Riot Games has published a new Dev Update titled "TL;DW: Mayhem, Ranked 5s & More," outlining the major changes coming to League of Legends over the next few weeks. The highlights include a sweeping overhaul of ARAM: Mayhem, the return of the Ranked 5-player queue, and an experimental skin subscription for ARAM players.
ARAM: Mayhem — Traits Out, Augments In
The biggest change hits ARAM: Mayhem. Riot is completely removing the Trait system and replacing it with over 50 new Augments. The headline addition is Ability Augments — these directly modify champion abilities for wild new interactions. A standout example: Blitzcrank's Rocket Grab can pull multiple enemies simultaneously. The goal is to give players much greater freedom and create more dynamic, unpredictable teamfights. Popular Traits will be preserved in Augment form so nothing beloved is lost entirely.
ARAM Wardrobe — Skin Subscription Comes to ARAM
Riot is testing a brand-new feature called ARAM Wardrobe in Brazil and Oceania. For 1,350 RP, players gain access to nearly all Epic-tier and lower skins released before 2026, usable exclusively in ARAM and ARAM: Mayhem. Time-limited skins in that category will also be included when they are available in the shop. If the regional test succeeds, Riot plans to roll it out globally.
Ranked 5s Returns for Limited Testing
The Ranked queue for full five-player parties is coming back. Available only during limited time windows across several weeks, the Ranked 5s queue allows full premade teams to compete against other five-player groups for ranked points. The mode had been absent for several seasons and its return is welcome news for friend groups and semi-pro teams alike.
Locke Disabled During MSI 2026
The Dev Update also confirms that Locke, the new AP mid assassin arriving with Patch 26.13 on June 24, will be disabled for the entirety of MSI 2026. Riot wants to give the community time to explore the champion before he appears in professional competition.
A packed Dev Update that signals Riot's ambition for the second half of Season 2026: more ARAM content, more ways to play with friends in ranked, and experimental new features being pushed out faster than ever.