Riot Games has revealed the first League of Legends Patch 26.17 preview, outlining another round of champion and item balance changes for Summoner’s Rift. Rather than making sweeping changes to the meta, Riot describes Patch 26.17 as primarily a stabilization update following the adjustments introduced with Patch 26.16.
The early preview includes buffs for nine champions, nerfs for six champions, a buff for Stormrazor, and another nerf for Sundered Sky. Exact numerical changes have not been revealed in this initial preview, so the current list shows Riot’s intended balance targets rather than the final patch numbers.
In brief
- Nine champions are getting buffed, including Irelia, Hecarim, Qiyana, Yasuo, Yone, and Aurelion Sol.
- Six champions are getting nerfed, with Nasus, Thresh, Xerath, Graves, Nocturne, and Vayne on the list.
- Stormrazor is being buffed to make the item more appealing outside of Jhin builds.
- Sundered Sky is receiving another nerf as Riot continues trying to reduce its dominance, particularly at higher levels of play.
LoL Patch 26.17 Preview: All Buffs, Nerfs, and Changes
Here is the full League of Legends Patch 26.17 changelist shown in Riot’s initial preview:
| Category | Champions / Items |
|---|---|
| Champion Buffs | Cho’Gath |
| Irelia | |
| Hecarim | |
| LeBlanc | |
| Qiyana | |
| Yasuo | |
| Yone | |
| Trundle | |
| Aurelion Sol | |
| Champion Nerfs | Nasus |
| Thresh | |
| Xerath | |
| Graves | |
| Nocturne | |
| Vayne | |
| Champion Adjustments | None listed |
| System Buffs | Stormrazor |
| System Nerfs | Sundered Sky |
The preview currently lists nine champion buffs and six champion nerfs, with no individual champions appearing in the adjustment category.
All Champion Buffs in LoL Patch 26.17
The champions currently scheduled to receive buffs are:
- Cho’Gath
- Irelia
- Hecarim
- LeBlanc
- Qiyana
- Yasuo
- Yone
- Trundle
- Aurelion Sol
It is a fairly broad collection of champions covering several positions. Fighters such as Irelia, Yasuo, and Yone are joined by Hecarim and Trundle, while LeBlanc, Qiyana, Cho’Gath, and Aurelion Sol are also getting some attention. Riot has not yet provided the exact stat or ability changes for these champions.
All Champion Nerfs in LoL Patch 26.17
Six champions are currently targeted for nerfs:
- Nasus
- Thresh
- Xerath
- Graves
- Nocturne
- Vayne
According to Riot’s Matt Leung-Harrison, better known as Riot Phroxzon, the nerf list is mainly aimed at champions currently standing out as power outliers.
So, Patch 26.17 appears to be more focused on trimming champions that are performing too well rather than dramatically changing how they function.
Stormrazor Is Getting Buffed in Patch 26.17
Stormrazor is the only system buff currently listed for Patch 26.17. Riot believes the item does not have a particularly large user base outside of Stormrazor Jhin and wants to give it more overall power in an attempt to broaden the group of champions that can realistically use it.
The actual numbers have not been announced yet, but the goal seems clear as Riot wants Stormrazor to become a more competitive option instead of being closely associated with one champion.
Sundered Sky Is Getting Another Nerf
Sundered Sky is heading in the opposite direction. Riot says the direction of its previous Sundered Sky and AP jungle changes was positive, but the magnitude of those adjustments has not produced enough movement. As a result, the developers are planning another small to moderate Sundered Sky nerf in Patch 26.17.
Riot is particularly looking to reduce Sundered Sky’s dominance at higher levels of play while continuing to create more room for AP junglers.
Riot Is Still Monitoring Hail of Blades
Patch 26.17 also gives us an idea of what Riot is watching for future balance changes. The developers are continuing to monitor the broader impact of Hail of Blades, including its performance on champions such as Master Yi, Tryndamere, and Shaco. However, none of those champions or the rune itself appear on the current Patch 26.17 changelist.
Riot also says bot lane mages have lost some win rate following Patch 26.16, but the decline has not been especially large, which is roughly the impact the balance team was targeting. Meanwhile, the recent Poppy and Camille changes appear to have successfully pushed power away from their support roles while maintaining healthier results in top lane.
LoL Patch 26.17 Looks Like a Smaller Stabilization Update
League of Legends Patch 26.17 currently looks much more like a follow-up balance pass than a major meta overhaul. Riot is targeting several champion outliers, trying to increase Stormrazor’s relevance, and taking another shot at reducing Sundered Sky’s strength.
The most important details are still to come, however. Riot’s initial preview only confirms which champions and systems are being targeted, meaning the exact ability changes, damage numbers, cooldowns, ratios, and stat adjustments could still change before Patch 26.17 reaches live servers.
