Patch 26.21 arrived on October 21, 2026, shifting the focus back to regular play now that the Worlds patch is locked in. The update brings a substantial round of champion balance changes, alongside adjustments to several items and updates to game modes.
What's the Big Picture for Patch 26.21?
Patch 26.21 overview
With the League of LegendsWorld Championship patch locked in, Patch 26.21 shifts the focus back to the wider player base, bringing a substantial round of champion and item changes. Several strong picks are being toned down, while others receive buffs now that the competitive meta is set.
- Buffed: Azir, Darius, Miss Fortune, Nunu & Willump, Orianna, Ryze, Sion, Taliyah, Vel'Koz, Xin Zhao, and Zyra
- Nerfed: Caitlyn, Jinx, Lee Sin, Locke, Nidalee, Qiyana, Rammus, Tristana, Viktor, Wukong, and Yone
- Adjusted: Taric, Twisted Fate, and Varus
Gluttonous Greaves, Hubris, Bastionbreaker, and Dawncore are also being adjusted.
Champion Adjustments
Locke
Now that Locke has been available for longer, there is a clearer picture of where his kit is too forgiving and where he struggles. His mana economy and ability to absorb harass are being toned down, while Ashen Pursuit (E) gets some extra damage.
- Ritual Nails (Q) unused charge refund: 20–35% mana and cooldown refund → 10–40% mana and cooldown refund
- Base mana growth: 70 → 60 per level
- Soul Ignition (W) mana cost: 50 / 55 / 60 / 65 / 70 → 60 / 65 / 70 / 75 / 80
- Soul Ignition (W) grey health storage based on current health: 40–200 (both level-based) → 20–200
- Soul Ignition (W) current health storage: 150–450 (both level-based) → 100–500 (+60% AP)
- Ashen Pursuit (E) blink damage: 40 / 50 / 60 / 70 / 80 (+40% AP) → 40 / 55 / 70 / 85 / 100 (+50% AP)
Locke's win rate was 52.29% in Patch 26.20.
Taric
Taric's abilities have historically failed to cast if his linked ally became untargetable at the moment he used them. The restriction was originally introduced to address Master Yi and Taric funnel strategies, but Riot now considers it unnecessarily restrictive given the existence of Role Quests. Starlight's Touch (Q), Dazzle (E), and Cosmic Radiance (R) will now cast successfully on untargetable allies, although Dazzle (E) still cannot cast from allies who vanish from view.
Taric's win rate was 54.08% in Patch 26.20.
Twisted Fate
Destiny (R) is receiving a quality-of-life improvement. It will now reveal untargetable units, making the ability more reliable for gathering information during fights.
Twisted Fate's win rate was 53.49% in Patch 26.20.
Varus
These changes target top lane Varus, who typically maxes Blighted Quiver (W), while preserving more room to balance the traditional bot lane build around Piercing Arrow (Q). The goal is to make Q-max builds more appealing without returning lethality Varus to his previous levels of power.
- Piercing Arrow (Q) damage calculation: Maximum damage scaling of 53.33–240 (+80% bonus AD) → 80–360 (+120% bonus AD); minimum damage scaling of 50–230 (+80% bonus AD) → 85–391 (+136% bonus AD)
- Piercing Arrow (Q) damage increase over channel time: Up to 50% → up to 70%
- Blighted Quiver (W) on-hit damage: 4 / 13 / 22 / 31 / 40 (+15% bonus AD) (+25% AP) → 4 / 10 / 16 / 22 / 28 (+20% bonus AD) (+30% AP)
- Blighted Quiver (W) damage per stack: 3–5% (+1.3% per 100 AP) of target's maximum health → 2.5–4.5% (+1.4% per 100 AP) of target's maximum health
- Blighted Quiver (W) active missing health damage: 6–14%, increased by up to 50% based on Q channel time → 6–10%, increased by up to 70% based on Q channel time
- Basic ability cooldown refund per Blighted Quiver (W) stack: 13%, increased by up to 50% based on Q channel time → 11%, increased by up to 70% based on Q channel time
Varus's win rate was 50.13% in Patch 26.20.
