League of Legends patch 26.22 launched on November 4, 2026, bringing Mel’s midscope update, balance changes for 14 Summoner’s Rift champions, two item adjustments, new K/DA FIRESTARTER skins, major ARAM Mayhem tuning and three classic champions. The patch also begins the move to a standalone Teamfight Tactics client. These are Riot’s final published patch values, not an older PBE preview.
The most consequential change is Mel’s W, Rebuttal. Its spell reflection has been replaced by an expanding protective nova that destroys enemy projectiles, shields allies and deals retaliatory damage. Corki, Rumble, Aurelion Sol, Maokai, Shen and several other champions receive buffs, while Locke, Thresh and Yasuo take nerfs. Doran’s Bow loses one attack damage, and Overlord’s Bloodmail gains ten.
Outside Summoner’s Rift, ARAM Mayhem adds One Hit Wonder and RISE!, returns Butcher’s Bridge and Koeshin’s Crossing and rebalances a dozen Augments. League Classic welcomes original Volibear, Swain and Elise alongside a wider balance pass, while the K/DA comeback brings new artwork, exclusive variants and a prestige skin.
League of Legends patch 26.22 at a glance
| Area | Patch details | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Release | November 4, 2026 | Final notes published November 3. |
| Summoner’s Rift | 14 champion entries including Mel’s midscope | Ten buffs, three nerfs and a full Mel adjustment. |
| Items | Doran’s Bow and Overlord’s Bloodmail | ADC starting choices and juggernaut capstones change. |
| ARAM Mayhem | Two new Augments, Hecarim tuning, 11 other Augment entries, rotating maps | Sustained defenses improved and extreme burst toned down. |
| League Classic | Volibear, Swain, Elise; 12 returning champions rebalanced | Historical kits and a substantial Classic-specific balance patch. |
| Classic Pass | Token gains +50% per game | Faster progression for the remainder of the mode’s run. |
| TFT | Standalone client rollout begins November 4 | Larger client download and future cosmetics separation. |
| Cosmetics | Six highlighted skins and two chroma previews | K/DA FIRESTARTER, Hitmaker Evelynn and Prestige Classic Baron Kog’Maw. |
The values below follow Riot’s Official League of Legends Patch 26.22 Notes, published November 3, with the November 4 release on RiftDaily’s League of Legends patch schedule. For previous changes, see League of Legends patch 26.21, League of Legends patch 26.18, our League of Legends patch notes archive, and League of Legends news.
How patch 26.22 changes the League of Legends meta
This is a targeted live-game balance pass, not a complete overhaul of Summoner’s Rift. The changes matter most in spell order decisions, early lane damage, specific jungle picks and support play.
Corki and Rumble regain damage after pro-focused caution
Corki’s Missile Barrage and empowered Big One gain base damage and bonus AD ratios, so his poke and sustained skirmish threat improve. Rumble gets a larger AP ratio on The Equalizer, increasing the reward when opponents remain in the flames. These changes apply to live play rather than retroactively changing the Worlds 2026 tournament patch.
Locke, Yasuo and Thresh become less oppressive
Locke loses Ritual Nails stacking damage and one second of Soul Ignition. Yasuo keeps Steel Tempest’s flat damage but loses five percentage points of total AD scaling. Thresh loses two basic attack damage and 50 damage at every rank of The Box. None of these nerfs removes the champions’ signature abilities; they reduce the punishment attached to common successful trades.
Maokai, Shen, Naafiri, Kayle and Viktor gain more specific strengths
Maokai’s Bramble Smash gains percent-health damage to help tank lanes and jungle clears; Shen’s Twilight Assault deals more damage to monsters at early ranks. Naafiri restores healing and bonus AD, while Kayle can use her Q and R sooner in the early game. Viktor’s health growth and Arcane Storm AP ratio recover late-game strength without restoring all of his previous early harassment.
Doran’s Bow becomes slightly less automatic
One attack damage is a small figure, but it appears in every early trade and minion last hit. The Doran’s Bow nerf gives Doran’s Blade more room for marksmen that value its profile. Riot’s introduction also mentions Gluttonous Greaves, but its detailed 26.22 item section contains no new numerical change to the boots; the related nerf was in patch 26.21.
Mel’s team defense is less matchup-dependent
The Mel rework matters because reflecting a dangerous spell back at its caster could dominate certain matchups. The new W still protects against projectiles, but its timed shield, speed and delayed retaliation provide clearer counterplay. At the same time, Mel sacrifices early durability for better level scaling and more frequent mid-to-late-game spell rotations.
All Summoner’s Rift champion buffs and nerfs
The modern Summoner’s Rift section contains 14 main champion entries. Each changed ability has its own icon and exact before-and-after values. League Classic uses an entirely different historical balance ruleset and is covered later, so the two sets of numbers should not be mixed.
Aurelion Sol
Riot wants Singularity to be a rewarding second ability to rank up instead of an attractive but inefficient choice. The buff increases both its later-rank base damage and its AP scaling.
E - Singularity
- Total magic damage over five seconds: 50 / 75 / 100 / 125 / 150 (+60% AP) ⇒ 50 / 80 / 110 / 140 / 170 (+60 / 65 / 70 / 75 / 80% AP).
Rank one stays the same. Higher ranks are stronger, with the biggest increase at rank five. The change is designed to make E-second more competitive without changing his early spell’s impact.
For Aurelion Sol players, the main decision is whether more frequent or more damaging Singularity casts fit a given lane and game state. This patch improves E’s damage, but it does not automatically make the same skill order best in every matchup.
Corki
Corki spent the Worlds preparation period with limited power in his ultimate. Riot is restoring some missile pressure through both base damage and bonus AD scaling.
R - Missile Barrage
- Missile damage: 90 / 170 / 250 (+85% bonus AD) ⇒ 100 / 190 / 280 (+90% bonus AD).
- Big One damage: 180 / 340 / 500 (+170% bonus AD) ⇒ 200 / 380 / 560 (+180% bonus AD).
The Big One receives a particularly meaningful late-rank increase. The improved ratio also rewards bonus-AD purchases without requiring a new item build.
Corki’s role remains that of a mobile ranged damage dealer. The practical improvement is higher value from accurate missile use, especially when a fight extends long enough to fire multiple charges.
Kayle
Riot is helping Kayle survive and participate more actively before reaching her strongest scaling stages. Q has a lower cooldown at early ranks, and R is available sooner at ranks one and two.
Q - Radiant Blast
- Cooldown: 12 / 11 / 10 / 9 / 8 seconds ⇒ 10 / 9.5 / 9 / 8.5 / 8 seconds.
The largest benefit is early, when Kayle has fewer tools for creating space. Rank five is unchanged.
R - Divine Judgment
- Cooldown: 160 / 120 / 80 seconds ⇒ 140 / 110 / 80 seconds.
Twenty fewer seconds at rank one and ten fewer at rank two make Kayle’s defensive ultimate available more often. Rank three remains unchanged.
These buffs affect her safety and ability to respond to pressure rather than directly increasing her damage. That distinction matters when evaluating Kayle as a scaling top-lane pick.
