League of Legends Patch 26.18 is here, bringing a fresh round of champion balance changes, new Hall of Legends content, and a major expansion to League Classic. Riot Games is also making adjustments to ARAM: Mayhem, while several Summoner’s Rift champions receive targeted buffs and nerfs.
This update is particularly interesting because it focuses on two different goals. On Summoner’s Rift, Riot is addressing champions that have become too powerful in professional play or specific solo queue environments. At the same time, several weaker champions are receiving improvements to make their core playstyles more rewarding.
The patch also celebrates Rasmus “Caps” Winther, the third inductee into the Hall of Legends and the first Western League of Legends professional player to receive the honor.
For Classic players, Patch 26.18 is even bigger. Fiora, Galio, Poppy, Shyvana, and Xin Zhao are joining the roster, bringing some of the most recognizable older champion kits back into the game.
In this guide, we cover the major League of Legends Patch 26.18 changes, champion buffs and nerfs, item updates, Hall of Legends content, Classic additions, and what these changes could mean for the League of Legends meta.
League of Legends Patch 26.18 Release Date
League of Legends Patch 26.18 was officially published on September 9, 2026.
The update includes Summoner’s Rift balance changes, League Classic content, ARAM: Mayhem improvements, and the Hall of Legends event celebrating Caps.
Patch 26.18 Quick Overview
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Patch | League of Legends 26.18 |
| Official Notes Date | September 9, 2026 |
| Main Event | Caps Hall of Legends |
| Champions Buffed | Viego, Zaahen, Master Yi, Ekko, Kassadin |
| Champions Nerfed | Bard, Nautilus, Seraphine, Zeri |
| Champion Adjusted | Cassiopeia |
| Major Classic Additions | Fiora, Galio, Poppy, Shyvana, Xin Zhao |
| Item Update | Rageblade |
| Game Modes | Summoner’s Rift, Classic, ARAM: Mayhem |
What’s New in League of Legends Patch 26.18?
Patch 26.18 has several important themes.
First, Riot is targeting overperforming support champions. Nautilus and Bard have remained strong choices, particularly in professional play, and both receive durability or damage-related nerfs.
Seraphine bot also receives another adjustment, while Zeri loses some of her burst and waveclear power.
On the buff side, Viego, Master Yi, Ekko, and Kassadin receive changes intended to improve their performance. Zaahen also gets a quality-of-life improvement alongside stronger Q2 damage.
Cassiopeia receives a more complicated adjustment. Riot is reducing her laning power and professional-play strength while improving parts of her AP scaling.
Outside Summoner’s Rift, the Hall of Legends event and five Classic champions are major highlights of the patch.
Champion Changes in League of Legends Patch 26.18
The main Summoner’s Rift champion changes are:
Champions Buffed
- Viego
- Zaahen
- Master Yi
- Ekko
- Kassadin
Champions Nerfed
- Bard
- Nautilus
- Seraphine
- Zeri
Champion Adjusted
- Cassiopeia
These changes are aimed at improving weaker champions, reducing overperforming picks, and making certain champion builds more consistent.
Bard Nerf
Bard has been a strong support choice for much of the year. Riot previously reduced his damage, but his durability remained high considering his mobility and long-range ultimate utility.
Patch 26.18 targets his base defensive stats.
Base Stats
Armor: 34 + 5 per level → 32 + 4.7 per level
What Does This Mean for Bard?
Bard’s ability to roam, collect chimes, and create plays across the map remains a major part of his identity.
However, the lower armor makes him less forgiving when he takes damage during early trades or aggressive roams.
This is especially relevant because Bard can already create pressure through mobility and crowd control.
Patch 26.18 Analysis
Riot is not removing Bard’s roaming identity.
Instead, the goal is to make his high mobility come with a clearer defensive tradeoff.
Bard players will need to pay more attention to positioning, especially when entering risky fights.
Cassiopeia Adjustment
Cassiopeia receives one of the most detailed changes in Patch 26.18.
Riot explains that she has become much stronger in professional play, while remaining weaker for average players.
The solution is to reduce some of her lane power and return part of that strength through scaling.
