Riot’s Latest League Update Targets Support Roaming, Mage Bot Lanes and AD Fighter Jungle Builds

The patch also introduces something particularly interesting for longtime players: League Classic receives new ninja champions, including Akali, Kennen and Shen, alongside a large collection of balance changes.

For regular League players, this update could change lane priorities, item choices and jungle builds.

Here is everything important to know about League of Legends Patch 26.16.

When Did League of Legends Patch 26.16 Release?

Riot published the official Patch 26.16 notes on August 11, 2026, with the update now forming the current patch environment.

The update includes:

• Champion buffs and nerfs
• Item adjustments
• Rune changes
• ADC magic resistance changes
• Jungle pet changes
• Support quest changes
• League Classic additions
• New Classic champion releases
• Classic balance changes
• New skins

Riot's main goal is to create a healthier meta across several roles rather than allowing one strategy to dominate.

Patch 26.16 Is Targeting Early Support Roaming

One of Riot's biggest concerns is the current support meta.

Some supports have been leaving bot lane extremely early and effectively functioning like a second jungler.

While roaming can be an important strategic option, Riot says it has become too common and is reducing meaningful bot-lane participation.

Patch 26.16 therefore increases the trade-offs associated with leaving bot lane early.

This could have a noticeable effect on support players who regularly leave lane to influence mid and jungle.

Support Quest Changes

The patch changes Support Role Quest progression.

The penalty for being outside bot lane becomes stronger, while the previous bonus from champion combat compared with minion last-hitting is removed.

The minion experience and gold penalty outside bot lane also increases from -25% until level 3 to -33% until level 5.

That should encourage supports to spend more meaningful time around their lane during the early game.

Mage Bot Lane Picks Are Also Being Addressed

Riot is also responding to the growing popularity of mages in bot lane.

Mage bot-lane picks have existed for a long time, but Patch 26.16 notes that they have become increasingly prominent in both professional and regular play.

Riot wants mages to remain viable without allowing them to become clearly stronger than traditional ADC choices.

This means players should expect the bot-lane meta to become more balanced between traditional marksmen and mage alternatives.

Jungle Builds Are Getting More Diverse

Another major objective is changing jungle itemization.

Riot believes the jungle has become too heavily centered around AD fighters and specifically Sundered Sky.

Patch 26.16 buffs jungle-pet scaling with:

• Ability Power
• Bonus Armor
• Magic Resistance
• Bonus Health

The goal is to create more room for AP and tank junglers instead of allowing AD fighter builds to dominate the role.

This could be one of the most important changes for players who enjoy experimenting with unusual jungle picks.

Biggest Champion Buffs in Patch 26.16

Several champions receive buffs in the latest update.

Azir Gets a Laning Buff

Azir receives a direct buff to his Q, Conquering Sands.

Its damage increases from:

60 / 80 / 100 / 120 / 140

to:

75 / 95 / 115 / 135 / 155

The AP scaling remains unchanged.

This should make Azir's early laning phase more effective.

Gwen Gets More Sustain

Gwen has been struggling following earlier nerfs, so Riot is increasing the healing from her passive, A Thousand Cuts.

Her healing on champions rises from 50% post-mitigation to 67% post-mitigation.

The healing cap and AP scaling also increase.

This could make Gwen considerably more threatening in favorable matchups.

Kennen Gets a Stronger Ultimate

Kennen receives buffs to Slicing Maelstrom.

His bonus resistances increase from:

20 / 40 / 60

to:

25 / 50 / 75

His ultimate damage also increases, along with its AP scaling.

Maximum damage rises from:

300 / 562.5 / 825

to:

300 / 600 / 900

with improved AP scaling.

For Kennen players, these changes should make successful teamfight ultimates more rewarding.

Camille Is Being Shifted Back Toward Top Lane

Camille has become one of the strongest roaming supports, and Riot is specifically targeting that playstyle.

At the same time, the developers want to improve her traditional top-lane role.

Her mana increases from 339 to 375.

Her passive shield becomes smaller early on, but its cooldown is reduced.

Her W cooldown also decreases, while the outer-cone bonus damage increases.

The overall goal is to move Camille away from excessive support roaming while improving her repeatable trading as a top laner.

Poppy Is Being Pushed Toward Tank Builds

Poppy is another champion receiving a significant direction change.

Riot believes she has moved too far toward an early-game AD fighter setup using options such as Hail of Blades and Sundered Sky.

Patch 26.16 therefore reduces her base Attack Damage while improving her mana and durability scaling.

Her W also receives an increase to total Armor and Magic Resistance.

The intended result is a stronger traditional tank Poppy rather than an aggressive early-game fighter.

Nasus Gets Changes for Top Lane

Nasus has become an interesting jungle option, but Riot believes his top lane performance has fallen too far behind.

His Q, Siphoning Strike, now provides:

4 stacks, increased to 10 on champions, large minions and monsters.

Previously, the values were 3, increased to 12 on those targets.

