League of Legends patch 26.18 arrives on September 10, 2026, with the Caps Hall of Legends celebration, balance changes for 11 Summoner's Rift champions, a Guinsoo's Rageblade adjustment, five additions to League Classic, the first Classic Council results, and a major cleanup of ARAM Mayhem Augment pools.
The modern Summoner's Rift balance pass is focused rather than enormous. Bard, Nautilus, Seraphine, Syndra, and Zeri are nerfed, while Ekko, Kassadin, Master Yi, Viego, and Zaahen receive buffs. Cassiopeia gets a broader adjustment designed to reduce her professional-play skew while making AP investment more rewarding. The complete patch 26.18 notes become much larger once Hall of Legends, League Classic, ARAM Mayhem, cosmetics, and bug fixes are included.
What matters most in League of Legends patch 26.18
League of Legends patch 26.18 is scheduled for September 10, 2026, one day after Riot published the complete notes. The patch combines a relatively small live balance update with one of the year's biggest esports celebrations as Caps becomes the third player inducted into the League of Legends Hall of Legends.
| Patch area | Main change | Practical impact |
|---|---|---|
| Hall of Legends | Caps becomes the third inductee and first Western pro selected | A 100-level event pass and new Tristana and Orianna cosmetics celebrate his career. |
| Champion buffs | Ekko, Kassadin, Master Yi, Viego, and Zaahen | Several underperforming carries gain damage, scaling, durability, or mobility. |
| Champion nerfs | Bard, Nautilus, Seraphine, Syndra, and Zeri | Riot trims strong supports, Seraphine bot, Syndra, and a rising Zeri. |
| Cassiopeia | Lower early power and movement with stronger AP ratios | Defensive and low-AP builds lose value while higher-AP scaling improves. |
| Items | Guinsoo's Rageblade stacks last longer | Seething Strike is easier to maintain during short gaps between attacks. |
| League Classic | Fiora, Galio, Poppy, Shyvana, and Xin Zhao added | Classic receives its largest champion content drop so far. |
| Classic Council | First community vote results | All three proposed items, modern jungle timers, and Turtle/Duck river critters are moving forward. |
| ARAM Mayhem | Smarter Augment pools and Hydra restrictions | Champions should receive fewer unusable Augments and several exploits are removed. |
| Cosmetics | Immortalized Legend Tristana, Risen Legend Tristana, and Risen Legend Orianna | The Caps Hall of Legends event is the cosmetic centerpiece of patch 26.18. |
Riot's official League of Legends patch 26.18 notes contain the source values for the changes below. For continuing coverage, browse RiftDaily's League of Legends patch notes, follow breaking League of Legends news, and check smaller League updates as Riot reacts to the live patch.
Caps enters the Hall of Legends in patch 26.18
League of Legends patch 26.18 begins Riot's in-game celebration of Rasmus "Caps" Winther. Caps is the third player inducted into the League of Legends Hall of Legends and the first Western professional player to receive the honor.
Hall of Legends inductees are selected by an independent voting panel made up of esports veterans and experts from multiple regions. Riot says the selection criteria include international appearances, international and regional titles, role-specific statistics, and overall contributions to competitive League of Legends.
Caps' Hall of Legends presentation focuses on the creativity, adaptability, resilience, and international success that made him the most decorated player in European League of Legends history. Official event videos and League trailers are also available through the League of Legends YouTube channel.
The Beacon of Hope event trailer introduces the visual theme and cosmetics created around Caps' Hall of Legends induction.
The event goes beyond a premium skin release. Riot built the pass around moments from Caps' career, with rewards that reference his teams, champion pool, competitive achievements, and personality.
The Hall of Legends: Caps trailer focuses more directly on the competitive legacy that earned him his place alongside the previous Hall of Legends inductees.
That competitive focus carries into the cosmetic lineup. Tristana is the centerpiece of the premium Hall of Legends collections, while Orianna appears among the major rewards tied to the event pass.
Caps Hall of Legends battle pass rewards
The Hall of Legends battle pass contains 100 total levels. Riot highlights the following rewards in the League of Legends patch 26.18 notes:
- Risen Legend Orianna skin and border.
- Risen Legend Orianna event chroma.
- Freljord Taliyah, Elderwood LeBlanc, and Empyrean Akali skins.
- 125 Mythic Essence.
- 11 Orbs.
- 15 Caps-themed icons and emotes.
- Unkillable Demon Cactus Ward.
- Beacon of Hope Banner.
- "Martin 1" title.
- Additional rewards throughout the full 100-level track.
What League of Legends patch 26.18 changes for the meta
The main theme of League of Legends patch 26.18 is targeted correction rather than system-wide disruption. Riot is trimming champions that have become overly dependable in particular roles while giving several underperforming carries more room to scale.
