Riot Games has rolled out Patch 26.12, a spicy update that kicks off Season 2 Act 2 with a mix of balance changes aimed at both casual and competitive play. Following the recent support meta shifts, this patch targets AP Xin Zhao with a nerf while giving Yuumi a much-needed buff. More importantly, Riot is setting the stage for MSI by creating opportunities for champion diversity in the tournament meta. While some changes—like the Varus adjustments—are specifically pro-oriented, most adjustments, such as the jungle nerfs to Lee Sin and Nocturne, should impact all levels of play. Riot plans to continue this approach for one more patch before returning to business as usual.
Champion Balance Changes
Several champions are receiving targeted adjustments to shake up the meta. Aatrox, who has been on the sidelines despite being a solid pick, gets a power boost to his Q sweet spot to reward skilled play against tanks and squishies alike. Gwen, who lost some power in the 26.09 minor rework, is getting early-game buffs to help her scale more smoothly. Hwei’s 26.08 changes to ability slow stacking had a larger negative impact than expected, so Riot is redistributing power across his Q and E abilities. Meanwhile, Lee Sin and Nocturne are being tuned down in the jungle to reduce their menacing presence. AP Xin Zhao is also receiving a nerf, while Yuumi gets a buff to support her viability.
New Cosmetics and Queue Improvements
Prestige Sinful Shores LeBlanc, Sinful Shores Brand, and Sinful Shores Hwei will be available starting June 10, 2026. In addition, Riot is expanding Normal Draft availability for the ME, OC, and SG regions from a windowed time to 24/7, following meaningful queue time improvements seen across regions since late 2025. This change aims to provide more flexibility for players in those regions.
Apex Duo Restriction and Social Panel Updates
The Apex duo restriction, which was turned on with Season 2 start in some regions, remains in place. Riot is actively monitoring top-tier matches to build confidence and understand what match quality improvements are needed before re-enabling duo for Apex players. They will announce when it’s safe to flip the switch. Additionally, a new social panel feature is being introduced that displays Honor and active penalty information, allowing players to track their standing, view progress toward redemption, and see how behavior impacts games. This serves as a constant reminder of the positive community Riot is building.
Detailed Champion Changes
Aatrox: Q - The Darkin Blade sweet spot bonus damage increased from 70 to 75.
Gwen: Q - Snip Snip! base damage per snip increased from 10/13.5/17/20.5/24 to 10/14/18/22/26. E - Skip 'n Slash bonus attack speed increased from 20/35/50/65/80% to 30/42.5/55/67.5/80%.
Hwei: Q - Subject: Disaster QQ damage increased from 50-170 (+70% AP) to (+80% AP). QW damage increased from 60-160 (+25% AP) to (+30% AP), with increased scaling up to 60-87.5% AP.
Source: Riot Games — Patch 26.12 Notes. For the full list of changes, visit the official League of Legends patch notes page.
