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RRQ Hoshi officially announced the signing of gold laner Kuroky on February 25, 2026, completing a roster that raised eyebrows across the Indonesian MLBB community. The post went up on @teamrrq's Instagram with 87K likes inside 24 hours. For a team that missed the MPL ID Season 16 playoffs and enters Season 17 with a rebuilt lineup, the Kuroky signing is one of the more interesting bets in recent RRQ history.
#Who Is Kuroky
His real name is Habil Azhari Akbar. He played for VL Team in the Liga Esports Nasional (LEN) 2025, Indonesia's national-level Tier 2 circuit. VL Team finished third at LEN 2025 after dominating the group stage, and Kuroky was one of the standout names from that run.
What makes him interesting isn't just the results. It's the hero pool. Most gold lane prospects at the LEN level stick to standard marksmen: Layla, Beatrix, Clint. Kuroky was running Joy and Guinevere in the gold lane, picks that require precise timing and a read on the draft that most rookies don't have. The Joy game in particular drew clips and community attention months before any MPL rumor attached itself to his name.
He's also credited with fighter flexibility, comfortable in a meta where gold lane isn't always a pure marksman slot. That kind of adaptability matters more now than it did two years ago.
#Why RRQ Signed a Tier 2 Rookie
RRQ's history with developing raw talent out of non-MPL competitions is well-documented. Coach Khezcute has done this before. Toyy came up through a similar path before becoming RRQ's primary gold laner in Season 15 and holding that role through Season 16.
The decision to bring in Kuroky alongside Toyy rather than replacing him tells you what RRQ is actually doing. This isn't a swap. It's competition. Two gold laners on the same roster means one of them plays, one of them trains. The team decides week to week, or the better performer earns the starting spot over the course of the regular season.
That internal pressure is a deliberate coaching philosophy. Khezcute builds depth, not dependence.
RRQ couldn't afford another campaign like Season 16. The Kings of Kings finished 7th overall in the regular season, missed the playoffs entirely, and watched ONIC take a sixth MPL ID title from the sidelines. A squad that had gone back-to-back runner-up in Seasons 14 and 15 fell off a cliff in 16. Something had to change structurally, not just in personnel.
#The Full S17 Roster Picture
RRQ enters MPL ID Season 17 with the following confirmed lineup:
- EXP Lane: Dan (Dann, Filipino import from Team Liquid ID lineage)
- Jungler: Super Kenn (former Bigetron, signed from his stint in China)
- Mid Lane: Rinz (retained from S16)
- Gold Lane: Toyy / Kuroky
- Roamer: Idok (retained from S16)
The two additions that stand out are Super Kenn and Kuroky. Super Kenn is the bigger splash of the two from a resume standpoint, arriving with experience at MDL level and time in Chinese competition. But Kuroky arriving from Tier 2 straight into the King's roster is the move that says more about where RRQ is placing its bets for the long term.
Yehezkiel also joins as a mid lane option, giving RRQ flexibility at multiple positions. The full active lineup for Week 1 will clarify the pecking order.
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#What This Means for RRQ's Chances
MPL ID Season 17 kicks off March 27 with a regular season that runs through May 24. The field is nine teams deep, and ONIC still looks like the benchmark. Alter Ego, Team Liquid ID, and EVOS Glory all made moves of their own.
The RRQ that missed playoffs in Season 16 lacked the gold lane consistency that their S14 and S15 runner-up runs were built on. Toyy was serviceable, but the team's identity in those peak seasons depended on a more dominant gold lane performance in late-game. When that dried up, so did the results.
Kuroky brings an unknown quality. That's both the risk and the upside. If his wide hero pool translates to the MPL level, RRQ suddenly has a gold lane rotation that opponents cannot confidently draft against. A Toyy versus Kuroky internal battle across the regular season could be the most watchable storyline in MPL ID this split, separate from any bracket outcome.
The competition from ONIC is real. ONIC's sixth title came on the back of roster consistency and a mid-jungle synergy that RRQ is still rebuilding. Super Kenn needs a regular season to establish himself in that role after the Sutsujin era. Rinz in the mid lane is steady but rarely the deciding factor in elimination matches.
Kuroky is a speculative signing in the best sense of the word. RRQ isn't buying a proven commodity. They're buying potential with upside that could pay off exactly at the moment the team needs it, assuming the season shapes up the way they're planning.
#Community Reaction
The Indonesian MLBB community split quickly on the news. One side of the conversation read the signing as RRQ doubling down on development over proven firepower, which is a defensible position but a risky one for a team that needs to reclaim playoff relevance in one season.
The other side pointed to the Toyy precedent. He came in raw and contributed. Kuroky's Joy and Guinevere clips circulating from the LEN grind suggest someone who thinks differently about the role than the standard MPL gold laner.
The Facebook announcement post from Team RRQ drew over 1,500 comments, mixing support from the Kingdom faithful with skepticism from fans who wanted a more established name. That split reaction is fair. This is a gamble, and both sides see it clearly.
RRQ's coaching staff has bought themselves some cover with the dual gold lane setup. If Kuroky struggles, Toyy stays in the seat. If Toyy stagnates, Kuroky gets the run. It's smart roster construction for a team that doesn't have the luxury of a slow start.
MPL ID Season 17 starts March 27. Watch the first few weeks to see which gold laner RRQ trusts under pressure. That decision will tell you everything about where this team is headed.
For more on what's shaping up across both MPL ID and MPL PH heading into this season, check out our MPL Season 17 preview.
#Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Kuroky in MLBB?
Kuroky, real name Habil Azhari Akbar, is an Indonesian gold laner who rose through the Liga Esports Nasional (LEN) 2025 with VL Team. He is known for a wide hero pool that includes unconventional picks like Joy and Guinevere in the gold lane.
When did Kuroky officially join RRQ Hoshi?
RRQ Hoshi announced Kuroky's signing on February 25, 2026, via their official Instagram account @teamrrq.
What role does Kuroky play for RRQ?
Kuroky is a gold laner. He joins RRQ alongside existing gold laner Toyy, creating internal competition for the starting spot in MPL ID Season 17.
When does MPL ID Season 17 start?
The MPL Indonesia Season 17 regular season runs from March 27 to May 24, 2026.
Has Kuroky played in MPL before?
No. Kuroky is making the jump directly from Tier 2 competition (LEN) to the top level of Indonesian MLBB in MPL ID. This is his first MPL roster spot.