Locke
Experienced Locke players have demonstrated more early strength than Riot intended. The nerf hits his Ritual Nails stacking damage and shortens the window on Soul Ignition.
Q - Ritual Nails
- Stack bonus damage: 18 / 26 / 34 / 42 / 50 ⇒ 15 / 22 / 29 / 36 / 43.
- Maximum stack damage: 75.6 / 109.2 / 142.8 / 176.4 / 210 ⇒ 63 / 92.4 / 121.8 / 151.2 / 180.6.
The reduction becomes more pronounced as Ritual Nails ranks up and rewards less early damage from players who reliably stack the ability.
W - Soul Ignition
- Duration: 6 seconds ⇒ 5 seconds.
The shorter duration reduces Locke’s opportunities to extract value from extended exchanges. His core combo and stacking identity remain intact.
The change targets high-mastery gameplay in particular. Players facing Locke should have slightly more room to survive his early trade windows, while Locke players may need to choose their engagements more carefully.
Maokai
Maokai has largely been confined to support. Riot is improving Bramble Smash’s percent-health component to make farming and fighting tougher targets more appealing in top lane and jungle.
Q - Bramble Smash
- Damage: 75 / 120 / 165 / 210 / 255 (+2 / 2.5 / 3 / 3.5 / 4% target maximum Health) (+50% AP) ⇒ 75 / 120 / 165 / 210 / 255 (+2.5 / 3 / 3.5 / 4 / 4.5% target maximum Health) (+50% AP).
The base damage and AP ratio stay the same. The percent-health portion increases by 0.5 percentage points at every rank, increasing its value against high-health monsters and enemy frontliners.
This buff is most relevant to Maokai players who want to leave the support role. It improves his bruiser and monster matchups without dramatically increasing low-health target burst.
Mel
Mel receives a complete midscope adjustment rather than a normal small buff or nerf. Her first levels are weaker, but her durability growth, spell cycling and team utility improve. Most importantly, Rebuttal no longer reflects enemy spells.
Her full base-stat, passive, Q, W, E and R numerical breakdown appears in the dedicated Mel midscope section below. The new W is a 400-unit nova that destroys incoming missiles, shields and speeds nearby allies, and retaliates after ending. For deeper context, read RiftDaily’s Mel rework guide.
Naafiri
Naafiri has struggled to maintain mid-lane presence after earlier nerfs. These changes restore sustain and some bonus Attack Damage, benefiting mid-lane combat while also helping her jungle performance.
Q - Darkin Daggers
- Heal: 45 / 60 / 75 / 90 / 105 (+40% bonus AD) ⇒ 55 / 70 / 85 / 100 / 115 (+45% bonus AD).
The healing increases by ten at every rank, and its bonus AD ratio increases by five percentage points, improving recovery from successful dagger use.
W - The Call of the Pack
- Bonus Attack Damage: 20% ⇒ 22%.
The extra two percentage points amplify Naafiri’s damage profile, particularly in longer exchanges in which she benefits from her full kit.
Combined, the adjustments give Naafiri a better chance to sustain through lane and convert successful offensive opportunities. Riot intends the help to be especially useful in mid lane, not just jungle.
Rumble
Rumble was kept under tighter control during pro play preparation. The Equalizer’s AP ratio is being restored so that accurate ultimate placement matters more in everyday matches.
R - The Equalizer
- Damage per second: 120 / 200 / 280 (+35% AP) ⇒ 120 / 200 / 280 (+40% AP).
- Maximum damage AP ratio: 175% AP ⇒ 200% AP.
The base damage is unchanged. More AP contributes to every second an enemy remains in the damaging zone, and a full-duration hit gains 25 percentage points of total AP scaling.
The buff rewards good ultimate positioning and sustained area control. It does not make a poorly placed Equalizer more reliable, so landing the ability still determines its value.
Shen
Shen has become less effective in jungle despite earlier tank adjustments. Riot is adding early monster damage to Twilight Assault without altering its highest-rank value.
Q - Twilight Assault
- Monster damage modifier: 100 / 125 / 150 / 175 / 200 ⇒ 120 / 140 / 160 / 180 / 200.
The first four ranks improve, with the largest increase at rank one. A stronger early Q should help Shen clear camps more efficiently, although rank five remains unchanged.
For players experimenting with Shen jungle, this improves one of the least comfortable parts of the role: early clear tempo. The ultimate’s global utility is still his defining reason to draft him.
Smolder
Smolder receives a general damage buff after his previous adjustments landed a little softer than Riot wanted. The team also expects Doran’s Bow’s reduction to help his relative early lane strength.
W - ACHOOO!
- Explosion damage: 10 / 35 / 60 / 85 / 110 (+50% bonus AD) (+80% AP) ⇒ 25 / 50 / 75 / 100 / 125 (+50% bonus AD) (+80% AP).
The explosion gains 15 base damage at every rank. Its existing bonus-AD and AP ratios do not change, so both crit-leaning and caster-oriented builds can benefit.
This is a direct improvement to trading and area damage, not a redesign of his passive stacking. It should feel useful whether Smolder relies more heavily on basic attacks or spell casting.
Thresh
Thresh has remained a particularly strong support at high levels even after a previous nerf. Riot is reducing his early auto-attack pressure and the damage of The Box.
Base stats
- Attack Damage: 56 ⇒ 54.
Two fewer points of base AD lower the value of repeated early attacks and short trades, which is especially relevant to experienced Thresh players who make frequent use of his ranged attack windows.
R - The Box
- Damage: 250 / 400 / 550 (+100% AP) ⇒ 200 / 350 / 500 (+100% AP).
The Box loses 50 damage at every rank. Its AP ratio is unchanged, and the primary crowd-control role of the ultimate remains the same.
This is a targeted support nerf rather than a full kit rework. The biggest difference should be less incidental damage after Thresh already lands crowd control.
Viktor
Riot was satisfied with the way last patch reduced Viktor’s early bullying, but the nerf overshot overall. Instead of reversing that early change, this update restores health growth and late-game ultimate scaling.
Base stats
- Health growth: 100 per level ⇒ 105 per level.
Five additional health per level gradually adds durability, with most of its value arriving later in the game.
R - Arcane Storm
- Conjure damage: 100 / 175 / 250 (+50% AP) ⇒ 100 / 175 / 250 (+60% AP).
The initial summon gains ten percentage points of AP scaling, while its base damage stays constant.
Viktor’s trading pattern is not being restored to its previous early peak. Instead, Riot is making his later teamfighting and scaling payoffs more rewarding.
Yasuo
As more players return to critical-strike itemization, Yasuo has become too effective and too frequently banned. Riot is trimming his Steel Tempest damage scaling rather than changing his mobility or tornado mechanics.
Q - Steel Tempest
- Damage: 20 / 45 / 70 / 95 / 120 (+105% total AD) ⇒ 20 / 45 / 70 / 95 / 120 (+100% total AD).
The base damage stays unchanged. Every Q cast now uses five percentage points less total AD, which scales into a noticeable reduction over repeated attacks and later purchases.
Yasuo remains a mobile melee carry. The nerf reduces consistent offensive output rather than removing any of his characteristic outplay tools.
