Quick Rundown: Dropping on September 17, 2025, Patch 2.1.18 shakes up the support life by handing roamers their own gold and EXP streams—think assists and bush reveals raking in rewards, plus tweaks to blessings like Conceal and Encourage to keep things fair. Hit that 2-minute Turtle for around 200g, and you're off to a strong start. We'll dive into ward-style vision tricks, smart plays for heroes like Atlas and Franco, rotation routes, item paths, and pitfalls to dodge in Ranked Season 38. Trust me, as someone who's dissected countless MPL replays, this rework rewards the patient vision-setter over the greedy laner.
Getting a Grip on the Roaming Gold Rework in Patch 2.1.18
The Big Shifts: How the Mechanics Actually Changed
This rework finally lets supports build their own economy without leeching off the team. Spot enemies lurking in bushes? That's about 50 XP and some Thriving gold in your pocket. Assists chip in another ~50 XP, speeding up those blessing unlocks without siphoning from your carries.
Here's how to jump in: Grab Roaming Boots right off the bat to kickstart Thriving. Then, poke around river bushes—aim to reveal 2-3 foes per minute, stacking up 100-150g steadily. It's not flashy, but it adds up fast in those early skirmishes.
Unlocking Roaming Blessings: The Passive Breakdown
These blessings flip on after about 5 minutes of Thriving from assists and vision work, hitting full power by 13 minutes. The key? Stay gold-poor compared to your teammates—steer clear of minion waves like they're the plague. Conceal gives you 5 seconds of sneaky camouflage and a movement speed bump; Encourage pumps physical or magic power by 13-33 and attack speed by 33%. (Editor’s take: Encourage feels like a game-changer for beefy tanks—I've seen it turn a shaky early game into a dominant one.)
To make it happen: Snag Roaming Boots at level 1 for that Thriving flow. Lock down early buffs and assists to hit the 5-minute mark. For tanks like Hylos, lean into Encourage during those heated 2-minute Turtle grabs.
Cracking the Gold Distribution Code
Assists net you ~50 XP plus Thriving gold; kills bump it to ~80 XP, no sharing required. The 2-minute Turtle? That's ~200g per ally, tossed in with a shield—four spawns in total to chase. Lord at 10 minutes dishes out ~300g and damage amps. As for lane waves: 3 melee minions clock in at ~30g each, a caster at ~40g, and siege at ~50g around 3:00. But don't go hogging full last-hits (~200g)—it kills your Thriving vibe.
Pro tip: Keep tabs on enemy buffs; layer in vision to squeeze 200-300g from big objectives like Turtle. Why chase waves when the map's gold is right there?
Building a Solid Support Economy After the Update
The Ins and Outs of Generating Roaming Gold
Supports now pull gold through vision reveals (~50g bonuses) and assists (~50 XP and Thriving), all feeding into those sweet blessings. Turtle proximity and assists add ~200 XP to the team pot—everyone wins.
Get rolling: Plant yourself in Gold Lane bushes to catch invades early. Nab 5-7 assists by 5 minutes for that Thriving buildup. Turn those reveals into 100-150g loops per rotation. It's like farming without the farm—efficient, right?
Navigating Farming Limits and the Penalty Trap
Only roamers can snag Roaming Boots; if you overfarm, your gold balloons past your team's, nuking Thriving. Melee minions give ~40 XP, casters ~50 XP, siege ~70 XP at 3:00—aim to soak 70% just by hanging near lanes, no last-hits needed to dodge the slap.
Play it smart: Stick to turret defense for any farming. Chase assists over kills to keep your gold low. Soak EXP passively near lanes, and you'll unlock Thriving by 5 minutes without a hitch.
Sharing the Wealth with Your Core Heroes
With independent gains, your carries can farm freely while you enable quicker kills via Encourage, splitting ~300g from Lord grabs. Shield high-KDA allies to avoid turret dives; if you're up 5-0, shove towers in those quick 10-15 second post-fight windows.
Rotation basics: Swing by to guard the jungler during buff secures. Pop Favor to heal the lowest-HP teammate every 10 seconds. Split lanes with vision drops, divvying up objective gold like pros.