Passive – Serpentine Grace
Movement Speed Bonus: 6%–40% based on level → 5%–36% based on level
Q – Noxious Blast
Damage: 75 / 110 / 145 / 180 / 215 → 65 / 100 / 135 / 170 / 205
AP Ratio: 65% → 75%
E – Twin Fang
Mana Cost: 40 → 45
Base AP Ratio: 10% → 20%
Enhanced AP Ratio: 55% → 45%
Total AP Ratio: Remains 65%
Damage: 52–120 → 50–120
R – Petrifying Gaze
Damage: 150 / 250 / 350 → 125 / 225 / 325
AP Ratio: 50% → 75%
What Does This Mean for Cassiopeia?
Cassiopeia loses some of her early lane strength through Q damage and movement speed.
However, her AP ratios improve on several abilities.
This creates a different power curve.
She may be less oppressive during the early stages of the game, but players who invest in Ability Power can still benefit from stronger scaling.
Patch 26.18 Analysis
This is a classic example of Riot attempting to reduce professional-play power without completely removing a champion’s late-game identity.
Cassiopeia remains a scaling mage who rewards accurate ability usage and extended fights.
The difference is that her early lane pressure should be easier to manage.
Ekko Buff
Ekko receives a buff aimed at improving his performance, particularly in mid lane.
Riot notes that he has been slightly weak since the Dusk & Dawn update earlier in the year.
The goal is to give Ekko more power without strengthening his Hail of Blades pattern too much.
Q – Timewinder
Mana Cost:
50 / 60 / 70 / 80 / 90
→ 40 / 50 / 60 / 70 / 80
Return Damage AP Ratio: 60% → 70%
What Does This Mean for Ekko?
Ekko relies on Q for waveclear, poke, and damage during his combos.
The lower mana cost makes his lane phase more comfortable.
The stronger return damage AP ratio also improves his reward when he successfully lands both parts of Timewinder.
Patch 26.18 Analysis
The main benefit is consistency.
Ekko can use Q more freely without spending as much mana, and his AP builds receive better damage scaling.
This should be particularly useful for players who prefer Ekko mid.
Kassadin Buff
Kassadin receives improvements to his Q and R.
Riot says he had a strong start to 2026 but struggled after earlier nerfs.
The aim is to improve his early agency without removing his late-game scaling fantasy.
Q – Null Sphere
AP Ratio: 70% → 80%
R – Riftwalk
Base Damage:
70 / 90 / 110
→ 80 / 95 / 110
What Does This Mean for Kassadin?
The stronger Q AP ratio improves his trading and poke.
The additional early R damage gives him more power once he unlocks Riftwalk.
Patch 26.18 Analysis
Kassadin’s identity remains focused on scaling.
However, these changes should make him less passive during the mid game.
Players who manage their mana and use Riftwalk carefully can gain more value from his improved damage.
Master Yi Buff
Master Yi receives changes to improve his durability and movement speed.
Riot explains that a previous Rageblade bugfix affected Yi more heavily than other users.
The patch also aims to improve his scaling as a melee carry.
Base Stats
Armor Growth: 33 + 4.5 per level → 33 + 5 per level
R – Highlander
Movement Speed:
35 / 45 / 55%
→ 40 / 50 / 60%
What Does This Mean for Master Yi?
The additional armor growth improves his defensive scaling.
The higher Highlander movement speed makes it easier to:
- Chase targets.
- Stick to enemies.
- Move between targets during fights.
- Take advantage of resets.
Patch 26.18 Analysis
This is a useful buff for players who prefer an aggressive melee carry.
Master Yi still relies on good timing and target selection, but the increased movement speed should make successful engagements more rewarding.
Nautilus Nerf
Nautilus has remained near the top of the support meta throughout the year.
Riot wants to create more room for other support champions.
His crowd control remains a core strength, but his damage and base attack damage are reduced.
Base Stats
Attack Damage: 61 + 3.3 per level → 58 + 3.3 per level
Q – Dredge Line
Damage:
85 / 130 / 175 / 220 / 265 (+90% AP)
→
85 / 125 / 165 / 205 / 245 (+90% AP)
What Does This Mean for Nautilus?
Nautilus still has his famous hook, crowd control, and ability to lock down targets.
However, his personal damage is reduced.