Buffed Champions
Azir
Azir's mana pool has been restrictive during the laning phase, especially now that investing in Arise! (W) is more rewarding. To address this, Riot is increasing his mana growth from 40 to 50 per level.
Azir's win rate was 49.04% in Patch 26.20.
Darius
Darius has drifted away from his usual role as a durable fighter who deals sustained damage, leaning more towards burst combos instead. Decimate (Q) is getting its cooldown reduced from 5 to 4 seconds at its final rank, while the other ranks remain unchanged.
Darius's win rate was 52.62% in Patch 26.20.
Miss Fortune
The patch nerf to Hubris takes away some of Miss Fortune's power, despite her having been in a decent spot throughout the year. To compensate:
- Make It Rain (E) damage: 70 / 100 / 130 / 160 / 190 (+120% AP) → 90 / 120 / 150 / 180 / 210 (+120% AP)
- Bullet Time (R) critical strike damage: 130% (+0.3% per 1% bonus critical strike damage) → 145% (+0.45% per 1% bonus critical strike damage)
Miss Fortune's win rate was 51.87% in Patch 26.20.
Nunu & Willump
The nerf to Hextech Rocketbelt back in Patch 26.14 had an unintended effect on Nunu & Willump's damage. The Yeti is now getting some of that power back, with Absolute Zero (R) maximum damage increasing from 625 / 925 / 1275 to 750 / 1100 / 1450.
Nunu & Willump's win rate was 52.96% in Patch 26.20.
Orianna
Orianna remains a staple in competitive play due largely to her combo potential and zone control. However, her late-game damage is still lacking, so Riot is buffing her overall scaling:
- Command: Attack (Q) AP ratio: 55% → 60%
- Command: Dissonance (W) AP ratio: 80% → 85%
Orianna's win rate was 48.61% in Patch 26.20.
Ryze
The early-game nerfs Ryze received in Patch 26.19 left him with less of a payoff for reaching his later power spikes. To address this, the Rune Mage is getting buffs to Overload (Q) and Rune Prison (W):
- Overload (Q) bonus damage against Fluxed targets: 15% / 40% / 65% / 90% → 10% / 40% / 70% / 100% increased damage
- Overload (Q) bonus movement speed: 28% / 32% / 36% / 40% / 44% → 30% / 35% / 40% / 45% / 50%
- Rune Prison (W) AP ratio: 60 / 90 / 120 / 150 / 180 base damage (+60% AP) (+3% bonus mana) → same base damage (+70% AP) (+3% bonus mana)
Ryze's win rate was 47.26% in Patch 26.20.
Sion
Compared to other top lane tanks, Sion has been struggling to live up to his reputation as a durable juggernaut. Riot is improving his baseline durability and the damage increase on his ultimate, rewarding players who commit to charging straight into a fight.
- Base health growth: 655 + 87 per level → 655 + 95 per level
- Unstoppable Onslaught (R) damage increase over the first three seconds of channeling: Up to 166.67% bonus base damage and 100% bonus ratio damage → up to 200% bonus damage
Sion's win rate was 51.75% in Patch 26.20.
Taliyah
Fighters have been dominating the jungle for quite some time, leaving less room for mage picks. Riot is buffing Taliyah's jungle potential to encourage more diversity in the role and to bring AP junglers back into the meta.
- Unraveled Earth (E) damage: 60 / 105 / 150 / 195 / 240 (+60% AP) → 70 / 115 / 160 / 205 / 250 (+70% AP)
- Unraveled Earth (E) detonation damage: 25 / 40 / 55 / 70 / 85 (+30% AP) → 30 / 45 / 60 / 75 / 90 (+30% AP)
- Unraveled Earth (E) monster damage: Still deals 225% damage to monsters
Taliyah's win rate was 51.19% in Patch 26.20.
