The LoL Patch Preview 26.05 looks like a focused tuning patch for Summoner’s Rift, not a full meta reset. The early list trims a few reliable picks, adds power to some skirmish and jungle options, and reshapes Varus instead of giving him a simple buff or nerf.

This article is based on the Riot’s patch preview for 26.05, so the numbers should still be treated as preview values until Riot posts the final patch notes. The direction is already clear, though: Riot is adjusting comfort picks, smoothing a few underperformers, and tweaking item timing through Hubris and Locket.

League of Legends Patch Preview 26.05 at a glance

Champion Buffs in Patch Preview 26.05

The buff list mixes straightforward power increases with a few compensation changes. That matters because not every name in the buff section is getting a pure damage spike.

A few of these changes also look aimed at role clarity. Jungle and roaming pressure are getting attention, while some lane picks pick up cleaner scaling or reliability.

Garen buffs

Garen gets two useful bumps in the preview:

• Q move speed duration: 1–3.6 → 1.4–3.6
• E damage: 4–16 + 38–50% total AD → 4–16 + 40–52% total AD

This is a clean quality-of-life + damage package. The earlier Q movement speed floor should make his short trades and gap-closing feel smoother, while the E ratio increase adds a bit more payoff on bruiser builds.

Lee Sin buffs

Lee Sin gets a direct damage increase on Q1/Q2 base damage:

• Q1/Q2 Damage: 60–180 → 65–185

It is a small number change, but it is the kind of buff that shows up in early skirmishes and jungle clear breakpoints. If someone already plays Lee well, this is the kind of tuning that can help him convert leads more reliably.

Lillia buffs (with tradeoffs)

Lillia is listed under buffs, but this is clearly a mixed adjustment:

• Passive monster heal AP ratio: 9% AP → 15% AP
• Q AP ratio: 30% AP → 35% AP
• R base damage: 150/200/250 + 45% → 100/150/200 + 40%
• R cooldown: 140/120/100 → 150/130/110

The direction looks like a push toward stronger jungle sustain/AP patterning, while toning down her ultimate burst and frequency. That likely keeps her strong in the hands of players who farm and path well, without letting teamfight resets take over too easily.

Mel buffs (with a lane clear check)

Mel also gets a mixed set in the buff section:

• Q damage per additional bolt: 5–9 → 5–13
• R base damage: 100/150/200 → 125/200/275
• Passive minion modifier: 0.6x → 0.5x

The minion modifier drop on passive looks like a lane/wave control lever, which suggests Riot wants more combat strength without overbuffing her shove.

Nocturne buffs

Nocturne gets a clean utility package:

• Passive cooldown: 13 → 12
• Q bonus movement speed: 15–35% → 20–40%

That is a strong-feeling set of buffs for tempo and target access. Faster passive cycling helps clears and skirmish rhythm, while the extra Q movement speed improves chase windows and map pressure.

Volibear listed under buffs (details not visible)

Volibear appears in the Champion Buffs section of the preview image, but no numerical changes are visible in the screenshot.

If this is the version being written from, it is safer to flag Volibear as buffed in the preview list with details pending/unclear in the image rather than guessing the exact changes.

Champion Nerfs in Patch Preview 26.05

The nerf list hits a mix of assassins, control mages, and jungle clear efficiency. It does not read like a full meta reset, but it should slow down a few picks that have been getting too much value from reliable baseline tools.

Several of these are also “feel” nerfs, not just raw damage cuts. That usually means Riot is targeting consistency, setup speed, or safety instead of hard deleting a champion from the patch.

Kha’Zix nerfs

Kha’Zix loses damage scaling and base movement speed:

• Q bonus AD ratio: 110% → 105%
• Movement speed: 350 → 345

This is a meaningful combo. The damage cut lowers burst efficiency, while the movement speed nerf hits pathing, tracking, and target access in subtle ways that strong Kha’Zix players feel immediately.

Neeko nerf

Neeko gets a functionality nerf:

• W cooldown starts on W clone expiration

This looks aimed at reducing how often she can cycle clone-based pressure and mind games. It is not flashy on paper, but it can matter a lot in lane safety, scouting, and engagement setup.

Orianna nerf

Orianna gets a cooldown nerf on Q:

• Q cooldown: 6–3 → 7–3

That early-rank cooldown increase can slow her lane control and poke cadence. It is a classic way to reduce blind-pick comfort without heavily changing her late-game identity.

Taliyah nerfs (with jungle compensation)

Taliyah gets a mixed nerf line:

• Q per-rock base damage: 55–125 → 50–120
• Q bonus monster damage per rock: 20–40 → 23–43

This reads like a lane/duel damage trim with a jungle clear compensation buff. Riot may be trying to keep jungle Taliyah viable while reducing some of her general damage pressure elsewhere.

Azir nerf

Azir gets a durability trim:

• Health growth: 119 → 108

That is a straightforward survivability nerf over levels. It does not change his kit patterns, but it makes him easier to punish in mid-game fights and side-lane setups.

Varus Adjustment in LoL 26.05

Varus is in the adjustment bucket, and this one looks important for build identity:

• Q max damage: 80–400 + 130–170% bonus AD → 80–360 + 150% bonus AD
• W on-hit damage: 8–44 + 25% AP → 8–44 + 25% AP + 15% bonus AD

The patch shifts power away from the old Q max-damage profile and adds bonus AD scaling to W on-hit. That can change how his damage is distributed in trades and extended fights, depending on build path.

This does not read like a simple buff or nerf. It looks more like a push to reshape which Varus playstyle gets more rewarded in 26.05.

System Buffs: Hubris and Locket

The system side is small, but both item changes are relevant.

Hubris buff

• Total price: 3000 → 2800

A 200-gold cut is a real timing change. If Hubris becomes easier to reach, assassin and snowball AD users may hit their spike earlier, which can matter even in a patch with Kha’Zix nerfs.

Locket buff

• Shield: 200–360 (scaling from level 1) → 290–360 (scaling from level 8)

This looks like a stronger early-to-mid shield profile with scaling shifted later into a flatter curve. In practice, that usually means better immediate teamfight value when supports first complete the item.

What This Could Mean For The 26.05 Meta

The overall direction looks targeted and fairly controlled. Riot is trimming efficiency from a few common picks while improving pressure tools on some jungle and skirmish champions.

If the patch lands close to these numbers, Nocturne and Lee Sin should feel better in active games, while Kha’Zix, Orianna, and Azir lose some comfort. Varus is the biggest watch point because adjustments can shift builds even when total power stays close.

Full League of Legends Patch Preview 26.05 Changes 

League of Legends Patch 25.5 release date

According to the League of Legends patch schedule, update 25.05 will arrive on March 4, 2025.

FAQs

What is changing in League of Legends Patch Preview 26.05?

The preview shows a mix of champion buffs, nerfs, one champion adjustment, and two item buffs. Early highlights include buffs for Garen, Lee Sin, and Nocturne, nerfs for Kha’Zix, Orianna, and Azir, plus a notable Varus power shift.

Are the Patch Preview 26.05 changes final?

No. A patch preview is an early look at Riot’s planned changes, and numbers can still shift before the full patch notes go live. The overall direction often stays similar, but exact values can change.

Why is Varus listed under adjustments instead of buffs or nerfs?

Because Riot is moving power around inside his kit instead of only adding or removing damage. His Q max damage is reduced/reshaped, while his W on-hit gains bonus AD scaling, which can affect build choices and damage patterns.

References

1. Matt Leung-Harrison on X (X)