Zaahen
Zaahen has reached an acceptable late-game scaling profile but does not have enough opportunities to contest lane. The Darkin Glaive becomes available faster at early ranks, helping short trades and skirmishes.
Q - The Darkin Glaive
- Cooldown: 10 / 9 / 8 / 7 / 6 seconds ⇒ 8 / 7.5 / 7 / 6.5 / 6 seconds.
The earliest ranks benefit most, with a two-second reduction at rank one. Rank five remains unchanged.
A shorter early cooldown gives Zaahen more opportunities to pressure an opponent without raising his late-rank spell frequency. That is consistent with Riot’s goal of adding early interaction while protecting his scaling identity.
Mel midscope rework in patch 26.22
The Mel midscope update changes both her power curve and her defensive identity. Her old Rebuttal could reflect selected enemy spells back at their casters. The new W instead creates a protective nova that removes incoming missiles, shields and speeds nearby teammates, then deals damage in retaliation for destroyed projectiles. Riot also redistributes her early durability, passive and Q damage into better scaling and spell cycling.
The central design goal is to make Mel less matchup-warping early while allowing her to contribute more consistently to teamfights. Her updated kit still rewards careful positioning, but countering her is no longer primarily about whether a champion’s signature projectile will be reflected back at them.
Mel base-stat changes
| Stat | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Health | 640 + 99 per level | 590 + 107 per level |
| Mana | 480 + 28 per level | 455 + 38 per level |
| Armor growth | 5.2 per level | 5.4 per level |
| Attack Damage | 54 + 3.3 per level | 52 + 3.3 per level |
| Attack Speed growth | 2.5% per level | 2.75% per level |
The 50-point starting health reduction makes early mistakes more costly, but her higher health, mana, armor and Attack Speed growth rates reward leveling. She also begins with two fewer Attack Damage, reducing the value of casual early basic attacks.
Passive - Searing Brilliance
- Bonus damage per bolt: 8 - 30 (+4% AP) ⇒ 4 - 30 (+4% AP).
- First-stack damage against minions: 50% less ⇒ 45% less.
The passive loses some early champion damage but retains its late end. Minion damage on the first stack becomes slightly less penalized, helping avoid an unnecessary hit to waveclear.
Q - Radiant Volley
- First-hit damage: 60 / 85 / 110 / 135 / 160 (+55% AP) ⇒ 60 (+25% AP) at all ranks.
- Subsequent-hit damage: 5 / 7 / 9 / 11 / 13 (+5% AP) ⇒ 5 / 10 / 15 / 20 / 25 (+8% AP).
- Total damage range: 85 - 277 (+80 - 100% AP) ⇒ 85 - 285 (+65 - 97% AP).
- New champion-hit cooldown refund: 0.5 - 1.0 seconds when the cast hits an enemy champion at least once; scales with champion level.
- Mana cost: 70 / 75 / 80 / 85 / 90 ⇒ 60 / 65 / 70 / 75 / 80.
- Missile speed: 3800 ⇒ 3200 (roughly 0.047 seconds more travel time at maximum range).
The first explosion is less threatening in lane, while subsequent hits become more meaningful. Landing Q on an enemy champion also partially refunds its cooldown, allowing more passive stacking over time. The slower missile gives opponents a slightly better opportunity to react.
W - Rebuttal - completely reworked
- Old effect: Reflected incoming eligible enemy spells.
- New effect: Expands a protective nova to a 400-unit radius over 0.75 seconds, destroying enemy projectiles and shielding and speeding Mel and nearby allies.
- Retaliation damage, first destroyed missile: 35 / 40 / 45 / 50 / 55 (+10% AP).
- Further retaliation against the same enemy: 5 / 10 / 15 / 20 / 25 (+5% AP) per subsequent hit, up to seven retaliation hits per enemy.
- Maximum combined retaliation: 65 - 205 (+40% AP).
- Shield strength: 80 / 110 / 140 / 170 / 200 (+70% AP) for 2 seconds.
- Movement Speed: 10 - 30% according to champion level, for 2 seconds.
- Mana cost: 100 / 80 / 60 / 40 / 0.
- Cooldown: 30 / 28.5 / 27 / 25.5 / 24 seconds.
The new W is defensive first and retaliatory second. The shield and speed offer immediate team utility, while the delayed damage is tied to destroyed projectiles rather than instantly sending an opponent’s own spell back at them.
How the new Mel W works in a teamfight
Mel releases an expanding wave around herself. Its missile-destruction window protects a localized area, and allies within it can benefit from a two-second shield and movement-speed boost. Enemy projectiles removed by the wave contribute to delayed retaliation damage after the nova completes.
Because the effect has a limited 400-unit radius and a finite duration, timing and positioning matter. Enemy players can look to bait Rebuttal before committing an important projectile, approach from outside the protected area, or use non-projectile tools. The removal of reflection also means they no longer face an immediate copy of their own spell flying back at them.
Why Riot removed Mel’s spell reflection
The old version produced very uneven matchups: Mel could be extremely effective against certain projectile champions while struggling to keep pace with broader teamfights. Riot shifted the mechanic toward reliable protection and multiple passive-stack opportunities, aiming to reduce frustrating hard counters without removing the fantasy of punishing enemy spell use.
E - Solar Snare
- Root duration: 1.5 seconds at all ranks ⇒ 0.8 - 1.6 / 0.85 - 1.75 / 0.9 - 1.9 / 0.95 - 2.05 / 1.0 - 2.2 seconds (minimum to maximum at each rank, increasing with projectile distance).
- Slow: 30% ⇒ 20 / 25 / 30 / 35 / 40%.
- Mana cost: 50 / 60 / 70 / 80 / 90 ⇒ 40 / 50 / 60 / 70 / 80.
A nearby enemy is rooted for less time than before, but a long-range hit can keep the target in place longer. The adjusted slow also means early ranks are less oppressive, while the slow becomes stronger at later ranks.
R - Golden Eclipse
- Cooldown: 120 / 100 / 80 seconds ⇒ 120 / 90 / 60 seconds.
Ten fewer seconds at rank two and twenty fewer at rank three help Mel convert accumulated passive stacks into more frequent teamfight payoffs. Rank one remains unchanged.
What the Mel rework means for mid lane and support
The changes increase risk in early lanes and reward levels and repeated spell hits later. The Q cooldown refund and lower rank-two and rank-three R cooldown help her maintain pressure as the game develops, while the new W adds group protection. That could make her more useful in several team compositions, but the published notes alone do not justify a claim that any particular role becomes her best position.
When playing against Mel, respect the expanding W zone but remember it is not permanent. When playing Mel, use Rebuttal to protect multiple allies when possible and treat it as a timed resource, not an automatic reflection tool. The specific matchup will still determine whether it is worth holding W for a dangerous projectile.
