League of Legends Patch 26.11 Nerfs and Buffs
Riot Games has released Patch 26.11 for League of Legends, introducing major changes aimed at rebalancing the support role and adjusting top lane dynamics.
The patch primarily targets the dominance of ranged support champions in the 2026 competitive meta. A key factor behind ranged supports’ prevalence has been the impact of new role quests, which have discouraged melee supports from roaming effectively. To address this imbalance, Riot has implemented substantial item adjustments and improvements specifically designed to reinvigorate melee support engagement and encourage roaming.
The support changes include significant Grubs adjustments, which enhance roaming viability for melee support champions. In top lane, Heartsteel receives a buff while Hexplate faces a nerf specifically targeting ranged users, helping to reshape the item meta for the role.
These changes represent Riot’s strategic effort to restore tank and melee support viability, ensuring greater diversity in champion and playstyle selection across both professional and ranked competitive environments.