Companies Mentioned
Why It Matters
The balance tweaks reshape draft priorities ahead of First Stand 2026, influencing both regional league strategies and solo‑queue dynamics. Adjustments to core items and champion kits will ripple through meta construction across multiple roles.
Key Takeaways
- •Infinity Edge price cut, AD reduced for balanced crit ADCs
- •Tank items nerfed to curb overperforming defensive builds
- •Key champions like Ashe, Yasuo receive damage buffs
- •System items receive price tweaks and stat adjustments
- •Patch timing shift may affect regional league draft strategies
Pulse Analysis
Patch 26.4 arrives amid a rare Thursday release, a timing quirk that could subtly influence regional league preparation for First Stand 2026. Competitive teams often align their champion pools and draft scripts with patch cycles, so a one‑off schedule change forces coaches to reassess scouting reports and practice windows. Beyond the calendar, the patch’s broader narrative—fine‑tuning core damage items while preserving systemic stability—signals Riot’s intent to keep the meta fluid without triggering wholesale upheaval.
The most visible shift targets crit‑centric ADCs. Infinity Edge sees its gold cost trimmed to 3,450 and base AD lowered to 65, delivering a modest power bump that benefits solo‑queue players without destabilizing high‑skill play. Simultaneously, champions such as Ashe, Yasuo, and Ekko gain direct damage increases, reinforcing their late‑game threat. These changes collectively raise the ceiling for traditional ADC builds, encouraging teams to revisit itemization pathways and potentially re‑introduce crit‑heavy lineups that were previously sidelined in professional drafts.
On the defensive side, Riot trims several tank items—Abyssal Mask, Fimbulwinter, Heartsteel, and Plated Steelcaps—reducing resistances and damage conversion rates to temper their dominance in both solo and pro environments. Systemic adjustments like cheaper Mercury’s Treads and faster Symbiotic Soles further refine mobility options without reshaping core strategies. Coupled with a fresh wave of skins, the patch balances aesthetic excitement with competitive relevance, ensuring that both casual players and esports stakeholders experience a nuanced evolution of the League of Legends meta.
LoL Patch 26.4 notes: All buffs, nerfs, and more
League of Legends is getting another balance update, which could potentially shake up regional leagues, and with First Stand 2026 approaching, these changes could quietly shift draft priorities and build paths across multiple roles.
League of Legends updates are usually released on Wednesdays, but we’re going back to the Thursday release patch for one last time. Starting with the next patch, the schedule will return to the regular days for this year. These updates are released to the PBE servers with new changes before being deployed to the live servers. This patch for this year is scheduled for Feb. 19, 2026. While the official release times across all regions are different, here are the usual timings for the update:
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3 pm CT (NA)
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5 am GMT (EU West)
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3 am CET (EU North East)
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8 am KR (Korea)
The Patch 26.4 focuses on improving how traditional crit‑based ADCs feel, primarily through adjustments to Infinity Edge, while also trimming some tank item outliers. The Infinity Edge adjustment is meant to act as a light buff to those archetypes, particularly benefiting solo‑queue players, without pushing them too far in optimized or high‑skill environments.
On the tank side, Riot believes itemization is currently sitting on a strong systemic foundation. The nerfs in this patch are aimed at smoothing out overperformers rather than reshaping the entire class, to keep tank builds relatively stable moving forward. Apart from the changes, several new skins under the Petals of Spring skinline for champions like Camille, Jayce, Katarina, Yasuo, and Lillia are arriving, and the Divine Architect Porcelain Aurelion Sol cosmetic joins the store with this patch.
Champion Buffs
Ashe
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Q – Ranger’s Focus: Total AD ratio increased from 110‑130 % to 111‑135 %.
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W – Volley: AD ratio increased from 1.0 to 1.1.
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R – Enchanted Crystal Arrow: Damage increased from 200/400/600 to 250/450/650.
Ekko
- Q – Timewinder: Initial damage increased from 70‑130 to 80‑140.