Vel'Koz
Vel'Koz's unique kit makes him a surprisingly popular champion among one-trick players. However, his niche appeal has done little to give him a presence in solo queue. These buffs aim to make his combos more rewarding:
- Organic Deconstruction (Passive) damage: 35–180 (+60% AP) → 35–205 (+65% AP)
- Plasma Fission (Q) cooldown: 7 → 6 seconds
Vel'Koz's win rate was 53.22% in Patch 26.20.
Xin Zhao
With the Sundered Sky nerfs in Patches 26.16 and 26.17, Xin Zhao lost much of his duelling power. The upcoming changes improve his damage scaling and make attack speed builds more appealing.
- Three Talon Strike (Q) damage per strike: 15 / 30 / 45 / 60 / 75 (+40% bonus AD) → 15 / 30 / 45 / 60 / 75 (+45% bonus AD)
- Audacious Charge (E) attack speed scaling: 1% per 5% bonus attack speed from permanent sources → 1% per 4% bonus attack speed from permanent sources
Xin Zhao's win rate was 49.18% in Patch 26.20.
Zyra
Tank and enchanter supports have been dominating the meta, leaving Zyra with fewer opportunities to shine. Rampant Growth (W) will recharge seeds more quickly at early ranks, with its cooldown dropping from 18 / 16 / 14 / 12 / 10 seconds to 16 / 14.5 / 13 / 11.5 / 10 seconds.
Zyra's win rate was 48.95% in Patch 26.20.
| Champion | Impact |
|---|---|
| Azir | Easier to maintain lane pressure while investing in W, without running out of mana as quickly. |
| Darius | Better sustained damage in extended fights, allowing for more consistent passive stacking. |
| Miss Fortune | More threatening poke and stronger teamfight presence. |
| Nunu & Willump | Greater kill pressure with a fully charged ultimate. |
| Orianna | Stronger late-game combo potential. |
| Ryze | Better late-game skirmishing and chase potential, making it easier to stick to fleeing targets. |
| Sion | More durability in extended fights and a more punishing engage. |
| Taliyah | Faster jungle clears and stronger gank follow-ups, helping her keep pace with fighter junglers and remain a threat in skirmishes. |
| Vel'Koz | More reliable poke and stronger follow-up damage in extended trades, rewarding players who consistently land abilities and trigger his passive. |
| Xin Zhao | Stronger dueling and greater payoff from attack speed builds. |
| Zyra | More opportunities to establish plant control in lane, helping her contest space and set up trades. |
Nerfed Champions
Caitlyn
Months of high pick and ban rates have made Caitlyn a priority for nerfs. Her late-game headshots are the main target, with some power shifted into Piltover Peacemaker (Q) to make her damage profile less dominant as the game progresses.
- Headshot (Passive) damage: 60–100% AD (+1% AD per 1% critical strike chance) (+1% AD per 1% bonus critical strike damage) → 60–80% AD (+0.8% AD per 1% critical strike chance) (+0.8% AD per 1% bonus critical strike damage)
- Piltover Peacemaker (Q) base damage: 50 / 90 / 130 / 170 / 210 → 50 / 95 / 140 / 185 / 230
Caitlyn's win rate was 48.86% in Patch 26.20.
Jinx
Even after the Runaan's Hurricane nerf in Patch 26.20, Jinx has remained a dominant marksman. Lower base health and slightly reduced attack damage growth should make it harder for her to establish an early lead and snowball through fights.
- Base attack damage growth: 3.25 → 3 per level
- Base health: 630 → 610 (health growth remains unchanged at 105 per level)
Jinx's win rate was 51.91% in Patch 26.20.
Lee Sin
Lee Sin's popularity has stayed high since the changes to Safeguard (W) and its cooldown when used on allies. To rein in his overall power without removing that flexibility, the patch reduces his damage and increases the cooldown on Safeguard (W).