Support is one of the clearest targets. Bard loses durability and Nautilus gives up both base Attack Damage and Dredge Line damage, but neither champion loses the crowd control or utility that defines their role. That should make bad positioning easier to punish without making their core play patterns disappear.
Mid lane gets more mixed. Ekko and Kassadin receive direct buffs, Syndra is nerfed, and Cassiopeia gets a substantial redistribution of power from base values into AP ratios. That Cassiopeia adjustment is particularly important because it is aimed at reducing her professional-play skew without simply lowering every part of her kit.
Jungle carry players also have reasons to revisit Viego and Master Yi. Viego gains more AD growth and additional passive-healing scaling, while Yi gets better Armor scaling and more Highlander movement speed. Zeri, meanwhile, loses W burst and waveclear after climbing alongside recent marksman item buffs.
Champion changes in League of Legends patch 26.18
League of Legends patch 26.18 changes 11 champions on modern Summoner's Rift. Five receive direct buffs, five are nerfed, and Cassiopeia gets a wider adjustment that moves power away from early base values and defensive builds toward stronger AP scaling.
| Champion | Direction | Main change | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bard | Nerf | Lower base Armor and Armor growth | His mobility and utility remain, but failed positioning is easier to punish. |
| Cassiopeia | Adjustment | Lower movement, Mana efficiency, and base damage with stronger AP ratios | High-AP scaling improves while lane and defensive-build reliability falls. |
| Ekko | Buff | Cheaper Q and stronger return AP scaling | Better lane efficiency and more late-game Timewinder damage. |
| Kassadin | Buff | More Q scaling and early R damage | More agency before reaching his strongest late-game levels. |
| Master Yi | Buff | More Armor scaling and more Highlander Move Speed | Improved melee carry durability and chase potential. |
| Nautilus | Nerf | Lower base AD and Q damage | Less lane pressure without removing his lockdown tools. |
| Seraphine | Nerf | E stays at an 11-second cooldown at all ranks | Farming Seraphine loses more than support because support usually maxes E last. |
| Syndra | Nerf | Less passive Mana and longer W cooldown | Early-mid flexibility and repeated Force of Will damage are reduced. |
| Viego | Buff | Higher AD growth and broader possession-heal scaling | Standard and bruiser builds both gain value. |
| Zaahen | Buff / QoL | Cleaner resurrection interaction and stronger Q2 | Q is more reliable after resurrection and deals more base damage. |
| Zeri | Nerf | W loses total AD scaling | Less burst and waveclear, especially through terrain. |
Bard
Bard has remained a meta staple for much of 2026. Riot previously reduced his damage, so League of Legends patch 26.18 targets durability instead. His mobility, roaming, and long-range ultimate utility remain intact, but Bard should be easier to punish when opponents actually catch him.
- Armor: 34 + 5 per level ⇒ 32 + 4.7 per level.
Cassiopeia
Cassiopeia receives the largest modern champion adjustment in League of Legends patch 26.18. Riot wants to reduce the advantage she gains in professional play from defensive purchases, lane control, and efficient base values while increasing the payoff from committing to Ability Power.
Passive - Serpentine Grace
- Move Speed bonus: 6% - 40% based on level ⇒ 5% - 36%.
Q - Noxious Blast
- Damage: 75 / 110 / 145 / 180 / 215 ⇒ 65 / 100 / 135 / 170 / 205.
- Ability Power ratio: 65% ⇒ 75%.
E - Twin Fang
- Mana cost: 40 ⇒ 45.
- Base Ability Power ratio: 10% ⇒ 20%.
- Enhanced Ability Power ratio: 55% ⇒ 45%.
- Total enhanced Ability Power ratio: remains 65%.
- Damage: 52 - 120 ⇒ 50 - 120.
R - Petrifying Gaze
- Damage: 150 / 250 / 350 ⇒ 125 / 225 / 325.
- Ability Power ratio: 50% ⇒ 75%.
The complete adjustment leaves empowered Twin Fang's total AP ratio unchanged while making unempowered E, Q, and R scale harder. Cassiopeia therefore loses some low-investment reliability but gets more value from a high-AP build.
Ekko
Ekko has settled slightly below Riot's target since the Dusk & Dawn update. League of Legends patch 26.18 gives him more room in mid lane by reducing Timewinder's Mana cost and strengthening its returning hit without directly buffing his Hail of Blades pattern.
Q - Timewinder
- Mana cost: 50 / 60 / 70 / 80 / 90 ⇒ 40 / 50 / 60 / 70 / 80.
- Return damage Ability Power ratio: 60% ⇒ 70%.
Kassadin
Kassadin started 2026 strongly but has struggled since earlier nerfs. League of Legends patch 26.18 increases Null Sphere scaling and gives the first two ranks of Riftwalk more base damage, improving early and mid-game agency without increasing rank-three R damage.
