Model　predictive　control　(MPC)　method　has　attracted　the　attention　of　researchers　for　modular　multilevel　converter　(MMC).　However,　the　computation　burden　of　the　controller　can　be　very　high　by　using　a　direct　MPC　(D-MPC)　method,　especially　when　the　submodule　(SM)　number　of　MMC　becomes　large.　A　stepwise　indirect　MPC　(SI-MPC)　strategy　is　first　presented　in　this　paper　combined　with　capacitor　voltage　sorting　algorithm　to　reduce　the　considered　switching　states.　Ac　side　current　control　and　circulating　current　control　are　separated　of　SI-MPC.　The　capacitor　voltage　ripple　is　neglected　in　the　discrete-time　mathematical　model　of　MMC　with　SI-MPC,　therefore,　a　direct　voltage　level　selection　(DVLS)　method　can　be　further　derived　with　the　simplification　of　SI-MPC.　The　current　control　process　of　MMC　is　implemented　by　comparing　the　current　control　error　with　the　predesigned　error　bands.　Simulation　results　verified　the　theoretical　analysis　and　effectiveness　of　the　proposed　methods.　©　2018　IEEJ　Industry　Application　Society.