Strategy Guides

Mobile Legends MSC 2025 Guide: Format, Stages, Teams & Prizes

23 Aug 2025 46 min read

Updated On: August 23, 2025 by Aaron Connolly

MSC 2025 Overview

The Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Mid-Season Cup 2025 is bringing together 23 of the world’s top teams in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This year, the tournament boasts a huge $3 million prize pool and runs alongside the Esports World Cup from July 10 to August 2.

What Is the Mid-Season Cup?

The Mid-Season Cup is Mobile Legends: Bang Bang’s second-biggest international event every year. It’s the main mid-year tournament where we get to see which MLBB teams actually stand at the top globally.

Teams from all the big regions show up and compete through three stages. The Wildcard Stage kicks things off from July 10-12, with hopefuls fighting for a shot at the Group Stage.

After that, the Group Stage features 16 teams split into groups. They go head-to-head in round-robin matches, all aiming for a spot in the Knockout Stage.

The Knockout Stage is where it gets really serious. Only eight teams make it this far, and they battle through single-elimination brackets for the $1 million first prize.

The tournament format really does force teams to prove themselves against the best from outside their own region. No easy runs here.

Changes for 2025

MSC 2025 has replaced the old MLBB Southeast Asia Cup with a full-on global format. Now, every major region gets a shot, not just Southeast Asia.

The prize pool jumped to a whopping $3 million. First place grabs $1 million, which is pretty wild for a Mobile Legends event.

We’re getting over three weeks of matches this time. That’s a lot more action than what we saw in past years.

This year, 23 teams are in the mix. That means more spots for regions like Europe, North America, and Latin America.

The way teams qualify has shifted as well. Regions send their best based on recent results, not just seasonal rankings.

MSC and the Esports World Cup

MSC 2025 is now an official Esports World Cup event in Riyadh. That partnership really bumps up the prestige and the production value.

Teams chase Club Championship Points in addition to prize money. Those points matter for their orgs’ overall World Cup standings.

Riyadh’s venue offers top-notch facilities and gear. I’d expect the production to outshine previous MSC events by a mile.

Broadcast coverage is going global, thanks to the World Cup. More fans can tune in with streams in their own languages.

The summer schedule lines up with other big esports events. So fans get a steady stream of top-tier matches all through the World Cup season.

Mobile Legends now sits alongside giants like CS2 and Dota 2 at the top of the esports world. That’s a big deal for MLBB’s reputation everywhere.

MSC 2025 Schedule & Location

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MSC 2025 runs from July 10 to August 2, 2025, right in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It’s all part of the Esports World Cup, and the tournament stretches almost four weeks.

Full Event Timeline

The MSC 2025 schedule moves through four different phases. Each one gets us closer to crowning a champion.

Wildcard Stage: 10-13 July

Eight teams start here, split into two groups of four. They play double-elimination, best-of-three matches. The top two from each group reach the Wildcard Playoffs.

Wildcard Playoffs: Mid-July

The final four clash in single-elimination brackets. All matches are best-of-three, except the Grand Final, which goes best-of-five. Only the winner makes it into the Group Stage.

Group Stage: Starting 23 July

Sixteen teams, two groups of eight. Teams from the same region don’t get placed together. The double-elimination format sticks around, with all matches best-of-three.

Knockout Stage: Late July to 2 August

The last eight teams face off in single-elimination brackets. Everything turns into best-of-five series. The Grand Final is a best-of-seven—really epic stuff.

Venue: Riyadh

Riyadh is the main stage for MSC 2025 and the Esports World Cup. Saudi Arabia’s capital really steps up, hosting all 23 competing teams.

The venue shows the World Cup wants Mobile Legends on a true global stage. Riyadh’s infrastructure can handle the $3 million prize pool and all the international broadcasts.

Teams fly in from everywhere for almost a month of games. The local timing works well for fans in Southeast Asia, which is a nice bonus.

Production teams in Riyadh stream everything on YouTube, Twitch, and TikTok. The tech here means fans worldwide get smooth, high-quality broadcasts.

Tournament Format & Rules

MSC 2025 uses a three-stage format and 23 teams compete over several weeks. The setup mixes group stages and knockout rounds, with different match formats at each phase.