Item changes in League of Legends patch 26.22
Two standard Summoner’s Rift items have numerical changes in the final patch notes. Doran’s Bow loses a point of Attack Damage to reduce its dominance among marksman starters. Overlord’s Bloodmail gains ten Attack Damage but has a smaller maximum Retribution multiplier.
| Item | Statistic | Before | After | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doran’s Bow | Attack Damage | 8 | 7 | Slightly less damage in early attacks and last hits. |
| Overlord’s Bloodmail | Attack Damage | 30 | 40 | More reliable damage even before missing-health scaling. |
| Overlord’s Bloodmail | Retribution bonus based on missing Health | 0 - 12% total AD | 0 - 10% total AD | Reduced multiplier at very low health; prevents excessive synergy with certain users. |
Doran’s Bow
Doran’s Bow’s Attack Damage drops from 8 ⇒ 7. Riot says too many marksmen were choosing it even in matchups and builds where Doran’s Blade should have been competitive.
The one-point nerf matters throughout early laning because auto attacks and certain abilities repeatedly benefit from bonus AD. It does not change the identity of the item or create a universal rule that every ADC must switch starters.
Overlord’s Bloodmail
Overlord’s Bloodmail’s Attack Damage rises from 30 ⇒ 40. Its missing-health Retribution passive falls from 0 - 12% ⇒ 0 - 10% total AD.
Riot expects this to be a net benefit for many juggernauts, particularly outside Sett, who has exceptional synergy between missing-health damage and Haymaker. More immediate Attack Damage can make the item useful before a champion drops dangerously low.
Does Gluttonous Greaves change again?
Riot references Gluttonous Greaves in the 26.22 introduction when discussing ADC itemization, but its detailed item list contains no additional numerical Greaves adjustment in this patch. The previous patch addressed the boots alongside other marksman items. See our League of Legends patch 26.21 notes or Riot’s Official Patch 26.21 Notes for those earlier figures.
ARAM Mayhem changes and new Augments
The new Journey to Stardom event remains central to ARAM Mayhem in patch 26.22. Riot is trying to reduce excessive burst and help frontliners survive in a mode where fighters have been finishing matches too quickly and early poke has remained powerful. Two new Augments arrive, several existing Augments change, and two maps return to rotation.
Two new Mayhem Augments: One Hit Wonder and RISE!
One Hit Wonder creates an Ability Haste tradeoff: a selected ability gains damage based on Ability Haste but stops benefiting from Ability Haste itself. RISE! rewards ultimate finishing blows with additional casts, creating high-risk, high-reward teamfight sequences.
| New Augment | Exact effect | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| One Hit Wonder | An ability gains increased damage based on your Ability Haste but no longer benefits from Ability Haste. | Look for a key spell that rewards one hard hit over repeated casts; the patch does not publish an exact damage formula. |
| RISE! | Killing an enemy champion with your ultimate resets its cooldown, up to three times. | Use a damaging ultimate when it can secure a kill, then continue the fight with refreshed casts. |
ARAM Mayhem champion change: Hecarim
Hecarim is the only champion with a mode-specific numerical adjustment listed in this section. His bonus Ability Haste decreases from 10 ⇒ 0, slightly reducing how often he can rotate through his kit without additional haste from his build or Augments.
Complete ARAM Mayhem Augment balance table
| Augment | Before | After | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Armored Impact | 50 - 125 + 250% bonus Armor damage | 25 - 125 + 220% bonus Armor | Nerf |
| BEES!!! | 75 - 200 + 150% bonus AD + 70% total AP | 75 - 140 + 150% bonus AD + 70% total AP | Nerf |
| BEES!!! travel time | 0.75 seconds | 1.1 seconds | Nerf |
| Brass Blast cooldown | 75 seconds | 50 seconds | Buff |
| Brass Blast damage to minions | Previously had minion damage | Removed | Adjustment |
| Crimson Cobalt mark VFX | Visible to all players | Visible only to the Augment owner | Clarity adjustment |
| Ravenous Bind bonus-Health heal ratio | 0.10 | 0.12 | Buff |
| Ravenous Bind base heal | 50 - 200 | 75 - 300 | Buff |
| Squishy Slappy Grab shield per pulled target | 50 - 200 + 50% bonus Armor + 50% bonus MR | 100 - 300 + 70% bonus Armor + 70% bonus MR | Buff |
| Soul Eater Health per stack | 20 | 30 | Buff |
| Stay Resolute Armor and MR per ability hit | Levels 1 / 7 / 11: 1 / 2 / 3 | Levels 1 / 11: 2 / 3 | Buff |
| Take ’Em Down Down Down five-hit proc | (15 + 5% bonus AS + 0.15% total Ability Haste)% missing Health | 17% missing Health | Adjustment / nerf to high scaling |
| Titan’s Resolve stacks per Juggernauting level | 10 | 7 | Buff |
| Weapon of Destiny flat Armor Penetration scalar | 35 | 20 | Nerf |
| Weapon of Destiny flat Magic Penetration scalar | 25 | 15 | Nerf |
| Weapon of Destiny percent Armor Penetration scalar | 0.25 | 0.15 | Nerf |
| Weapon of Destiny percent Magic Penetration scalar | 0.15 | 0.09 | Nerf |
The dominant direction is less reliable tank-busting and stronger defensive scaling. Weapon of Destiny loses penetration across all four calculations, while Take ’Em Down Down Down no longer becomes stronger from bonus Attack Speed and Ability Haste. Conversely, Soul Eater, Stay Resolute and Squishy Slappy Grab now offer more reliable survival.
Why the Augment changes matter for tanks and fighters
Tank players should feel less punished by a few extremely efficient anti-tank Augments. Armored Impact and BEES!!! have lower damage ceilings, and BEES!!! now moves more slowly. For fighters, the loss of scaling damage on Take ’Em Down Down Down reduces the incentive to stack multiple offensive stats solely to amplify that proc.
The changes do not remove aggressive Augments from Mayhem. One Hit Wonder and RISE! introduce two fresh ways to build around a single damaging ability or an ultimate. A strong pick still depends on the champion and the other Augments available during the run.
Butcher’s Bridge and Koeshin’s Crossing return
Butcher’s Bridge and Koeshin’s Crossing return to the ARAM Mayhem map rotation and can host Headliner performances again. The addition broadens the scenery and adds more variety to the Journey to Stardom experience.
Journey to Stardom progression and rewards
The final page of Journey to Stardom is unlocked, so players can complete the remaining missions, progress toward the Worlds stage, and earn the remaining event rewards. Riot did not publish a new full rewards chart in the 26.22 patch notes, so any exact cosmetic claim should be checked in the event’s in-client progression screen.
All ARAM Mayhem bug fixes
- Get Jinxed: Death to the fountain turret no longer leaves the player unable to move.
- Jeweled Gauntlet: Critical Strike chance now combines correctly with escAPADe and ADAPt.
- Bee Band: Headliner tooltip now matches its in-game effect.
- Crimson Cobalt: Empowered basic attacks correctly consume its mark on affected champions.
- Pentakill: Udyr’s ultimate upgrade now appears as an option at level 18.
- Journey mission: Karma’s Mantra-enhanced abilities now count toward the Ultimate Damage K/DA band mission.
- Superstar missions: Several misleading or missing mission descriptions are corrected.
- Mosh Monster: Slow no longer persists after a champion dies.
- Weapon of Destiny: An empowered item transforming no longer causes the Augment to switch its empowered item.
These fixes target mission reliability and combat clarity. They are especially useful for players completing the final Journey to Stardom challenges, where a missed mission count could otherwise delay progression.