This means he may need to rely more on coordinated engages rather than winning trades through raw damage.
Patch 26.18 Analysis
This is a targeted support nerf.
Riot is not removing Nautilus from the meta.
The goal is to make room for other tank supports while preserving his signature playmaking strengths.
Seraphine Bot Nerf
Seraphine bot has been a source of frustration for opponents.
Riot previously made a minor nerf, but her bot-lane performance remained strong.
Patch 26.18 targets the rank scaling of E.
E – Beat Drop
Cooldown:
11 / 10.5 / 10 / 9.5 / 9 seconds
→ 11 seconds at all ranks
Why Is This Important?
Support Seraphine usually maxes E last.
That means a rank-scaling cooldown nerf affects bot Seraphine more directly than support Seraphine.
Patch 26.18 Analysis
This is a smart role-targeted adjustment.
Riot wants to reduce Seraphine’s strength in bot lane without making her support playstyle unnecessarily weak.
The change encourages players to think more carefully about ability ranks and cooldown timing.
Viego Buff
Viego receives a buff to his attack damage growth and passive healing.
Riot says his win rate has been declining and that players have begun moving away from him.
The goal is to improve both his standard playstyle and his bruiser alternative build.
Base Stats
Attack Damage Growth: 3.5 → 4
Passive – Sovereign’s Domination
Viego’s healing now scales with several stats:
- Bonus Attack Damage
- Ability Power
- Bonus Attack Speed
- Bonus Health
The new formula includes:
2% + 2.5% per 100 bonus AD + 2% per 100 AP + 5% per 100% bonus attack speed + 2% per 500 bonus health
of the target’s maximum health.
What Does This Mean for Viego?
The increased AD growth improves his offensive scaling.
The passive changes also give more value to different itemization choices.
This could make bruiser Viego more attractive while still supporting traditional damage builds.
Patch 26.18 Analysis
Viego’s strength comes from resets and possessing enemy champions.
The improved healing helps him survive longer during fights and take better advantage of successful resets.
Zaahen Buff and Quality-of-Life Update
Zaahen receives a useful adjustment to Q.
Riot explains that the ability’s cooldown behavior created an awkward interaction with his resurrection.
The patch changes how Q behaves when Zaahen enters Resurrection.
Q – The Darkin Glaive
New Cooldown Behavior
If Q is active, it is now placed on cooldown immediately upon entering Resurrection.
Q2 Damage
Damage:
25 / 50 / 75 / 100 / 125
→ 30 / 60 / 90 / 120 / 150
The bonus AD ratios remain unchanged.
What Does This Mean for Zaahen?
The Q cooldown adjustment makes his ability timing more predictable.
The stronger Q2 damage also improves his repeated attack pattern.
Patch 26.18 Analysis
This is both a damage buff and a quality-of-life improvement.
The changes make Zaahen feel more consistent, particularly when players are using his Resurrection mechanic.
Zeri Nerf
Zeri has been climbing in win rate following buffs to Runaan’s Hurricane and Yun Tal Wildarrows.
Riot is concerned that she could become too dominant in both solo queue and professional play.
Patch 26.18 reduces her burst and waveclear power.
W – Ultrashock Laser
Damage AD Ratio: 120% total AD → 100% total AD
Wall Damage AD Ratio: 180% total AD → 150% total AD
What Does This Mean for Zeri?
Zeri loses some damage when using W, especially when firing through terrain.
Her basic attack and mobility identity remain important.
Patch 26.18 Analysis
The nerf targets a specific part of Zeri’s damage profile.
Riot wants to reduce her burst and waveclear without completely removing her ability to carry games through movement and sustained damage.
Item Changes in League of Legends Patch 26.18
The major Summoner’s Rift item update in Patch 26.18 affects Guinsoo’s Rageblade.
Guinsoo’s Rageblade Buff
Riot is compensating for a previous bugfix that reduced the timing of Rageblade’s first double hit.
Seething Strike Stack Duration
3 seconds → 4 seconds
What Does This Mean?
Players have more time to maintain their Seething Strike stacks.
This is a small but useful quality-of-life improvement for champions that rely on attack speed and repeated attacks.
Patch 26.18 Analysis
The change helps Rageblade users maintain their item effect more consistently.
