Worlds has started on patch 26.20, but the rest of the game continues. Patch 26.21 brings massive changes: 25 champions adjusted with a pro focus and complete power item rebalancing.
Champions on fire
Major buffs
Azir gains 50 mana per level (from 40), Ryze gets stronger late-game scaling and Orianna gains more mana. This is the T1 patch fans joke about: the buffs T1 would have wanted before Worlds.
- Azir: +10 mana/level (40→50)
- Ryze, Orianna, Sion, Taliyah, Zyra, Darius, Miss Fortune, Nunu, Vel'Koz and Xin Zhao in progression
Targeted nerfs
Caitlyn drops in pick/ban: her late-game headshots are reduced to punish her omnipresence. Jinx, Lee Sin, Viktor and Yone receive hard nerfs. Qiyana partially reverts from patch 26.17 buffs.
- Caitlyn: late-game nerfed, early-game untouched
- Jinx, Tristana, Nidalee, Rammus, Locke (major nerf), Varus, Lee Sin, Viktor, Yone, Wukong and Qiyana affected
Items: the Sabotage overhaul
Bastion Breaker goes arcade mode: Sabotage now lasts 250,000 seconds (infinite). Gluttonous Greaves gets nerfed (+100 gold) and Hubris finally distinguishes ranged vs melee. Dawncore gains AP damage per mana regen.
- Bastion Breaker: Sabotage 90s→infinite, lethality 22→18
- Gluttonous Greaves: +100 gold, melee bonus increased
- Hubris: AD differs melee/ranged, Dawncore buff AP ratio
What changes for you
Caitlyn one-trick? Time to rethink. The mid champs you love (Azir, Ryze, Orianna) are back. Lee Sin mid loses momentum. And core items shift: get ready to see Bastion Breaker everywhere in lethality builds.
Skins and updates
True Damage Know My Name Ekko, Akali, Qiyana, Senna and Yasuo arrive. Replay limit: max 10 per hour. And the PBE locks down third-party access further.