New Champion Locke Revealed in Latest League of Legends Cinematic
Riot Games has unveiled Locke, the 173rd champion in League of Legends, through a new 2D-animated cinematic titled “Back from the Brink.” Locke is a Demacian champion known as the Ashen Exorcist who specializes in demon hunting, fitting seamlessly into the season’s thematic direction.
Locke follows Zaahen, who was released in November 2025, and represents a significant strategic shift in Riot’s 2026 content roadmap. The developer has officially announced that Locke will be the sole new champion released for the entire year of 2026. Rather than maintaining the typical cadence of multiple champion releases annually, Riot is redirecting its development resources toward visual and gameplay updates (VGUs) for older, established champions. The confirmed targets for these overhauls include Shyvana and another unspecified Demacian character.
This focused approach reflects Riot’s preparation for League Next, a major system-wide overhaul of the game scheduled for 2027. By limiting new champion releases, the studio aims to polish and enhance the gameplay experience for existing champions while simultaneously building the technical and design foundation required for the anticipated large-scale update.