Inspired by Filipino professional boxer and only eight-division boxing champion, Manny Pacquiao, a new fighter hero called ‘Paquito’ is releasing in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang on January 15. In case you don’t know, Paquito is a robust fighter hero with the ability to enhance his skills. Moreover, he can use several skill combos to dish out a burst of damage and outplay his opponents in both 1v1 duels and team fights. 

Paquito can be purchased with 32000 gold or 419 Diamonds. Without further ado, let’s jump straight into Paquito’s abilities. 

Hero Abilities

Passive (Champ Stance): Paquito gets passive stacks on damaging the enemies by casting his skills on them or his Basic Attacks. When he reaches four passive stacks, Paquito enters Champion Stance, enhancing his next skill and lowering/entire skipping its cooldown. Paquito has a higher Attack Speed in comparison to other fighter heroes. However, most of his Basic Attacks deals only (+85% Total Physical Attack) Physical Damage. Paquito gains a Movement Speed buff of 60% for 2.5 seconds after the enhanced skill is cast.

Skill 1 – Heavy Left Punch: Paquito punches in a specified direction dealing 245 (+70% Total Physical Attack) Physical Damage to the selected target. On hitting, Paquito gains a 200 (+110% Physical Attack) shield. 

Champ Stance Enhanced: Paquito’s hefty punch becomes fiercer, dealing 350 (+100% Physical Attack) Physical Damage and granting him 110% of the original shield (this shield can stack with the non-enhanced shield as well). The shield lasts 2 seconds.

Skill 2 – Jab (Burst, Blink): Paquito dashes forth and throws a jab, dealing 250 (+100% Total Physical Attack) Attack/Physical Damage to every enemy present within the area of effect.

Champ Stance Enhanced: Gives Paquito’s Jab even more striking force, dealing 400 (+150% Total Physical Attack) Physical Damage to enemies within the area of effect. However, Jab deals no damage to the enemies in the path and stops when hitting a hero or creep (it passes through minions).

Ultimate Skill – Annihilation Strike (Burst, CC): Paquito launches an elbow strike to all enemies standing in the front and dealing 250 (+50% Total Physical Attack) Physical Damage pushing them in a particular direction. After that, He swirls a haymaker at a breakneck speed, trading 400 (+100% Total Physical Attack) Physical Damage and slowing targets by 75% for 1 second, as he darts backward.

Champ Stance Enhanced: After pushing the enemies in the intended direction, Paquito launches an uppercut, dealing 600 (+150% Total Physical Attack) Physical Damage, and knocks his enemies airborne rather than slowing them.

How Good is Paquito in MLBB?

In case you’re wondering about the areas in which Paquito excels, we’re glad to tell you that he does exceptionally well in 1v1s, 1v2s, and even in 1v3s. As per the latest patch notes, several changes were made to Paquito’s abilities. However, the core gameplay remains the same despite the changes made by developers.

Since all the skills in his kit can be enhanced, he becomes a compelling fighter hero. His kit has it all: movement speed buffs, burst damage, crowd control, or damage reduction capability. What’s even more interesting is that you can pull off insane combos with the skills in his kit to one-shot squishy enemy champions. However, it won’t be that easy to pull off his combos. The ultimate skill, ‘Annihilation Strike,’ is a dedicated crowd control skill and does AOE damage to all the enemies within the area. Still, the width of the area of the CC is minimal. So, it would help if you executed it accurately to get the desired results.

The short duration of Paquito’s first and second skill makes him a strong duelist. Not to mention, taking the ‘Fighter Emblem Set‘ with this champ is highly recommended. 

Equipment Builds with Paquito

Let’s take a look at some of the most common items that you can build on Paquito. However, make sure that these items can be changed and combined with other items depending on the opponent champion you’re laning against or the team composition you are up against in your standard or ranked game.

• Warrior Boots
• Bloodlust Axe
• Blade of Despair (x2 at times depending on the situation)
• Queen’s Wings
• Hunter Strike
• Brute Force Breastplate
• Beast Killer
• Malefic Roar (against fatty tank composition)

The image above shows the best builds that the current MLBB pros are using at the moment with Paquito. Don’t hesitate in trying out these build combinations if your current one isn’t getting the job done for you!

Paquito, the Heavenly Fist – Gameplay

To start with, Paquito is best played in the experience (EXP Lane) where he’ll probably go up against enemy fighter or tank champion. With Paquito, you’re quite strong in all the game phases, be it early game, mid-game, or the late game. Depending on your play style, you can either play safe or play aggressive from the get-go! Make sure that once you have built sufficient items, you roam around the map and make use of the abilities in your kit!

Now comes the most crucial aspect, which is the team fighting. In team fights, you can make a massive impact with your ultimate. Always try to target the enemy mage or marksman as they are the most squishy and easy to kill. One well-time ultimate can seal the deal of that particular team fight for your team. Maybe, you’ll end up winning the entire game with a single good team fight. 

Paquito is undoubtedly one of a kind fighter champion. With the right combination of emblem sets and item build, you can deal heavy damage and withstand the damage being dished by the enemy team at the same time. So make sure you get your practice in on the champion before trying him out in the ranked 5v5 games.