GPM Targets Across Rank Tiers
In Epic, you're looking at 300-400 GPM from vision and assists; Mythic players push 500+ with slick rotations. Turtle spikes ~200g, Lord bursts ~300g. Tanks like Grock can hit 450 GPM juiced by Encourage. (Based on patch data and replay stats—it's not magic, just smart play.)
Benchmark your game: Grab that 2-minute Turtle for 200g. Reveal 4-5 enemies mid-game. Adapt per rank—Epic sticks to basics, Mythic dives into counter-jungling.
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Roaming Items Face-Off and Build Routes
Courage Mask: Powering Up Tank Supports
Courage Mask (that's Encourage) amps ally physical or magic power by 13-33 and attack speed by 33%; it meshes perfectly with Roaming Boots for those 5-minute unlocks. Hylos thrives with it in Lord fights; slap on Antique Cuirass against physical bullies.
Build path: Kick off with Roaming Boots + Encourage at level 1. Upgrade to the full mask by 7 minutes on Thriving gold. Follow with Blade Armor second for that sweet damage reflect.
Shadow Mask: Streamlining Mage Support Plays
Shadow Mask (Conceal) hands out 5 seconds of camouflage and speed, making you untargetable by basic attacks—though it drops if you take damage. Tigreal pairs it with Fatal Links for setups; the 2.1.18 tweaks keep the economy balanced.
Steps to shine: Pick Conceal post-Boots for gank setups. Combo with Flicker for getaways. Upgrade around 10 minutes, cashing in vision rewards.
Awe Mask: Mixing It Up in Hybrid Roams
Awe Mask (Dire Hit) slams hybrid damage (% of max HP) on enemies under 35% HP every 30 seconds. Franco loves it for securing picks; Favor heals every 10 seconds to keep you in the fray.
Unlock it: Stack Thriving through assists. Trigger on low-HP targets during 2-minute Turtle chaos. Build Athena’s Shield against magic spikes.
Upgrade Now or Hold Off? Timing Your Items
Push blessings to max at 13 minutes for peak power; if you're ahead, delay full items and double down on vision. Roaming Boots trigger Thriving from assists—grab Radiant Armor mid-game against threats.
Decide wisely: Upgrade if you're at 400 GPM. Hold if your team's leading, focusing rotations instead. Time buys right before fights to stay alive.
Key Timing Windows to Dominate
Early Game (0-4 Minutes): Pressuring Lanes and Snagging First Blood
Lock buffs and rotate to Gold Lane; that 2-minute Turtle drops ~200g and a shield. Scoop Roaming Boots + Encourage; assist first blood for ~80 XP.
Hit these beats: Secure your hyper carry's buff at 1:30. Swing to EXP Lane, soaking ~40 XP from melee minions nearby. Counter invades with CC to force reveals.
Mid Game (4-8 Minutes): Owning Turtles and Tower Swings
Four Turtles spawn starting at 2 minutes (~200 XP per team)—contest them hard. Rotate post-buffs to Gold Lane for ~50 XP assists. Harass the enemy jungle; if you're 5-0 ahead, split lanes in 10-15 second post-fight bursts.
Make it count: Drop vision near the 4-minute Turtle. Gank mid for kills. Shove towers (~100 XP) after you secure.
Late Game (8-12 Minutes): Setting Up Lord and Positioning for Fights
Lord spawns at 10 minutes with ~300g and buffs—scout it with your tankiness. Glue to carries, initiating at objectives; Encourage delivers those power spikes.
Execute: Scout bushes before Lord to deny spawns. Engage with Epic buffs ready. Disrupt their backline, healing via Favor every 10 seconds.
End Game (12+ Minutes): Denying Vision and Locking Objectives
Blessings max at 13 minutes; body-block to shut down their vision. Rotate for objectives, prioritizing high-KDA allies; track buffs to push 500+ GPM in Mythic.
Tactics: Fake rotations to bait their vision. Pick off sub-35% HP foes with Dire Hit. Communicate for Lord pushes—teamwork seals it.
