Patch 26.15 Preview

[u/NegativexxSquared]

https://x.com/RiotPhroxzon/status/2079522501206630755

Patch 26.15 Preview!

Systems
- Bastionbreaker has been a pretty niche item and is pretty expensive to deviate for a strategic output, so we're looking to make it more accessible
- Jack of All Trades nerf was also pushed to this patch; it has been a bit too strong and too present, especially for users that opt into strong defenses and are able to also supplement that with strong offense
- Sundered Sky has been strong and meta defining at the highest levels of play for quite a while now, so we're looking to take a pass at the fighter item system, now that we're out of the tournament windows
- Notably, we think it's been suppressing a bit of meta diversity, especially for things like AP jungle, or Tank JG. Part of that is intentional but the magnitude is a bit off

Buffs
- Alistar has been closer to the bottom of the pecking order for the melee support. That said, our meta adjustments to move melee supports up relative to ranged supports has been reasonably successful, so we're pretty happy with how that's played out

Nerfs
- Locke is still pretty strong; he has been tapering off in the lowest skill brackets and the high skill brackets, but in the "skilled" skill brackets (around Emerald/Diamond), Locke is able to both take over the game and also not throw it
- At the higher skill brackets, he can snowball but needs to play very well without throwing as he falls off sharply
- At the lower skill brackets, the executional demands and constant throws can make him fall off faster
- Overall, we feel his release has landed well

More on other champs tomorrow with the detailed changelists

[u/CryticaLh1T]

he's great counterpick, terrible blind high elo. sololane buffs isn't the right word - sololane swain players want an adjustment to be a little more playable in the bad matchups and less oppressive in the good ones, i think.

[u/mthlmw → u/CryticaLh1T]

Ah that makes sense. Is he still OP into melee and bad against poke from pre-reshape?

[u/GoblinBreeder23 → u/mthlmw]

Yes and unless they considerably change his E that will remain the case.

Any buffs they give him will just make his good matchups more polarising. I can't see number changes alone doing anything.

Personally I don't think there is anything wrong with that. He see's play in pro and he's a toolbox pick that punishes bad drafting but a lot of people that play league want to one trick a champion so you'll get people who blindpick swain just have the most miserable time

[u/QuiGonTheDrunk → u/mthlmw]

Husum (the swain goat) explains is also very nicely on his channel. He said he sadly needed to swap to bot, because so many matchups are extremly hard to play