Overall Structure

MSC 2025 breaks down into three phases: Wild Card, Group Stage, and Knockout rounds. Everything happens in Riyadh from July 10th to August 2nd, 2025.

Wild Card Stage puts the lowest-seeded teams in direct battles for a spot in the main event. These matches decide who moves on to groups.

Group Stage splits teams into groups. They play round-robin matches to fight for a place in the knockouts.

Knockout Stage throws the top teams into elimination brackets. This phase has quarterfinals, semifinals, a third-place match, and the grand finals.

The format brings global representation and keeps competitive integrity in check. Teams have to earn every step forward.

Stage Formats

Group Stage matches use a best-of-three setup. Teams rack up points based on wins and losses.

The top teams from each group advance. Sometimes tiebreakers or wildcards decide who else gets through.

Knockout rounds raise the stakes. Quarterfinals and semifinals turn into best-of-five fights.

The grand finals go all out with a best-of-seven. That format really lets teams show off everything they’ve got.

Lower bracket matches might use different formats. The double-elimination structure late in the event gives teams a shot at redemption after a loss.

Match Types & Rules

Standard MLBB rules apply everywhere. Each game is classic 5v5, with a draft phase for picking heroes.

Draft rules use ban and pick phases. Teams alternate, picking heroes and blocking their rivals from key choices.

Technical rules cover gear and network setups. Tournament realm servers keep the connection fair for everyone.

Conduct standards demand professionalism from all players. Penalties can range from warnings to outright disqualification if things go off the rails.

Substitution rules let teams swap players between matches, but not during a game. Teams must lock in their lineups before each series.

Officials watch every match to make sure rules get followed and play stays fair.

Wildcard Stage

Eight teams from emerging regions fight for the last spot in the main tournament from July 10-13, 2025. The winner grabs the final golden ticket and keeps their dream of that $1 million prize alive.

Teams in the Wildcard

The wildcard has eight squads battling for survival. Four second-place finishers from MENA, LATAM, EECA, and China made it in through regional qualifiers.

Rare Atom comes from China and brings some real mechanical talent. They’ve proven they can hang with top teams, but consistency under pressure remains a question.

The MongolZ show up as EECA’s hope. Their aggressive style often surprises their opponents when it matters.

Legion Esports represents Vietnam. They’re known for smart rotations and tight team fights.

The other five teams round out the field from different emerging regions. Every squad knows this is their one shot at the main event.

ZETA Division, INFLUENCE RAGE, Virtus.pro, Team Falcons, and Nightmare Esports fill out the lineup. Each team brings something different, but all of them want victory.

Wildcard Bracket Structure

The format splits the eight teams into two groups of four. Each group plays double elimination, with all matches as best-of-three.

Group Stage Rules:

Random draw decides who lands where
Top two teams from each group move forward
Losers go home right away

The bracket puts teams under intense pressure from the start. Slow starts or mistakes can end a run in a blink.

Four teams make it to single elimination playoffs. The grand final switches to best-of-five, so teams have more time to adjust and show what they can do.

Only the playoff champion gets into the main event. Seven teams pack up, while one celebrates a breakthrough.

The wildcard stage plays out over four days in Riyadh. Matches start at noon AST, with plenty of series each day to fit everything in.

Group Stage Breakdown

The Group Stage splits 16 qualified teams into two groups. They play double elimination from July 23-27, 2025. Teams get drawn into Pool 1 and Pool 2, with region protection rules to keep things balanced.

Participating Teams

Pool 1 includes the top regional champs: MPL Indonesia, MPL Philippines, MPL Malaysia, the MCC (EECA) winner, and MSL Myanmar. These teams earned their seeds with regional dominance and past international results.

Pool 2 has all the other qualified teams, plus the Wildcard winner. You get a mix of emerging regions and second-tier squads from bigger leagues.

The 16 teams compete in both groups using a double elimination bracket. Every match is best-of-three, so teams can bounce back even after a loss.

The top four from each group move on to the Knockout Stage. The other eight go home, so the Group Stage really matters.

Group Draw & Seeding

The draw follows a set order to keep things fair. Pool 2 teams get drawn first, alternating between Group A and Group B.

Region protection keeps teams from the same region out of the same group. That way, we don’t end up with all the Southeast Asian giants piled together.