Q - Null Sphere
- Ability Power ratio: 70% ⇒ 80%.
R - Riftwalk
- Base damage: 70 / 90 / 110 ⇒ 80 / 95 / 110.
Master Yi
Master Yi was affected more than most Guinsoo's Rageblade users by an earlier double-strike interaction fix. Riot also believes he has not been scaling as well as a melee carry should, so League of Legends patch 26.18 improves both his defensive growth and ultimate movement speed.
- Armor: 33 + 4.5 per level ⇒ 33 + 5 per level.
R - Highlander
- Move Speed: 35 / 45 / 55% ⇒ 40 / 50 / 60%.
Nautilus
Nautilus has been near the top of the support meta throughout the year, including before Riot strengthened several competing tank supports. League of Legends patch 26.18 leaves his crowd-control identity alone and instead reduces the damage attached to his early trades and hooks.
- Attack Damage: 61 + 3.3 per level ⇒ 58 + 3.3 per level.
Q - Dredge Line
- Damage: 85 / 130 / 175 / 220 / 265 (+90% AP) ⇒ 85 / 125 / 165 / 205 / 245 (+90% AP).
Seraphine
Seraphine bot remains a source of frustration despite an earlier nerf. League of Legends patch 26.18 specifically attacks E rank-ups because support Seraphine usually maxes Beat Drop last and therefore gets less benefit from its old cooldown scaling.
E - Beat Drop
- Cooldown: 11 / 10.5 / 10 / 9.5 / 9 seconds ⇒ 11 seconds at all ranks.
Syndra
Syndra's earlier MSI changes successfully returned her to professional play, but Riot now sees her performing too well in specific solo queue environments. League of Legends patch 26.18 reduces the Mana she gains from Splinters and adds one second to Force of Will's cooldown at every rank.
Passive - Transcendent
- Splinter Mana: 20 - 255 ⇒ 20 - 199.
W - Force of Will
- Cooldown: 12 / 11 / 10 / 9 / 8 seconds ⇒ 13 / 12 / 11 / 10 / 9 seconds.
Viego
Viego's win rate has been trending downward and players have begun dropping him. League of Legends patch 26.18 adds straightforward Attack Damage growth while also improving Sovereign's Domination for builds that invest in bonus AD, AP, Attack Speed, or bonus Health.
- Attack Damage growth: 3.5 ⇒ 4.
Passive - Sovereign's Domination
Heal: 2% + 2.5% per 100 bonus AD + 2% per 100 AP + 5% per 100% bonus Attack Speed + 2% per 500 bonus Health of the target's maximum Health.
The bonus Health term is particularly relevant for bruiser-oriented experiments because Viego can improve possession healing without relying entirely on pure offensive stats.
Zaahen
Zaahen's League of Legends patch 26.18 change can look like a cooldown penalty at first, but Riot describes it as quality of life. His previous Q timing could cause him to leave Resurrection, Guardian Angel, or Zilean's ultimate with the spell still on cooldown. The new behavior starts that cooldown earlier, while Q2 also gets more base damage.
Q - The Darkin Glaive
- New cooldown behavior: If Q is active, it is now placed on cooldown immediately when Zaahen enters Resurrection.
- Q2 damage: 25 / 50 / 75 / 100 / 125 (+20 / 25 / 30 / 35 / 40% bonus AD) ⇒ 30 / 60 / 90 / 120 / 150 (+20 / 25 / 30 / 35 / 40% bonus AD).
Zeri
Zeri has steadily climbed after Runaan's Hurricane and Yun Tal Wildarrows buffs and has started appearing more often in professional play. League of Legends patch 26.18 pulls power from her burst and waveclear by lowering Ultrashock Laser's total AD ratios.
W - Ultrashock Laser
- Damage: 30 / 70 / 110 / 150 / 190 (+120% total AD) ⇒ 30 / 70 / 110 / 150 / 190 (+100% total AD).
- Wall damage: 45 / 105 / 165 / 225 / 285 (+180% total AD) ⇒ 45 / 105 / 165 / 225 / 285 (+150% total AD).
- Critical strike: 150% (+15% with Infinity Edge), as listed in Riot's patch 26.18 notes.
Guinsoo's Rageblade change in League of Legends patch 26.18
Only one standard Summoner's Rift item receives a direct change in League of Legends patch 26.18. Guinsoo's Rageblade gets a small quality-of-life buff after an earlier bug fix slightly delayed the timing of its first double-hit interaction.
Guinsoo's Rageblade
- Seething Strike stack duration: 3 seconds ⇒ 4 seconds.
The extra second makes it easier to build Rageblade stacks and preserve them through brief movement, target changes, or short gaps between attacks. Master Yi should particularly appreciate the combination of this item adjustment and his direct buffs.