It is not a major redesign, but it improves the experience of using the item.
Hall of Legends: Caps
One of the biggest highlights of Patch 26.18 is the induction of Rasmus “Caps” Winther into the Hall of Legends.
Caps becomes the third player inducted and the first Western League of Legends professional player to receive the honor.
Riot describes him as a defining Western player whose career has reshaped expectations for Western League of Legends on the global stage.
Hall of Legends Event Content
The event includes:
- A Hall of Legends battle pass.
- New commemorative cosmetics.
- An exclusive Caps-themed skin.
- A journey through Caps’ career.
- New skins co-developed with Caps.
Featured Rewards
The event pass includes 100 total levels of rewards, including:
- Risen Legend Orianna Skin & Border.
- Risen Legend Orianna Event Chroma.
- Freljord Taliyah.
- Elderwood LeBlanc.
- Empyrean Akali.
- 125 Mythic Essence.
- 11 Orbs.
- 15 Caps-themed Icons & Emotes.
- Unkillable Demon Cactus Ward.
- Beacon of Hope Banner.
- “Martin 1” Title.
Immortalized Legend Cosmetics
The patch also features Immortalized Legend Tristana, Risen Legend Orianna, and Risen Legend Tristana.
These cosmetics became available on September 10, 2026.
League Classic Patch 26.18
League Classic receives its biggest content drop so far.
Five new champions join the roster, bringing older versions of their kits into the game.
New Classic Champions
- Fiora
- Galio
- Poppy
- Shyvana
- Xin Zhao
These champions represent different eras of League of Legends history.
For players who enjoy classic kits, this is one of the most exciting additions in the patch.
Classic Fiora
Classic Fiora existed from 2012 to 2015.
Her playstyle focuses on dueling, short trades, and dealing heavy damage to isolated targets.
Classic Fiora Abilities
Passive – Duelist
Fiora regenerates health whenever she damages enemies.
This regeneration can stack when hitting champions.
Q – Lunge
Fiora dashes to strike a nearby enemy.
Lunge can be cast a second time at no additional cost.
W – Riposte
Fiora gains bonus Attack Damage.
She can also parry the next attack within a short time and deal damage back to her attacker.
E – Burst of Speed
Fiora gains Attack Speed for a few seconds.
Attacks and Lunges during this time grant stacking movement speed.
R – Blade Waltz
Fiora becomes untargetable and dashes around the battlefield, striking nearby enemies.
The ability applies on-hit effects, while repeated hits against the same target deal reduced damage.
Classic Fiora Analysis
Classic Fiora is designed around aggressive dueling.
Her ability to repeatedly dash and become untargetable during Blade Waltz makes her very different from modern Fiora.
Players who enjoy old-school split pushing and dueling should find her particularly interesting.
Classic Galio
Classic Galio existed from 2010 to 2017.
Unlike modern Galio, the classic version combines elements of a mage, AP bruiser, tank, and support.
He also gains offensive value from Magic Resistance.
Classic Galio Abilities
Passive – Runic Skin
Galio gains a portion of his Magic Resistance as Ability Power.
Q – Resolute Smite
Galio fires a blast from his eyes that damages and slows enemies.
W – Bulwark
Galio grants a nearby allied champion bonus Armor and Magic Resistance.
While the ally is buffed, Galio is healed whenever they take damage.
E – Righteous Gust
Galio releases a gust of wind that damages enemies in a line.
It also creates a directional draft that grants allies movement speed while moving with the current.
R – Idol of Durand
Galio channels to taunt nearby enemies while taking reduced damage.
After channeling, he deals damage based on how many times he was hit during the channel.
Classic Galio Analysis
Classic Galio offers a very different gameplay experience from modern Galio.
His Magic Resistance scaling and team utility make him especially interesting for players who enjoy defensive AP builds.
Classic Poppy
Classic Poppy existed from 2010 to 2015.
She is a single-target fighter with an unusual defensive identity.
Classic Poppy Abilities
Passive – Valiant Fighter
All damage to Poppy beyond 10% of her current health is reduced by 50%.
Q – Devastating Blow
Poppy’s next attack deals bonus damage based on the target’s maximum health.
