League of Legends Patch 26.5 Overview – Champion Changes, Act 2 Battle Pass & More

League of Legends Patch 26.5 notes introduce several champion balance changes, gameplay improvements, and new content tied to Season 1 Act 2. Riot Games is focusing on mid-lane adjustments, bot lane tuning, and broader balance updates across the roster. The patch also brings back Brawl, introduces the Act 2 Battle Pass, and adds several system changes affecting matchmaking and player behavior.

LoL Patch 26.5 New Modes – Brawl Returns & Act 2 Battle Pass

Among the key things you need to know about the LoL Patch 26.5 is that Brawl is back. One of the fan-favorite modes will be available between March 4 and April 28, 2026, so make sure to give it a go.

What’s also arriving is the Season 1 Act 2 Battle Pass. Players will have the chance to get the Corrupted Petricite Maokai and Corrupted Petricite Xerath for Levels 9 and 25, respectively. There is also a Prestige Requiem Sona reward for the paid Pass.

LoL Patch 26.5 Champion Changes and Item Adjustments

As mentioned in the League of Legends Patch 26.5 preview, there are several essential champion changes. Here is an overview of some of the key ones:

• Akali – At present, Akali’s Shroud re-stealth cooldown increases based on total game time. With recent changes to the pacing of Summoner’s Rift and the introduction of multiple modes that start at different points in progression, this scaling has become less consistent across experiences. As a result, the team is adjusting her design to give the iconic ninja more reliable flexibility in how she uses her stealth throughout a match. Following the changes, her W (Twilight Shroud) now has a slightly different restealth timer.
• Garen – Riot decided to give him better trading power, so there are a few interesting buffs. For starters, his Q now provides more move speed duration. As for his E, the damage per spin has been slightly increased.
• Lillia – The team admits Lillia’s recent Q nerf went too far, weakening her more than intended. To address this, they’re rolling back the impactful Q changes from 26.2 while also reverting the smaller ultimate buffs from 25.19. The goal is to restore her sustained skirmishing identity, allowing her to thrive by weaving in and out of fights with consistent Q damage rather than relying heavily on big ultimate plays. Following the changes, her passive now has a higher monster heal bonus AP ratio, her Q has more bonus AP ratio, and her R does more base damage and has less cooldown.

The newest League of Legends patch only has two item changes. The first one is to Hubris, which now has a total price of 2800 gold (down from 3000), whereas the second one is for Locket of the Iron Solari. This is a shield that scales slightly better than before.

Ranked and Matchmaking Changes in LoL Patch 26.5

People who were eligible for the Aegis of Valor rewards but have been reported for disruptive behavior won’t get their rewards. Riot also announced it is starting with its autofill and secondary matchmaking improvements.

ARAM Mayhem and Arena Updates in Patch 26.5

This latest LoL Patch focuses on improving the tank experience in Mayhem while adding several quality-of-life updates. Recent power inflation has made it harder for tanks to reliably hold the frontline, so health- and durability-focused Augments are being systematically buffed to restore their presence.

We also read that Wee Woo Wee Woo has been reworked and now offers a stronger burst in specific moments. An upgraded Sword of Blossoming Dawn Augment also expands support options. Finally, Nexus and turret durability are being adjusted to create more comeback opportunities, better showcase late-game power spikes and prevent overly abrupt endings. Naturally, you can find loads of minor bugfixes and/or specific adjustments.

In terms of the Arena changes, there are many different bug fixes that make the overall experience better.

Demacia Rising Story Update and Last Hit Indicator Feature

Demacia Rising Act 2 advances the story to the present, with Tianna redirecting Lux’s training from history to the challenges ahead. Players can upgrade settlements to Level 4, unlock new research options, and face off against Noxian forces. The storyline will conclude with its final update in Patch 25.7.

Riot decided to finally bring the Last Hit indicators to the game. Even though this feature targets new League of Legends players, it can also help more experienced users. The new feature is available in Co-op vs AI, Tutorials, Swiftplay, Custom Games, Practice Tool and RGM Summoner’s Rift queues.

Riot Introduces Gameplay Bans for Toxic Chat in Patch 26.5

Over the past year, Riot has intensified its efforts against game-ruining behavior and this continues in the latest patch. From 26.5 onward, severely abusive chat will result in gameplay bans—not just chat restrictions. The goal is to ensure League remains a space free from hate speech, threats, and extreme harassment.

While minor infractions may still be handled progressively, egregious offenses will lead to immediate removal from play. Just as disruptive gameplay and cheating trigger bans, severe verbal misconduct will now be treated with the same level of seriousness.