Pool 1 teams get placed after Pool 2. This ensures both groups have top seeds. Each group becomes its own mini-tournament, where every win can make a huge difference.

Teams have to play smart in both upper and lower brackets. Quick wins early can mean an easier path, but even a lower bracket run can get you through if you stay sharp.

Knockout Stage & Playoffs

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The knockout stage runs as a single-elimination bracket. Eight squads battle in best-of-five matches until just two are left standing.

Teams that finish 2-0 in groups actually get to pick their 2-1 opponents. The order goes by who had the fastest average win time.

Bracket Format

This single-elimination bracket puts every team under real pressure. One loss, and your tournament dreams are over.

Eight teams make it here from groups. The selection process shakes things up:

Teams with 2-0 records pick their opponents
Only 2-1 teams can be chosen
Pick order is based on fastest average game time
The system rewards both perfect records and speedy victories

Every knockout match uses a best-of-five format except for the grand final. You have to win three games to move on.

Quarterfinals, semifinals, and the grand final all happen on different days. Teams get a bit of breathing room to prep strategies for their next matchups.

Advancement to Grand Finals

You need to win three best-of-five series in a row to reach the grand final. The stakes get higher every round, and so does the stress.

Path to Victory:

Quarterfinals: Win 3 games in Bo5
Semifinals: Win 3 games in Bo5
Grand Final: Win 4 games in Bo7

The last showdown switches to a best-of-seven. Four wins are needed, not three, which usually brings out wild comebacks and unforgettable moments.

Teams making it through grab serious prize money and circuit points. With single elimination, preparation matters more than ever—one bad draft or slip-up can crush months of effort.

Grand Finals & Third Place Match

A crowded esports arena with two teams playing Mobile Legends on a central stage, surrounded by large screens showing game action and a cheering audience.

The MSC 2025 grand finals runs as a best-of-seven, while the third-place match sticks to best-of-five. These last two matches settle the prize pool split and world rankings for the top squads.

Finals Format

The grand finals pit the two semifinal winners against each other in a best-of-seven (Bo7). First to four wins gets the championship.

All other knockout matches, including the third-place decider, stick with best-of-five (Bo5). The two semifinal losers face off for third place before the final starts.

Match Structure:

Third Place Match: Bo5 series
Grand Final: Bo7 series
Prize Ceremony: Right after the grand final

A Bo7 gives finalists more chances to adapt. Those first few games? Teams often use them to test out different hero drafts.

What’s at Stake

Whoever wins the grand final takes the MSC 2025 championship title and the biggest cut of the $3 million prize pool. Second place still walks away with a hefty sum, just not as much as the champs.

Rankings Impact:

1st Place: Max world ranking points
2nd Place: Big points boost
3rd Place: Moderate ranking rise
4th Place: Smaller bump

World rankings shape future tournament seeding and who gets into what events. If you finish top four, you’ll likely get easier paths at the next big international.

Winning the championship brings a ton of exposure. Sponsors start calling, and player values usually jump after a big win.

Mobile Legends Bang Bang Teams

An esports arena with teams playing Mobile Legends Bang Bang on stage, surrounded by colourful lights and a cheering audience.

MSC 2025 brings together 23 teams from all over the world. Southeast Asia leads the charge, but new faces from unexpected regions are making things interesting.

We’re seeing old champions clash with hungry newcomers. Honestly, this might be the most stacked Mid-Season Cup so far.

Top Contenders & Regions

Southeast Asia dominates the competitive landscape, no surprise there. The Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia send their best squads after brutal qualifiers.

RRQ Hoshi from Indonesia returns to defend their title. They’ve kept their core roster and added even more depth, which made them nearly untouchable in regional play.

Blacklist International comes in for the Philippines with their signature aggression. Their early-game pressure has thrown even the most seasoned teams off balance.

ONIC Esports is back from Indonesia, showing off wild tactical flexibility. We’ve seen them switch up strategies mid-tournament, so nobody can predict what they’ll do.

The Chinese region brings Rare Atom. Their slow, methodical style and crisp teamfights have caught the attention of analysts everywhere.

European teams like Legion Esports mix things up with different meta reads. Their unique drafts sometimes surprise Asian teams at key moments.