W – Paragon of Demacia
Poppy gains Armor and Attack Damage when she deals or takes attacks.
The active ability immediately grants maximum stacks and increased movement speed.
E – Heroic Charge
Poppy charges at an enemy, damaging and knocking them back.
If they collide with a wall, they take additional damage and are stunned.
R – Diplomatic Immunity
Poppy selects an enemy.
For the next few seconds, other enemies cannot affect her, and she deals bonus damage to the selected target.
Classic Poppy Analysis
Classic Poppy is one of the most unusual champions in League Classic.
Her ultimate creates a very different teamfight dynamic.
She is designed around isolating a target and becoming extremely difficult for the rest of the enemy team to interact with.
Classic Shyvana
Classic Shyvana represents her 2011–2013 version.
Her gameplay focuses on basic attacks that enhance her abilities and help her generate Fury.
Classic Shyvana Abilities
Passive – Fury of the Dragonborn
Shyvana’s basic attacks improve her abilities.
They reduce Q’s cooldown, increase W’s duration, deal damage through E, and generate Fury for her ultimate.
Q – Twin Bite
Shyvana’s next attack strikes twice.
In Dragon Form, it deals damage in a cone.
W – Burnout
Shyvana gains movement speed and deals continuous damage around herself.
In Dragon Form, she leaves a trail of fire.
E – Flame Breath
Shyvana fires a projectile that damages the first enemy hit and reduces their armor.
In Dragon Form, she fires a cone of fireballs.
R – Dragon’s Descent
Shyvana gains bonus Armor and Magic Resistance.
These bonuses are doubled in Dragon Form.
She transforms into a dragon and flies forward, damaging and knocking back enemies.
Classic Shyvana Analysis
Classic Shyvana is built around sustained fighting and transformation.
Her older kit is particularly appealing to players who enjoy a straightforward fighter with strong Dragon Form moments.
Classic Xin Zhao
Classic Xin Zhao takes on his 2012–2017 kit.
His gameplay focuses on basic attacks, attack speed, and direct engagement.
Passive – Challenge
Xin Zhao’s most recent attack target becomes Challenged, reducing their Armor.
Q – Three Talon Strike
His next three attacks deal bonus damage.
The third attack knocks up the target.
W – Battle Cry
Every third basic attack heals Xin Zhao.
The active ability grants bonus Attack Speed.
E – Audacious Charge
Xin Zhao dashes to an enemy, Challenging them.
Nearby enemies take damage and are slowed.
R – Crescent Sweep
Xin Zhao sweeps enemies around him, dealing damage and gaining Armor and Magic Resistance for each enemy struck.
Enemies other than his Challenge target are knocked back.
Classic Xin Zhao Analysis
Classic Xin Zhao is a strong option for players who enjoy direct melee combat.
His kit rewards aggressive attacks, target selection, and proper timing of his ultimate.
League Classic Balance Changes
Patch 26.18 includes a smaller Classic balance patch compared with earlier updates.
Riot explains that the mode is in a healthier balance state, so the focus is on addressing the biggest outliers and correcting the impact of previous bugfixes.
Anivia Nerf
Anivia is one of the strongest mid-lane performers in Classic.
Her Q receives several adjustments:
- Missile Speed: 950 → 850.
- Manual Detonation Stun Duration: 1 second → 0.75 seconds.
- Manual Detonation Radius: 230 → 210.
- Minimum Recast Delay: 0 → 0.25 seconds.
These changes reduce her ability to land and chain crowd control.
Gangplank Buff
Gangplank receives buffs to his gold generation and teamfight utility.
Q – Parrrley
Bonus gold on kill:
4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8
→ 4 / 6 / 8 / 10 / 12
E – Raise Morale
Active Attack Damage:
12 / 19 / 26 / 33 / 40
→ 14 / 22 / 30 / 38 / 46
Active Movement Speed:
8 / 11 / 14 / 17 / 20%
→ 10 / 14 / 18 / 22 / 26%
What Does This Mean?
Gangplank receives better scaling through farming and stronger team utility.
The changes are especially useful for players who enjoy his classic gold-generation identity.
Heimerdinger Buff
Heimerdinger receives several buffs after a previous bugfix reduced his power more than expected.
