Patch 26.2 Notes
Malphite, Lillia, and Gwen receive significant jungle nerfs while ARURF and the Demacia Cup Clash return to the Rift.
Key Changes
- 1Malphite nerfed across W, E, and R abilities to reduce jungle dominance
- 2Lillia sustain and damage nerfed with Passive and Q adjustments
- 3Gwen jungle clear speed significantly reduced via Passive monster cap nerf
- 4ARURF rotating game mode returns to the Rift
- 5Viego buffed with increased Attack Speed growth and Q crit scaling
- 6Nunu & Willump nerfs to Q cooldown and W/E damage
- 7Taliyah jungle clear speed buffed via Q and E monster damage increases
- 8Support UI improvements allow for double-binding quest hotkeys
- 9First Clash of the year (Demacia Cup) begins this weekend
- 10New Aegis Frame and Revenant Reign Viego skins launching
All Changes
⚔️Champions(27)
- buffAatrox: Passive bonus magic damage increased from 4-8% to 4-10% based on level.
- buffAatrox: Q bonus damage to monsters increased from 15 to 25.
- buffAshe: Attack Damage growth increased from 3 to 3.5.
- nerfGwen: Passive monster damage cap reduced from 5 (+10% AP) to 3 (+5% AP).
- nerfJayce: Q bonus damage to monsters reduced from 50 to 25.
- nerfLillia: Passive heal against large monsters reduced from 15% AP to 9% AP.
- nerfLillia: Q AP ratio reduced from 35% to 30%.
- nerfMalphite: W monster damage modifier reduced from 2x to 1.8x.
- nerfMalphite: E base damage reduced from 80-240 to 60-200.
- nerfMalphite: E mana cost increased from 50 to 50-70 based on rank.
- nerfMalphite: R cooldown increased from 130/105/80 to 130/115/100 seconds.
- buffMaster Yi: Armor growth increased from 4.2 to 4.5.
- buffMaster Yi: Q on-hit damage modifier increased from 65% to 75%.
- nerfNunu & Willump: Q cooldown increased from 12-8 to 13-9 seconds.
- nerfNunu & Willump: W maximum damage reduced from 180-360 (+150% AP) to 150-330 (+150% AP).
- nerfNunu & Willump: E damage per hit reduced from 16-48 to 14-42.
- nerfSivir: Attack speed growth reduced from 2% to 1.6%.
- nerfSivir: Armor growth reduced from 4.45 to 4.0.
- nerfSmolder: Armor growth reduced from 4.7 to 4.0.
- buffTaliyah: Q bonus damage to monsters increased from flat 20 to 20-40 based on rank.
- buffTaliyah: E monster damage modifier increased from 190% to 225%.
- buffVarus: Q maximum charge base damage increased from 80-360 to 80-400.
- buffVarus: W on-hit base damage increased from 6-38 to 8-44.
- buffViego: Attack speed growth increased from 2.25% to 2.75%.
- buffViego: Q percent HP on-hit bonus crit damage modifier increased from 50% to 70%.
- buffViego: Q active bonus crit damage modifier increased from 50% to 60%.
- nerfZed: Adjustments to slow jungle clear speed and lower potency.
🕹️Game Modes(3)
- newARURF: ARURF game mode returns this patch.
- newClash: The Demacia Cup, the first Clash of the year, occurs this weekend.
- changeARAM: Updates to ARAM, ARAM: Mayhem, and Arena arriving this week.
🖥️UI/UX(2)
- newSupport Quest: Players can now double bind the role quest slot to the same hotkey as their previous item slot.
- newSupport Quest: Role quest hotkey added to the client keybinds menu for pre-game adjustment.
🎨Skins & Cosmetics(3)
- newSkins: New Aegis Frame skins for Galio and Ornn, Battle Academia Briar, Battle Professor Samira, and Revenant Reign Viego available Jan 22.
- newRevenant Reign Viego: Revenant Reign Viego available in the Sanctum until the end of Patch 26.5.
- newEmotes: Animated 'Crowned as King' Emote available in the Mythic Shop.
⚙️Gameplay Systems(1)
- fixAegis of Valor: Resolved a bug affecting Aegis of Valor.
Summary
Champion Balance
Following the 26.1 update, this patch focuses on reigning in dominant junglers. Malphite, Lillia, and Gwen have all received nerfs to their clear speed or sustain. Conversely, struggling champions like Viego, Master Yi, and Varus have been granted buffs to their scaling and base stats to help them compete in the current meta.
Systems & UI
Support players receive quality-of-life improvements regarding the new quest active slot, including double-binding capabilities and client-side hotkey settings. The developers are also monitoring snowballing and tower durability, noting that while games feel faster, actual game length has slightly increased.
Events & Cosmetics
The first Clash of 2026 arrives with the Demacia Cup. Additionally, ARURF returns alongside the new Aegis Frame skin line and the debut of Revenant Reign Viego in the Sanctum.