The adjustment is designed to bring his jungle and top-lane power curves closer together.

Some Strong Champions Are Being Nerfed

Patch 26.16 isn't only about buffs.

Several strong picks receive nerfs.

Bel'Veth

Bel'Veth has been scaling extremely well, so Riot reduces her Health Growth from:

110 → 105

Her True Form attack-speed scaling is also adjusted from:

5 / 15 / 25% → 6 / 13 / 20%.

This should reduce some of her late-game scaling power.

Heimerdinger

Heimerdinger has been performing particularly well in mid lane and top lane.

His turret attack damage is reduced, while the base damage of his rockets also decreases.

His grenade cooldown becomes longer as well.

These changes should give opponents more opportunities to punish him during the early game.

Jarvan IV

Jarvan IV has been one of the strongest junglers.

Patch 26.16 reduces his Armor per level from:

3.6 → 3

His W shield per nearby champion is also reduced.

The changes are intended to weaken his late-game durability while preserving his recognizable Flag-and-Drag combination.

Janna

Janna receives relatively targeted nerfs.

Her base Attack Damage is reduced from:

51.95 + 2.95

to:

49 + 3

Her ultimate's mana cost also rises dramatically:

100 / 150 / 200 → 200 / 275 / 350.

This should make repeated use of Monsoon more expensive.

Blitzcrank Gets Major Classic Nerfs

League Classic is also receiving significant balance changes.

Blitzcrank is currently described by Riot as the top support based on win rate, pick rate and ban rate.

As a result, his Rocket Grab damage is reduced and its cooldown increased.

His W cooldown also rises from 15 to 20 seconds, while his ultimate's active damage drops from:

250 / 375 / 500

to:

200 / 300 / 400.

This is a substantial reduction for one of Classic's strongest supports.

League Classic Gets Three Ninjas

One of the most interesting additions in Patch 26.16 isn't part of the standard Summoner's Rift balance update.

League Classic gets three new ninja champions:

• Akali
• Kennen
• Shen

Riot describes this as the first patch update for League Classic and introduces these champions alongside additional balance changes.

For longtime League players, this is one of the most nostalgic parts of the update.

Akali Arrives in League Classic

Classic Akali brings her familiar assassin identity.

Her kit includes:

• Twin Disciplines
• Mark of the Assassin
• Twilight Shroud
• Crescent Slash
• Shadow Dance

Her ultimate can store up to three dashes, functioning similarly to ammunition.

Her invisibility and mobility make her a potentially dangerous Classic pick.

Kennen Joins Classic

Classic Kennen arrives with his recognizable ninja-themed kit.

His abilities include:

• Mark of the Storm
• Thundering Shuriken
• Electrical Surge
• Lightning Rush
• Slicing Maelstrom

His passive stacks marks on enemies, with three stacks triggering a stun.

His ultimate then provides the teamfight power Kennen players know.

Shen Returns to Classic

Shen also joins the Classic roster.

His abilities include:

• Ki Strike
• Vorpal Blade
• Feint
• Shadow Dash
• Stand United

His ultimate allows him to target an allied champion anywhere on the map, provide a shield and teleport to that ally if they survive the channel.

That makes Shen particularly valuable for players who enjoy global map pressure and team-oriented play.

Item Changes Could Shake Up Builds

Patch 26.16 also includes a significant collection of item adjustments.

Several AD-focused items receive buffs, while Sundered Sky is toned down.

Berserker's Greaves

Attack Speed increases:

25% → 30%

The Tier 3 version rises from:

40% → 45%.

Black Cleaver

Attack Damage increases:

40 → 45

Its movement-speed effect now distinguishes between melee and ranged users.

Melee champions receive more movement speed than ranged champions.

Eclipse

Eclipse gets increased maximum-health damage.

For melee users, the damage increases from 6% to 8% of the target's maximum health.

For ranged users, it rises from 4% to 5%.

The shield is slightly reduced to compensate.

Runaan's Hurricane

Runaan's Hurricane receives two useful buffs.

Move Speed rises:

4% → 5%

Wind's Fury bolt damage increases:

55% AD → 65% AD.

This could make the item more attractive for certain ADC builds.

Sterak's Gage

Sterak's Gage receives an increase to its bonus Attack Damage scaling:

45% of Base AD → 50%.

This is intended to restore its position as a strong juggernaut and diver teamfight item.

Sundered Sky Gets Nerfed

Sundered Sky has been one of the strongest AD fighter items in the meta.

Patch 26.16 reduces its healing.

The healing changes from:

100% melee / 50% ranged Base AD + 6% Missing Health

to:

90% melee / 45% ranged Base AD + 4% Missing Health.

Its Health also increases from 400 to 450.

The recipe is changed as well.

This is an important change because Sundered Sky has been a major part of AD fighter builds.

Sunfire Cape Changes

Sunfire Cape receives a different type of adjustment.

Its damage against champions improves through increased bonus-health scaling:

20 + 1% bonus Health → 20 + 1.5% bonus Health

However, its minion and monster modifiers are reduced.

Its recipe cost also increases from 600 to 700 gold.

The result should make Sunfire more focused on player combat.

Runes Are Changing Too

Patch 26.16 also modifies two important runes.

Fleet Footwork Buff

Fleet Footwork receives increased healing.

Its healing changes from:

10–130

to:

15–160

while its scaling remains based on AD and AP depending on champion type.

This could make Fleet Footwork a more attractive sustain option.

Hail of Blades Nerf

Hail of Blades is being adjusted because of its contribution to the early roaming meta.

Melee Attack Speed decreases:

120% → 90%

while the ranged value remains at 60%.

Its bonus true damage scaling is also adjusted.

This should reduce some of the extreme early-game pressure associated with the rune.

ADC Champions Get More Early Magic Resistance

Riot is also helping ADCs deal with mage-heavy bot lanes.

The standard ADC Magic Resistance formula changes from:

30 + 1.3 per level

to:

33 + 1.1 per level.

Tristana receives a similar adjustment from:

28 + 1.3 per level

to:

33 + 1.1 per level.

The affected roster includes champions such as:

• Ashe
• Caitlyn
• Corki
• Draven
• Ezreal
• Jhin
• Jinx
• Kai'Sa
• Lucian
• Miss Fortune
• Samira
• Sivir
• Smolder
• Twitch
• Varus
• Vayne
• Xayah
• Zeri

and several others.

This could make traditional ADC picks more comfortable against magic-damage threats.

What Patch 26.16 Means for the Meta

The overall direction of Patch 26.16 is fairly clear.

Riot is trying to create more role diversity.

The developers don't necessarily want to eliminate strong strategies.

Instead, they want players to have more meaningful choices.

Support players should have more reason to stay connected to bot lane.

Mage bot lanes should remain viable without completely overshadowing ADCs.

Jungle players should have more incentive to experiment with AP and tank builds.

And AD fighter itemization is being adjusted so one item doesn't dominate every build.

Which Champions Could Benefit Most?

While the patch doesn't officially name a new tier list, several champions have changes that could attract more players.

Potential Winners

Azir — Better laning damage.

Gwen — Stronger sustain.

Kennen — More powerful ultimate.

Camille top — Better repeatable trading.

Poppy tank — Stronger durability scaling.

Azir and other AP junglers — Potential benefit from stronger jungle pet AP scaling.

Champions Being Pushed Down

Bel'Veth — Reduced scaling.

Heimerdinger — Lower early pressure.

Jarvan IV — Reduced durability.

Janna — Higher ultimate mana cost.

Blitzcrank Classic — Multiple major nerfs.

Sundered Sky users — Reduced healing.

These aren't guaranteed tier-list positions, but they are important areas to watch after the patch.

New Skins Arrive With Patch 26.16

Patch 26.16 also brings the Faerie Court skin line.

The new skins are:

• Faerie Court Bel'Veth
• Faerie Court Gwen
• Faerie Court Lulu

Riot lists these skins as becoming available on August 12, 2026.

That gives players another reason to check the store after updating.

Should You Change Your League of Legends Build?

If you play regularly, it's worth reviewing your builds after Patch 26.16.

In particular, AD fighter players should reconsider automatically buying Sundered Sky.

Jungle players should also experiment with AP and tank options because the jungle-pet changes specifically increase scaling from AP, armor, magic resistance and health.

ADC players may find early magic-damage matchups slightly easier.

Support players who rely heavily on early roaming should also pay attention to quest progression.

The patch isn't simply changing individual champions.

It's changing incentives across the game.

League of Legends Patch 26.16 is one of the more interesting balance updates of the current season because Riot is targeting several meta-level problems at the same time.

The biggest changes affect support roaming, mage bot lanes and jungle item diversity, while champions including Azir, Gwen and Kennen receive buffs and several strong picks are nerfed.

The item changes are equally important.

Berserker's Greaves, Black Cleaver, Eclipse, Runaan's Hurricane and Sterak's Gage receive buffs, while Sundered Sky gets a reduction to its powerful healing effect.

But the most unusual part of the update is League Classic.

Akali, Kennen and Shen have arrived as new Classic champions, giving veteran players another reason to revisit the older-style League experience.

With the meta being pushed toward greater diversity, Patch 26.16 could lead to some interesting changes over the next few weeks.

If your favorite champion or role was affected, now is a good time to test new builds rather than relying on the previous patch's meta.

FAQ

When did League of Legends Patch 26.16 release?

Riot published Patch 26.16 on August 11, 2026.

What is the biggest change in Patch 26.16?

One of the main goals is reducing excessive early support roaming while encouraging greater diversity in bot lane and jungle strategies.

Which champions are buffed in Patch 26.16?

Azir, Camille, Gwen, Kennen, Nasus and Poppy are among the champions receiving notable changes intended to improve their performance or shift their preferred roles