League of Legends Patch 26.21: New True Damage Skins and Mel Rework Preview
Riot Games has introduced patch 26.21 for League of Legends, bringing a wave of balance adjustments and fresh content. The update features new True Damage skins and significant changes to several champions. Additionally, the developers have provided a detailed preview of the upcoming Mel rework, scheduled for release in patch 26.22.
Champion Balance and New Skins
The patch brings notable nerfs to Caitlyn and Lee Sin. Caitlyn will see reductions to her Headshot passive scaling and Piltover Peacemaker [Q] damage. Lee Sin faces a cooldown increase on Safeguard [W] and will no longer be able to reveal invisible enemies using Tempest [E].
Other adjustments include nerfs to Jinx and Nidalee, while Darius receives a cooldown reduction on Decimate [Q]. Conversely, champions like Orianna and Ryze are set to receive buffs. Notably, these changes will not impact Worlds 2026 matches, as the tournament is being played on the previous patch version.
Cosmetic enthusiasts can look forward to new True Damage skins (including Know My Name and Prestige editions) for Ekko, Akali, Qiyana, Senna, and Yasuo, available starting October 21, 2026.
Mel Rework: Shifting Mechanics
A major highlight is the upcoming rework for Mel in patch 26.22. The most significant change involves her Rebuttal [W] ability, which will no longer reflect enemy abilities. Instead, the reworked skill will destroy incoming projectiles and provide a shield and movement speed bonus to Mel and her allies.
Riot Games also plans to redistribute Mel's power curve. The champion is expected to be weaker in the early game, losing some initial survivability and damage, but will gain stronger scaling for health and armor in the late game. Changes to her [Q], [E], and Ultimate aim to reward precise long-range play and make her kit less frustrating for opponents to face.
Technical Updates and Mythic Shop
Beyond gameplay, patch 26.21 introduces a limit on replay downloads, restricting players to 10 per hour to prevent automated mass downloading. The Mythic Shop will also undergo preparatory changes, moving toward personalized offers starting in patch 26.22. Additionally, due to new software library requirements (SSE 4.2), minimum system requirements for AMD graphics cards will be increased.
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