League of Legends Patch 26.8

Riot Games has released Patch 26.8 for League of Legends, introducing extensive balance changes, new features, and updates across multiple game modes. The update targets several dominant champions, buffs underperforming picks, and adds new system-level improvements, including champion-specific keybinds and Discord integration.

Key Changes and Season Transition

The first ranked season on Summoner’s Rift will officially end on April 28 at 23:59:59 (server time). The second season begins on April 29 at 12:00:00 with the release of Patch 26.9.

During this transition:

• The ranked mission requiring 15 wins will reset
• Rewards for Season 1 will begin distribution in Patch 26.9
• Shard transfer services will be temporarily disabled

Patch 26.8 also introduces champion-specific keybind settings, allowing players to configure controls and smartcast options individually for each champion. Riot recommends testing these settings in Practice Tool before entering ranked matches.

Additionally, Riot has launched a Discord integration beta, enabling:

• Inviting friends directly from Discord
• Sharing party links in servers
• Viewing friends playing other Riot titles

The beta started on April 14 in the US, Canada, and Brazil, with more regions expected later.

I think champion-specific keybinds are one of the most impactful additions in this patch, as they give players much more control over how different champions feel mechanically.

Champion Changes

Dr. Mundo

Q — Infected Bonesaw

• Monster damage cap: 300/ 375/ 450/ 525/ 600 → 250/ 325/ 400/ 475/ 550

E — Blunt Force Trauma

• Monster damage cap: 200% → 140%

Hwei

Passive — Signature of the Visionary

• Base damage: 35–230 → 40–285
• Ability slows now stack with diminishing effectiveness

Bug Fix

• QE and R slows no longer stack with other slows

Karma

Base Stats

• Base AD: 51 → 49
• AD growth: 3.3 → 3.0

E — Inspire

• Mana cost: 50/ 55/ 60/ 65/ 70 → 60/ 65/ 70/ 75/ 80

Lillia

Passive — Dream-Laden Bough

• Monster damage cap: 65 → 70–180 (based on level)

Lucian

E — Relentless Pursuit

• Cooldown: 18/ 17/ 16/ 15/ 14 → 16/ 15.5/ 15/ 14.5/ 14
• Mana cost: 40/ 30/ 20/ 10/ 0 → 32/ 24/ 16/ 8/ 0

Mel

Q — Radiant Volley

• First explosion damage: 60/ 90/ 120/ 150/ 180 (+60% AP) → 60/ 85/ 110/ 135/ 160 (+55% AP)

W — Rebuttal

• Cooldown: 35/ 32/ 29/ 26/ 23 → 38/ 35/ 32/ 29/ 26
• Movement speed duration: 1.5 → 0.75

(Additional adjustment)

• Cooldown further adjusted to: 45/ 44/ 43/ 42/ 41

Tahm Kench

Passive — An Acquired Taste

• Damage: 6–48 → 5–60
• AP scaling reduced
• Bonus HP scaling reduced

Yuumi

R — Final Chapter

• Healing: 30/ 40/ 50 (+10% AP) → 30/ 50/ 70 (+12% AP)
• Best Friend bonus: 30% → 30–60%

Bug Fixes

• Fixed incorrect healing interactions
• Overheal shield now correctly scales

Zilean

• W can no longer be learned at level 1

Zyra

• W can no longer be learned at level 1

Item Changes

Cooldown reductions applied to:

• Immortal Shieldbow: 75 → 60
• Locket of the Iron Solari: 90 → 75
• Maw of Malmortius: 75 → 60
• Protoplasm Harness: 90 → 60
• Randuin’s Omen: 90 → 60
• Shurelya’s Battlesong: 75 → 60
• Sterak’s Gage: 75 → 60

Augment Changes

• Fan the Hammer — Damage reduced
• Giant Slayer — Movement speed: 30% → 20%
• Grandma’s Chili Oil — No longer heals minions
• Movement Speed Anvil — 18% → 15%
• Homeguard — Delay increased (3 → 6 seconds)
• Quantum Computing — Scaling adjusted
• Red Envelopes — Movement speed reduced, duration reduced
• With Haste — Movement speed from Ability Haste reduced

ARAM Changes

Champion Adjustments

• Mel — W cooldown increased
• Tristana — Increased AP scaling across abilities
• Sivir — Increased AP scaling
• Jarvan IV — Increased AP scaling
• Senna — Increased AP scaling and utility
• Sion — Increased AP scaling
• Vex — Reduced cooldowns
• Seraphine — Increased damage and reduced cooldown
• Vel’Koz — Reduced ultimate cooldown
• Viktor — Reduced ultimate cooldown
• Camille — Buffed damage scaling and cooldowns
• Kled — Ultimate cooldown drastically reduced

Item Changes (ARAM)

• Locket: 90 → 75
• Protoplasm Harness: 90 → 75
• Randuin’s Omen: 90 → 60

Events and Clash

ARAM Clash: Ixtal Cup

• Registration: April 13
• Tournament: April 18–19
• Time: ~4–7 PM local

Bug Fixes and QoL

• Fixed Zilean VO issues
• Fixed Shyvana ultimate display bug
• Fixed Mel Q interaction bug
• Fixed Katarina recall cancel issue
• Fixed Yuumi healing and Homeguard interaction

Additional improvements:

• Missions now progress in private lobbies
• UI and navigation fixes
• Audio adjustments
• Stability improvements

I see this patch as a strong mix of balance and system updates, especially with how many modes and mechanics Riot has touched at once.

Summary

Patch 26.8 is a comprehensive update that combines champion balance, system improvements, and new features. With the addition of customizable keybinds and Discord integration, alongside extensive gameplay adjustments, the patch sets the foundation for the upcoming ranked season.