League of Legends Patch 26.21 nerfs Caitlyn and Jinx, adds True Damage skins and replay limits

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League of Legends Patch 26.21 is a chunky one, with Riot taking aim at several high-presence champions on Summoner’s Rift while giving some quieter picks room to breathe. Caitlyn, Jinx, Lee Sin, Viktor, Yone, Wukong, Rammus, Nidalee, Qiyana, and Tristana are all being toned down in different ways, while champions like Ryze, Orianna, Sion, Nunu & Willump, Taliyah, Vel’Koz, Zyra, Xin Zhao, and Taric are getting help.

The patch also brings new True Damage Know My Name skins for Ekko, Akali, Qiyana, Senna, and Yasuo on October 21, 2026. Starting during 26.21, replay downloads will be capped at 10 per hour, though players can still download their own replays, friends’ replays, and other players’ replays within that limit.

  • Caitlyn’s late-game Headshot scaling is being cut, with some power moved into Piltover Peacemaker’s base damage.
  • Jinx loses a bit of early health and attack damage growth, making her snowball slightly harder to start.
  • Lee Sin’s Safeguard cooldown goes up, Dragon’s Rage damage goes down, and Tempest no longer reveals enemies who stealth after being hit.
  • Ryze gets stronger late-game rewards, including higher Overload scaling, more movement speed, and better Rune Prison AP scaling.
  • Sion gets more health growth and a stronger Unstoppable Onslaught damage ramp.
  • Varus is being shifted away from top-lane W max patterns, with more emphasis on Piercing Arrow and lower Blighted Quiver power.

Items are getting attention too. Gluttonous Greaves now cost 1100 gold, up from 1000, after overperforming on marksmen. Hubris is being split by user type, giving melee champions more base bonus AD while cutting the ranged version. Dawncore gets more ability power from mana regeneration, which should make it less of a Soraka-only purchase.

Patch 26.21 also launches ARAM Mayhem’s new Journey to Stardom release. Each Mayhem match will now feature a Headliner performance that changes the rules for that game. Riot says Butcher’s Bridge and Koeshin’s Crossing won’t be available in Mayhem queues for this patch while the concert-themed setup is finished, but they’re expected back next patch.

Further reading: Official League of Legends Patch 26.21 notes