Patch 26.13 goes live on June 24, 2026 — just four days before the 2026 Mid-Season Invitational opens in Daejeon, South Korea. This means the world's best teams will compete on this very version starting June 28. Riot has been intentional about its changes: lead gameplay designer Matt 'Phroxzon' Leung-Harrison confirmed the goal is to make "some of the fringe picks a little more viable, especially heading into the later series at MSI."
Winners: LeBlanc, Draven, Aphelios, and Kai'Sa
LeBlanc receives buffs to her Q and W to solidify her mid-lane presence, which had been inconsistent since patch 26.10. Draven gets improvements to his passive and Q, potentially making him a first-pick AD carry in aggressive compositions. Aphelios benefits from base stat improvements, making him easier to lane with early. Kai'Sa gets a Q buff, reinforcing her flexibility between AD and AP builds. In total, more than ten champions are receiving buffs this patch — an unusually high volume that signals Riot's intent to broaden the competitive pick pool heading into MSI.
Nerfs: Senna, K'Sante, and Sion Reined In
Senna loses power on her Q and passive, targeting her dominance in hyperscaling support compositions. K'Sante sees his W and R weakened — he was still one of the most pick-or-banned tanks on the international circuit. Sion receives adjustments to his passive and base stats, reducing his early-game durability. Bard also gets a Q nerf. On the item side, Doran's Helm receives a health regeneration reduction, lightly punishing top laners who relied on it to survive difficult matchups.
Locke Joins the Roster — But Not at MSI
New champion Locke, the Ashen Exorcist, also makes his live debut in patch 26.13 — but Riot confirmed he won't be enabled for MSI 2026 competition. Standard practice dictates a minimum of two weeks on live servers before a champion can be approved for pro play. Zaahen, Cassiopeia, and Kindred are also receiving adjustments, with full details to be confirmed in the official patch notes on June 24.
Patch 26.13 is shaping up to be one of the most strategically consequential updates of the year. All eyes turn to Daejeon on June 28 to see which meta actually emerges at MSI 2026.