- Safeguard (W) cooldown: 7 → 8 seconds
- Dragon's Rage (R) kick damage: 175 / 400 / 625 (+200% bonus AD) → 150 / 350 / 550 (+200% bonus AD)
- Dragon's Rage (R) collision damage: 175 / 400 / 625 (+200% bonus AD) (+12 / 15 / 18% of the kicked champion's health) → 150 / 350 / 550 (+200% bonus AD) (+12 / 15 / 18% of the kicked champion's health)
Lee Sin's win rate was 49.71% in Patch 26.20.
Nidalee
Nidalee's win rate in higher skill brackets has been hovering near overpowered levels, even without a major presence in the current meta. With other strong junglers such as Lee Sin also being nerfed, Riot is targeting Nidalee as well.
- Pounce (W) damage: 55 / 88.75 / 122.5 / 156.25 / 190 (+50% bonus AD) (+30% AP) → 50 / 80 / 110 / 140 / 170 (+50% bonus AD) (+30% AP)
- Primal Surge (E) bonus attack speed: 30 / 40 / 50 / 60 / 70% → 20 / 30 / 40 / 50 / 60%
Nidalee's win rate was 52.08% in Patch 26.20.
Qiyana
The damage increase to Qiyana's Elemental Wrath / Edge of Ixtal (Q) in Patch 26.17 proved stronger than expected. This partial revert reduces its base damage at every rank from 80 / 110 / 140 / 170 / 200 to 70 / 100 / 130 / 160 / 190.
Qiyana's win rate was 51.59% in Patch 26.20.
Rammus
Rammus has been performing too well across a wide range of skill levels. Defensive Ball Curl (W) will provide less bonus armour and magic resistance through its scaling, reducing the extra durability he gains from building those stats.
- Defensive Ball Curl (W) bonus armour: 27 / 32 / 37 / 42 / 47 (+30–60% armour) → 25 / 30 / 35 / 40 / 45 (+30–50% armour)
- Defensive Ball Curl (W) bonus magic resistance: 20 / 25 / 30 / 35 / 40 (+30–60% magic resistance) → 20 / 25 / 30 / 35 / 40 (+30–50% magic resistance)
Rammus's win rate was 52.72% in Patch 26.20.
Tristana
Tristana's level-one laning has become too reliant on Rapid Fire (Q), letting her use the attack speed boost to take control of trades almost immediately. Its bonus attack speed is being reduced at early ranks, dropping from 60 / 75 / 90 / 105 / 120% to 40 / 60 / 80 / 100 / 120%.
Tristana's win rate was 51.53% in Patch 26.20.
Viktor
Viktor has become difficult to punish, particularly in early skirmishes where his movement speed and Siphon Power (Q) shield help him stay safe. The patch makes him more vulnerable by reducing his movement speed and weakening his shield.
- Base movement speed: 335 → 330
- Siphon Power (Q) shield: 40–140 (based on level) (+25% AP) → 30–130 (+20% AP)
- Siphon Power (Q) shield duration: 2.5 → 2 seconds
Viktor's win rate was 49.98% in Patch 26.20.
Wukong
Wukong has been a consistent force in the jungle, prompting a reduction to the defensive strength of Stone Skin (Passive). The increased base health regeneration compensates lane Wukong, helping him sustain himself without undoing the jungle nerf.
- Base health regeneration: 3.5 + 0.65 per level → 5.5 + 0.65 per level
- Stone Skin (Passive) armour per stack: 6–10 (based on champion level) → 4.5–10 (based on champion level)
Wukong's win rate was 49.59% in Patch 26.20.
Yone
Yone's recent changes encouraged players to buy critical strike items earlier, but pushed his overall power higher than intended. Riot is lowering Mortal Steel (Q) bonus AD scaling from 110% to 105%, while leaving its base damage unchanged.