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Mastering Ward-Style Vision Control
Bush-Checking Routines for Total Map Control
Sweep bushes, river entries, and Epic zones for ~50g/EXP reveals—track movements to spot ambushes. Early on, clear Gold Lane after buffs; mid-game, watch Turtle routes.
Routine: Scout every 30 seconds during rotations. Lean on notifications for pings. Pair with Conceal for safe reveals leading to assists.
Body Blocking and Baiting Vision Like a Pro
Block paths to starve their info, baiting reveals in the process; tuck into enemy jungle with Grock's walls. Lure mid-lane dives to expose assassins.
Do this: Block the river at 2 minutes for Turtle defense. Bait as low-HP bait, then hook with Franco. Track buffs to deny their vision entirely.
Prime Spots for Turtle and Lord Vision
For Turtle (2 minutes): Hide in bushes for reveals, team-securing ~200g—four spawns total. Lord (10 minutes): Scout the spawn with CC ready.
Setup: Scout Turtle paths 30 seconds early. Use Minotaur for staying power. Rotate to towers right after the secure.
Countering Enemy Vision: Blinding Their Roamer
Invade jungle to clear bushes, leaving their support blind; ping gank warnings from map checks. Fake rotations to pull vision, then counter-gank.
Counterplay: Track the enemy roamer on minimap. Disrupt with Khufra's bounces. Communicate for easy picks.
Smart Roaming Rotation Patterns
Duo Lane or Full Roam: Picking Your Poison
Go duo for Angela's global heals against burst threats; full roam suits Kaja's suppression for map pressure. Start duo early for sustain, switch mid for Turtle hunts.
Choose: Duo up against assassins. Shift post-4 minutes for ganks. Adapt via team chat—flexibility wins.
Timing Jungle Invasions (Gold-Penalty Free)
Invade after your buffs with vision cover; hit weak spots before Turtle. Harass at 5 minutes with a mage for assist gold.
Invade safe: Secure your buffs first. Roll in with 2-3 heroes, revealing camps. Pull back if outnumbered—live to fight.
Gank Windows in Mid and Wave Tricks
Gank mid during wave freezes for ~50 XP; shove enemy waves for dives after 5 minutes. Use bushes for the jump-scare.
Nail it: Clear vision before closing in. Initiate under Conceal. Amp damage with Encourage.
Coordinating EXP Lane Dives
Dive after rotations for kills, soaking ~70 XP nearby; sync post-Turtle with Franco's hook. Guard against counter-invaders.
Dive right: Rotate at 3 minutes. Strike with level edge. Vision their backline for counters.
Hero-Tailored Roaming Strategies
Top Tank Supports Thriving in the New Economy
Atlas chains Fatal Links for CC and vision under Conceal; Franco hooks picks with Dire Hit. Tigreal, Khufra, and Grock lead charges; Johnson barrels in with his car stun.
Hero plays: For Atlas, link up at Turtle spawns. Franco: Hook the low-HP stragglers. Build defensive to outlast.
Mages as Supports: Breaking Down Gold Efficiency
Mathilda and Rafaela lean on Favor for 10-second heals; Angela globals her attach. Hit ~400 GPM through vision; Estes procs Favor on the fly.
Efficiency: Pick Favor for healing duty. Attach during objective grabs. Pair with Encourage for fight bursts.
Fighter-Support Hybrids in the Meta Spotlight
Carmilla links for CC and sustain; Baxia and Edith tank with Encourage. Gatotkaca closes with Dire Hit; Masha blends damage seamlessly.
Hybrid tips: Carmilla, link mid-game. Build Awe Mask for %HP nukes. Roam aggressively— they're built for it.
Synergies That Pop with Roaming Items
Atlas + Conceal for ambush gold; Hylos + Encourage for team boosts. Minotaur + Favor scouts safely; Kaja + Dire Hit snags picks.
Sync up: Match the item to your hero's kit. Duo early for gold shares. Adapt—like Akai against burst comps.
Pitfalls to Sidestep and Fixes
Farming Fumbles That Ding Your Gold
Overdoing waves (~200g) tanks Thriving; skip last-hits unless defending. Jungling blind means zero gold payoff.
Dodge: Soak EXP by proximity only. Cap at one wave per rotation. Chase vision for real gains.
