The Reign of Nana: The Most Used Hero in MLBB 2023
When you think of the most used heroes in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, your mind probably goes straight to the flashier, high-skill-cap favorites like Lancelot, Chou, or Ling. But 2023? It was Nana’s year.
Yes — Nana, the mischievous and adorable Feline Wizard, ruled the Land of Dawn not by sheer power alone, but by her unique playstyle, surprising effectiveness, and frustrating Molinas that turned enemy assassins into helpless plushies. I didn’t want to believe it either at first, but the data and the gameplay told the same story: Nana became the most used hero in MLBB throughout 2023.
Let me tell you why — and how I personally got swept up in the Nana hype too.
My First Time Playing Nana
I remember the first time I picked Nana — honestly, it was just for fun. I had seen memes about how annoying she was, especially that infamous "auto win with Molinas" post. I wasn’t even planning to take her seriously.
But after just a few games, something clicked.
She was easy to use but had enough tools to make a big impact in team fights. I’d poke enemies from afar, set traps, and save teammates with her Molina Smooch. And let’s not forget her passive — it made her one of the most annoying heroes to kill.
It wasn’t long before Nana became my go-to mage whenever I wanted to have fun and climb the ranks.
Why Nana Was So Popular in 2023
There are a few key reasons Nana stood out last year and claimed the top spot as the most picked hero in 2023 across both casual and ranked matches.
1. Beginner-Friendly but Effective
Nana is one of those rare heroes who’s easy to learn but still scales well in teamplay. She doesn’t need complex mechanics to be effective. This made her a favorite choice not just for new players but also for veterans looking for low-pressure games.
Her kit includes:
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Magic Boomerang (Skill 1): Poke and damage at a distance.
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Molina Smooch (Skill 2): Transforms enemies into a slowed-down plushie version, interrupting combos and escapes.
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Molina’s Gift (Passive): Gives her a second chance by becoming untargetable when receiving fatal damage.
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Molina Blitz (Ultimate): Great AOE for zoning and finishing off enemies.
This set of abilities allowed Nana to thrive in most team compositions — support, poke mage, or even anti-assassin.
2. Hard Counter to Assassins
2023 was a big year for assassins. Fanny, Hayabusa, Gusion, and Lancelot were dominating the ranks, especially in solo queue. But guess who could stop them in their tracks?
Nana’s Molina Smooch is every assassin’s worst nightmare. Dash in recklessly, and boom — you're a slow-moving, helpless plush toy in the middle of a team fight. The psychological effect alone made players cautious when engaging, giving Nana’s team a big strategic edge.
3. Consistent Buffs and Meta Shifts
Unlike some other heroes that got nerfed into oblivion or needed high-skill mastery to keep up with meta shifts, Nana remained consistent. She wasn’t necessarily overpowered, but she was never weak either. Moonton seemed to have found a sweet spot in balancing her — and players noticed.
Also, with the game constantly evolving, the emphasis on crowd control and vision increased, which further highlighted Nana’s usefulness in objective fights and jungle invasions.
A Look at the Numbers
According to data from sites like MLBB analytics platforms (like MLBBHero or MLBBStats), Nana consistently topped the charts in 2023 with:
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Pick Rate: Over 5% globally across all ranks
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Win Rate: Around 52% (slightly above average)
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Ban Rate: Rarely banned, which made her very accessible
In Southeast Asia — especially in the Philippines and Indonesia — her popularity soared. In solo queue, you'd almost always see at least one Nana in every few games.
Common Nana Builds in 2023
If you’re curious how most players built Nana during this time, here’s a look at the standard and most effective builds that trended in 2023:
Item Build:
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Clock of Destiny – For early game mana and scaling damage.
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Lightning Truncheon – Synergizes well with CoD.
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Ice Queen Wand – Adds a slowing effect to her poke.
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Divine Glaive – Magic penetration for late game.
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Holy Crystal – Pure damage boost.
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Immortality/Winter Truncheon – Defensive item for clutch moments.
Emblem and Spell:
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Mage Emblem (with Impure Rage or Mystery Shop)
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Flicker or Flameshot as battle spell
These item and emblem setups made Nana an all-around pest: annoying in lane, deadly in mid-game, and extremely hard to catch or burst.
Nana in Competitive Play
While Nana didn’t see much play in MPL or international tournaments, her influence was definitely felt in the ranked scene. Pro players occasionally picked her for content or experimentation, and even some streamers used her to reach Mythical Glory.
It’s interesting how a hero not viable in top-tier competition can still dominate in everyday games. Nana became the champion of solo queue — where chaos reigns and simple, consistent heroes shine brightest.
The Love-Hate Relationship
Let’s face it — not everyone loves Nana. For every player who picks her, there’s a teammate who sighs and types “Nana noob” in chat. But honestly, I think that’s part of her charm.
She’s underestimated. She’s funny. She’s frustrating.
But when played right, she controls the battlefield in ways other mages can’t. She messes up enemy timing, delays ambushes, and can even save a teammate from death just by transforming the attacker.
I’ve lost count of how many assassins rage quit after three failed attempts to kill me because of my passive. You can almost feel their tilt through the screen.
Final Thoughts: Nana’s Unexpected Legacy
In a game with over 100 heroes, from flashy assassins to tanky beasts, who would’ve thought Nana would quietly become the queen of 2023?
Her dominance wasn’t loud or dramatic — she didn’t dominate highlight reels or pro matches. But for millions of everyday ML players, she was the comfort pick, the win-condition, and the adorable nightmare no one wanted to see in the enemy team.
If you’ve never tried her seriously before, I highly recommend giving her a shot. She’s not just cute — she’s clever, tricky, and surprisingly deadly.
As we head into 2024 with new heroes and meta changes, Nana’s reign might eventually fade. But for one magical year, she proved that even the smallest hero can leave the biggest mark.
See you in the Land of Dawn — and if you hear that creepy Molina laugh, better check the bushes. Nana might be waiting.
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