The Best Mage Heroes in Mobile Legends 2023: Who Ruled the Midlane?

If you were part of the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) scene in 2023 — whether casually playing with friends or grinding the solo queue — you’d know that 2023 was a crazy year for mage mains. The meta constantly shifted, assassin dives became more brutal, and roamers turned more aggressive. But in the heart of every game, there was still one hero that dictated the pace: the mage.

As a dedicated mage main since 2019 (yes, I was that annoying Gord spamming lasers), I’ve seen mages come and go — from OP picks to forgotten benchwarmers. But 2023 stood out as a year of intelligent positioning, spellburst dominance, and fast rotations. In this post, let me take you through the best mage heroes of 2023, based on real experience, community picks, and solid performance in ranked and pro scenes.

1. Valentina – The Meta Shifter

No question about it: Valentina was the queen of the midlane in 2023.

Her unique ability to steal an enemy’s ultimate added an entirely new layer of strategy to every match. Facing a Yu Zhong? Now you’re the dragon. Enemy has an Atlas? Now you’re crashing the team fight.

Why Valentina Ruled:

Unpredictability: You never knew what she’d become.
High sustain through her passive spell vamp.
Strong laning presence with spammy skills and burst.

In Mythic rank, Valentina was often a first-ban hero, and for good reason. In the hands of someone with game sense, she wasn’t just powerful — she was terrifying.

2. Lylia – The Bomb Queen

Lylia is that type of hero people underestimate… until you find yourself walking into her bombs and instantly evaporating.

In 2023, she became a go-to pick for solo queue warriors and even saw play in some tournaments. Her mobility, map clear, and constant poke made her a beast.

Why Lylia Was a Favorite:

Insane mobility with her teleport and black shoes.
Fast rotations — she clears waves in seconds.
Safe but deadly: Hard to kill, but can melt enemies.

I loved picking Lylia when I needed to outplay assassins. They’d dive in, thinking they had me, and then… Boom. I’d teleport back with Black Shoes and they’d be the ones on the gray screen.

3. Yve – The Galactic General

For teamfight dominance, Yve was unmatched. Her ultimate, Real World Manipulation, allowed teams to lock down areas and force fights on their own terms.

Why Yve Stood Out:

Ultimate zoning: She owned objectives like Turtle and Lord.
Immunity during ultimate: Dive comps struggled against her.
Solid range and slow: Annoying in lane and team fights.

Yve was always my comfort pick when I knew I needed to control fights. Her presence made enemies think twice before engaging.

4. Luo Yi – The Teleport Tactician

While not always at the top of the meta, Luo Yi gained popularity in the hands of smart players. Her ability to set up ambushes and stun multiple enemies in teamfights made her a valuable utility mage.

Strengths in 2023:

Team mobility with Diversion teleport.
AOE crowd control with Yin-Yang Reaction.
Flexible role in team comps.

She was a perfect pick for 5-man squads who liked setting traps and rotating fast. I personally loved her for those "big brain plays"— surprise teleports behind enemy towers? Check.

5.
– The Artillery Master

Pharsa remained consistently strong throughout 2023. Even with newer mages stealing the spotlight, she held her ground with her explosive ult and global rotations.

Why Pharsa Stayed Strong:

Long-range ultimate perfect for sieging and defense.
Passive mobility lets her roam quickly.
Good burst combo for surprise picks.

In one memorable game, I held the base 1v3 as Pharsa using my ult from the fountain. That’s the kind of pressure she provides even when your team is losing.

6. Kagura – The High Skill Favorite

For high-elo players and streamers, Kagura was still a flashy and powerful pick. She required mechanical mastery, but once you got her umbrella combos down, she was a deadly assassin-like mage.

Kagura Highlights in 2023:

Mobility with Purify-like effect from her umbrella.
Burst damage in quick combos.
Excellent solo-kill potential.

I personally had a love-hate relationship with Kagura. When I pulled off a clean combo? Chefs kiss. When I misclicked the umbrella? Instant regret. 😂

7. Xavier – The Scaling Beast

Xavier had a slower early game, but once he unlocked his ultimate, he became a laser beam of death.

In 2023, his scaling made him a reliable late-game mage who could:

Snipe from long range with Dawning Light.
Control areas with AOE skills.
Stack up damage fast in big fights.

He wasn’t the best pick for fast games, but in long matches? He shined.

Meta Observations in 2023

Here’s what defined the mage meta in 2023:

Mobility was key. Mages with dashes, speed boosts, or teleportation (Lylia, Valentina, Luo Yi) performed better.
Burst over sustain. With many games ending faster, burst damage was preferred over poke mages.
High utility won games. Mages like Yve and Pharsa who could control fights and objectives were more valuable than ever.

So, Who Was the Best Mage in 2023?

If we’re talking overall:

Valentina takes the crown. Her pick/ban presence in both ranked and competitive scenes was unmatched.

But in specific roles:

For burst: Lylia
For teamfights: Yve
For map control: Luo Yi
For classic artillery: Pharsa
For highlight plays: Kagura

Final Thoughts

As a mage main in 2023, I felt spoiled. There were so many great options depending on my mood and the team comp. Whether I wanted to carry solo with Lylia or dominate team fights with Yve, mages gave me the tools to control the pace of every match.

And that’s the beauty of the mage role: you’re not just a damage dealer — you’re the brains behind the battle.

Here’s to more dominating midlane moments, and if you’re just starting your mage journey, try out one of these 2023 favorites. Who knows — one might become your signature pick.

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