League of Legends Patch Notes | 2026 Season 3
League of Legends Patch 26.18 buffs Master Yi, Ekko, Viego; nerfs Nautilus, Bard, Zeri, Syndra. The complete 2026 Season 3 changelog since launch.
When is the next update?
League of Legends rolls to its next season around January 8, 2027.
Patch 26.18: September 10, 202612 changes
The League of Legends Patch 26.18 patch notes buff Master Yi’s Highlander scaling and the Ekko/Kassadin/Viego cluster, hit early-game tanks Bard and Nautilus with base-stat nerfs, and rework Cassiopeia’s power curve. Track the League of Legends season countdown to 2026 Season 3’s close.
TL;DR, 12 changes: 6 buffs, 5 nerfs, plus a Cassiopeia mid-scope rework. Biggest buff: Master Yi’s Highlander Move Speed rises to 40/50/60% (from 35/45/55%), plus more armor growth. Biggest nerf: Nautilus’ base AD cut from 61 to 58 with a weaker Dredge Line. Meta impact: Master Yi becomes a sturdier late-game carry while Nautilus and Bard lose early trading power, and Cassiopeia trades laning strength for a stronger scaling curve.
Champions
- Master Yi, Armor growth 4.5 → 5 per level; Highlander Move Speed 35/45/55% → 40/50/60% buff
- Ekko, mid-lane buffs to waveclear, mana and AP scaling buff
- Kassadin, buff package buff
- Viego, buff package buff
- Zaahen, buff package buff
- Cassiopeia, mid-scope adjustment trading early power for stronger AP scaling active
- Nautilus, Base AD 61 → 58, Dredge Line (Q) base damage reduced nerf
- Bard, Base Armor 34 → 32, Armor growth 5 → 4.7 per level nerf
- Syndra, mana cost and cooldown increases nerf
- Seraphine, base-stat nerf nerf
- Zeri, W (Burst Fire) AD scaling reduced nerf
Items
- Guinsoo’s Rageblade, Seething Strike stack duration increased 3s → 4s buff
Patch 26.15: July 29, 202616 changes
The League of Legends Patch 26.15 patch notes kick off Ranked Season 3 and the nostalgia-style League Classic mode, deliver a near-total rework to Bel’Veth’s early-to-late power curve, and land another round of nerfs to Locke. Track the League of Legends season countdown to Pandemonium - Act III.
TL;DR, 12 changes: 6 buffs, 5 nerfs, plus a full Bel’Veth rework. Biggest buff: Bastionbreaker (item cost cut + passive damage up). Biggest nerf: Locke (further mid-lane tuning). Meta impact: Bel’Veth shifts from an early-game skirmisher toward a true late-game scaler, while Locke, Riven, Mordekaiser and Naafiri all get pulled back from recent overperformance.
Champions
- Bel’Veth, near-total kit rework: weaker base stats and dash cadence early, permanent True Form at level 16, stronger full attacks, ability scaling and jungle damage late active
- Alistar, buff package buff
- Kai’Sa, buff package buff
- Maokai, buff package buff
- Volibear, buff package buff
- Zac, buff package buff
- Locke, the Ashen Exorcist, further mid-lane nerf, still overperforming since his June 24 release nerf
- Mordekaiser, nerf nerf
- Riven, nerf nerf
- Naafiri, nerf nerf
- Sylas, nerf nerf
Items
- Bastionbreaker, passive damage increased and total gold cost reduced buff
Mechanics
- League Classic, new permanent mode launches alongside the patch: a Season 3-inspired Summoner’s Rift with 60 champions, old runes and masteries, and pre-rework kits active
- Ranked Season 3, 2026’s third ranked season begins at 12:00 local time on July 29 active
- Aegis of Valor, can now only be cashed in on games you win, removing the mixed incentive to intentionally lose active
- Duo queue, restored at Master tier active
All League of Legends patches
| Version | Date | Season | What changed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patch 26.18 | September 10, 2026 | 2026 Season 3 | , 12 changes: 6 buffs, 5 nerfs, plus a Cassiopeia mid-scope rework. Biggest buff: Master Yi's Highlander Move Speed rises to 40/50/60% (fro… |
| Patch 26.15 | July 29, 2026 | 2026 Season 3 | , 12 changes: 6 buffs, 5 nerfs, plus a full Bel'Veth rework. Biggest buff: Bastionbreaker (item cost cut + passive damage up). Biggest nerf… |
| Patch 26.13 | Jun 24, 2026 | Pandemonium - Act II | 9 buffs, 8 nerfs, plus a new champion. Biggest buff: Aphelios (partial revert of earlier nerfs). Biggest nerf: Bard Meep base damage 35 → 30… |
| Patch 26.12 | Jun 10, 2026 | Pandemonium - Act II | 6 nerfs, 8+ buffs, plus a Teleport summoner rework. Biggest nerf: Lee Sin (jungle). Biggest buff: Aatrox Q sweet-spot bonus damage 70 → 75. … |