League Classic additions and balance changes
League Classic is distinct from modern Summoner’s Rift. It recreates historical versions of champions and items, so the buffs, nerfs, and abilities in this section do not apply to the standard 2026 game. Patch 26.22 adds original versions of Volibear, Swain, and Elise, then adjusts twelve existing Classic champions and repairs numerous old interactions.
| League Classic addition | Historical version | Main difference from the modern champion |
|---|---|---|
| Volibear | 2011-2018 | Rolling Thunder flips targets, Frenzy delivers a missing-health bite, and Thunder Claws adds chain lightning to basic attacks. |
| Swain | 2010-2016 | Uses a laser raven for sustained damage and turns into a giant raven through Ravenous Flock. |
| Elise | Early Elise | Stronger current-health and missing-health Q attacks, with separate human and spider forms. |
Volibear
The original Volibear brings back a straightforward but distinctive tanky fighter. His threat comes from reaching a target with Rolling Thunder, building Frenzy attack speed, and finishing low-health enemies with a powerful bite. This is the pre-2018 E version before later knock-back and anti-dash behavior was added.
Passive - Chosen of the Storm
Upon dropping to low health, Volibear heals for a portion of his maximum health over time. The trigger has a long cooldown, so it is not a heal he can rely on in every skirmish.
Q - Rolling Thunder
Grants movement speed, increased when charging toward an enemy champion. The next basic attack deals extra damage and flips the target over his head.
W - Frenzy
Basic attacks build stacking attack speed. After reaching maximum stacks, Volibear can activate Frenzy to bite one enemy for high damage that rises as the target loses health.
E - Majestic Roar
Damages and slows nearby enemies. Its historical version additionally fears minions and monsters rather than using the later anti-dash knock-back interaction.
R - Thunder Claws
Empowers basic attacks with chain lightning for several seconds, rewarding Volibear for staying in sustained melee combat.
The clearest way to approach this version is to plan your opening with Q, keep close enough to build Frenzy, and use the W activation when missing-health damage is most valuable. His old kit is simpler than modern Volibear’s but rewards timing and commitment.
Swain
Classic Swain returns with his 2010-2016 design. Instead of his modern soul-fragment-focused kit, this version wears opponents down with damage over time, controls an area with Nevermove, and transforms into a raven that consumes mana in return for continuous damage and healing.
Passive - Carrion Renewal
Restores mana whenever Swain kills an enemy, supporting lane farming and long fights.
Q - Decrepify
Commands a raven to attack a target, continuously damaging and slowing the enemy as long as it remains within range. The old laser-bird effect is one of Swain’s signature historical mechanics.
W - Nevermove
After a brief delay, damages and roots enemies in a small targeted area, creating an opening to land the rest of his spells.
E - Torment
Applies damage over time and amplifies damage Swain deals to the afflicted target. Unusually, this bonus also affects true damage such as Ignite.
R - Ravenous Flock
Transforms Swain into a giant raven, draining increasing amounts of mana while active. Lesser ravens damage nearby foes and return to heal Swain according to the damage dealt.
Managing mana is the main trade-off in the older kit. Swain can become difficult to force out of combat once Ravenous Flock is working, but keeping the transformation active grows more costly over time.
Elise
Classic Elise feels closer to the modern character than Volibear or Swain, but her early version places considerably more strength into the health-based damage on both Q forms. Riot specifically notes her burst and solo-lane threat.
Passive - Spider Swarm
Damaging an enemy with a human-form ability stores a Spiderling, up to a cap. Elise releases the stored Spiderlings while in spider form, where they attack nearby targets.
Q - Neurotoxin / Venomous Bite
Human-form Q deals bonus damage based on the victim’s current health. Spider-form Q lunges at the enemy with her Spiderlings and scales with the target’s missing health.
W - Volatile Spiderling / Skittering Frenzy
Human-form W summons an exploding Spiderling that damages an area. Spider-form W grants attack speed to Elise and her Spiderlings, and restores Elise’s health when she hits.
E - Cocoon / Rappel
Human-form E stuns the first enemy hit. In spider form, Elise and her Spiderlings become untargetable by rising into the air, then she can recast to descend on a selected target.
R - Human Form / Spider Form
Switches Elise between ranged human combat and melee spider combat, with bonus on-hit damage in spider form.
The old Elise creates a natural two-step damage plan: use current-health damage while the target is healthier, then finish with spider-form missing-health damage. Her older magic-damage ratios may also make magic penetration valuable, but players should test actual Classic matchups rather than relying on modern builds.
League Classic champion balance changes
The following values apply exclusively to League Classic. They are separate from the 14 champions adjusted on modern Summoner’s Rift.
Aatrox
The older Aatrox had a misleading passive cooldown after the previous patch, while his Ultimate also suffered from a severe attack bug. Riot has now incorporated the corrective changes into Classic’s notes.
P - Blood Well
- Passive cooldown: 225 seconds ⇒ 225 / 200 / 175 / 150 seconds, properly scaling as intended.
This is a correction to the earlier passive change, which previously appeared in a tooltip without the expected gameplay effect.
Q - Dark Flight
- Max-range hit detection: Fixed a long-standing bug that could make a maximum-range cast miss enemies it should hit.
The leap should now connect more reliably at its longest range.
R - Massacre
- Basic attacks during Ultimate: Fixed a bug that caused attacks to have no effect. This fix was delivered in an earlier day-one micropatch.
The Massacre attack fix is not a new midpatch hotfix for 26.22; Riot is documenting work completed earlier.
Amumu
Amumu has been performing too well in Classic’s jungle, especially when his fast farming combines with high-impact teamfight crowd control. Riot reduces his resistance shred and damage and extends his Ultimate cooldown.
Passive - Cursed Touch
- Magic resistance reduction at levels 1 / 7 / 13: 15 / 25 / 35 ⇒ 15 / 20 / 25.
The mid- and late-game shred is lower, reducing the magic damage his team can amplify.
Q - Bandage Toss
- Damage: 80 / 140 / 200 / 260 / 320 ⇒ 80 / 130 / 180 / 230 / 280.
A direct nerf to mid- and high-rank Q damage.
R - Curse of the Sad Mummy
- Cooldown: 150 / 130 / 110 ⇒ 170 / 145 / 120 seconds.
Amumu gets fewer opportunities to open a fight with his large-area Ultimate.
Evelynn
Classic Evelynn has fallen behind competing junglers. Riot restores more damage to her main repeated attack.
Q - Hate Spike
- Base damage: 40 / 55 / 70 / 85 / 100 ⇒ 40 / 60 / 80 / 100 / 120.
Damage is unchanged at rank one, but the ability scales substantially better at later ranks.
Ezreal
Classic AP Ezreal is underperforming compared with his AD options. Riot reinforces the older mage and healing-oriented playstyle with larger AP ratios.
W - Essence Flux
- AP ratio: 60% ⇒ 80%.
- Healing effectiveness: 50% ⇒ 70%.
This helps both AP damage and the historical support-style healing use case.
E - Arcane Shift
- AP ratio: 75% ⇒ 80%.
The blink becomes a little more rewarding for AP builds without changing how it moves.
