Back to basics.
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While Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) games like Mobile Legends: Bang Bang require good game sense and strategic depth, it all comes down to one simple objective — destroy the enemy's base while defending your own.
This makes the concept of damage a crucial mechanic to understand, as it directly dictates how you will be able to realize this goal.
Whether you are a beginner or an advanced player, understanding this aspect of the game is fundamental will allow you to make better decisions in terms of hero draft, item build, and overall strategy.
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This begs the question: what are the different types of damage in Mobile Legends and how do you counter each one?
Types of damage in Mobile Legends
In Mobile Legends, damage can be sorted into complex categories: source (Basic Attacks or Skill-based), period or duration (Burst or Damage Over Time), and area (Single Target or Area-Of-Effect).
Nonetheless, all of these fall under three main types, based on the nature of the damage.
Physical Damage
Physical damage is the most common among the three types of damage in the game, inflicted primarily through Basic Attacks and physical skills. Some of the heroes with high Physical Damage in the game include Beatrix, Bruno, and Brody.
The amount of physical damage you deal can be influenced by several factors. One of these is your hero's physical attack stat, which can be increased by acquiring physical attack items during the game.
For instance, as a Brody user, the best physical damage build includes the Blade of Despair. It also helps to build items that boost your Physical Penetration to amplify your HP-melting prowess, such as Malefic Roar.
Credit: Moonton Games, ONE Esports
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On the other hand, you should invest in items that increase your Physical Defense when facing heroes who inflict Physical Damage. Items like Blade Armor, Immortality, Dominance Ice, Antique Cuirass, and Bruteforce Breastplate will boost your survivability.
Then again, you should always consider how your enemies deal this kind of damage to know which item to prioritize. Say, if you're facing heroes that output Critical Damage like Bruno, Lesley or Ling, the huge Physical Defense boost from Blade Armor will benefit you most.
Credit: Moonton Games, ONE Esports
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If the enemy deals damage through his skills, like Brody, Benedetta or X.Borg, consider buying Antique Cuirass, since it lessens the enemy's physical attack each time you are hit by a skill.
Magic Damage
Magic Damage is a type of damage dealt by your hero's magical abilities or spells. Heroes like Pharsa, Gord, Valentina and Yve inflict this kind of damage either over time (damage per second) or very quickly (burst).
Credit: Moonton Games, ONE Esports
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When using Magic Damage heroes, you need a combination of the right strategy and the right items to maximize your output. Items like Holy Crystal and Blood Wings significantly increase your Magic Power, while Genius Wand and Divine Glaive boosts your Magic Penetration.
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When facing with heroes who deal this kind of damage, the name of the game is to understand how this damage is being dealt.
If you're facing heroes who inflict their damage over time or continuously, it's wise to build Radiant armor to counter it. The item is almost mandatory if you're facing the likes of Yve, Odette, Chang'e and Valir.
For burst Magic Damage heroes, you need to go for the Athena's Shield as its unique passive reduces Magic Damage for a duration upon taking damage.
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True Damage
Among the types of damage in Mobile Legends, True Damage is the rarest.
True Damage delivers the "true" or original damage value directly to an enemy, bypassing all forms of damage reduction effects. This means that it completely ignores any armor or magic resistance that the enemy might have.
Heroes like Karrie, Alpha, Martis and Gord have skills that can deal this kind of damage, allowing them to maintain their damage-dealing capabilities through the entire duration of the game.
Credit: Moonton
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As mentioned, True Damage cannot be countered but there's one way to lessen its effects — boost your HP. Building items like the Guardian's Helmet and Cursed Helmet can give you the cushion you need when facing True Damage heroes.
Outside of the two, Twilight Armor is another good item to consider as it builds not only your HP, but also your survivability versus burst heroes thanks to its unique passive, Twilight.
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