Updated Tier List for Patch 26.01 - League of Legends

Key Takeaways

• Quinn returns to A tier after AD growth and passive cooldown buffs reverse the early-roaming penalty imposed by Symbiotic Soles removal.
• Kayle jumps to S tier on experience gain and level cap increases; a passive attack speed hotfix kept her from breaking the meta.
• Stormrazor returns with an extra item slot and higher crit damage, briefly pushing Aphelios to S tier before a hotfix dropped his lethality per rank from 5.5 to 4.5.
• Essence Reaver loses 5 AD and costs more—Lucian and Xayah face a projected win rate drop while Jinx moves up to OP tier on the power vacuum they leave.
• Magic damage junglers lead Season 16: dragon armor rose from 21 to 34 while magic resist increased only from 30 to 32, giving Nocturne and Nunu a clear objective edge.
• Rell gains 2% win rate from the Bandlepipes + Zeke's Convergence synergy; Braum and Sona also benefit from Bandlepipes-enabled builds.

Here is a full breakdown of every role's shift heading into Season 16.

Patch 26.01 Changes

With the first patch of the season now live, we have witnessed significant shifts in the tier list, driven by impactful updates in the game. Despite some under-the-radar changes, several champions have gained considerable power. Here, we will break down the most notable top lane adjustments following Patch 26.01.

Top Lane Champions

1. Quinn
   • Quinn received buffs to her AD growth and passive cooldown, aimed at improving her early-game presence. Previously hindered by the removal of symbiotic souls and roll quest changes that penalized early roaming, these updates should help her regain strength. However, she's expected to settle into the A tier due to these adjustments.
2. Tryndamere
   • Initially underestimated, Tryndamere saw unexpected nerfs affecting his E ability, early game Q, and W, weakening his laning phase significantly. A hotfix has already been applied, enhancing E and W attributes. This places Tryndamere in a fluctuating state, landing in the top lane B tier for now.
3. Kayle
   • Kayle's performance soared with increased experience gains and a new level cap. Her early dominance led to hotfix nerfs, adjusting her passive attack speed and the scaling impact of AP items. Despite these changes, she remains strong in the S tier.

With those top lane rankings established, the item shop tells the next part of the story.

Influential Items

• Essence Reaver
• The patch introduced nerfs to Essence Reaver, reducing its AD and increasing its cost. Formerly a defining item for top laners like Gangplank, its reduced effectiveness is expected to drop win rates slightly.

Item power shifts rarely stay isolated to one role—the macro trends below reflect the ripple effects.

Meta Trends

• Ignite Top Laners
• Aggressive top laners, such as Riven, Kennen, and Olaf, have thrived in the current patch. These champions leverage ignite for early-game dominance, securing higher success rates. Nonetheless, scaling champions like Nasus and Mundo also perform better than anticipated, maintaining balanced presence in A and S tiers.

Those strategic top lane and item adjustments are only half the picture; the jungle meta makes its own statement.

Strategy Adjustments

• Teleport Versatility
• Teleport's dynamic has shifted, with considerations for ignite or exhaust based on matchups. Due to the new quest feature granting free teleport unlocks, champions like Ornn benefit more from ignite's kill potential in certain scenarios.

As the meta evolves, these adjustments offer a fresh environment in the top lane, fostering diverse playstyles and strategic decisions. Recognizing the influence of both item changes and champion buffs/nerfs will be pivotal for navigating Season 16 effectively.

Jungle Dominance in Season 16

In the current League of Legends meta, magic damage junglers are thriving due to several gameplay changes. Champions like Nocturne, Nunu, and Rammus are seeing a significant upswing in performance, showcasing the impact of strategic adjustments.

One of the prominent changes involves dragon resistances, with their armor increased from 21 to 34, while magic resist only mildly increased from 30 to 32. This disparity means magic damage-dealing junglers have a relative advantage in taking down dragons. Additionally, junglers now take 50% less damage from non-epic monsters, improving the health sustain of tank junglers like Rammus and allowing them to clear more safely than before.

1. Magic Damage Advantage: More effective against newer dragon resistances.
2. Healthier Clears: Reduction in non-epic monster damage benefits tank junglers.
3. Increased Survival: Reduced viability of early invades enhances weaker early game picks.

Those clear-speed improvements translate into macro tempo for specific junglers.

Impactful Adjustments

Significant in-game modifications have boosted the effectiveness of specific junglers. The quest reward mechanics and extended duration of home guards create faster map movements. Junglers such as Nunu and Nocturne, who benefit from enhanced movement speed, can achieve strategic positioning and flanking more adeptly.

Moreover, home guards now remain active until reaching jungle, combat, or the furthest minion, further amplifying map presence. This change allows champions like Zed and Shaco to maximize the benefits of speedy returns to lanes for advantageous plays.