Fiddlesticks
Fiddlesticks is too effective in both jungle and support. Riot redistributes the scaling on an older bouncing spell so early ranks are weaker.
E - Dark Wind
- Damage per bounce: 65 / 85 / 105 / 125 / 145 (+45% AP) ⇒ 50 / 75 / 100 / 125 / 150 (+45% AP).
Ranks one to three lose damage, rank four stays equal, and rank five gains a small amount. The AP ratio does not change.
Gangplank
Gangplank gets help for both top lane and jungle. Better baseline durability, cheaper Parrrley casts, and more frequent Cannon Barrage make his historic bruiser patterns more attractive.
Base stats
- Base health regeneration: 5 ⇒ 7.
- Health growth: 81 ⇒ 89 per level.
Passive - Grog-Soaked Blade
- Maximum stacks: 3 ⇒ 4.
Additional passive stacking makes sustained combat more rewarding.
Q - Parrrley
- Mana cost: 50 / 55 / 60 / 65 / 70 ⇒ 40 / 45 / 50 / 55 / 60.
Lower mana costs help trading and farming.
R - Cannon Barrage
- Cooldown: 120 / 115 / 110 ⇒ 120 / 110 / 100 seconds.
Late-rank global impact is available more often.
Janna
Classic Janna’s global movement-speed aura has been disproportionately powerful even for teammates outside her lane. Riot trims the passive without removing its signature global effect.
Passive - Tailwind
- Global bonus movement speed: 3% ⇒ 2%.
A one-point reduction can affect rotations and spacing across all lanes, not just Janna’s own skirmishes.
Mordekaiser
This is the older Mordekaiser from Classic, not the current version on Summoner’s Rift. Riot lists fixes delivered in earlier micropatches as well as corrections to his Ultimate’s controllable pet.
Base attack timing
- Attack speed of animation: Attacks now come out approximately 70% faster. Riot notes that this correction was applied about one week after Mordekaiser released in Classic, not as a new Summoner’s Rift buff.
R - Children of the Grave
- Pet bonus AD: 75% of the target’s attack damage ⇒ 75% of Mordekaiser’s attack damage.
- Pet critical hits on structures: Available ⇒ Removed.
- Bonus damage to inhibitors and Nexus: 75% ⇒ 0%.
The pet is less capable of destroying structures through unintended critical hits and damage modifiers.
Nami
Classic Nami gains more high-impact ability damage and improved effectiveness from bouncing Ebb and Flow. The changes encourage active use of her offensive and healing toolkit.
Q - Aqua Prison
- Damage: 75 / 130 / 185 / 240 / 295 (+65% AP) ⇒ 90 / 145 / 200 / 255 / 310 (+100% AP).
Every rank gains 15 base damage and the AP ratio increases significantly.
W - Ebb and Flow
- Damage reduction per bounce: 30% ⇒ 15%.
- Healing reduction per bounce: Unchanged at 15%.
Later bounces retain more damage, while the healing reduction already uses the new value.
Olaf
Olaf receives more sustained damage and more frequent true-damage attacks, lifting his older top-lane and jungle patterns.
W - Vicious Strikes
- Bonus attack damage: 7 / 14 / 21 / 28 / 35 ⇒ 10 / 17 / 24 / 31 / 38.
Every rank grants three additional attack damage.
E - Reckless Swing
- Cooldown: 9 / 8 / 7 / 6 / 5 ⇒ 8 / 7 / 6 / 5 / 4 seconds.
Olaf has more frequent opportunities to use his reliable true-damage strike.
Rammus
Rammus is one of Classic’s strongest junglers. Riot reduces his early armor and his damage growth so his farming and reflected damage are less dominant.
Base stats
- Base armor: 28.8 ⇒ 25.
- Attack damage per level: 3.5 ⇒ 2.75.
Lower armor affects Rammus’s tankiness and damage interactions in Classic, while reduced attack damage growth weakens his later clear speed and trades. The changes do not apply to modern Rammus.
League Classic item fixes
Unlike the modern Doran’s Bow and Overlord’s Bloodmail changes, the four Classic item entries are bug fixes. Riot does not introduce new numerical stat changes for these items in patch 26.22.
| Classic item | Corrected behavior |
|---|---|
| Health Potion and Mana Potion | Their active effects now display the intended buff text. |
| Shushei’s Mana Jug | No longer activates from a clone takedown. |
| Statikk Shiv | Triggers correctly for Kayle after she uses Righteous Fury (E). |
| Wit’s End | Properly maintains four stacks. |
League Classic Pass progression is faster
Riot found that a configuration mistake had made Classic Pass token progress slower than intended. That mistake is corrected in patch 26.22. Tokens earned per game increase by 50% for the remainder of the Classic run. Players pursuing the remaining Act rewards therefore progress more quickly without needing to change champions or roles.
League Classic bug fixes
Classic receives a wide set of fixes spanning hit detection, defensive abilities, historical ability visuals, Oracle Elixir effects, and old champion mechanics. These do not change the modern Summoner’s Rift champions.
- Aatrox: Massacre Ultimate attacks now play the intended critical-strike animation.
- Aatrox: Blood Well passive cooldown now actually scales with level as shown in the balance entry.
- Anivia: Resistances now update correctly while in Egg Form.
- Caitlyn: Yordle Snap Trap (W) expiration animation is restored.
- Master Yi: Double Strike’s second hit can no longer bypass Blind.
- Sivir: Spell Shield (E) properly blocks Ezreal’s Mystic Shot (Q).
- Kayle: The critical-strike attack animation now plays on critical hits.
- Miss Fortune: Make It Rain and basic-attack fire visual effects now originate from her pistol tips instead of the ground.
- Kayle: Holy Fervor’s tooltip no longer incorrectly says its ability power comes from bonus attack damage.
- Nunu: Absolute Zero (R) no longer appears visible to enemies while Nunu is hidden in brush.
- Yorick: Spectral Ghoul no longer disappears prematurely during its death animation.
- Oracle Elixir: The sparkle visual effect is no longer offset from its icon on several champions.
- Nunu: Absolute Zero no longer displays both a red and green outline to opponents.
- Morgana: Black Shield (E) visual effects now align with the shielded unit.
- Shyvana: Shields no longer appear too large on her Dragon Form.
- Janna: Eye of the Storm (E) shield visuals are no longer positioned too low on certain allies.
- Caitlyn: Oracle Elixir’s pink sparkle effect is restored.
- Xin Zhao: Oracle Elixir’s pink sparkle effect no longer appears underneath the character model.
The priority fixes for Classic players are the Aatrox passive scaling and the gameplay interactions involving Master Yi’s Blind, Sivir’s Spell Shield, and hidden Nunu Ultimates. The remaining visual repairs make historical abilities easier to read without changing the intended balance.
TFT standalone client launches with patch 26.22
Teamfight Tactics moves into its own standalone client on November 4, 2026. Riot is separating the TFT client from League of Legends while preserving an easy way to switch between the games. The initial transition also makes the 26.22 League patch download larger than usual.
- November 4: Teamfight Tactics receives its standalone client, with one-click switching between League and TFT.
- Existing cosmetics: Previously owned TFT cosmetics remain usable in League of Legends during the transition.