Notable Wildcard Teams

The Mongolz are this year’s big wildcards. They’re coming out of nowhere with weird picks and fearless plays, already knocking out a few big names in groups.

MENA teams are shaking up the global scene too. They might stumble early, but they adapt fast and turn dangerous in knockouts.

Latin American squads keep surprising people at these events. Their go-hard early-game style forces top teams out of their comfort zones.

Wildcard spots always seem to deliver upsets at MSC. These teams show up with nothing to lose and end up making headlines against the favorites.

Prize Pool & Awards

A futuristic esports stage with a glowing trophy and holographic gaming elements surrounded by cheering crowd silhouettes and colourful lights.

MSC 2025 boasts a huge $3 million prize pool, making it one of the richest Mobile Legends events ever. Teams battle for both big money and the MVP spotlight.

Prize Distribution

That $3 million gets split across all teams based on where they finish. Go deeper in the bracket, and your payout jumps.

The prize setup rewards teams who stay consistent all tournament. If you reach the finals, you’re fighting for a massive chunk of cash.

Wildcard teams get a smaller cut just for making it. But if they break out of Wildcards into the main event, they grab bonus money.

Teams in 3rd and 4th place play a third-place match for extra prize cash. This new twist for MSC 2025 spreads more money to the best performers.

Organizers haven’t dropped the full prize breakdown yet. In the past, winners usually took about 30-40% of the total pool.

Most Valuable Player

The Most Valuable Player award goes to the tournament’s standout performer. Judges look for someone who’s not just racking up stats, but making clutch plays and leading their squad.

MVPs pocket extra prize money on top of their team’s haul. Past winners often land big sponsorships and a lot of attention after the event.

Fan voting sometimes plays a part, but the final call usually comes from officials and expert panels.

Anyone from any team can win MVP—even if they don’t reach the finals. Sometimes a player just shines through, no matter where their team finishes.

How to Watch MSC 2025

A lively esports arena with fans watching a Mobile Legends tournament on large screens and players competing on a central stage.

You can catch MSC 2025 on the official Mobile Legends: Bang Bang channels on YouTube, Twitch, and TikTok. The action runs from 10th July to 2nd August.

Loads of community streams and regional broadcasts will cover the tournament in different languages.

Official Broadcasts

The official MLBB esports channels deliver the main show for MSC 2025. Expect pro commentary, player interviews, and behind-the-scenes looks.

YouTube is the main spot for live matches and VODs. The MLBB Esports channel offers English and regional language commentary, plus replays and highlights.

Twitch brings chat and emote fun. The official channel usually streams alongside YouTube, but with more interactive features.

TikTok is great for bite-sized highlights and top moments. If you just want the big plays, it’s the place to scroll.

All official streams are free. No paywalls, no subscriptions, just click and watch.

Community Coverage

Top esports creators and regional broadcasters run their own streams during MSC 2025. These broadcasts often bring different perspectives and commentary vibes.

Regional language streams pop up on local gaming channels. Indonesian, Filipino, and Malaysian streams usually feature native commentary and a lot of local flavor.

Co-streaming lets creators add their own commentary over official matches. Check Facebook Gaming and YouTube for fan-favorite Mobile Legends personalities.

Community streams sometimes host watch parties and prediction games. Some creators break down plays to help new viewers get what’s going on.

Past Champions & Highlights

A 3D scene of an esports arena with trophies and holographic Mobile Legends characters, celebrating past champions and highlights of a gaming championship.

Team Liquid from the Philippines took the MSC 2025 crown on August 2nd. They crushed defending champs SRG OG from Malaysia in a 4-1 grand final.

Team Liquid walked away with a cool $1 million. Talk about a payday.

KarlTzy made history, and a lot of fans now call him the best Mobile Legends player ever. His teammate Sanford snagged the Most Valuable Player award for his clutch performances.

MSC 2025 Key Results:

Champions: Team Liquid PH ($1,000,000)
Runners-up: SRG OG Malaysia
MVP: Sanford (Team Liquid PH)
Total Prize Pool: $3,010,000 USD

The 2025 event replaced the old Southeast Asia Cup format. It became the second big international stop on the Mobile Legends calendar, running as part of the Esports World Cup in Saudi Arabia.

