Patch 26.02 Changes Unveiled - League of Legends Update

Key Changes in Patch 26.02

The new Patch 26.02 has brought a mix of updates, featuring significant changes to items and champions. Key highlights include both buffs and nerfs to shift the game balance, especially focusing on ADC items and melee support tools.

Item Adjustments

Bandal Pipes: This item has been nerfed significantly. The cost is now increased from 2,000 to 2,300 gold, making it more expensive than Locket. Although it used to be the go-to item for melee supports, it is now balanced in line with Locket.
Fiend Hunter Bolts: Several buffs have been made for this new zeal item:
- Attack speed increased from 40% to 45%.
- Passive crit multiplier enhanced from 75% to 80%.
- Bonus true damage on crit increased from 10 to 15%.
These changes are expected to benefit champions like Yunara, Zary, and Twitch.
Hex Optics: The AD has moved up from 50 to 55. Additionally, the range required for max damage from its passive is reduced from 700 to 600, giving champions like Caitlyn and Jinx more optimal usage.

Champion Adjustments

Buffs:
Atrox: Passive bonus damage scales better, and Q monster bonus damage has increased, though not enough to make Atrox a meta champion.
Ashe: Her AD growth is slightly buffed, paired with the enhanced Fiend Hunter item, potentially moving her back to S tier.
Master Yi: Sees a minor increase in armor scaling, and his Q on-hit modifier is also improved.
Taliyah (Jungle): Buffs to Q and E monster damage make her a promising jungler for higher ranks.
Varus: Both Q max base damage and W on-hit damage see increases. However, these boosts are more impactful for his top lane play.
Viego: Gains improvements in attack speed growth and crit ratios, addressing his struggles below a 48% win rate.

Nerfs:
Gwen: Her passive monster cap and AP ratios are reduced, though she remains a viable pick.
Jayce (Jungle): Sees reduced Q bonus monster damage, despite a sub-49% win rate in previous patches.

Summary of Adjustments

Item/Champion	Changes
Bandal Pipes	Price increased from 2,000 to 2,300 gold
Fiend Hunter Bolts	Increased attack speed and crit multiplier
Atrox	Passive and Q damage buffs
Ashe	Improved AD growth
Master Yi	Better armor scaling and Q modifier
Taliyah (Jungle)	Increased monster damage
Varus	Enhanced damage, especially in the top lane
Viego	Buffed attack speed growth and crit ratios
Gwen	Reduced passive cap and AP ratio
Jayce (Jungle)	Lowered Q bonus monster damage

As these changes hit the live servers, players can anticipate shifts in how champions and items are prioritized, potentially paving the way for new meta trends.

Champion Nerfs

Patch 26.02 introduces a series of nerfs affecting several champions, significantly impacting gameplay dynamics. Below are the notable changes:

Lilia
- Her passive monster heal AP ratio has been reduced from 15% to 9%.
- A decrease in her Q damage AP ratio from 35% to 30%.
Malight
- His E damage is reduced from an 80-240 scale to 60-200.
- E mana cost increased from a flat 50 to a scaling of 50-70.
- The cooldown for his R ability remains unchanged at rank one but increases by 10 seconds at rank two and 20 seconds at rank three.
- Jungle Malight sees a reduction in W monster damage from 200% to 180%.
Noo-Noo
- Q cooldown increased from 12-8 seconds to 13-9 seconds.
- W max damage dropped from 180-360 to 150-330.
- E damage per hit decreased from 16-48 to 14-42, and the EAP ratio is down from 15% to 12%. Despite these nerfs, Noo-Noo remains a viable choice given his previous 54% win rate.
Civer and Smolder
- Civer's armor growth decreased from 4.45 to 4.0, and attack speed growth from 2% to 1.6%.
- Smolder's armor growth reduced from 4.7 to 4.0.
Zed (Jungle)
- Zed's passive monster damage is nerfed from 180% to 120%, affecting his clear speed.

Anticipated Impact

These nerfs are expected to shake up the current meta, particularly focusing on champions who have been overly dominant in their respective roles. For example, Civer and Smolder's decreased defensive and offensive stats reflect a shift away from their previous dominance with Essence Reaver.

Influenced players will need to adjust their playstyles and strategies. They may also consider exploring different champion selections to adapt to these updates effectively. The adjustments create room for underused champions to emerge as stronger contenders in both competitive and casual play scenarios.

The patch goes live on Thursday, January 22nd, marking a new chapter in champion prioritization and strategic planning for players diving into "League of Legends."