LoL patch notes 26.1: Role quests, new items, system updates, and more

Welcome to the League of Legends (LoL) 2026 season. The LoL patch notes 26.1 bring a wave of new mechanics, balance changes, item updates, and new features. With so much packed into this opening patch, there’s plenty to break down. Let’s dive right in.

LoL patch 26.1 live on Jan. 8, 2026. With many updates on the way, follow us to stay up to date throughout the journey.

You can find detailed information on Arena, ARAM Mayhem, and other game modes, as well as bug fixes, in Riot Games’ official LoL patch notes 26.1.

For those who don't want to read long patch notes, don't worry. In 2026, we welcome a brand new season in League of Legends, opening with a Demacia-themed Summoner's Rift map and skins for Morgana, Taliyah, Cho'Gath, and Nautilus.

Riot Games brought us new gameplay updates toward turret pushing, taking away so much pressure to make objectives. Each role will have quests, and the vision has been reinvigorated from a strategic point. New items will help fill some gaps in the building process, and some champions will also be updated due to an increase in every champion's base crit damage.

The ranked system was also updated, making the auto-filling process less unpleasant. The game is faster, the minions' waves have been updated to make them more worth your time farming, and the turrets have also been changed to prioritize the wave pushing.

Overall, Riot Games has introduced numerous new systems and gameplay changes, making them worth exploring.

In 2026, each role will have assigned quests as part of Riot's strategy of balancing role agency. To complete them, you only need to play the game normally, by killing minions, champions, getting plates, hitting towers, and killing neutral objectives. All of the role quests will have specific rewards for the players.

These quests won't be available in Swiftplay and rotating game modes. Those will retain the same jungle and support quest rules as before, when applicable.

Atakhan will be completely removed from the game. The remaining epic monsters (Dragons, Baron, Rift Herald, Voidgrubs) will be 15% more durable and more resistant to physical and magic damage. Since junglers are under constant pressure to perform, their Smite was buffed to help them complete objectives with less fear of an Ezreal's ultimate or Lux's E will steal it.

The vision system will also be improved. Riot is introducing the Faelights, a "powered ward" that gives you extra vision beyond a typical ward range. They will spawn in certain locations at the beginning of the matches and then respawn later in the game. However, they have a limited duration, giving junglers some space to gank and even supports to roam around the map.

In 2026, players will have 10 new items to learn and incorporate into their builds. Some classic items are also returning to the Rift with refreshed visuals and updated designs. Together, these changes aim to create a healthier, more satisfying item pool for champions and improve the item system as a whole. Check out all the stats and best champions to use them here.

For ranked, Riot Games is introducing some changes to the auto-filling position, making it more rewarding for players who end up in that situation. Penalties for dodging will be worse, especially if you are from higher ranks. Overall, games will be faster in 2026. Riot is reducing the time in the selecting champion phase, as well as homeguard, and is making changes to the minion waves, which will now spawn earlier.

The S3 Ranked 2025 season will end on local server time Jan. 7 at 23:59:59. Ranked Queues (Solo/Duo and Flex) will be disabled briefly as the season ends. S3 2025 Ranked Reward Mission will end at around the same time.

The Ranked Season 1, 2026, will start on local server time Jan. 8 at 12:00:00. Ranked Queues (Solo/Duo and Flex) will be re-enabled on season start. Season 1 2026 Ranked Reward Missions will start at the same time. When the new season starts in 2026, player ranks will reset, and after playing 5 provisional games, players will be assigned a starting rank for the season to climb with. 

The end-of-season year rewards will include not only the Victorious Draven skin and chromas, but also accessories that celebrate your highest rank achieved during 2025. Additional accessories include:

In order to receive rewards, players must have an honor level of 3 or above.

In the 2026 season, every champion's base crit damage will be increased back to 200%. With this update, the champions that get at least 25% crit chance in the average game will receive some preemptive balance changes.

Additionally, Cassiopeia will be able to buy boots in 2026. Her passive is being updated due to the addition of a more boot-based system, especially now with the role quests. Her passive will be updated to a movement-based effect.

And because a season is not only about the new things, some items were also updated in the LoL patch notes 26.1.

New year, new season, and new theme. Demacia will enter the Rift with its iconic Petricite look. As it happened last year, the Battle Pass and skins will be integrated into the seasonal theme. Morgana will be getting the Prestige skin, while Cho'Gath and Taliyah will have epic ones in the pass. As for Nautilus, you can buy it in the game store. You can check all the Battle Pass paid and free rewards here.

These first weeks might be difficult to learn everything new, so best of luck in your matches! That's all for now. Stick around for more League of Legends news, guides, and updates on esports.gg.