Base Stats
Health Regeneration: 4.5 → 5.05
Q – H-28G Evolution Turret
Base Damage:
28 / 36 / 44 / 52 / 60
→ 30 / 38 / 46 / 54 / 62
W – Hextech Micro-Rockets
Mana Cost:
65 / 85 / 105 / 125 / 145
→ 60 / 75 / 90 / 105 / 120
E – CH-1 Concussion Grenade
Cooldown:
14 / 13 / 12 / 11 / 10 seconds
→ 13 / 12 / 11 / 10 / 9 seconds
Cast Range: 920 → 925
Patch Analysis
These changes improve Heimerdinger’s lane presence and ability access.
They are particularly relevant to top-lane Heimerdinger, which was heavily affected by the previous turret bugfix.
Kayle Buff
Kayle receives an improvement to her passive.
Passive – Holy Fervor
Ability Power Gained:
30% bonus AD → 30% total AD
Riot estimates that this results in a significant effective AP increase.
What Does This Mean?
Kayle gains more offensive value from her Attack Damage.
The change improves her damage, healing, and scaling.
Malzahar Adjustment
Malzahar receives a mixture of buffs and nerfs.
The goal is to reduce AP Malzahar’s power while improving the AD alternative.
Base Stats
Attack Speed Growth: 1.36% → 3%
Attack Speed Ratio: 0.625 → 0.658
Passive – Summon Voidling
Movement Speed: 400 → 460
Attack Cast Frame: 12 → 9
Gold on Kill: 2 → 12
Q – Call of the Void
AP Ratio: 80% → 70%
R – Nether Grasp
Bugfix: R no longer continues dealing damage if the channel stops.
Patch Analysis
AD Malzahar receives stronger attack-speed scaling and improved Voidling behavior.
AP Malzahar loses some damage scaling and receives a bugfix that prevents unintended damage after the ultimate channel ends.
Nasus Classic Changes
Nasus receives important bugfixes.
Q – Siphoning Strike
Bonus damage from stacks can no longer critically strike.
W – Wither
Slow ramps every:
0.5 seconds → 1 second
The slow is now affected by Tenacity.
A bug that caused the slow to ramp up twice as hard as intended is also fixed.
What Does This Mean?
Nasus loses some unexpected damage and excessive slow power.
The changes are intended to bring his abilities closer to their intended behavior.
Warwick Classic Nerf
Warwick has become one of the strongest jungle champions in Classic.
Patch 26.18 reduces his attack speed, passive damage, W cooldown, and early ultimate damage.
Base Stats
Attack Speed: 0.644 → 0.625
Passive – Eternal Thirst
Base Damage now scales differently by level.
W – Hunter’s Call
Cooldown:
24 / 22 / 20 / 18 / 16 seconds
→ 30 / 27 / 24 / 21 / 18 seconds
R – Infinite Duress
Damage:
250 / 335 / 420 + 200% bonus AD
→ 180 / 300 / 420 + 200% bonus AD
Patch Analysis
Warwick’s early jungle pressure becomes weaker.
The longer W cooldown also reduces his ability to repeatedly use his attack-speed steroid.
ARAM: Mayhem Patch 26.18
Patch 26.18 continues Riot’s work on improving ARAM: Mayhem.
The main focus is making Augment choices more logical for the champion being played.
Riot is adjusting Augment pools so that players receive options that better match their champion’s gameplay.
Why Does This Matter?
ARAM: Mayhem is built around unusual combinations and powerful Augments.
However, random choices can sometimes feel disconnected from the champion.
The Patch 26.18 improvements are intended to make Augment selection more meaningful.
Patch 26.18 Meta Analysis
Patch 26.18 is a targeted balance update, but several changes could have a noticeable impact on the meta.
1. Support Champions May Become More Diverse
Bard and Nautilus receive nerfs.
Both champions have been strong picks, particularly in professional play.
Reducing their damage or durability may create more opportunities for other supports.
2. AP Scaling Is Being Rebalanced
Cassiopeia receives lower early damage but stronger AP ratios.
Ekko and Kassadin also receive improvements to AP scaling.
This could make AP-focused builds more rewarding for players who invest in Ability Power.
3. Melee Carries Receive Help
Master Yi and Viego receive buffs aimed at improving their scaling and combat effectiveness.