- December 1: The first TFT-only Little Legends become available.
- December 15: Full cosmetic separation for TFT, including emotes and icons, is scheduled.
- Download management: The ability to completely opt out of TFT files during future League patches is planned for a future patch, not enabled automatically with 26.22.
For dedicated TFT players, the change provides a more independent launch experience. For League-only players, the long-term benefit is greater control over downloads, although the first separation patch requires extra installation data. The publisher, Riot Games, provides further information on the official League of Legends website, and RiftDaily’s TFT standalone client coverage looks ahead to the next TFT cycle.
All new K/DA FIRESTARTER skins in patch 26.22
The November 2026 K/DA comeback is the biggest cosmetic event attached to League of Legends patch 26.22. Riot’s official gallery confirms three main FIRESTARTER skins, two premium K/DA variants, and the separate Prestige Classic Baron Kog’Maw. Two official chroma previews also accompany the patch.
K/DA Firestarter Ahri, Evelynn and Kai’Sa
Ahri, Evelynn and Kai’Sa share the collection’s main official splash art. The three core members have coordinated stage styling but keep the distinct combat silhouettes expected from their champions.
K/DA Firestarter Ahri gives the Nine-Tailed Fox a fresh music-themed appearance. K/DA Firestarter Evelynn is the higher-tier main-line skin, while K/DA Firestarter Kai’Sa completes the three-character shared illustration. These are individual skins, even though Riot presents them together in a single official image.
K/DA Firestarter Ignition Akali and K/DA Hitmaker Evelynn
Two additional variants are separate from the normal store skins. K/DA Firestarter Ignition Akali gives Akali a premium interpretation of the new performance theme, while K/DA Hitmaker Evelynn is a distinct high-end skin for Evelynn rather than a chroma for her FIRESTARTER version.
The premium skins use the Sanctum rather than ordinary direct store purchases, according to multiple contemporary release guides. The Sanctum is a randomized reward system, so a displayed guarantee represents a maximum number of attempts, not a flat sticker price. Before spending RP, check the current in-game offer and its displayed odds and guarantees.
Prestige Classic Baron Kog’Maw
The same patch cosmetics section features Prestige Classic Baron Kog’Maw, a special prestige treatment for the historical League Classic character theme. It is separate from K/DA and should not be counted as a sixth FIRESTARTER member.
K/DA FIRESTARTER skin prices, tiers and acquisition
Riot’s patch notes confirm the skins but do not give an official RP price list or a precise unlock schedule. Contemporary release coverage reports 1,350 RP for Ahri and Kai’Sa, 1,820 RP for main-line Evelynn, and Sanctum access for the premium Akali and Hitmaker Evelynn variants. Those reported store prices and methods should be checked in the live client before making a purchase.
| Skin | Reported tier or type | Price / acquisition information | Patch listing |
|---|---|---|---|
| K/DA Firestarter Ahri | Epic | Reported 1,350 RP, direct store purchase. | 26.22 |
| K/DA Firestarter Evelynn | Legendary | Reported 1,820 RP, direct store purchase. | 26.22 |
| K/DA Firestarter Kai’Sa | Epic | Reported 1,350 RP, direct store purchase. | 26.22 |
| K/DA Firestarter Ignition Akali | Mythic variant | Reported Sanctum reward, with separate reward banner. | 26.22 |
| K/DA Hitmaker Evelynn | Mythic variant | Reported Sanctum reward on a separate banner. | 26.22 |
| Prestige Classic Baron Kog’Maw | Prestige / League Classic | The patch notes do not specify an RP price or current acquisition method; check the League Classic reward or store information. | Included in official cosmetics section |
For the Sanctum variants, third-party release reports describe a 40-attempt guarantee at 400 RP per Ancient Spark, or up to 16,000 RP per variant when purchased entirely through individual pulls. This is not a confirmed direct-purchase price in the 26.22 notes. The two reward banners may have separate guarantee progress. Check the in-client rules before spending, especially if you want both variants.
All new chromas shown in the official patch notes
Riot’s patch artwork explicitly includes two chroma preview sets: Music Fan Gragas (FIRESTARTER) and Prestige Classic Baron Kog’Maw (Vivid). Their Riot-supplied preview images appear below.
A skin changes a champion’s presentation, sometimes with new animations and effects depending on its tier. A chroma changes colors or selected visual details on a particular skin. A mythic variant is a separate premium collectible, not necessarily a color option available through the normal chroma shop. Riot does not detail the prices of the two showcased chroma sets in the final patch notes.
The K/DA FIRESTARTER music comeback
The cosmetics arrive alongside K/DA’s FIRESTARTER-era music releases. RiftDaily’s K/DA FIRESTARTER EP coverage explains the wider return, while the official League of Legends music video presents the group’s updated visual direction.
The official FIRESTARTER music video shows the new K/DA era that inspired the five cosmetics, including the coordinated visual themes shared by Ahri, Evelynn, Kai’Sa and Akali.
The cinematic design provides context for the skin art, but it is not a gameplay demonstration or a statement about any champion’s balance. In matches, the cosmetics are visual changes rather than additional combat power.
Bug fixes and quality-of-life improvements
Beyond the champion-specific and ARAM Mayhem fixes covered above, patch 26.22 corrects seven Summoner’s Rift interactions that could affect damage, combat outcomes, jungle rewards, or the clarity of watching a match. These are the standard-game fixes, not League Classic changes.
| Champion or system | Official patch 26.22 fix | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Aurora and Samira | Aurora’s R is no longer incorrectly blockable by Samira’s W. | Restores the intended interaction between an Ultimate and a projectile-blocking ability. |
| Quinn | Quinn’s R no longer deals double damage when it becomes available after recalling or respawning. | Removes an unintended burst-damage case. |
| Ekko / Hail of Blades | Hail of Blades now interacts consistently with Ekko. | Removes inconsistent attack-speed outcomes. |
| Viego / jungle companion | Jungle treat rewards are no longer missed when Viego transforms into another champion at the payout moment. | Keeps jungle progression consistent during possessions. |
| Renekton | Right-clicking during an R combo no longer inadvertently cancels his abilities. | Prevents input interactions from breaking intended combos. |
| Sion, Briar and Kled | Ultimate sound effects play correctly in Spectator Mode. | Makes large engage tools easier to follow when watching. |
| Kog’Maw | Kog’Maw’s W no longer incorrectly damages structures when activated while a basic attack is already airborne. | Removes an unintended structure-damage interaction. |
The Quinn and Kog’Maw fixes directly remove incorrect damage, while the Viego correction protects jungle progression. Aurora’s and Renekton’s changes are more about reliable combat rules. Even when a champion’s base numbers are unchanged, repairs to those interactions can matter in a close game.
What players should know before playing patch 26.22
Patch 26.22 has several changes that merit immediate attention, but there is no need to rebuild every champion’s strategy from scratch. The most useful approach is to test changes that directly affect your usual role, then revisit the surrounding systems after a few games.
- If you play Mel: Relearn Rebuttal (W) before entering a serious match. It now destroys missiles and retaliates rather than reflecting the spell back. Timing, ally shielding, and the nova’s reach are more important than the previous reflection interaction.
