamp for Bruno could see him return as a top-tier Marksman. His improved agility and simplified ultimate could make him a more appealing pick in the Gold Lane or even as a Jungler, offering consistent damage and team fight presence. Players will need to experiment with new item builds and emblem setups to optimize his refreshed kit. His potential for initiation from a distance with his ultimate suggests new synergy opportunities with heroes that can follow up quickly.

Shifts in the Jungle: The Aulus nerf is likely to open up the jungle role for other heroes. With his early game slightly hampered, players might gravitate towards Junglers who scale better into the mid-to-late game or those with stronger early ganking potential. This could lead to a more diverse jungle meta, reducing the dominance of hyper-carry jungle strategies and promoting more tactical early game plays.

Kaja’s Enhanced Utility: Kaja’s buffs make him a more reliable initiator and peel support. The increased HP and more forgiving Skill 2 will allow him to be more aggressive in securing key pick-offs with his ultimate, "Divine Judgment," and better protect his carries. He might see increased pick rates in competitive play, especially against mobile assassins or high-priority targets that need to be locked down.

Odette’s Balanced Impact: The Odette nerf, while slight, aims to bring her massive team fight damage more in line with other Mages. Players will need to be more precise with their ultimate placements and rely more on proper positioning and follow-up from teammates to maximize her impact. This could slightly reduce the dominance of "Johnson-Odette" combos if her ultimate’s burst is less overwhelming.

Masha’s Mid-Game Power Curve: Masha’s adjustments mean she will likely have a less dominant early game. Her reliance on "Extra Physical Attack" for skill scaling pushes her power spikes later, requiring more farm and itemization. Players picking Masha will need to adapt their playstyle, focusing more on sustained farming and tactical engagements rather than aggressive early pushes. This could shift her from an early-game brawler to a more mid-to-late game split-pusher or objective controller.

Fairer Casual Modes: The changes to Chaos Brawl and Chaos Clash are crucial for maintaining player engagement in these modes. By reducing snowball potential and diversifying buff mechanics, MOONTON aims to ensure that casual play remains fun and less frustrating. This promotes a healthier player experience across the entire MLBB ecosystem.

Overall, Patch 2.1.90 on the Advanced Server signifies MOONTON’s ongoing commitment to a dynamic and balanced Mobile Legends: Bang Bang experience. The revamp of Bruno and the strategic adjustments to other heroes are designed to keep the game fresh and competitive, setting the stage for an exciting period as the game approaches its major anniversary milestone. Players are encouraged to test these changes on the Advanced Server and provide feedback, contributing directly to the evolution of their beloved game.