After an action-packed Week 2 of the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League Philippines Season 9 (MPL PH Season 9), ECHO is still on top of the standings with a 4-0 record.

There are a number of reasons why this team has found its way up. Its roster is filled with star players, and their natural chemistry is every coach’s dream.

Their confidence was even more evident when they brought out the infamous Johnson-Kadita strategy in pro play against Blacklist International.

What is the Johnson-Kadita cheese strategy?

Mobile Legends: Bang Bang hero, Johnson
Credit: Moonton

This strategy was popular when Johnson and Kadita were still meta early last year. The combo is easy to pull off, and is surprisingly fun to play.

The combo is executed as follows — Johnson would take Kadita with him during Rapid Touchdown. Once he hits an enemy, Kadita will immediately use Rough Waves to deal the killing blow. This is usually an instant kill, especially if the enemy caught is a marksman or a support. It’s that easy.

As time went by, many people discovered how to counter the Kadita-Johnson strategy, and what was once a dominant duo became a distant memory for every Mobile Legends player as it fell out of fashion.



ECHO revives the Johnson-Kadita strategy in pro play

ECHO's revamped roster for Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League Philippines Season 9 (MPL PH Season 9)
Credit: ECHO

It was a surprise therefore, when ECHO pulled out this unique strategy in pro play against the defending champions Blacklist International in the second game of their series.

Tristan “Yawi” Cabrera’s Kadita and Jankurt Russel “KurTzy” Matira’s Johnson immediately asserted dominance in the early game, disrupting Kiel “OHEB” Soriano’s Lunox and Salic “Hadji” Alauya Imam’s Yve momentum.

The duo were driving around the map for the most part of the game, with the aim of creating space for their core players to freely farm in lane.

After multiple pick-offs from ECHO, they ended the series after wiping out all the members of Blacklist International in their base with the classic Rapid Touchdown and Rough Waves combo.

Next week will be the ultimate test for ECHO as they’ll face the undefeated RSG PH on March 5, Saturday, at 6 p.m. GMT+8.

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