League Classic gets five champions in patch 26.18
League Classic receives its biggest champion content drop yet in League of Legends patch 26.18. Fiora, Galio, Poppy, Shyvana, and Xin Zhao join the Classic roster using historical versions of their kits instead of their modern reworked designs.
Classic Fiora
Classic Fiora recreates her 2012-2015 version, a direct duelist built around short trades, Attack Speed, retaliation, and the old Blade Waltz ultimate.
Classic Fiora abilities
- Passive - Duelist: Fiora regenerates Health whenever she damages enemies. The regeneration can stack when damaging champions.
- Q - Lunge: Fiora dashes to strike a nearby enemy. Lunge can be cast a second time at no additional cost.
- W - Riposte: Passively grants Attack Damage. Activating Riposte parries the next attack within a short period and deals damage back to the attacker.
- E - Burst of Speed: Fiora gains Attack Speed for several seconds. Attacks and Lunges during the effect grant stacking Move Speed.
- R - Blade Waltz: Fiora becomes untargetable and dashes around the battlefield, striking nearby enemies. The strikes apply on-hit effects, while repeated hits on the same target deal reduced damage.
Classic Galio
Classic Galio uses his 2010-2017 identity, where Magic Resist directly contributes to offense and Idol of Durand is a large area taunt instead of the modern global entrance.
Classic Galio abilities
- Passive - Runic Skin: Galio gains Ability Power based on a portion of his Magic Resist.
- Q - Resolute Smite: Fires a concussive blast that damages and slows enemies where it lands.
- W - Bulwark: Grants an allied champion bonus Armor and Magic Resist. Galio heals whenever the protected ally takes damage.
- E - Righteous Gust: Damages enemies in a line and leaves a directional wind current that increases allied movement speed while moving with it.
- R - Idol of Durand: Galio channels to taunt nearby enemies while taking reduced damage, then damages enemies in the area. The damage increases based on how many times Galio was struck during the channel.
Classic Poppy
Classic Poppy returns with one of old League's most infamous ultimate abilities. Diplomatic Immunity lets Poppy choose one enemy while becoming immune to every other enemy for its duration.
Classic Poppy abilities
- Passive - Valiant Fighter: Damage beyond 10% of Poppy's current Health is reduced by 50%.
- Q - Devastating Blow: Poppy's next attack deals bonus damage based on the target's maximum Health.
- W - Paragon of Demacia: Passively grants Armor and Attack Damage as Poppy deals or receives attacks. Activating it immediately grants maximum stacks and increased Move Speed.
- E - Heroic Charge: Poppy charges an enemy, damages them, and knocks them backward. Colliding with terrain deals additional damage and stuns.
- R - Diplomatic Immunity: Poppy chooses an enemy. For several seconds, other enemies cannot damage or crowd-control her, while she deals bonus damage to the selected target.
Classic Shyvana
The Shyvana added in League of Legends patch 26.18 is based on her 2011-2013 gameplay, when basic attacks enhanced every basic ability and her dragon form emphasized sustained melee pressure.
Classic Shyvana abilities
- Passive - Fury of the Dragonborn: Basic attacks enhance her basic abilities by reducing Q cooldown, extending W, dealing part of E's initial damage, and generating Fury for R.
- Q - Twin Bite: Shyvana's next attack strikes twice. In dragon form, Twin Bite deals damage in a cone.
- W - Burnout: Grants Move Speed and continuously damages nearby enemies. Dragon form leaves a damaging trail of fire.
- E - Flame Breath: Fires a projectile that damages the first enemy hit and reduces Armor. Dragon form turns it into a cone of fireballs.
- R - Dragon's Descent: Passively grants Armor and Magic Resist, doubled in dragon form. Activating R transforms Shyvana and launches her forward, damaging and knocking back enemies.
Classic Xin Zhao
Classic Xin Zhao uses his 2012-2017 kit, built around repeated basic attacks, a three-hit knockup, Attack Speed, sustain, and the old Challenge mechanic.
Classic Xin Zhao abilities
- Passive - Challenge: Xin Zhao Challenges his most recent attack target and reduces their Armor.
- Q - Three Talon Strike: The next three basic attacks deal bonus damage and reduce his other cooldowns by one second. The third attack knocks the target up.
- W - Battle Cry: Every third basic attack heals Xin Zhao. Activating W grants bonus Attack Speed for several seconds.
- E - Audacious Charge: Xin Zhao dashes to an enemy, Challenges them, and damages and slows nearby enemies.
- R - Crescent Sweep: Damages nearby enemies and grants Armor and Magic Resist for each champion hit. Every enemy except the Challenge target is knocked back.