Zaahen also receives a stronger Q2.
These changes could help melee carries remain more relevant in extended games.
4. Zeri’s Burst Is Reduced
Zeri’s W ratios are reduced.
The goal is to bring down her burst and waveclear without removing her mobility and sustained damage identity.
5. Classic Is Becoming a Major Experience
With five new champions and several balance changes, League Classic is expanding into a more complete alternate League experience.
The new champion additions are especially exciting because they bring back old kits that are very different from their modern versions.
Biggest Winners of Patch 26.18
Ekko
Lower Q mana costs and stronger return damage scaling improve his lane consistency.
Kassadin
Better Q AP scaling and early R damage improve his mid-game agency.
Master Yi
More armor growth and higher Highlander movement speed support his melee carry identity.
Viego
Improved AD growth and passive healing give him more power in extended fights.
Classic Fiora
Her old dueling kit offers a very different gameplay experience.
Classic Galio
Magic Resistance scaling and team utility make him a unique Classic pick.
Biggest Losers of Patch 26.18
Bard
Lower armor makes him less forgiving during early fights.
Nautilus
Reduced base AD and Q damage weaken his personal damage output.
Zeri
Lower W ratios reduce burst and waveclear power.
Cassiopeia
Her early lane damage and movement speed are reduced.
Warwick Classic
Lower attack speed, weaker early damage, and longer W cooldowns reduce his jungle strength.
Classic Anivia
Slower Q and shorter stun duration make her crowd control easier to avoid.
League of Legends Patch 26.18 FAQ
When was League of Legends Patch 26.18 released?
League of Legends Patch 26.18 was officially published on September 9, 2026.
What is the biggest change in Patch 26.18?
The biggest highlights are the Caps Hall of Legends event, Summoner’s Rift champion balance changes, and five new champions joining League Classic.
Which champions are buffed in Patch 26.18?
Viego, Zaahen, Master Yi, Ekko, and Kassadin receive major Summoner’s Rift buffs.
Which champions are nerfed in Patch 26.18?
Bard, Nautilus, Seraphine, and Zeri receive Summoner’s Rift nerfs.
Is Cassiopeia getting buffed or nerfed?
Cassiopeia receives an adjustment. Her early damage and movement speed are reduced, while several AP ratios are increased.
Is Master Yi getting buffed?
Yes. Master Yi receives stronger armor growth and higher movement speed on Highlander.
Is Zeri getting nerfed?
Yes. Her W AD ratios are reduced to lower burst and waveclear power.
What is new in League Classic Patch 26.18?
Fiora, Galio, Poppy, Shyvana, and Xin Zhao are added to League Classic.
What is the Hall of Legends Patch 26.18 event?
It is an event celebrating Caps, the third Hall of Legends inductee and the first Western League of Legends professional player to receive the honor.
Are there new items in Patch 26.18?
The major Summoner’s Rift item update is a Rageblade quality-of-life buff. Classic also receives broader content and balance changes.
Final Verdict: Is Patch 26.18 Worth Paying Attention To?
Yes. League of Legends Patch 26.18 is an important update for both competitive players and Classic fans.
On Summoner’s Rift, Riot is reducing the strength of overperforming support champions such as Bard and Nautilus.
Cassiopeia receives a more complicated adjustment that reduces her early lane power while improving parts of her scaling.
Ekko, Kassadin, Master Yi, and Viego receive buffs designed to make their playstyles more rewarding.
Zeri loses some burst and waveclear power, while Zaahen receives a useful Q improvement.
But the most exciting part of the patch may be outside standard Summoner’s Rift.
The Caps Hall of Legends event celebrates one of the most influential Western players in League history.
League Classic also receives five major champion additions, giving players the chance to experience older versions of Fiora, Galio, Poppy, Shyvana, and Xin Zhao.
Overall, Patch 26.18 is a balance-focused update with a major content drop for League Classic and a special celebration of Caps’ career.
It is worth watching for anyone interested in the current League of Legends meta, professional play, or the history of the game.
Official Patch 26.18 Source
All champion changes, item adjustments, Hall of Legends details, and League Classic content in this article are based on Riot Games’ official patch notes.
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