Riot Games will ship Patch 26.22 on November 4, the first balance pass since Worlds concluded. Lead Gameplay Designer Matthew “Phroxzon” Leung-Harrison previewed the changes on X on October 27, outlining a slate that leans heavily toward scaling champions while trimming early-game pressure from a few lane bullies. The headline change is a mid-scope rework for Mel that removes her projectile-reflect mechanic entirely.
Mel Loses Her Reflect, Gains a Defensive Shield
The most significant individual change in the patch is Mel’s mid-scope rework, detailed by Riot Games on the official dev blog. Her W, which previously reflected incoming projectiles back at attackers, is being replaced with a more conventional defensive ability. The reflect had been a polarizing tool since Mel’s release: it gave her players a satisfying defensive layer while giving opponents a hard-counter checklist that often felt binary.
Phroxzon explained that the team considered keeping the reflect in some form before abandoning the approach. “The team had explored multiple versions of the ability that would retain its reflection mechanic. However, none of the alternatives managed to satisfy both Mel players and their opponents, prompting the team to move away from that approach,” Phroxzon said.
The replacement is a shield-based W that offers more reliable damage mitigation without the all-or-nothing interaction of a projectile reflect. For Mel players, this means less feast-or-famine moments in lane. For opponents, it removes the need to draft specific counter-picks or hold abilities indefinitely waiting for the reflect to expire. The trade-off is that Mel loses her most distinctive mechanical hook, which will likely shift her pick rate in both solo queue and organised play.
Scaling Champions Get Room to Breathe
The buff list targets champions who have struggled to reach their late-game thresholds in the current meta. Viktor, Aurelion Sol, Kayle, Corki, and Rumble all receive adjustments aimed at smoothing their power curves. These are champions that historically lose lane phase and win teamfights, and the changes should make that trade-off more viable against early-game pressure picks.
Shen receives a jungle-specific buff. “Some players have discovered Shen Jungle and enjoy the playstyle, so Riot wants to give it a little more support,” Phroxzon said. The change boosts his clear speed through a monster modifier, making the off-meta pick more sustainable without touching his top-lane numbers.
Additional buffs go to Smolder, Naafiri, Maokai, and Zaahen, rounding out a list that favours champions who need time or gold to come online. The pattern is deliberate: post-Worlds patches historically open the meta for experimentation, and giving scaling picks more breathing room encourages diverse drafts in solo queue.
Locke, Thresh, and Yasuo Take Nerfs
Three champions are on the nerf side. Locke loses early damage and some of his constant mobility, making bad Q timing more punishable. Thresh and Yasuo also see reductions, though the specific numbers were part of Phroxzon’s broader preview rather than a separate dev post.
Phroxzon acknowledged that some of these changes were corrections rather than new philosophy. “Those nerfs ended up overshooting slightly,” he said, suggesting that previous patches pushed these champions below their intended power level and the current adjustments are partially walking that back. That framing matters for ranked players: if a champion was already borderline before this patch, the nerf may push them out of contention entirely.
Item Adjustments: Overlord’s Bloodmail and Doran’s Bow
Two items see changes. Overlord’s Bloodmail is being tuned in a way that shifts its optimal user profile. The item previously synergised most strongly with Sett’s kit, but the adjustments make it more attractive on Dr. Mundo and Sion while potentially reducing its efficiency on Sett himself. The change targets the item’s missing-health bonus and total AD ratio, redistributing value across a wider set of bruisers and tanks.
Doran’s Bow also receives adjustments. As a starting item, even small stat changes ripple through early laning matchups, so AD carry players who default to this item should check whether the new numbers still favour their specific matchup or whether a different start has become more efficient.
What Changes for Ranked Players
- Scaling mages and ADCs are stronger. If you main Viktor, Aurelion Sol, Kayle, Corki, or Rumble, this patch rewards patience. Early-game pressure from opponents is slightly less lethal relative to your scaling, so playing for the late game becomes a more reliable strategy.
- Mel players need to relearn her W. The reflect is gone. The new shield-based ability changes when and how you trade in lane. Expect a win-rate dip in the first few days as players adjust their muscle memory.
- Mel opponents lose a hard-counter tool. If you previously avoided picking certain champions into Mel because of the reflect, that constraint is lifted. Draft more freely.
- Locke is riskier. Reduced early damage and less constant mobility mean that a whiffed Q now costs more. If you play Locke, tighten your ability usage. If you play against him, look for punishes on bad Q timing.
- Shen jungle is more viable. The clear-speed buff makes the off-meta pick less of a griefing accusation. If you already enjoy the playstyle, the numbers now support it more honestly.
- Check your starting items. Doran’s Bow changes may shift optimal starts for some AD carry matchups. Overlord’s Bloodmail is no longer a Sett-exclusive item; Dr. Mundo and Sion players should evaluate it as a rush option.
The patch follows Patch 26.21, which nerfed Jinx and Lee Sin and limited replay downloads. With Worlds finished, Riot typically uses the remaining patches of the year to experiment more freely, and 26.22 fits that pattern: a champion rework, a wide buff list, and item tuning that would be riskier during a competitive season.