Riot Games officially confirmed Locke as League of Legends' next champion during the Dev Update published on May 27, 2026. Described as a high-burst AP assassin, Locke is set to hit the Summoner's Rift on June 24, 2026 with Patch 26.13 — and he's the only new champion planned for this year.
A Setup-Dependent AP Assassin
Locke rewards players who do the legwork before going in. Get your setup right and you're looking at a massive burst window; skip the setup and you're probably dying for nothing. That places him in the same conversation as Zed and Akali when it comes to mechanical depth. His Q involves hurling a giant nail as a projectile — a core element of his kit. He can also enter a ghostly form that deals AoE damage around him. Sealed artifacts that spawn on the map interact with his abilities, adding a unique map-awareness layer to his gameplay.
Lore: Demacian Demon Hunter
On the lore side, Locke hails from Demacia. He is depicted as a hooded demon hunter with red glasses and a dark, brooding aesthetic. His story is tied to petricite — the anti-magic stone central to Demacian identity — suggesting he operates in the tension between magic and the law. His silhouette had appeared in various Demacian story teasers prior to his official reveal.
High Noon Skin at Launch
Locke will launch with a High Noon skin on day one, alongside Akshan's own High Noon treatment in Patch 26.13. Players who want to embrace Locke's full aesthetic from the start won't have to wait — both skins drop together with the patch on June 24.
Slinging nails and taking names — Locke is the most anticipated League champion of 2026. June 24 can't come soon enough.