Yone's win rate was 50.29% in Patch 26.20.
| Champion | Impact |
|---|---|
| Caitlyn | Less dominant late-game headshots, shifting more of her damage towards abilities rather than critical strikes. |
| Jinx | More vulnerable in early fights and less able to snowball a lead. |
| Lee Sin | Less frequent opportunities to shield allies and reposition around fights, with reduced burst making it harder to secure kills with his ultimate. |
| Nidalee | Weaker dueling and less attack speed during skirmishes, making it harder to win fights and maintain pressure against other junglers. |
| Qiyana | Less reliable burst against enemy carries. |
| Rammus | Easier to take down in extended fights against both physical and magic damage dealers. |
| Tristana | Weaker early trades and all-ins, making it harder to dominate lane from level one before her attack speed boost reaches its later ranks. |
| Viktor | Easier to catch and punish in early skirmishes. |
| Wukong | Less durable in early extended fights against physical damage dealers, particularly when stacking his passive. |
| Yone | Lower damage during trades and all-ins as he builds bonus AD, making his damage less threatening as he reaches his critical strike power spikes. |
Item Changes
| Item | Change | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Bastion Breaker | Lethality: 22 → 18; Shaped Charge damage: 50 → 40 (melee), 25 → 20 (ranged); Sabotage duration: 90 seconds → infinite. | Less effective as a general damage purchase, but more flexible for objective setups since the bonus damage no longer expires. |
| Dawncore | AP per 100% base mana regeneration: 10 → 15. | More attractive as a late-game option for enchanters who want to contribute damage alongside healing and shielding. |
| Gluttonous Greaves | Cost: 1,000g → 1,100g. | Delays the early purchase, giving opponents more time to contest marksmen before they complete the item. |
| Hubris | Base bonus AD: 12 → 15 (melee), 10 (ranged); Bonus AD per stack: 3 → 3 (melee), 2 (ranged). | More rewarding for melee champions snowballing through takedowns, while reducing its appeal for ranged users. |
Bastion Breaker
Bastion Breaker is becoming the item it was supposed to be from the start: a niche option for assassins who want to focus on objectives, rather than a generic damage item that everyone buys because its stats and effect are too good to pass up. It is a similar situation to Hextech Rocketbelt a few patches ago, when an item intended for a particular use became a popular choice for far too many champions.
Dawncore
Dawncore has an interesting concept and a unique effect, but it has struggled to compete with other enchanter items. Most support champions tend to commit to either a fully supportive build or one that gives them more damage, so mixing the two is not always worth it. Riot is now increasing its AP scaling to give enchanters more reason to consider it as a late-game purchase.
Gluttonous Greaves
Gluttonous Greaves was meant to be a more specialised option, but ADCs quickly realised that the extra gold they earn makes these boots an excellent first purchase. They offer a surprisingly strong early power spike, which is why Riot is increasing their cost.
Hubris
Hubris is a strong item that can quickly get out of control when a champion starts stacking takedowns. That is less of a problem for melee champions like Kayn, Qiyana, and Talon, who need to get up close to their targets and put themselves at risk to secure those stacks. For ranged champions like Jhin, Miss Fortune, and Draven, however, it is a different story. Their range allows them to secure takedowns from a safe distance, letting them stack the item without taking the same risks as melee users. These changes should make Hubris a more specialised choice again, rather than an item that ranged champions can abuse just as effectively.
What Else Is Happening in Patch 26.21?
True Damage Know My Name Qiyana / True Damage Know My Name Senna / True Damage Know My Name Yasuo Splash Art
League Classic, which was originally planned as a permanent mode, will be leaving the game at the end of the year to become part of the rotating game modes instead. However, four more champions are arriving in this patch: Hecarim, Yorick, Lucian, and Mordekaiser. Further additions are planned for patches 26.22 and 26.23, alongside tweaks to existing champions.
ARAM: Mayhem is getting a new release called Journey to Stardom, featuring Headliners that change the rules of each game. The update also adds new Augments, removes some existing ones, and introduces a progression system with missions, Superstar Ranks, and rewards. Meanwhile, Arena is receiving buffs and nerfs to bring the strongest and weakest Augments and champions closer together.
Finally, the patch also introduces five new skins: Prestige True Damage Know My Name Ekko, True Damage Know My Name Akali, True Damage Know My Name Qiyana, True Damage Know My Name Senna, and True Damage Know My Name Yasuo.
