League of Legends patch 26.22 is live
Patch 26.22 went live on 4 November. On Summoner's Rift Riot trims the most-banned picks — Locke loses early stack damage and a second of Soul Ignition, Yasuo's Q ratio drops and Thresh takes a second nerf — while the pro-tuned Corki and Rumble, plus Kayle, Maokai, Naafiri, Shen, Smolder, Viktor and Zaahen, get buffs. Mel gets a midscope update with a reworked W, Doran's Bow loses 1 AD and Overlord's Bloodmail gains 10. It is also the patch TFT moves to its own client, so the download is larger than usual.
- Where it is: Riot's patch 26.22 notes (Riot wroadie, Riot Cashmiir and sternest), published 3 Nov 19:00 UTC; the patch went live on 4 Nov (Data Dragon 16.22.1). Worlds keeps playing on 26.20.
- Nerfs: Locke Q stack damage 18–50 → 15–43 and W Soul Ignition 6 s → 5 s; Yasuo Q 105 % → 100 % total AD; Thresh base AD 56 → 54 and R 250/400/550 → 200/350/500; Doran's Bow 8 → 7 AD.
- Buffs: Corki R up to 100/190/280 (+90 % bonus AD), Rumble R 40 % AP per second and 200 % at most, Kayle Q and R cooldowns down, Maokai Q more max-health damage, Naafiri Q heal and W bonus AD, Shen Q monster damage, Smolder W base damage, Viktor health growth and R ratio, Zaahen Q 8 s at rank one, Aurelion Sol E.
- Mel midscope: power moves from early game to scaling, W Rebuttal becomes a nova that destroys projectiles and shields and retaliates, Q refunds cooldown when it hits a champion, R cooldown 120/90/60 s.
- Items and modes: Overlord's Bloodmail 30 → 40 AD (Retribution max 12 % → 10 %); ARAM: Mayhem tones down Take 'Em Down Down Down and Weapon of Destiny, buffs Soul Eater and Stay Resolute and brings back Butcher's Bridge and Koeshin's Crossing; Classic adds Volibear, Swain and Elise, nerfs Janna, Amumu, Rammus and Fiddlesticks, and Classic Pass tokens per game rise 50 %.
- What it means for your climb: Locke and Thresh lanes get easier to play into, Corki, Rumble and Viktor are solo-queue options again, and marksmen weigh Doran's Blade against Bow; TFT moves to its own client on 4 Nov, so plan for a bigger download before your first game.
What changed
Riot published the 26.22 notes on 3 November and the patch went live on 4 November. It is a Worlds-season patch with no new champion on Summoner's Rift: Riot nerfs the most-banned picks, gives power back to champions it held down for pro play and gives Mel a midscope update. Worlds itself stays on 26.20, so the picks you see on stage are a patch behind ranked.
The nerfs
- Locke: Q stack damage 18–50 → 15–43 and W duration 6 s → 5 s — Riot says top Locke players showed he is still too strong early.
- Yasuo: Q ratio 105 % → 100 % total AD, the same treatment Yone got last patch.
- Thresh: base AD 56 → 54 and R damage 250/400/550 → 200/350/500, his second nerf in a row.
- Doran's Bow: 8 → 7 AD, so it is no longer the automatic start for every marksman.
The buffs
- Corki and Rumble: ultimate damage up now that pro play is no longer the reason to hold them back.
- Top and jungle: Kayle Q and R cooldowns, Maokai Q damage, Shen Q monster damage and Zaahen Q cooldown early.
- Mid: Naafiri heal and bonus AD, Viktor health growth and R ratio, Aurelion Sol E damage.
- Smolder: W base damage up 15 at every rank.
Mel's midscope
Mel loses health, AD and early Q damage but scales harder. Her W is now a nova that destroys enemy projectiles and shields, speeds up allies inside it and fires the destroyed missiles back at the end; her Q refunds part of its cooldown when it hits a champion and her R drops to 60 s at rank three. Expect a weaker lane and a stronger late game.
Items, Mayhem and Classic
Overlord's Bloodmail gains 10 AD but its missing-health bonus shrinks, a net buff for most juggernauts other than Sett. ARAM: Mayhem cuts the augments that made tanks feel fragile and brings two maps back. League Classic adds Volibear, Swain and Elise, nerfs Janna, Amumu, Rammus and Fiddlesticks, and fixes a Classic Pass mistake by raising token grants per game by half.
What it means for your climb
- If you are climbing on Locke, Yasuo or Thresh, expect a weaker early game — play for scaling rather than early kills.
- Corki, Rumble and Viktor are worth another look in mid and top.
- Marksmen: test Doran's Blade starts again.
- Mel players should expect to lose more lanes and win more late fights while the new W settles.
What we are watching
Riot's schedule puts patch 26.23 on 18 November. Until then we are watching Locke's ban rate after the nerf, Mel's win rate with the new W and whether Corki and Rumble come back in solo queue. The Worlds quarter-finals continue on 26.20 tonight at 22:00 UTC.
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