Botched Timing That Costs Games
Skip the 2-minute Turtle? Kiss ~200g goodbye; late rotations leave lanes exposed. Invading sans vision at 10 minutes? Death sentence.
Fix: Hit buffs at 1:30 sharp. Gank pre-jungle. Map-check every 30 seconds—habit saves lives.
Vision Gaps That Let Ganks Slip Through
Overlook bushes, and ganks rain down; ignore river pre-Turtle, and objectives vanish. Scout often to fix Epic-level sloppiness.
Patch it: Hit key spots every minute. Bait with fakes. Ping alerts—talk it out.
Item Order Blunders to Avoid
Going offensive early against threats? Sustain crumbles. Delaying Boots past level 1? Thriving stalls. Skip Athena’s Shield vs. magic? You're toast.
Right way: Boots first, always. Cuirass for physical walls. Upgrade blessings at 13 minutes.
Pro Tips and MPL-Inspired Strategies
Vision Tactics Straight from MPL Pros
Track buffs to push aggression; bushes become gank highways, invasions deny theirs. Scout Lord early; body-block for that 500 GPM grind.
Steal it: Toggle Speed Mode against lag. Target low-HP first. Review VODs—spot the patterns pros exploit.
Quick Comms for Seamless Teamwork
Ping vision spots and OMW for ganks; call out buff steals. Sync Turtle grabs; babysit high-KDA carries.
Shortcuts: Ping reveals on sight. Call your engages. Lean into SEA's aggressive meta—adapt or die.
Adapting by Rank: From Epic to Mythic
Epic: Boots early, basics only. Legend: Nail Turtle timings. Mythic: Khufra for counter-jungles. Watch for October 9, 2025, patches tweaking 1v1 mode.
Rank up: Epic secures buffs. Mythic baits visions. Track monthly balances—stay ahead.
Future-Proofing Your Support Game
Eye post-2.1.18 changes; drill in customs with Support emblem. Break down losses for vision whiffs; suppress assassins to counter.
Level up: Practice AI rotations. Core defensive builds. Keep meta-sharp for Season 38—it's evolving fast.
FAQ
What’s new with Mobile Legends' roaming gold in patch 2.1.18?
On September 17, 2025, Patch 2.1.18 hands roamers independent gold and EXP, ditching the drain mechanic. Vision reveals score ~50g bonuses; blessings like Dire Hit get balanced tweaks. Non-roamers can't touch Roaming Boots—focus on Turtle (~200g at 2 minutes) to specialize.
How do roaming blessings function post-2.1.18?
They unlock via Thriving from assists and vision around 5 minutes, maxing at 13. Conceal: 5-second camo; Encourage: 13-33 power and 33% attack speed; Favor: Heals lowest-HP every 10 seconds; Dire Hit: %HP damage under 35% every 30 seconds. Skip minion farms to stay low-gold.
When do supports kick off roaming in 2025 Mobile Legends?
0-4 minutes: Buff secures, Gold Lane rotates after Roaming Boots. 4-8 minutes: Turtle contests at 2/4/6. 8+ minutes: Lord at 10. Vision-check every 30 seconds; duo early, full roam mid-game.
Best roaming items for MLBB supports?
Roaming Boots + Encourage for tanks (power/speed boosts); Conceal for initiators (camo); Favor for healers (HP restores); Dire Hit for hybrids (%HP). Defenses: Cuirass vs. physical, Athena’s vs. magic. Upgrade at 13 minutes; Thriving via ~50 XP assists.
Maximizing support gold after the rework?
Go independent with reveals (~50g) and assists (~50 XP/Thriving). Dodge wave penalties; snag Turtle (~200g/team), Lord (~300g). Aim 300-500 GPM with 4-5 reveals/min, carry guards, zero deaths. One roamer per team keeps it efficient.
Which heroes shine brightest in the new system?
Tanks: Atlas (Conceal ambushes), Franco (Dire Hit hooks), Grock (vision walls). Mages: Angela (Favor globals), Mathilda (sustain). Hybrids: Carmilla (CC links), Kaja (ganks). All-rounders like Minotaur/Lolita crush 2-minute Turtle plays.