SRG OG started as defending champs but couldn’t keep pace with Team Liquid’s explosive form. The grand final delivered some of the sharpest MLBB gameplay we’ve seen in a while.

This win locked in the Philippines’ spot at the top of the international Mobile Legends scene. Team Liquid’s run also showed just how strong Southeast Asia has become globally.

Wildcards and group play brought intense matches before the knockout rounds gave us upsets and comebacks galore.

Frequently Asked Questions

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MSC 2025 gathers 23 teams fighting for £2.4 million from 10 July to 2 August in Riyadh. This year’s event features a new wildcard system and a broader format compared to past MSC tournaments.

What are the teams competing in the MSC 2025 event?

Twenty-three teams from all over the world are gearing up to compete in MSC 2025. Eight of them will kick things off in the wildcard stage, while fifteen others have already secured spots in the group stage.

The wildcard lineup? It’s a pretty interesting mix. Team Falcons from MPL MENA, INFLUENCE RAGE from MPL LATAM, and Virtus.pro from MCC are in. You’ll also see Legion Esports, Rare Atom from China, The MongolZ from Mongolia, ZETA DIVISION from Japan, and Nightmare Esports.

For the group stage, the big names are back. ONIC and RRQ Hoshi will represent Indonesia. The Philippines sends Team Liquid PH and ONIC Philippines.

Malaysia’s got SRG.OG and HomeBois, and Team Flash comes in from Singapore. CFU Gaming from Cambodia and Ultra Legends from MENA round out the direct invites.

Can you share the schedule for the MSC 2025 group stages?

The group stage kicks off on 23 July 2025, right after the wildcard battles wrap up. Sixteen teams get split into two groups, with eight teams in each.

Organizers won’t let teams from the same region end up in the same group. It’s a move to keep matchups fresh and avoid early regional showdowns.

They’ll use a double-elimination bracket and all matches are best-of-three. The four top teams from each group will move on to the knockout stage.

You can catch every group stage match live on Mobile Legends’ official YouTube, Twitch, and TikTok channels.

How much is the prize pool for the MLBB MSC 2025 tournament?

MSC 2025 is handing out a wild £2.4 million prize pool to all 23 teams. The champions walk away with £800,000, and the runners-up get £400,000.

Third place bags £200,000, while fourth takes home £120,000. Teams in fifth to eighth place get £80,000 apiece.

Even teams that don’t make it far get something. If you finish 9th-12th, that’s £52,800 each, and 13th-16th still means £40,000.

The lowest placements aren’t left out either. Teams in 22nd and 23rd get £24,000 each, which is honestly not bad for an early exit.

How does the bracket system work for MSC 2025?

MSC 2025 mixes things up with different bracket systems for each stage. In the wildcard stage, teams face off in double-elimination brackets, so a single loss doesn’t send you packing.

The group stage sticks with double-elimination, which gives everyone a real shot—teams have to lose twice before they’re out.

Once the knockout stage starts, it’s single elimination. One loss, and you’re done. The stakes get a lot higher here.

All knockout matches are best-of-five, except the grand final, which is a best-of-seven. That’s where things get really intense.

Are there any wildcard entries for this year’s MSC, and how do they work?

Eight teams fight it out in the wildcard stage from 10-13 July. Organizers split them into two groups of four.

The wildcard matches use double-elimination brackets and best-of-three games. The top two teams from each group go on to the wildcard playoffs.

Four teams battle it out in single-elimination wildcard playoffs. Most matches are best-of-three, but the grand final is best-of-five.

Only the winner of that final playoff grabs a spot in the main group stage. That means seven of the eight wildcard hopefuls don’t make it through—brutal, but that’s the game.

What is the format for the MSC EWC 2025, and how does it differ from the main event?

MSC 2025 stands as the main Mobile Legends tournament at the Esports World Cup. They haven’t created a separate format—MSC 2025 just fits right into the EWC schedule.

Organizers expanded the tournament stages compared to past MSC events. You’ll see wildcard stages and playoffs now, which honestly gives more regional teams a shot.

The prize pool saw a big jump this year. With EWC integration, the event feels even more prestigious and gets a lot more global buzz.

Every match happens in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, right in the heart of the Esports World Cup festivities. Having everything in one place really helps with production quality and makes streaming way smoother.