League Classic balance changes in patch 26.18
League of Legends patch 26.18 also adjusts seven existing Classic champions. Anivia, Nasus, and Warwick are the clearest nerf targets, while Gangplank, Heimerdinger, and Kayle receive meaningful buffs. Malzahar gets a mixed adjustment that improves AD-oriented gameplay while reducing some AP power.
Classic Anivia nerfs
- Flash Frost missile speed: 950 ⇒ 850.
- Manual detonation stun: 1 second ⇒ 0.75 seconds.
- Manual detonation radius: 230 ⇒ 210.
- Minimum delay for recast: 0 ⇒ 0.25 seconds.
Anivia has been the strongest Classic mid laner. Riot describes these changes as a return toward her 2013 values, making Flash Frost slower, reducing its manually detonated stun and radius, and preventing immediate recasts.
Classic Gangplank buffs
- Parrrley bonus gold on kill: 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 ⇒ 4 / 6 / 8 / 10 / 12.
- Raise Morale active Attack Damage: 12 / 19 / 26 / 33 / 40 ⇒ 14 / 22 / 30 / 38 / 46.
- Raise Morale active Move Speed: 8 / 11 / 14 / 17 / 20% ⇒ 10 / 14 / 18 / 22 / 26%.
- Allies continue to receive 50% of Gangplank's Raise Morale bonuses.
Classic Heimerdinger buffs
A turret bug fix in the previous patch hit Heimerdinger considerably harder than Riot expected. Patch 26.18 restores some of that lost performance, especially for top lane.
- Base Health Regeneration: 4.5 ⇒ 5.05.
- H-28G Evolution Turret base damage: 28 / 36 / 44 / 52 / 60 ⇒ 30 / 38 / 46 / 54 / 62.
- Hextech Micro-Rockets Mana cost: 65 / 85 / 105 / 125 / 145 ⇒ 60 / 75 / 90 / 105 / 120.
- CH-1 Concussion Grenade cooldown: 14 / 13 / 12 / 11 / 10 ⇒ 13 / 12 / 11 / 10 / 9 seconds.
- CH-1 Concussion Grenade cast range: 920 ⇒ 925.
Classic Kayle buff
- Holy Fervor Ability Power gained: 30% bonus AD ⇒ 30% total AD.
Because Holy Fervor now calculates from total Attack Damage instead of bonus Attack Damage, Riot estimates the change provides roughly 17 to 32 additional Ability Power depending on Kayle's level and build.
Classic Malzahar adjustment
- Attack Speed growth: 1.36% ⇒ 3%.
- Attack Speed ratio: 0.625 ⇒ 0.658.
- Voidling Move Speed: 400 ⇒ 460.
- Voidling attack cast frame: 12 ⇒ 9.
- Voidling gold on kill: 2 ⇒ 12.
- Call of the Void Ability Power ratio: 80% ⇒ 70%.
- Nether Grasp bug fix: R no longer continues dealing damage after its channel ends.
The Attack Speed and Voidling changes improve AD-oriented Malzahar, while the Q ratio reduction and Nether Grasp fix lower the strength of AP Malzahar in several situations.
Classic Nasus nerfs
- Siphoning Strike: Bonus damage gained from Q stacks can no longer critically strike.
- Wither slow ramp: 0.5 seconds ⇒ 1 second and affected by Tenacity.
- Fixed a bug that caused Wither's slow to ramp twice as aggressively as intended.
The Siphoning Strike correction matters particularly for Trinity Force-style builds because stacked Q damage no longer becomes part of a critical strike. The Wither changes also correct two interactions that had pushed the slow beyond its intended historical behavior.
Classic Warwick nerfs
- Base Attack Speed: 0.644 ⇒ 0.625.
- Eternal Thirst base damage: 3 - 16 linear scaling ⇒ 3 + 0.5 per level until level 9, then +1 per level.
- Hunter's Call cooldown: 24 / 22 / 20 / 18 / 16 ⇒ 30 / 27 / 24 / 21 / 18 seconds.
- Infinite Duress damage: 250 / 335 / 420 + 200% bonus AD ⇒ 180 / 300 / 420 + 200% bonus AD.
- Infinite Duress receives an updated cast indicator that better reflects its actual cast range.
Warwick is the strongest Classic jungler heading into patch 26.18, and the return of an Attack Speed-focused Feral Flare path only helps his preferred pattern. Riot therefore lowers his baseline attack rate, passive damage, W availability, and early ultimate damage.