Gangplank
- AD growth increased from 3.7 to 4.2.
Jayce
- W – Hyper Charge: Attack speed can now reach the 3.0 attack‑speed cap.
Nautilus
- Q – Dredge Line: Base damage increased from 70‑250 to 85‑265.
Sion
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Base Armor increased from 32 to 36.
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Base Health Regen increased from 7.5 to 9.
Teemo
- E – Toxic Shot: Monster‑damage modifier increased from 125 % to 145 %.
Yasuo
- P – Way of the Wanderer: Crit‑damage modifier penalty removed (‑10 % → 0 %).
Champion Nerfs
Hwei
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QW – Severing Bolt: Base damage reduced from 80‑160 to 60‑160.
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WE – Molten Fissure: Damage reduced from 25‑65 + 20 % AP to 20‑60 + 15 % AP.
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P – Signature of the Visionary: AP ratio reduced from 35 % to 30 %.
Kalista
- W – Sentinel: Max‑HP damage reduced from 14‑18 % to 10‑18 %.
Kog’Maw
- Q – Caustic Spittle: Damage reduced from 90‑290 to 80‑260.
Lulu
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W – Whimsy: Attack speed reduced from 25‑35 % to 20‑30 %; cooldown increased from 17‑15 s to 18‑16 s.
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E – Help, Pix!: Base damage and shield strength reduced from 80‑260 to 80‑240.
Twitch
- Axiom Arcanist is now treated as area‑of‑effect damage.
Warwick
- Q – Jaws of the Beast: Mana cost increased from 70‑90 to 80‑100.
Champion Adjustments
Mel
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Q – Solar Snare: Missile speed reduced from 5000 to 4500; range reduced from 1000 to 950.
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W – Radiant Aegis: Duration reduced from 1.0‑0.75 s to 0.4‑0.6 s; mana cost increased from 60 to 80.
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E – Scorching Brand: Root duration changed from 1.75‑2.25 s to 1.25‑2.25 s; damage changed from 60‑220 + 50 % AP to 60‑240 + 60 % AP.
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R – Solar Cataclysm: Per‑stack AP ratio increased from 2.5 % to 3.5 %.
Diana
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P – Moonsilver Blade: Monster‑damage modifier reduced from 3× to 2.25×.
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Q – Crescent Strike: Damage increased from 60‑200 to 70‑210.
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W – Pale Cascade: Damage increased from 54‑198 to 60‑204.
Elise
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W – Volatile Spiderling: Human‑form damage reduced from 60‑240 + 95 % AP to 60‑220 + 75 % AP.
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W – Skittering Frenzy: Spider‑form attack speed changed from 60‑100 % to 60‑120 %; cooldown reduced from 10 s to 6 s; spiderling damage increased from 8‑26 + 15 % AP to 10‑40 + 15 % AP.
System Buffs
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Mercury’s Treads: Price reduced from 1300 g to 1250 g.
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Symbiotic Soles: Move speed increased from 35 to 40.
System Nerfs
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Abyssal Mask: Magic Resist reduced from 50 to 45.
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Fimbulwinter: Shield changed from 100‑180 + 4.5 % current mana to 100 + 4.5 % current mana.
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Heartsteel: Damage‑to‑max‑HP conversion reduced from 10 % to 8 %.
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Plated Steelcaps: Plating damage reduction reduced from 12 % to 10 %.
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Unending Despair: Anguish damage changed from 8‑15 + 3 % bonus HP to 0 + 3 % bonus HP.
System Adjustments
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Infinity Edge
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Price reduced from 3600 g to 3450 g.
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Attack Damage reduced from 70 to 65.
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Swiftplay Changes
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Yorick
- AD growth reduced from 0.7 to 0.
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R – Eulogy of the Isles: Mark damage reduced from 2/2.5/3 % max HP to 1.5/1.75/2 % max HP.
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Death Timers: Death‑timer multiplier at minutes 10‑35 reduced from 100‑133 % to 100‑112 %.
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