Trending
Riot Games today shared a preview for League of Legends Patch 26.6. This upcoming patch looks to be a more targeted balance patch instead of a huge rollout of changes.
As we have seen in recent weeks, Riot will continue to focus on buffs/nerfs to champions that are falling behind in the meta or are too strong in some areas of the game.
This preview shows a majority of champion buffs with some champion nerfs to overplayed picks and some small system changes that will likely impact tank, fighter, and support champions. Patch 26.6 is scheduled to arrive on March 18th, 2026.
Champion Buffs
The following champions will be receiving buffs in Patch 26.6. These changes may have slight impacts on mid matchups as well as top matchups.
Buffed champions include:
- Azir
- Cassiopeia
- Lissandra
- Olaf
- Skarner (top lane focus)
- Tryndamere
Azir is surprising to see on this list because he was actually nerfed in Patch 26.5 with a reduction to his base health growth. Riot buffing him right after could be a sign they’re tuning his nerfs to ensure he doesn’t fall off too hard.
Cassiopeia and Lissandra also have potential to affect mid diversity if their buffs are significant enough, and Olaf and Tryndamere are your typical safe solo queue picks that can always take a shine from flat stats.
Champion Nerfs
The following champions will be receiving nerfs in Patch 26.6. These champs have been performing rather well in multiple roles lately.
Nerfed champions include:
- Ahri
- Pyke
- Shen
- Zaahen
Shen and Zaahen are reportedly only being nerfed in their jungle roles, but Ahri and Pyke are likely being targeted for their amazing mobility and pick potential.
Champion Adjustments
Karthus will be receiving adjustments. Adjustments can either mean buffs or nerfs, but typically alter a champions power in different areas.
Adjustments often means Riot is moving power around rather than flat buffing or nerfing something. Changes like this can have big impacts as they can change how a champion plays without completely affecting their power.
Support Item Changes
An interesting but less talked about change in Patch 26.6 is an alteration to support item farming. Riot is drastically reducing the gold penalty associated with killing too many minions while possessing a support item.
Before 5 minutes, the threshold for minion kills increases from 7 all the way to 24. Past 5 minutes, the per-5-minute threshold increases from 20 to 30.This will likely be most apparent for mage supports and anyone who’s ever dipped into a wave while trading in lane.
Riot is still being careful not to make double income bot lanes overpowered, but this is a nice quality of life change for supports.
ARAM: Mayhem Improvements
ARAM: Mayhem will receive champion tuning specifically for picks such as Illaoi, Sett, Shyvana, Sion, Swain, Urgot, and Vladimir. She also gets a wide reaching augment pass.
For the most part Riot is looking to buff the tank/melee experience and soften some of abilities they find annoyingly oppressive mobility effects. Make It Rain also receives a quality of life rework where enemies drop coins on takedown.
This should make the gold reward feel more tangible and allow players to feel more accomplished spending their gold spike.
League Of Legends Patch 26.6 Release Date
- March 18th, 2026
As always, be sure to monitor the stats before the official release as they are likely to change leading up to March 18th.
DON'T MISS:
