The year 2026 is off to a busy start for League of Legends, and Patch 26.03 is the first major update to shake things up. After players got a feel for the new season’s features, the developers at Riot Games are making adjustments based on feedback. They’re tweaking what’s working well, toning down what’s too strong, and trying to make the game more enjoyable for everyone.
For the main game mode, Summoner’s Rift, this patch is all about making things fair. Riot is bringing in a lot of changes, both making some champions stronger and others weaker. This is especially important for characters who fight in the jungle and use attack damage, as they haven’t been performing as well since the new season started. The developers mentioned that changes to the game’s systems have affected them.
New items that were recently added are also being looked at. Plus, there are follow-up changes to the rune system updates that changed how strong players were in the early and middle parts of the game. Riot seems committed to making these new systems work by adjusting them with buffs and nerfs where needed, rather than getting rid of them.
The popular game mode, ARAM Mayhem, which was a big hit during the holidays, is also getting a major update. Because so many people enjoyed it, Riot has decided to keep it around longer and even put more effort into it for the future. Starting with Patch 26.03, players can look forward to a new way to progress, over 40 new power-ups called augments, and even free rewards like special emotes, icons, and a banner featuring the Poro King.
Changes to Vision and Faelights
One of the most significant changes in Patch 26.03 affects how players see things early in the game on Summoner’s Rift. The developers explained that special glowing spots called Faelights, when placed near certain bushes in the river, were giving too much vision. This made it hard for jungle players to plan their routes and surprise enemies. Now, these Faelight areas have been made smaller and won’t cover important spots like where the scuttle crab or major monsters appear.
Additionally, the time it takes to use your first yellow ward (trinket) has been increased. This means there will be less vision available in the early part of the game, but the cooldowns later on will stay the same. Combined with removing some special plants that give vision near the starting bases, these changes aim to make players think more carefully about where they place their wards. The goal is to make the early game more exciting and strategic without completely removing the ability to gain vision.
Changes to Mel’s Abilities
Mel, a champion who came out about a year ago, is getting a set of changes designed to make her less frustrating to play against and give opponents more chances to fight back. The most important update in Patch 26.03 affects her W ability. It used to make her completely immune to damage, but now it will give her a shield instead. This means that powerful attacks, like Jinx’s ultimate ability, can no longer be completely avoided if Mel reacts a little too late.
Mel’s Q and E abilities have also been tweaked to make them easier to see and understand, according to Riot. Their hit areas are a bit smaller, and their visual effects are more noticeable. This gives players clearer opportunities to see them coming and dodge them, especially when they are used from far away. While it might seem like Mel is weaker, her power has actually been moved around to better reward players who use her abilities accurately. Riot’s goal with Mel’s update is to keep her an interesting champion that requires skill to play well, while also making her less of a character that players feel they absolutely have to ban.
Updates to the Ranked System
Patch 26.03 also includes changes to make the ranked system fairer, especially for players at the very top of the leaderboards. Issues that caused players to lose a lot of points (LP) unfairly in high ranks are being fixed. While some point loss is still expected at the highest levels of play, it should now be much less common and less harsh.
The system that rewards players for good performance, called Aegis of Valor, has also been made a bit harder to get. The level of skill needed to unlock it has been increased from ‘C’ to ‘B’. Riot found that the old requirement was too easy to meet. This change means that Aegis of Valor will be a better sign of a player’s consistent good performance, even for those who are still learning new roles.
Patch 26.03 is shaping up to be one of the most significant updates for League of Legends in recent times. With widespread changes to how champions perform, improvements to game systems, and new content, it’s a good idea to look over the full patch notes. Your favorite champion, like Heimerdinger, or other parts of the game might have changed more than you think.
