PATCH 26.16 ANALYSIS

League of Legends patch 26.16 is a direct push toward stronger solo-queue fights from two angles: better mid lane mage trading and better attack-speed item value. Azir is the clearest winner early—his Q now starts at 75 damage instead of 60, which means his short trades and wave contests hit harder from level 1.

On the champion side, Kennen gets more defenses and more damage during his R, so he survives longer while dealing more damage in teamfights. Gwen heals more from her passive, so extended duels punish poke less. The big loser is Bel'Veth, who has less late-game reliability and is easier to kill in long fights.

What This Means for Ranked

Mid lane plan: If you want lane control, prioritize Azir more often. That Q damage buff (75 at rank 1) means you can contest the wave earlier and win more short trades without needing a perfect setup. Also expect more mages to hurt: Chainlaced Crushers lost 5 magic resistance, and Spellslinger’s Shoes gained magic penetration, so defensive boots reduce mage damage less than before.

Teamfight picks: Kennen is a more reliable choice when your team needs a clear fight starter. His R now gives more bonus armor and magic resistance (25/50/75), so he takes less damage while using it, and the higher maximum damage makes successful ultimates decide more fights. If you are an ADC who buys Berserker’s Greaves, you get 30% attack speed instead of 25%, so your basic attacks come out faster on one item.

Jungle and side lane caution: Think twice before first-picking Bel'Veth into heavy damage teams—her health growth is lower, so she ends up with less max health later, and her True Form attack speed is lower at level 16. If you want a steadier duelist who can stay in fights longer, Gwen is safer now because her passive heals more when hitting champions.

For the full context, read patch details at Riot's official website, and check per-champion breakdowns on baronbuff.com/champions.

See you in the Rift — LP