Classic Council results in League of Legends patch 26.18
The first League Classic Council vote is complete. Riot says the actionable results will arrive in a future patch. The headline outcomes are the return of all three proposed items, modern jungle timers, and a Turtle/Duck pairing for the new river critters.
| Council question | Winning result | Vote share |
|---|---|---|
| How does game length feel? | About right | 52.80% |
| When is a game too long? | 40 minutes | 32.68% |
| Which items should return? | All 3 | 60.67% |
| Should Classic add jungle timers? | Modern timers always visible on the minimap | 45.74%, with both "Yes" options combining for a majority |
| Should base gates stay? | Yes | 55.03% |
| How snowbally are games? | About right | 48.82% |
| Do ward trinkets improve Classic? | Yes | 69.72% |
| Which river critters? | Turtle top, Duck bottom | 52.09% |
Full Classic Council poll percentages
- Game length: Way too short 1.87%, Too short 5.88%, About right 52.80%, Too long 26.21%, Way too long 13.24%.
- When a game becomes too long: 30 minutes 16.75%, 40 minutes 32.68%, 50 minutes 29.29%, 60 minutes 11.64%, no preferred maximum 9.63%.
- Items to revive: Zz'Rot Portal 16.16%, Cloak and Dagger 3.75%, Moonflair Spellblade 5.11%, all three 60.67%, none 14.32%.
- Jungle timers: Modern minimap timers 45.74%, scoreboard-only timers 23.46%, keep the current minimap 30.79%.
- Base gates: Yes 55.03%, No 44.97%.
- Snowball level: Significantly too snowbally 8.89%, slightly too snowbally 24.99%, about right 48.82%, slightly not snowbally enough 12.24%, significantly not snowbally enough 5.06%.
- Ward trinkets: Yes 69.72%, No 30.28%.
- River critters: Turtle/Turtle 11.31%, Turtle/Duck 52.09%, Duck/Turtle 28.39%, Duck/Duck 8.21%.
League Classic systems and bug fixes in patch 26.18
Classic Skin Chromas are also changing in League of Legends patch 26.18. Instead of selling a Classic Skin Chroma separately from its associated base skin, Riot is unifying the products to avoid situations where players effectively pay twice. Players who previously purchased only a Classic Chroma will receive its associated base skin for free.
Baron Rammus is scheduled to enter the vault in patch 26.20. Riot says the skin will remain available at a discounted price until then.
League Classic bug fixes in patch 26.18
- Teemo's traps now last the intended 10 minutes.
- Akali's Q cast indicator now accurately reflects its cast range.
- Akali's W can no longer be cast while moving.
- Akali's R cast indicator now accurately reflects its cast range.
- Skarner's E no longer sometimes heals for less than the full amount.
- Nidalee's Cougar E hit range is corrected from 310 to 350.
- Nidalee's Human E cast range is corrected from 900 to 600.
ARAM Mayhem changes in League of Legends patch 26.18
ARAM Mayhem receives another behind-the-scenes pass in League of Legends patch 26.18. Riot's main goal is improving Augment relevance so champions are less likely to receive choices that do not fit their kits, such as AP-focused Augments appearing on champions with no useful AP ratios.
| ARAM Mayhem change | Patch 26.18 result |
|---|---|
| Clown College | Re-enabled |
| Spin to Win | R ability damage increase: 30% ⇒ 50% |
| Ultra Hydra | Hydra items can no longer be sold while the Augment is active. |
| Augment Exclusion Pool | A new system prevents incompatible Augments from being randomly granted in certain situations. |
| Sharp Late Game Scaling pool | Phenomenal Evil, Tank Engine, and Tooth Fairy removed. |
| Champion filters | Additional AP-ratio, Health, dash, crowd-control, and champion-specific exclusions are added. |
Full ARAM Mayhem Augment pool changes
See every patch 26.18 Augment pool adjustment
- New Augment Exclusion Pool: Added a pool of Augments that can be excluded from random grants.
- Currently affects: Transmute Augments, Pandora's Box, and King Me.
- Excluded Augments: ADAPt, Back to Basics, Devil on Your Shoulder (currently disabled), Draw Your Sword, EscAPADe, Overflow, Purist - Caster, Ult Bot, and Vampirism (currently disabled).
- Sharp Late Game Scaling Pool: Phenomenal Evil, Tank Engine, and Tooth Fairy removed.
- Sharp Late Game Scaling remaining: From Beginning to End, High Roller, Infinite Recursion, Multishot, Quest: Urf's Champion, and Stackosaurus Rex.
- New "Not AP Ratio-less" exclusion filter: Excludes champions without AP ratios from certain AP-dependent Augments.
- Applied to: ADAPt, EscAPADe, and Phenomenal Evil.
- Champions listed by Riot for this filter: Aatrox, Ambessa, Camille, Darius, Dr. Mundo, Draven, Garen, K'Sante, Kayn, Kled, Naafiri, Nilah, Olaf, Pyke, Riven, Samira, Sett, Talon, Turgot, Xayah, Yone, Zaahen, and Zed.
- CC Pool: Squishy Slappy Grab removed.
- Health Pool: Removed from Anivia, Aurelion Sol, Cassiopeia, Lillia, and Nidalee.
- Bard Health Pool: Low ⇒ Very Low.
