League of Legends Patch 26.18 went live on Thursday, September 10, 2026, with seven champions receiving buffs, five getting nerfs, and Cassiopeia receiving an adjustment rather than a straightforward buff or nerf.
When Does Patch 26.18 Go Live, and What’s Changing?
LoL Patch 26.18 launched on September 10, 2026. The update changes Summoner’s Rift balance, buffing five champions and nerfing five, while Cassiopeia gets a power-shift adjustment. The patch also adds five champions to League Classic and launches the Caps Hall of Legends content.
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Champions Rising and Falling in LoL Patch 26.18
Riot targeted champions based on their recent performance and pro-play strength. Patch 26.18 covers all five roles, but the changes are not evenly split.
Mid has the most changes, while Jungle gets two buffs and no nerfs. ADC has only one change, with Zeri receiving a nerf.
Riot buffed Ekko, Kassadin, Master Yi, and Viego to improve their performance, while Bard, Nautilus, Seraphine, Syndra, and Zeri were nerfed. Cassiopeia received a power shift toward AP scaling.
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Patch 26.18 Buffs and Nerfs
| Champion | Role | Change Type | What Changed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ekko | Mid | Buff | Q mana cost drops from 50-90 to 40-80, while its return damage AP ratio increases from 60% to 70%. |
| Kassadin | Mid | Buff | Q AP ratio rises from 70% to 80%, and R base damage increases from 70/90/110 to 80/95/110. |
| Master Yi | Jungle | Buff | Armour growth increases from 4.5 to 5 per level, while R movement speed rises from 35-55% to 40-60%. |
| Viego | Jungle | Buff | AD growth increases from 3.5 to 4, with his passive heal gaining 2% scaling per 500 bonus health. |
| Zaahen | Top | Buff | Q2 damage increases from 25/50/75/100/125 to 30/60/90/120/150, while Q is placed on cooldown when his resurrection begins. |
| Bard | Support | Nerf | Base armour drops from 34 to 32, while armour growth falls from 5 to 4.7. |
| Nautilus | Support | Nerf | Base AD falls from 61 to 58, and Q’s maximum base damage drops from 265 to 245. |
| Seraphine | Support / Mid | Nerf | E cooldown becomes a flat 11 seconds instead of scaling down with rank. |
| Syndra | Mid | Nerf | Passive mana restoration is reduced, while W cooldown increases from 12-8 to 13-9 seconds. |
| Zeri | ADC | Nerf | W total AD scaling falls from 120% to 100%, with wall-shot scaling dropping from 180% to 150%. |
| Cassiopeia | Mid | Adjustment | Base damage and movement speed are reduced while several abilities receive stronger AP scaling, shifting power toward scaling rather than changing her overall power budget. |
Zeri’s nerf is moderate. Her W AD scaling drops, and wall damage scaling falls, lowering her burst damage, but she remains a viable ADC pick after Patch 26.18.
Cassiopeia’s Power-Neutral Rework
Cassiopeia’s changes shift her power rather than simply buffing or nerfing her. Riot reduced her early-game strength and moved more power into AP scaling.
- Passive: Movement speed drops from 6-40% to 5-36%.
- Q: Base damage drops from 75-215 to 65-205, but AP scaling rises from 65% to 75%.
- E: Mana cost rises from 40 to 45. Its basic AP ratio rises from 10% to 20%, while the empowered AP ratio drops from 55% to 45%.
- R: Base damage drops from 150/250/350 to 125/225/325, while AP scaling rises from 50% to 75%
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Frequently Asked Questions
When exactly does LoL Patch 26.18 go live?
Patch 26.18 went live on Thursday, September 10, 2026.
Is this tier list based on confirmed win rates?
No. This tier list uses current Patch 26.18 data and champion performance after the patch went live. Rankings may change as more games are played and more data is collected.
Does Patch 26.18 affect the Worlds patch (26.20)?
Yes, Patch 26.18 leads into and helps shape the meta for the Worlds 2026 patch (Patch 26.20).
If you’re already comfortable with Ekko, Kassadin, Master Yi, Viego, or Zaahen, the buffs give you a good reason to start testing them as soon as the patch lands.
Not sure which champions to master? Explore our guide to the best League of Legends champions and find reliable picks for your climb.
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