Riot Games has revealed the first preview for League of Legends Patch 26.18, giving players an early look at the champions and systems targeted in the next balance update. With the 2026 World Championship getting closer, Riot is beginning to make more deliberate changes to the competitive meta while still addressing issues affecting regular ranked play.
The initial preview includes buffs for seven champions, nerfs for five, a power-neutral adjustment for Cassiopeia, and a buff to Guinsoo’s Rageblade. Riot’s Matt “Phroxzon” Leung-Harrison confirmed that more details on the individual champion changes will be shared later.
In brief:
- Aurelion Sol, Ekko, Kassadin, Master Yi, Renekton, Viego, and Zaahen are receiving buffs.
- Bard, Nautilus, Seraphine, Syndra, and Zeri are getting nerfed.
- Cassiopeia is being adjusted to trade some early-game strength for better scaling.
- Guinsoo’s Rageblade is getting some power back following its Patch 26.14 scripting changes.
LoL Patch 26.18 Preview Changes
| Change Type | Champions / Items |
|---|---|
| Champion Buffs | Aurelion Sol, Ekko, Kassadin, Master Yi, Renekton, Viego, Zaahen |
| Champion Nerfs | Bard, Nautilus, Seraphine, Syndra, Zeri |
| Champion Adjustments | Cassiopeia |
| System Buffs | Guinsoo’s Rageblade |
LoL Patch 26.18 Champion Buffs
Seven champions are currently scheduled to receive buffs in Patch 26.18:
- Aurelion Sol
- Ekko
- Kassadin
- Master Yi
- Renekton
- Viego
- Zaahen
Riot has yet to reveal the exact numbers, so it remains unclear which parts of their kits will be targeted.
Master Yi is particularly notable because his buff is partly connected to Guinsoo’s Rageblade. According to Phroxzon, Riot re-scripted Rageblade in Patch 26.14, which resulted in its Phantom Hit trigger changing from six to seven. Some champions were disproportionately affected, including Master Yi, so Riot intends to return some of that lost power.
LoL Patch 26.18 Champion Nerfs
Five champions are currently on Riot’s nerf list:
- Bard
- Nautilus
- Seraphine
- Syndra
- Zeri
Exact nerfs have not been announced yet, but Seraphine received considerably more explanation from Riot than the other champions.
Riot Explains Why Seraphine Is Getting Nerfed
According to Phroxzon, Seraphine has ranked among the top three champions in Riot’s regular frustration surveys for several patches. She has also emerged as one of the stronger pairings with Ashe in professional play, giving Riot another reason to pull some power from her kit.
Riot acknowledged the difficult balance between Seraphine’s Support, Mid, and Bot audiences. Support remains her most popular position, so Riot says it will continue to prioritize supporting that player base while attempting to keep her farming roles satisfying when possible.
Phroxzon also addressed community criticism surrounding an earlier reduction to Seraphine’s Q AP scaling. Riot currently believes AP ratios are one of the tools necessary to keep farming Seraphine under control without disproportionately strengthening her Support builds.
The exact Patch 26.18 Seraphine nerf has not yet been revealed.
Cassiopeia Is Trading Lane Power for Better Scaling
Cassiopeia is the only champion listed under adjustments rather than outright buffs or nerfs.
Riot says Cassiopeia has become particularly strong at higher levels of play following the return of Deathfire Touch. Riot officially brought the keystone back in Patch 26.9 as an option designed for sustained damage and damage-over-time champions.
In Patch 26.18, Riot is planning what it describes as a largely power-neutral adjustment. The goal is to reduce some of Cassiopeia’s early-game lane strength while shifting that power toward scaling. Riot specifically wants to make it harder for her to reliably win lanes when she is failing to land Noxious Blast, while still preserving her identity as a strong laning champion.
Guinsoo’s Rageblade Buff Coming in Patch 26.18
Guinsoo’s Rageblade is currently the only system change listed in the initial Patch 26.18 preview.
Riot says the item’s Patch 26.14 re-script unintentionally changed how quickly Phantom Hit activates, moving the trigger from six to seven. Patch 26.18 will therefore give Rageblade some power back, although Riot has not revealed whether this will come through stats, Phantom Hit mechanics, or another adjustment. So, this change also explains why Master Yi appears on the champion buff list.
Patch 26.18 Begins Riot’s Road Toward Worlds 2026
Riot’s preview makes it clear that the developers are already thinking about the upcoming World Championship meta.
As of writing, the Patch 26.18 preview only confirms which champions and systems are being targeted. Riot says additional information on the remaining champions is coming next, so the specific stat and ability changes should provide a much clearer picture of how significant this update will be.
