The failure of RRQ Hoshi to qualify for the MPL Indonesia Season 17 playoffs once again became one of the biggest surprises of the season. A team that had been known for years as one of the greatest symbols of MLBB strength in Indonesia surprisingly ended the regular season near the bottom of the standings. That situation immediately sparked massive criticism from Kingdom fans and the Indonesian esports community.

This marked the second consecutive season in which RRQ failed to reach the MPL Indonesia playoffs. It became an almost unbelievable reality considering the organization’s long and prestigious history in the competitive Mobile Legends scene. Because of that, many people started questioning RRQ’s roster-building direction, coaching system, and even the mentality of their players over the last few seasons.

The biggest spotlight naturally turned toward RRQ CEO Andrian Pauline, better known as Pak AP. As the figure who built RRQ into one of the largest esports organizations in Indonesia, Pak AP finally spoke openly about his disappointment regarding the team’s disastrous MPL ID S17 campaign.

Interestingly, Pak AP did not only discuss match results or in-game technical performances. Instead, he focused on something much deeper: player mentality, which he believes has become one of RRQ’s biggest problems in recent seasons. That discussion immediately made RRQ roster criteria one of the hottest topics within the MLBB community.

According to Pak AP, the pressure of playing for RRQ is completely different compared to other organizations. RRQ’s status as the biggest esports organization in Indonesia creates enormous expectations from the public toward its players. Not every player is capable of handling that pressure, even if they possess extraordinary mechanical skill.

Because of that, Pak AP confirmed that RRQ roster criteria for MPL ID Season 18 will change drastically. RRQ are no longer simply searching for talented players from a gameplay perspective, but also players who are truly prepared to face massive pressure, community criticism, and the extremely high expectations coming from Kingdom every single season.

Pak AP Becomes More Selective, Reveals RRQ Season 18 Roster Criteria

In his statement, Pak AP openly revealed that he has now become far more selective in choosing players worthy of representing RRQ. He admitted that the last few seasons have taught him an important lesson: not every player is suitable for an organization as massive as RRQ.

Here is Pak AP’s full statement regarding RRQ roster criteria for MPL ID Season 18:

"Saya punya tekad untuk season 18 itu saya harus cari pemain-pemain yang berani. Kalau dia ada sedikit keraguan, segala macam. Setelah beberapa musim saya baru sadar RRQ tuh tidak cocok untuk semua pemain,"

That statement instantly became a major discussion point within the Indonesian MLBB community. Many fans agreed that RRQ truly need players with a special mentality to survive under the organization’s enormous pressure. Playing for RRQ is not only about mechanics, but also about mental readiness to face public scrutiny every single day.

Pak AP also emphasized that players who want to play without pressure most likely will not fit RRQ’s highly competitive culture. According to him, expectations toward RRQ players will always be much greater compared to other organizations.

"Kalau pemain ingin tak ada tekanan, pemain ingin salah sedikit dimaklumin, tak pengen dihujat kalau dia berbuat salah, sepertinya tidak bisa masuk RRQ,"

Those words sounded extremely harsh, but they also reflected the reality surrounding RRQ over the years. As the organization with arguably the biggest fanbase in Indonesia, every RRQ defeat always triggers massive criticism toward the players. Even the smallest mistakes often become huge discussions across social media platforms.

That situation is exactly why RRQ roster criteria now feel much more specific compared to previous seasons. RRQ no longer seem interested in simply finding statistically great players, but instead players who can remain stable while receiving immense pressure from the community.

Pak AP later compared the situation to RRQ legends such as Lemon, Xinnn, and R7. According to him, many players only see the popularity and superstar status of RRQ legends without understanding the massive burden they carried during their active careers.

"Karena orang selalu melihatnya Lemon, Bang Xinn, R7 (legenda RRQ). Superstar gitu lho. Tapi satu yang harus digarisbawahi, mereka kan memang deliver, memang perform. mereka memang kasih sesuatu ke tim,"

That statement became a subtle reminder that superstar status inside RRQ can only be earned if players consistently deliver performances for the team. RRQ legends gained the community’s respect not simply because of popularity, but because of the massive contributions they provided for years.

In the context of RRQ roster criteria, this strongly indicates that RRQ will most likely prioritize players with elite competitive mentality rather than simply popular names. Players capable of performing consistently under pressure seem set to become the organization’s top priority heading into next season.

Pak AP also stressed that the pressure of underperforming in RRQ is several times heavier compared to other organizations. That is why he feels he can no longer tolerate players who cannot handle such conditions.

"Yang mereka tak sadar adalah pas tidak perform itu (tekanan) akan berkali-kali lipat ketimbang tim lain. Saya tak bisa toleransi itu lagi. Sesayang apapun (dengan pemainnya), tak bisa cocok gitu, "

That sentence became an extremely strong signal that RRQ will most likely make major roster changes for MPL ID S18. Even players who are personally liked by management could still be released if they are considered incompatible with RRQ’s high-pressure culture.

Many fans have already started speculating about which players will remain and which ones could potentially leave the roster. However, one thing has become very clear: RRQ roster criteria have now completely changed compared to previous seasons.

RRQ appear determined to rebuild their old identity as a team filled with mentally unbreakable players capable of performing under immense pressure. That philosophy was strongly associated with RRQ’s golden era alongside Lemon, Xinnn, R7, and Alberttt, when they became one of the most feared teams in Southeast Asia.

Now, after failing to reach playoffs for two consecutive seasons, RRQ seem to realize that they need a massive reset—not only in gameplay, but also in overall team mentality. Because of that, the construction of their MPL ID S18 roster could become one of the most important moments in modern RRQ history.

If the rebuilding process succeeds, RRQ could potentially return as one of the strongest championship contenders in MPL Indonesia. However, if they once again choose players who do not fit Pak AP’s version of RRQ roster criteria, the overwhelming pressure from Kingdom may continue becoming their biggest problem next season.