What Changed in January 2026
The Magic Wheel Revamp launched January 1, 2026, as part of Moonton's Project Reforge. This overhaul fundamentally altered how you acquire Legend skins and interact with the gacha system.
COA is completely removed. The new Progress Points system operates per-event, converting 200 Progress Points into 1 Arcane Star Core, which directly claims a Legend skin. For participation, securing sufficient diamonds becomes essential—platforms like BitTopup offer MLBB diamonds top up with competitive rates and instant delivery.
Why COA Was Removed
Moonton eliminated COA to create a transparent, event-focused reward structure. The previous system allowed indefinite currency hoarding, creating unpredictable spending patterns and reduced engagement. Progress Points reset with each Magic Wheel rotation, encouraging active participation over passive accumulation.
Compensation:
- 15 Magic Wheel Potion S per Trail Effect owned
- 500 Diamonds per limited trail participation
- Unused Magic Cores converted 1:1 into Progress Points
New Reward Structure
Drop Rates:
- Arcane Star Core (Legend skin): 0.05%
- Lucky Golden Egg Recall Effect: 0.15%
- Irithel Ice Spike: 0.40%
- Roger Raging Hunter: 0.40%
- Selection Chests: 1.00%
- Lucky Ticket x3: 10.00%
Each draw grants exactly 1 Progress Point. 200 draws guarantee an Arcane Star Core regardless of luck. Legend skins now include Trail Effects, Custom Actions, and Profile Borders free with acquisition.
How the Magic Wheel Works (2026)
The Magic Wheel operates as a premium gacha with guaranteed pity protection. Pricing:
- Single draw: 60 Diamonds
- 5x draws: 270 Diamonds (10% discount)
Every draw contributes 1 Progress Point regardless of reward received. You can track exact distance from guaranteed Legend skin, eliminating previous uncertainty.
Pity System Explained
The pity system guarantees an Arcane Star Core after exactly 200 draws if you haven't received one through the 0.05% drop rate. This translates to:
- Maximum cost: 12,000 Diamonds (200 × 60)
- Average cost: 10,800 Diamonds (accounting for early drops)
- Minimum cost: 60 Diamonds (first-spin drop)
Magic Cores from previous events converted 1:1 to draw progress, allowing veteran players to carry forward value.
Reward Distribution
Beyond the Legend skin, rewards distribute across multiple tiers:
- High-value (0.15-0.40%): Exclusive Recall Effects, Epic skins—roughly once every 250-650 spins
- Mid-tier (1.00%): Selection Chests—approximately every 100 draws
- Common (10.00%): Lucky Ticket x3 bundles—frequent enough to offset some Diamond costs
This distribution creates consistent small returns while pursuing the premium Legend skin.
Exact Diamond Cost Breakdown
Three cost scenarios:
- Absolute minimum: 60 Diamonds (immediate first-spin drop)
- Statistical average: 10,800 Diamonds (accounting for 0.05% drop rate across 200 draws)
- Guaranteed maximum: 12,000 Diamonds (200th draw pity)
Budget for the 10,800 Diamond average rather than hoping for early luck. Conservative players should secure the full 12,000 Diamonds to eliminate uncertainty.
Pre-Revamp vs Post-Revamp
The previous system lacked transparent pity mechanics. The COA accumulation model allowed patient players to spread costs across multiple events, potentially reducing per-skin expenses for those willing to wait months. The new system concentrates costs within individual events but provides certainty—a trade-off favoring predictability over long-term savings.
Dynamic Portraits add 800 Diamonds each as optional purchases outside main draws. Players focused solely on Legend skins can ignore this expense.
Dynamic Portrait Guide
Dynamic Portraits launched alongside the revamp as premium animated profile displays at 800 Diamonds. These showcase character artwork with motion effects, visible to other players in profiles and pre-match lobbies.
January 2026 introduced Dynamic Portraits tied to featured skins like Harley Dreaming Koi (Starlight) and Kimmy Starbound Sentry (Collector). The Dreaming Koi painted version costs 100 Diamonds as a budget alternative.
Setup and Display
After purchasing for 800 Diamonds, access through Profile customization menu under Portrait section. The system allows free switching between owned portraits. Once equipped, the portrait displays automatically in all social contexts—friend lists, chat windows, ranked lobbies, post-match screens.