- If you play against Mel: Do not assume a spell will be reflected. Recognize the expanding 400-unit defensive zone, the roughly three-quarter-second expansion, and the two-second shield and movement-speed window. Waiting for W to finish can create a clearer opportunity.
- If you play Corki or Rumble: Retest Ultimate burst and poke thresholds. Both receive direct offensive ratio improvements without needing a different build to activate them.
- If you play Locke or Yasuo: Adjust trades to account for the smaller Q damage contribution and Locke’s shorter W window. Small changes matter when an all-in relies on exact damage.
- If you play Thresh: Account for two less base attack damage and 50 less base damage at every rank of The Box. Early lane trades and late-game all-ins may require another hit.
- If you play ADC: Compare your starting options again. Doran’s Bow now provides 7 AD rather than 8, so its previous dominance over Doran’s Blade is slightly reduced. Do not assume one starter is correct for every marksman.
- If you build Overlord’s Bloodmail: Its 10 additional flat attack damage improves the non-low-health baseline, while a weaker maximum Retribution ratio reduces the payoff from deliberately staying at low health.
- If you play ARAM Mayhem: Try the new One Hit Wonder and RISE! Augments. Survivability choices such as Soul Eater and Stay Resolute are stronger; several penetration and five-hit damage sources are weaker.
- If you play League Classic: The additions of Volibear, Swain, and Elise change matchups, and the separate Classic balance table should be read independently of the modern Summoner’s Rift values.
- If you play TFT: Allow for the larger initial download and use the new standalone client. Cosmetic separation has additional steps in December, and a full download opt-out is planned later.
For patch timing and subsequent release windows, consult RiftDaily’s League of Legends patch schedule. If you encounter an unexpected download, account, or client issue, the Riot Games support site provides the official troubleshooting routes.
Frequently asked questions about League of Legends patch 26.22
When did League of Legends patch 26.22 release?
League of Legends patch 26.22 released on Wednesday, November 4, 2026. Riot published the official notes on November 3. The patch includes Mel’s midscope update, 14 Summoner’s Rift champion entries, two modern item changes, Mayhem Augments, League Classic additions, the TFT standalone client transition, and new K/DA cosmetics.
What changed in LoL patch 26.22?
LoL patch 26.22 reworks Mel’s Rebuttal, buffs champions such as Corki and Rumble, nerfs Locke, Thresh and Yasuo, adjusts Doran’s Bow and Overlord’s Bloodmail, adds two ARAM Mayhem Augments, returns three historical League Classic champions, and lists six featured skins.
Which champions were buffed in patch 26.22?
The official Summoner’s Rift notes buff Aurelion Sol, Corki, Kayle, Maokai, Naafiri, Rumble, Shen, Smolder, Viktor and Zaahen. Some champions receive conditional or scaling improvements rather than blanket buffs. Mel undergoes a broader midscope update rather than a simple buff.
Which champions were nerfed in patch 26.22?
Locke loses damage on Ritual Nails and one second of Soul Ignition duration. Thresh loses two base attack damage and 50 damage on The Box at each rank. Yasuo loses five percentage points of total-AD scaling on Steel Tempest. Doran’s Bow, an item rather than a champion, also loses one attack damage.
What changed in Mel’s midscope rework?
Mel’s base statistics, Searing Brilliance, Radiant Volley, Rebuttal, Solar Snare and Golden Eclipse all change. Her biggest adjustment is W: it becomes a protective expanding nova that destroys enemy projectiles, shields nearby allies, provides movement speed and deals retaliatory damage for destroyed missiles.
Did Riot remove Mel’s spell reflection?
Yes. Mel’s old W spell reflection was removed. Rebuttal instead destroys incoming enemy projectiles within a nova that grows to 400 units over 0.75 seconds. It retaliates with damage but does not reflect the original spell or duplicate its effects.
Is Mel stronger after patch 26.22?
There is no definitive answer based solely on the patch notes. Her early health and certain damage values are lower, while health and mana growth improve and Q and R become available more often. The new W trades reflection for team protection and projectile destruction. Her actual performance depends on matchups and player adaptation.
What items changed in League of Legends patch 26.22?
Modern Summoner’s Rift has two listed item adjustments: Doran’s Bow attack damage drops from 8 to 7, while Overlord’s Bloodmail rises from 30 to 40 attack damage and its maximum Retribution bonus falls from 12% to 10% total AD. League Classic lists separate item bug fixes.
What K/DA skins were released in patch 26.22?
Riot lists K/DA Firestarter Ahri, K/DA Firestarter Evelynn, K/DA Firestarter Kai’Sa, K/DA Firestarter Ignition Akali and K/DA Hitmaker Evelynn. Prestige Classic Baron Kog’Maw also appears in the patch’s featured cosmetics lineup. The two showcased chromas are Music Fan Gragas (FIRESTARTER) and Prestige Classic Baron Kog’Maw (Vivid).
How do you get K/DA Firestarter Ignition Akali?
Contemporary release guides report that K/DA Firestarter Ignition Akali is a Sanctum mythic variant, not an ordinary direct-purchase skin. Each Sanctum variant may have its own banner and guarantee progress. Check the active in-client Sanctum rules for the exact reward and spending information before purchasing.
Which champions joined League Classic in patch 26.22?
Volibear, Swain and Elise joined League Classic. Volibear has his historical flip and chain-lightning kit, Swain returns with his laser raven and Ravenous Flock transformation, and Elise uses the older health-based human and spider attacks. These kits are separate from their modern versions.
What are the new ARAM Mayhem Augments?
One Hit Wonder increases an ability’s damage based on Ability Haste but removes the normal Ability Haste benefit from that ability. RISE! resets your Ultimate cooldown when you kill a champion with it, up to three resets. Eleven existing Augments also receive adjustments.
When does the TFT standalone client launch?
The Teamfight Tactics standalone client launches on November 4, 2026. Riot allows easy switching between TFT and League, with TFT-only Little Legends scheduled for December 1 and more complete cosmetic separation on December 15. Full TFT-download opt-out for League players is planned for a later patch.
What patch 26.22 means for your next game
League of Legends patch 26.22 pairs meaningful balance tuning with major new content. Mel’s midscope rework changes how one of the game’s most controversial defensive abilities functions, while Corki and Rumble gain damage, Locke and Yasuo lose some offense, and Thresh gives up further support power. Item changes also make familiar starting and juggernaut choices worth reconsidering.
Outside Summoner’s Rift, ARAM Mayhem gets two new Augments and a careful shift away from extreme burst, League Classic expands its historical roster with Volibear, Swain and Elise, and TFT begins its move to a standalone client. K/DA FIRESTARTER provides the headline cosmetics, including new artwork for Ahri, Evelynn, Kai’Sa and Akali.
For continued coverage, browse RiftDaily’s League of Legends patch notes, revisit League of Legends patch 26.21, and read our League of Legends news for upcoming developments. We follow confirmed League of Legends updates and clearly separate them from League of Legends leaks. For the release calendar, use the League of Legends patch schedule. Our Mel rework and K/DA FIRESTARTER EP coverage also provide deeper context for this patch’s two biggest headlines.
