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Patch 26.10 hits live servers on May 13 and it's got the solo queue meta shifting hard 📉. Deathfire Touch gets trimmed again, Gluttonous Greaves lose power off their intended role, and both Galio and Wukong are back in the conversation.
This is a smaller patch: nine champion changes, two item/rune buffs, two nerfs, and a big Arena format overhaul. Here's everything you need to know before the patch drops.
Riot Games / DDragon
Galio mid hasn't been a real pick in months, and Riot is finally giving him some love 💙. His buff package targets the core of his kit, making him more rewarding to play and punishing enough to matter in lane. If the numbers land right, he could become a solid mid pick in both solo queue and competitive, especially where his ultimate coordinates with dive comps.
Follow the Galio meta page for live build and winrate updates as soon as 26.10 goes live.
The Monkey King has been quietly weak for several patches and this buff brings him back. Wukong's all-in burst and teamfight ultimate make him strong in structured environments. Expect top lane players to revisit him as a flex pick.
Ambessa keeps receiving adjustments as Riot tries to land on a stable version of the champion. This buff gives her more room as a top lane bruiser after earlier trims left her slightly underpowered. Check the Ambessa meta page for build updates post-patch.
Zeri is getting buffed again, pushing her back into the ADC conversation. Her high-mobility playstyle has struggled against durability-focused bot laners. If this lands, expect her back in solo queue queues and potentially in competitive drafts.
Three strong solo queue carries take hits this patch. Naafiri's pack-hunting pressure in mid lane has been slightly over the top. Zed's burst damage or energy efficiency gets clipped after consistent overperformance in both solo queue and pro play. Shyvana has quietly become a strong jungle carry option, and Riot is pulling back some of that power.
Anivia's zone control has been slightly too oppressive in extended fights. Ashe's poke and utility in the bot lane pushed her win rate above the target range. Both nerfs are expected to be targeted rather than gutting either champion's identity.
Riot Games / DDragon
Deathfire Touch already received a micropatch nerf, with its adaptive damage-per-second reduced. Patch 26.10 adds another small trim, specifically targeting its early laning power. Riot's Phroxzon confirmed the rune is "a little too strong, especially in the laning case."
This keystone has been dominant for mages and poke-heavy champions. The nerf redistributes power away from extended laning trades and should open up the rune page meta 🎯.
Gluttonous Greaves found a new user base: Fighters and AD Assassins. Riot flagged them as "too strong, both in non-mid roles and in mid with the boot upgrade." The nerf pushes those classes back toward their intended footwear.
This is one of the biggest meta shifts of 26.10 for top and mid lanes. If you've been abusing Greaves on bruisers or assassins, plan for an adjustment.
Lich Bane gets a power bump, giving AP bruisers and mages a stronger option in their build path. This item has fallen off relative to newer AP items. Champions like Galio, Twisted Fate, and Ekko should benefit from this buff directly.
Stormraider's Surge gets stronger, rewarding mobile and high-burst playstyles. Fast-moving assassins and divers benefit most. Combined with the Deathfire Touch nerf, this buff opens up real rune page variety for the first time in a while.
Arena is switching to a 6-team format with three players per squad, moving away from the 2v2 structure. Riot says this change aims to "open up more champion diversity in Arena" by reducing the constraints of smaller team formats.
Three-player squads enable more varied team compositions and triple-threat combos that weren't possible at smaller sizes. If you play Arena, expect a noticeably different feel when 26.10 goes live.
The Deathfire Touch and Gluttonous Greaves nerfs will redistribute power across mid and top lane. If you've been relying on either to carry, expect your win rate to adjust slightly going into the patch. For the full picture of where the LoL ranked season stands in 2026, check our dedicated guide.
Galio mid and Wukong top become viable again for players who want proven off-meta picks. Both champions reward coordinated play, making them strong options in organized team environments. Compared to where Patch 26.9 left the meta, this patch adds real variety to the top and mid pick pool.
Before May 13, lock in your games and use the current patch window to your advantage. Play competitive LoL on Amber.gg and test your reads before the meta resets.
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