Dynamic Portraits function independently from skin ownership, allowing flexible self-expression.
Progress Points vs COA
Progress Points replaced COA as primary accumulation currency. Where COA persisted across events indefinitely, Progress Points reset with each Magic Wheel rotation. This eliminated long-term hoarding strategies, forcing commitment to individual events.
The value proposition changed significantly: COA allowed gradual accumulation without time pressure, while Progress Points demand concentrated investment within event windows.
Impact on COA Stockpiles
Players holding COA at the January 1, 2026 revamp received no direct COA conversion. Compensation came through:
- Magic Wheel Potion S distributions (15 per owned Trail Effect)
- 500 Diamonds per limited trail participation
This structure favored active Magic Wheel participants over passive COA accumulators, rewarding past engagement rather than patient saving.
Diamond Calculator & Budget Planning
Required Diamond investment:
- Legend skin (average): 10,800 Diamonds
- Dynamic Portrait: 800 Diamonds
- Total for complete acquisition: 11,600 Diamonds
- Conservative budget (maximum): 12,800 Diamonds
5x draw discount savings: The 5x draw discount (270 vs 300 Diamonds) saves 30 Diamonds per batch. Over 200 draws (40 batches of 5), this saves 1,200 Diamonds total—reducing maximum cost from 12,000 to 10,800 Diamonds when exclusively using 5x draws.
F2P Strategy
F2P acquisition requires accumulating 10,800+ Diamonds through in-game sources. Daily tasks, events, and achievements provide approximately 200-300 Diamonds weekly for active players, translating to 36-54 weeks of saving for a single Legend skin. This makes F2P Magic Wheel participation impractical for most.
Magic Wheel Potion S offers an alternative path through special events and premium bundles. Each potion grants one free draw, reducing Diamond requirements by 60 per potion.
Spender Strategy
Premium Supply rewards:
- 100 Diamonds spent: 1 Draw Token
- 250 Diamonds spent: 2 Draw Tokens
- 500 Diamonds spent: 3 Draw Tokens
- Starlight membership: 3 Draw Tokens
- Maximum obtainable: 9 tokens
For those ready to invest, securing diamonds through reliable platforms ensures uninterrupted event participation. Services offering buy Mobile Legends diamonds online with secure transactions and instant delivery prevent missing limited-time rotations.
Is Magic Wheel 2026 Worth It?
At 10,800 Diamonds average cost, Legend skins cost approximately 60-70% less than direct-purchase Collector skins (typically 15,000+ Diamonds). For players specifically wanting the featured Legend skin, the Magic Wheel offers genuine savings.
However, the randomized structure means you receive numerous unwanted items during 180+ draws toward pity. Unlike targeted purchases, Magic Wheel spending distributes value across multiple rewards—some useful, many redundant. Players valuing only the Legend skin may find 40-50% of Diamond expenditure wasted.
Secondary Rewards Value
Genuinely valuable items:
- Exclusive Recall Effects (0.15% drop rate): Significant prestige value
- Epic skins for Irithel/Roger (0.40% each): Functional value for hero users
- Selection Chests (1.00%): Player choice among predetermined rewards
- Lucky Ticket x3 (10.00%): Utility in Lucky Spin events
These secondary rewards can offset 2,000-3,000 Diamonds of effective cost for players who utilize them strategically.
When to Spin vs Skip
Spin when:
- Featured Legend skin matches a frequently played hero
- Secondary reward pool contains multiple desirable items
- Diamond reserves exceed 12,000
Skip when:
- Featured hero you never use (cosmetics provide zero gameplay value)
- Diamond reserves fall below 12,000 (partial participation yields poor value)
The Exquisite Collection Event (running concurrently from January 1, 2026) offers alternative spending. Draws cost 50 Diamonds (25 for first draw), with 10x draws at 500 Diamonds (350 for first batch). The first 10x draw guarantees a special skin, providing better short-term value for limited budgets.
Expert Tips for Maximum Value
Track Progress Points meticulously. The system displays current progress, but maintain personal records to prevent confusion during multi-day sessions. Know your exact distance from 200-draw pity to optimize Diamond purchases.
