What to know
- Patch 26.15 is live and marks the beginning of Season 3 alongside the release of League Classic.
- Bel’Veth receives the largest gameplay update in the patch, shifting her power toward the late game.
- Ten champions receive buffs, nerfs, or adjustments, while several items and runes are also rebalanced.
- Arena gets a significant gameplay update with improved damage modifiers and multiple balance changes.
League of Legends Patch 26.15 has arrived, bringing one of the biggest updates of the 2026 season so far. While it isn’t a massive overhaul for the overall meta, it introduces meaningful champion tuning, a comprehensive Bel’Veth update, item adjustments, Arena improvements, and the launch of the long-awaited League Classic mode.
The headline change is Bel’Veth. Riot has redesigned much of her kit to reduce her oppressive early-game invading potential while making her a stronger scaling jungler. She now gains more value from items and becomes significantly more threatening during the later stages of a match, better matching Riot’s intended champion fantasy.
| Feature | What’s New |
|---|---|
| Bel’Veth | Large gameplay rework focused on stronger late-game scaling |
| Champion Buffs | Alistar, Kai’Sa, Maokai, Volibear, Zac |
| Champion Nerfs | Locke, Mordekaiser, Naafiri, Riven, Sylas |
| Items | Bastionbreaker buffed, Jack of All Trades nerfed |
| Arena | New damage modifier system and extensive balance updates |
| New Content | League Classic launches alongside Season 3 |
Several other champions also receive balance updates.
Buffs
- Alistar
- Kai’Sa
- Maokai
- Volibear
- Zac
Nerfs
- Locke
- Mordekaiser
- Naafiri
- Riven
- Sylas
Mordekaiser receives adjustments after becoming too dominant following the previous patch. Riot is reducing some of his power while making targeted changes to preserve his identity. Locke also loses some late-game strength, while Riven, Naafiri, and Sylas receive direct nerfs aimed at keeping them in line with the current meta.
The patch also includes system and item updates. Bastionbreaker has become cheaper and more accessible, encouraging more situational purchases, while Jack of All Trades is toned down after proving too efficient across multiple champion classes. Riot also makes additional balance adjustments to improve overall build diversity.
Arena receives one of its largest updates in recent patches. Damage dealt modifiers now apply consistently to spells, attacks, items, and Augments, allowing Riot to remove many champion-specific exceptions while making overall balance easier to maintain. Numerous Arena-specific champion adjustments also accompany these systemic improvements.
Beyond gameplay balance, Patch 26.15 officially launches League Classic, a permanent game mode that recreates the experience of early League of Legends with classic champions, systems, runes, and progression. The patch also marks the beginning of Season 3 across all regions.
For most players, the biggest gameplay impact will likely come from Bel’Veth’s redesign and the balance changes affecting several popular solo queue picks. Arena players should also notice more consistent champion performance thanks to the revised damage modifier system, while nostalgic players can finally jump into League Classic.
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