- Morgana and Ryze Health Pool: Medium ⇒ Low.
- Jeweled Gauntlet: Removed from Ranged Attacker AD, Ranged Attacker Burst, Melee Attacker AD, and Melee Attacker Burst pools.
- Tank Engine and Dropkick: Exclude Ryze, Morgana, Orianna, Karthus, and Rumble.
- Outlaw's Grit and Earthwake: Exclude low-frequency ultimate-only dashers Vex, Fiddlesticks, Evelynn, Hecarim, Malphite, Ornn, and Warwick.
- Triggered Inferno: Excludes Zilean.
- Windspeaker's Blessing: Excludes Bel'Veth.
- Stackosaurus: Excludes Gangplank.
The important change is not simply that individual Augments move in or out of pools. Riot is making the offer system better at recognizing whether a champion can actually use an Augment, which should reduce dead choices and make ARAM Mayhem drafts less dependent on avoiding obviously incompatible options.
ARAM Mayhem bug fixes
Full ARAM Mayhem bug fix list
- Item damage no longer incorrectly triggers the cleave effect with Upgrade Ravenous Hydra.
- En Passant now works when two or more players on the same team have it.
- Viego can no longer receive multiple Tiamats by possessing other champions while using Ultra Hydra.
- Players can no longer generate extra gold by repeatedly selling and repurchasing a Hydra item while Ultra Hydra is equipped.
- Players can no longer purchase multiple Ravenous Hydras and gain Upgrade Ravenous Hydra lifesteal on all three when paired with Quest: Ultra Hydra.
- Clown College's Deceive now deals the correct damage with critical strike scaling.
- Rite of Ascension no longer sometimes seals enhanced abilities.
Bug fixes and quality-of-life changes in patch 26.18
The main League client and Summoner's Rift bug-fix list is short in League of Legends patch 26.18. Players dealing with account, installation, connectivity, or client problems can also use the official League of Legends support resources.
- Baron Nashor's maximum Void Corruption stacks are no longer higher than intended.
- Serpent's Fang Shield Reaver damage no longer incorrectly applies Omnivamp.
- Diana's R visual effects should now display correctly in different areas of the map.
- Viego possessing Kled no longer causes an infinite looping sound effect.
New skins and chromas in League of Legends patch 26.18
The Hall of Legends cosmetics are scheduled for September 10, 2026. League of Legends patch 26.18 introduces Immortalized Legend Tristana, Risen Legend Orianna, and Risen Legend Tristana. Riot says the Tristana cosmetics were co-developed with Caps as part of his Hall of Legends celebration.
The main splash art for all three skins appears earlier in this article with the Hall of Legends details. Patch 26.18 also brings several event chromas.
Risen Legend Orianna chromas
Other Hall of Legends event chromas
Biggest winners and losers from League of Legends patch 26.18
The modern League of Legends patch 26.18 balance list is focused enough that several changes should be immediately noticeable. Ekko and Kassadin gain cleaner AP scaling, Master Yi gets both survivability and chase power, and Viego becomes friendlier to alternative bruiser builds. Bard and Nautilus lose some of the raw stats that let them make repeated aggressive plays without enough punishment.
| Champion or system | Direction | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Ekko | Winner | Lower Q Mana at every rank plus stronger return scaling improves both lane efficiency and late damage. |
| Kassadin | Winner | More Q scaling and stronger early Riftwalks provide extra agency before his late-game peak. |
| Master Yi | Winner | Higher Armor growth, more Highlander speed, and longer Rageblade stack duration all support his core carry pattern. |
| Viego | Winner | More AD growth and broader possession-heal scaling improve standard and bruiser setups. |
| Zaahen | Winner | Q2 gains base damage while the resurrection interaction becomes more reliable. |
| Cassiopeia | Build-dependent | She loses movement, Mana efficiency, and base damage but gains substantially stronger AP scaling. |
| Bard | Loser | Less Armor makes aggressive positioning and failed roams easier to punish. |
| Nautilus | Loser | Lower AD and Dredge Line damage reduce lane pressure without removing his crowd control. |
| Seraphine bot | Loser | Beat Drop no longer gains cooldown reduction with rank, specifically hurting builds that level E earlier. |
| Syndra | Loser | Less passive Mana and a longer W cooldown reduce early-mid flexibility. |
| Zeri | Loser | Ultrashock Laser loses 20 percentage points of total AD scaling normally and 30 through walls. |
| League Classic | Content winner | Five additional champions dramatically expand the playable roster. |
| ARAM Mayhem | Quality-of-life winner | Champion-specific filters should reduce obviously unusable Augment offers. |
How to approach League of Legends patch 26.18
League of Legends patch 26.18 is more about reevaluating specific matchups, champions, and item interactions than relearning Summoner's Rift. Most systems remain stable, so the highest-value adjustments come from knowing which old assumptions are no longer accurate.
- Pressure Bard more aggressively when he is caught. He loses both starting Armor and Armor growth, making physical damage more punishing throughout the game.
- Do not read Cassiopeia as a simple nerf. Her lane and low-AP reliability fall, but Q and R scale considerably harder with Ability Power.
- Revisit Ekko mid. Saving 10 Mana on every Timewinder rank adds up quickly in lane, while the return hit scales better later.
- Respect Kassadin earlier. Rank-one Riftwalk deals 10 more base damage and Null Sphere gets a stronger AP ratio.
- Retest Master Yi with Rageblade. Yi gets direct movement and durability buffs while Rageblade stacks last one second longer.
- Expect less Nautilus lane damage, not less lockdown. His crowd control remains his core strength, so the nerf is more about reducing the damage attached to successful engages.
- Watch Zeri's W breakpoints. The ability keeps the same base damage but scales considerably less with total Attack Damage.
Frequently asked questions about League of Legends patch 26.18
When does League of Legends patch 26.18 release?
League of Legends patch 26.18 is scheduled for September 10, 2026. Riot published the full patch 26.18 notes on September 9, and the new Hall of Legends skins are also listed for September 10.
Which champions are buffed in LoL patch 26.18?
Ekko, Kassadin, Master Yi, Viego, and Zaahen receive buffs in LoL patch 26.18. Cassiopeia gets a broader adjustment rather than a straightforward buff because Riot lowers her movement, Mana efficiency, and base damage while increasing several AP ratios.
Which champions are nerfed in League of Legends patch 26.18?
Bard, Nautilus, Seraphine, Syndra, and Zeri receive direct nerfs in the League of Legends patch 26.18 notes. Bard and Nautilus are targeted for strong support performance, Seraphine's change primarily affects bot lane, and Zeri loses W scaling after climbing alongside recent marksman item buffs.
Is Cassiopeia buffed or nerfed in patch 26.18?
Cassiopeia is adjusted. Her passive movement speed is lower, Q and R lose base damage, Twin Fang costs more Mana, and early E damage is slightly reduced. In exchange, Q's AP ratio rises from 65% to 75%, base E scaling rises from 10% to 20%, and R scaling increases from 50% to 75%.
Is Master Yi buffed in League of Legends patch 26.18?
Yes. Master Yi's Armor growth increases from 4.5 to 5 per level, and Highlander grants 40/50/60% Move Speed instead of 35/45/55%. Guinsoo's Rageblade also keeps Seething Strike stacks for four seconds instead of three.
What is the Caps Hall of Legends event?
The event celebrates Caps becoming the third League of Legends Hall of Legends inductee and the first Western player selected. Its 100-level pass includes Risen Legend Orianna, Mythic Essence, Orbs, existing skins, Caps-themed icons and emotes, a ward, banner, title, and other rewards. Premium Hall of Legends collections also include Tristana skins developed with Caps.
Which champions are added to League Classic in patch 26.18?
Fiora, Galio, Poppy, Shyvana, and Xin Zhao join League Classic in patch 26.18. Each uses a historical version of the champion rather than the current live kit, including Fiora's Blade Waltz and Poppy's Diplomatic Immunity.
What did the first League Classic Council vote decide?
The actionable Council results include reviving all three proposed items, adding modern jungle timers, and placing a Turtle at the top river and a Duck at the bottom. Players also voted to retain base gates, while majorities or pluralities viewed game length, snowballing, and ward trinkets favorably.
What changes in ARAM Mayhem in LoL patch 26.18?
ARAM Mayhem gets smarter Augment eligibility filters, Clown College is re-enabled, Spin to Win's R damage increase rises from 30% to 50%, and Ultra Hydra prevents Hydra items from being sold while the Augment is active. Riot also fixes several Hydra-related exploits and incorrect Augment interactions.
What to watch as the patch 26.18 meta settles
League of Legends patch 26.18 is primarily a targeted correction for modern Summoner's Rift. Bard and Nautilus become easier to punish, Seraphine bot and Zeri lose some reliability, and Syndra gives up early-mid flexibility. Ekko, Kassadin, Master Yi, Viego, and Zaahen all gain reasons to be reconsidered, while Cassiopeia's new ratios may meaningfully change how players value raw Ability Power.
The larger content story is Caps. His Hall of Legends induction brings a 100-level event pass, commemorative rewards, and new Tristana and Orianna cosmetics. League Classic players also get five additional champions, another balance pass, system changes, and the first Council results pointing toward future Classic content.
Keep up with future changes through RiftDaily's League of Legends patch notes, follow the latest League of Legends news, and check follow-up League updates for hotfixes, live-server reactions, and the next balance changes after League of Legends patch 26.18.