AD Junglers' Shifts

While many AD junglers struggled with the seasonal changes, Zed stands out. His aptitude with new items like Umbral Glaive and Bastionbreaker complements his rapid jungle clear, allowing him to exploit early-game opportunities uniquely. Shaco, despite initial concerns, benefits from increased power due to damage adjustments to his Q ability and the favorable items in this patch.

Mid Lane Adaptations

The mid-lane meta also reflects the evolving dynamics, with champions like Twisted Fate and Aurelion Sol excelling due to increased tempo from home guard improvements. Their roaming potential, vital for scoring quick kills and resets, is significantly amplified this season. Minion waves spawning faster also give side-laning champions like Kassadin more opportunities for scaling and tower pressure.

• Twisted Fate: Thrives on side lane gold access and rapid rotations.
• Aurelion Sol: Benefits greatly from increased tempo for map control.

These mid-lane adjustments underscore the shift towards speed and efficiency in the current meta, shaping playstyles centered around quick rotations and objective control.

ADC Tier Evolution in Patch 26.01

The current patch has introduced substantial changes for ADCs, with new items impacting rankings significantly. Notably, the reintroduction of Stormrazor along with an additional item slot and increased crit damage initially placed Aphelios at an S tier level. However, a hotfix has reduced his lethality per rank from 5.5 to 4.5, which may see him settle as a fringe S-tier pick, more realistically in the A tier.

• Aphelios: Started at S-tier, may move to A-tier after nerf.

Other notable changes in this patch affected champions using Essence Reaver. The item's nerf, reducing attack damage by five and increasing its cost, has impacted several champions.

1. Lucian and Xayah: At risk of losing high meta standing with a projected win rate drop.
2. Corki and Ezreal: Already struggling prior to the nerf.
3. Jinx: Benefits from the decline of Essence Reaver users, moving to OP tier.

   These adjustments emphasize that while initial expectations leaned towards an ADC-focused meta, that has not fully materialized. The perceived urgency in completing ADC quests was overrated, as natural lane presence generates substantial quest progress.

Those ADC shifts create ripple effects in the bot lane that the support meta absorbs.

Support Meta Dynamics

The support role has seen a reliable prediction come true. The power of melee supports has increased considerably, outperforming enchanters and mages.

• Braum and Sona: Excel due to strong synergies with newly buffed items like Bandlepipes and Whispering Circlet.
• Enchanters: Such as Karma and Lulu, have experienced a slight decline in win rate.

In particular, the champion Rell has risen with a 2% increase in win rate thanks to the new synergy between Bandlepipes and Zeke's Convergence.

New strategies have emerged for Enchanter Senna, who now utilizes a healing-focused build with Echoes of Helia and Whispering Circlet, mitigating former mana issues and improving her standing to S tier.

Overall, these shifts in ADC and support roles reflect the ongoing balancing in Patch 26.01 and illustrate a game environment focused on strategic adaptation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who are the top lane S-tier picks in Patch 26.01?

Kayle leads S tier after her experience gain and level cap buffs. Riven, Kennen, and Olaf occupy strong A-tier spots, capitalizing on the patch's ignite interactions now that the free teleport quest reduces the need to take teleport as a summoner spell.

Is Stormrazor worth buying in Patch 26.01?

Yes, especially for ADCs. Stormrazor returned with an extra item slot and higher crit damage. Aphelios benefited most before a hotfix dropped his lethality per rank from 5.5 to 4.5, but the item remains strong for crit-oriented carries.

How has the Essence Reaver nerf changed ADC rankings?

The nerf cuts 5 AD and raises the item's cost. Lucian and Xayah face a projected win rate drop. Jinx, who doesn't rely on Essence Reaver, moves up to OP tier to fill the void they leave.

Which junglers are strongest in Season 16 Patch 26.01?

Magic damage junglers lead the pack. Nocturne thrives on the dragon resistance disparity—armor rose from 21 to 34 while magic resist only moved from 30 to 32. Nunu and Rammus also benefit from the 50% reduction in non-epic monster damage, enabling safer clears throughout the early game.

What changed with Braum and Sona in the support role?

Both champions gained significant power from the Bandlepipes synergy. Rell in particular gained 2% win rate from the Bandlepipes and Zeke's Convergence interaction, making melee and tank supports the strongest picks in the support pool this patch.

Is Aphelios still viable after his Patch 26.01 hotfix?

He's a fringe S-tier to A-tier pick. The hotfix dropped his lethality per rank from 5.5 to 4.5. His ceiling with Stormrazor remains high, but he is less of a guaranteed first-pick than he was on patch day.

How does the free teleport quest change top lane champion selection?

The new quest grants free teleport unlocks, so champions like Ornn no longer need to take teleport as a summoner spell. This frees a slot for ignite, boosting early kill pressure for champions who benefit from aggressive level-1 trades.