MLBB x KOF Encore 2026: Best Strategy to Get All 9 Skins

Mobile Legends is bringing back the KOF collaboration. Again. But this time it is different. The KOF Encore 2026 event started January 30 and runs until March 1. This is your second shot at grabbing all nine King of Fighters skins in one massive rerun event. Remember when we only got six skins max in previous years? MOONTON changed that.

Here’s the thing: these aren’t just regular cosmetics. KOF skins feature complete animation overhauls, original Japanese voice lines from the arcade games, and visual effects that fundamentally change how heroes feel in combat. That said, the Bingo system is notoriously expensive and RNG-heavy. Without proper planning, chasing your favorite skin can easily drain 15,000 Diamonds or more if luck turns against you.

Understanding the Dual Prize Pool System

Here is where people get confused. The event runs two separate prize pools, but they share the same Bingo board progress. You can switch between pools freely, numbers do not reset, and you do not lose progress. I know this trips people up because it looks complicated on paper. But honestly, it is a huge advantage once you understand how it works.

KOF Bingo Pool

This pool contains the first six skins from Series I and Series II. The major draw here is the guaranteed Karina “Leona” skin within your first 10 pulls. If you already own Leona, the game swaps this guarantee for a random Epic skin instead, which still provides solid value for collectors.

KOF ’97 Pool

The ’97 pool features the three newest skins: Paquito as Terry Bogard, Masha as Mai Shiranui, and Valir as Kyo Kusanagi. These represent the most recent quality standards for collaboration skins. The animations hit harder, the effects look sharper, and honestly, these are the skins most veterans chase.

How the Bingo Mechanics Actually Work

The Bingo board uses a 3×3 grid with nine numbered tiles. Every 10 draws you complete lights up one random number on the board. Complete any straight line (horizontal, vertical, or diagonal), and you’re guaranteed one unowned KOF skin. If you already own all nine, the reward changes to a high-tier Epic skin.

Now, let me warn you about the thing that always happens. You look at your board. You see numbers 1 and 5 lit up. Number 9 is right there waiting to complete your diagonal line. You pull. You get number 3 instead. The game just laughs at you. This is the Bingo trap everyone falls into. Some players complete lines in 30 draws, while others need 60 or more. 

Expected Draw Requirements

Scenario	Estimated Draws	Diamond Cost (with discounts)
Lucky pattern	30-40 draws	6,000-8,000 Diamonds
Average pattern	40-50 draws	8,000-10,000 Diamonds
Unlucky pattern	50-60+ draws	10,000-15,000+ Diamonds

These estimates assume you’re using daily discounts and Premium Supply tokens correctly. Skip those optimizations, and costs balloon fast.

Maximizing Free Tokens Through Premium Supply

This is where experienced players separate themselves from casual spenders. Premium Supply runs in two phases, each offering massive Diamond savings through free draw tokens.

Phase 1: February 6-10

During these five days, players can earn up to 16 tokens total through recharge and login tasks. Each token equals one free draw, which normally costs 225 Diamonds. Do the math and you are looking at roughly 3,600 Diamonds saved. Just from this one phase alone.

Phase 2: February 13-17

In another five days, another 16 tokens will be waiting for you. The tasks are identical to Phase 1 so you already know what to do. Add them together, and you get 32 free tokens total. That is around 7,200 Diamonds you never actually spent. Not bad for just logging in and playing.

Smart players complete both phases religiously. Missing even one phase cuts your free token total nearly in half, forcing you to spend those Diamonds out of pocket later.

Optimal Draw Timeline

Here’s a proven strategy that reaches 40 draws using minimal Diamond spending:

Days 1-5 (Before Premium Supply):

• Use daily discounted 1x draws only
• Save 10x pulls for Premium Supply activation
• Total: 5 draws completed

February 6-10 (Premium Supply Phase 1):

• Claim all 16 free tokens
• Use a discounted 10x draw
• Continue daily 1x discounts
• Total: 31 draws completed

February 8-12 (Between Phases):

• Daily discounted draws only
• Let Weekly Diamond Pass rewards accumulate
• Total: 36 draws completed

February 13-17 (Premium Supply Phase 2):

• Claim all 16 free tokens from Phase 2
• Push to 40 total draws
• Total: 40+ draws completed

At 40 draws, your chances of completing at least one Bingo line sit extremely high based on community pattern data. Players who reach this threshold typically secure their first KOF skin. If RNG fails you here, duplicate skin conversions into fragments provide additional draws to push toward 50.

Common Mistakes That Waste Diamonds

Jumping in without research destroys Diamond budgets fast. These errors happen every single KOF event, and they’re completely avoidable.

• Going All-In Day One
• Skipping Daily Discounts
• Ignoring Premium Supply Phases
• Chasing Multiple Skins

Is It Worth the Investment?

For collectors and players who main KOF heroes, absolutely. These skins never return outside of rare encore events, making them genuinely limited. The complete animation packages and original voice acting create an experience that standard skins can’t match.

Free-to-play players face a tougher decision, as accumulating 6,000-10,000 Diamonds takes months of grinding without spending. But, if you’ve been saving specifically for KOF, go for it. If you’re hoping to pull multiple skins on a F2P budget, temper expectations or risk burning through resources meant for future events. 

Final Recommendations

Use your daily discounts every single day. Start with the KOF Bingo pool first because that gives you the Leona guarantee. Wait for the Premium Supply phases before you do any serious pulling. Use both phases that occur during this event.

If you want to hit 40 draws efficiently, grab about six Weekly Diamond Passes and stack them with both Premium Supply phases. This is the sweet spot. You are not spending like a whale but you are giving yourself real odds at completing a line.

If you are short on resources and want to jump straight into the action, check out U7BUY. They have competitive rates on MLBB top up. Or maybe you just want a head start without grinding. There are Mobile Legends account for sale listings there too. Either way, you can hit the ground running instead of watching everyone else pull their skins.