Never spin with fewer than 12,000 Diamonds available unless you're comfortable abandoning pursuit. Partial progress provides no value if you can't reach guaranteed Arcane Star Core, as Progress Points reset when events end.
Diamond Recharge Strategy
Purchase Diamonds in batches aligned with Magic Wheel milestones. Calculate remaining draws to pity, multiply by 60 Diamonds, and purchase that exact amount (rounded up to available denomination). This prevents accumulating small balances that sit unused.
Leverage first-time purchase bonuses and limited-time recharge events when they coincide with Magic Wheel rotations. Moonton frequently runs double Diamond promotions during major events, effectively reducing Legend skin costs by 30-40%.
Common Mistakes
Most expensive mistake: Spinning without confirming the featured Legend skin. Magic Wheel rotations change every few weeks. Always verify the current featured skin before the first draw.
Another costly error: Using single 60-Diamond draws instead of 5x 270-Diamond batches. The 30-Diamond savings per batch accumulates to 1,200 Diamonds over 200 draws—equivalent to 20 free spins.
Getting Diamonds Efficiently
In-game earning (minimal support):
- Daily tasks: 20-30 Diamonds
- Weekly achievements: 50-80 Diamonds
- Monthly events: 200-400 Diamonds
- Combined monthly total: 1,000-1,500 Diamonds (7-12 months saving for single Legend skin)
Event participation (most substantial): Major updates like January 2026 Project Reforge include login bonuses, achievement milestones, and limited-time missions totaling 500-1,000 Diamonds. Complete all available events during a Magic Wheel rotation to reduce purchase requirements by 1,500-2,500 Diamonds.
Why Secure Diamond Platforms Matter
Reliable diamond recharge platforms provide instant delivery, competitive pricing, and secure transactions—critical for time-limited Magic Wheel events. Payment processing delays can cause you to miss event deadlines, forfeiting Progress Points and wasting partial investments.
Competitive pricing becomes significant at Magic Wheel scale. A 5-10% price difference on a 12,000 Diamond purchase translates to 600-1,200 Diamond savings—equivalent to 10-20 free spins.
Budget Planning in Advance
Legend skin rotations typically last 2-3 weeks, providing a clear deadline for Diamond accumulation. Identify desired upcoming skins through leak communities and official previews, then calculate required Diamonds (10,800 average + 800 for Dynamic Portrait) and establish a purchase timeline.
Budget-conscious players benefit from spreading purchases across multiple pay periods. Buying 2,000 Diamonds weekly over six weeks feels more manageable than a 12,000 Diamond lump sum, while achieving identical results.
FAQ
What happened to COA in MLBB Magic Wheel 2026? Crystals of Aurora were completely removed January 1, 2026, replaced with Progress Points. Unused Magic Cores converted 1:1 to Progress Points. Players received 15 Magic Wheel Potion S per owned Trail Effect and 500 Diamonds per limited trail participation.
How many diamonds for Magic Wheel Legend skin? Average cost: 10,800 Diamonds. Guaranteed maximum: 12,000 Diamonds (200 draws × 60). Absolute minimum: 60 Diamonds (first-spin drop at 0.05% rate).
What is Dynamic Portrait in MLBB Magic Wheel? Animated profile displays costing 800 Diamonds each, featuring character artwork with motion effects. They display in profiles, lobbies, and social interfaces independently from skin ownership.
Does Magic Wheel have guaranteed Legend drop? Yes. The pity system guarantees an Arcane Star Core after exactly 200 draws if you haven't received one through the 0.05% drop rate. Each draw grants 1 Progress Point; 200 Progress Points convert to 1 Arcane Star Core automatically.
What are the odds of getting Legend in Magic Wheel? 0.05% drop rate per spin (1 in 2,000 chance). However, guaranteed pity at 200 draws creates an effective average of 1 Legend skin per 10,800 Diamonds when accounting for both random drops and guaranteed acquisition.
Is Magic Wheel worth it after 2026 revamp? Offers 30-40% savings vs direct-purchase Collector skins if you specifically want the featured Legend skin. Value depends on whether you'll use the hero—cosmetics for unplayed characters provide zero practical benefit. Skip events featuring heroes you don't play.
