Quick Answer: What’s in the 26.15 Patch Notes?
The League of Legends 26.15 patch notes bring massive changes, releasing on Wednesday, July 29, 2026. The biggest highlight is a comprehensive rework for Bel’Veth, transitioning her away from early-game invades and turning her into a late-game scaling powerhouse with a permanent ultimate form at level 16. Additionally, this patch kicks off Ranked Season 3 (starting at 12pm local server time) and introduces League Classic, a nostalgic game mode featuring 60 legacy champions.
The wait is over for League of Legends players. The highly anticipated 26.15 patch notes have arrived, signaling the start of a brand new era on the Summoner’s Rift. With a brand new ranked season, the return of classic gameplay mechanics, and heavy balance adjustments targeting both overperformers and underdogs, there is a lot to cover.
The Bel’Veth Rework: A Late-Game Empress
Bel’Veth is receiving a massive patchwork update to lean into her evolution fantasy. Riot’s goal is to weaken her heavily skill-skewed early game to fulfill her intended design as a late-game scaling champion.
- Infinite Empowered Form: Bel’Veth’s True Form now scales with her stacks, capping off with a permanent duration at 80 stacks (level 16).
- Early Dueling Changes: Her Q ability at early levels will function more like a standard dueling ability with a 4-1s cooldown, preventing her from heavily setting back opponents through aggressive early invades.
- W Ability Shift: Her W is losing its bonus attack damage ratio entirely, shifting instead to a 150% ability power scaling, altering her optimal build path.
Champion Buffs and Nerfs Overview
Aside from the Empress of the Void, several other champions are being targeted to shake up the meta for the beginning of Split 3. Locke takes some of the heaviest nerfs to his base health and Q damage, aimed at stopping him from dominating the Emerald and Diamond skill brackets.
| Champion | Change Type | Details / Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| Mordekaiser | Nerf | Ultimate stat theft reduced. The previous changes overshot his power, removing the 1v1 tension. |
| Locke | Nerf | Loses 35 base health, Q damage reduced, and W loses scaling move speed to kill the second-max strategy. |
| Naafiri, Riven, Sylas | Nerf | Targeted for overperforming in their respective roles. |
| Alistar, Kai’Sa, Maokai, Volibear, Zac | Buff | Received minor buffs, including increased monster damage for Maokai to speed up his jungle clears. |
System Changes & League Classic Debut
The 26.15 patch notes aren’t just about modern champions. Riot is debuting League Classic on July 29, 2026. This nostalgic, persistent game mode features 60 early-history champions, older graphics, and emphasizes strategy over modern mechanics. You’ll even see the return of old items like Heart of Gold!
On the ranked system front, Aegis of Valor will now only be cashed in on games you win to remove mixed incentives, and duo queuing is returning to the Master tier. In terms of runes and items, Bastionbreaker and Terminus are receiving adjustments, while the Jack of All Trades rune is getting nerfed.
To fully prepare for your Season 3 placements, you may want to check out our internal guide on mastering your early ranked placements, and read the full official notes on the League of Legends website.
TL;DR Summary
- Release Date: Patch 26.15 and Ranked Season 3 start on July 29, 2026.
- Bel’Veth Rework: Shifted to a late-game carry with a permanent True Form upon reaching level 16.
- New Game Mode: League Classic launches, bringing back 60 old-school champions and nostalgic gameplay elements.
- Balance Tweaks: Locke, Mordekaiser, Naafiri, Riven, and Sylas nerfed. Alistar, Kai’Sa, Maokai, Volibear, and Zac receive buffs.
