League of Legends patch 26.20 is shaping up to give Lucian and Vayne bot some help while trimming several familiar pro-play picks. Riot is also targeting Experimental Hexplate and Runaan’s Hurricane, with a separate adjustment planned for Hextech Rocketbelt.
Riot Phroxzon, Lead Gameplay Designer of League of Legends, describes 26.20 as the final Worlds patch. Riot is largely happy with the playoff meta and wants to make a few remaining improvements while protecting the Solo Queue experience.
In brief:
- Eleven champions are listed for buffs, including Lucian, Vayne bot, and Smolder.
- Ambessa, Cassiopeia, K’Sante, Yunara, and Varus are set for nerfs.
- Sylas adjustments aim to help mid without strengthening jungle overall.
- Hexplate and Hurricane face nerfs, while Rocketbelt’s role is being refined.
League of Legends Patch 26.20 Preview
| Category | Champion or Item | Role / Details |
|---|---|---|
| Champion Buff | Diana | |
| Champion Buff | Fiddlesticks | |
| Champion Buff | Kennen | |
| Champion Buff | Kindred | |
| Champion Buff | Lucian | |
| Champion Buff | Mordekaiser | |
| Champion Buff | Neeko | |
| Champion Buff | Smolder | |
| Champion Buff | Swain | Mid |
| Champion Buff | Tahm Kench | Support |
| Champion Buff | Vayne | Bot |
| Champion Nerf | Ambessa | |
| Champion Nerf | Cassiopeia | |
| Champion Nerf | K’Sante | |
| Champion Nerf | Yunara | |
| Champion Nerf | Varus | |
| Champion Adjustment | Sylas | |
| System Nerf | Experimental Hexplate | Ranged |
| System Nerf | Runaan’s Hurricane | |
| System Adjustment | Hextech Rocketbelt | Ranged nerf |
LoL Patch 26.20 Champion Buffs
The following champions are listed for buffs in the preview.
- Diana
- Fiddlesticks
- Kennen
- Kindred
- Lucian
- Mordekaiser
- Neeko
- Smolder
- Swain (Mid)
- Tahm Kench (Support)
- Vayne (Bot)
Lucian Gets Help After Patch 26.19
According to Phroxzon, the previous patch weakened Lucian’s strongest pairings, including enchanters such as Milio. Combined with the support laning changes, this significantly reduced his early kill threat.
Riot now sees room to restore some general power to Lucian. The preview does not yet specify which abilities or stats will change.
Vayne Bot Buffs Come With Hexplate Nerfs
Vayne’s recent nerf addressed her strength in top lane across professional play and high-level Solo Queue. Riot wants to improve her bot-lane performance without bringing that top-lane problem back.
The plan pairs a general Vayne buff with a Hexplate nerf. Riot expects this combination to leave top Vayne roughly neutral, or push her toward squishier builds, while giving bot Vayne a boost.
LoL Patch 26.20 Champion Nerfs
Five champions appear on the nerf list.
- Ambessa
- Cassiopeia
- K’Sante
- Yunara
- Varus
Phroxzon singles out Ambessa, Cassiopeia, and K’Sante as picks that have grown stale in professional play. Cassiopeia’s recent changes fell short of Riot’s intended pro-play nerf, although they successfully shifted more of her regular-play strength toward higher-AP builds.
Yunara is also receiving a direct nerf alongside the Hurricane reduction. Riot says it is being careful with their combined impact.
Sylas Adjustments Target Mid Lane
Sylas is the only champion listed under adjustments. Riot wants to give his mid-lane performance a slight lift while keeping jungle Sylas steady overall.
The changes should strengthen matchups he already handles well, with little change to his weaker matchups.
LoL Patch 26.20 Item Changes
Experimental Hexplate
Experimental Hexplate is receiving a ranged-specific nerf. Reducing its power should give Riot more room to buff champions whose balance has been constrained by the item, including Vayne.
Runaan’s Hurricane
Riot believes Hurricane’s previous buff went slightly too far. A small reduction is planned, with Phroxzon stressing that the rollback should be modest.
Hextech Rocketbelt
Rocketbelt is being adjusted to better reward committing to a fight. Phroxzon says the item currently gives pro-play mages too much durability and flexibility, leaving them with too few weaknesses at the highest level.
Riot expects engage-focused ranged users such as Annie and Neeko to remain roughly power-neutral with the item. However, they should face a greater tradeoff in repeatable damage.
Are the Full Patch 26.20 Numbers Available?
This initial preview names the planned changes and explains several of Riot’s goals, but it does not include exact stat or ability values. Phroxzon says more champion details will follow in the next update. These changes remain provisional until the final patch notes. We’ll update this article with more details as soon as full preview for this patch is revealed.
