LoL 26.5 Patch Notes: Mel Buffs, Azir Nerfs & First Stand 2026 Meta Shift
March 2, 2026
League of Legends Patch 26.5 is set to go live on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, serving as the official tournament patch for the upcoming First Stand 2026 international event . Unlike previous updates, this patch is heavily focused on pro play tuning rather than solo queue shakeups, with Riot aiming to refine the meta before the first international showdown of the year .
The patch brings significant changes to 11 champions, with particular attention paid to mid lane staples Azir and Orianna, jungle flex picks, and the long-awaited return of Mel to relevance . System adjustments to Hubris and Locket round out the update .
With First Stand 2026 kicking off on March 16, teams will have just over a week to adapt to these changes before taking the international stage . Here’s everything in the LoL 26.5 patch notes.
Champion Buffs: Who’s Rising in the Meta
Mel – The Return of the Medarda Heir
Mel has struggled since her nerfs in Patch 26.3, currently sitting at a dismal 47.92% win rate in mid lane . Patch 26.5 aims to restore her viability with significant buffs to her core abilities .
Mel Ability Changes
| Ability | Change | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Q – Radiant Volley | Per-bounce damage: 5-9 → 5-13 | Stronger poke and wave clear |
| R – Golden Eclipse | Base damage: 100/150/200 → 125/200/275 | Significant ultimate power spike |
| Passive (Minions) | Damage modifier: 0.6x → 0.5x | Slightly reduced wave control |
Lead Gameplay Designer Matt “Phroxzon” Leung-Harrison explained: *”We’re looking to see what Mel looks like at a higher power level after making some of the frustration-lowering changes in 26.3″* . These buffs should make Mel a legitimate threat again, particularly in the early-to-mid game .
Lee Sin also receives a buff, with his Q – Sonic Wave/Resonating Strike base damage increased from 60-180 to 65-185. This strengthens his already potent early game, potentially making him a priority pick for aggressive jungle playstyles . Other buffs include Garen (Q movespeed duration increased, E damage up), Lillia (passive jungle heal AP ratio 9% → 15%, Q AP ratio 30% → 35%), Nocturne (passive cooldown reduced, Q bonus movespeed increased), and Volibear (Q AD ratio 140% → 160%, W AD ratio increased, mana costs reduced) .
Champion Nerfs: Pro Play Staples Hit Hard
Azir has long been a pro play favorite, but his dominance comes at a cost. He currently sits at a 44.51% win rate in solo queue while maintaining high pro presence . Patch 26.5 targets his scaling by reducing his health per level from 119 to 108. This makes Azir significantly squishier in the late game, potentially reducing his pro play priority .
Orianna receives a small early-game nerf with her Q – Command: Attack cooldown increased from 6-3 seconds to 7-3 seconds. This weakens her laning phase without gutting her late-game power .
Other nerfs include Kha’Zix (Q bonus AD ratio 110% → 105%, base movespeed 350 → 345), Neeko (W cooldown now starts after clone dies—a significant nerf), Varus (Q max damage 80-400 → 80-360, W now scales with bonus AD), and Taliyah (Q base damage 55-125 → 50-120) .
System Changes & First Stand 2026 Implications
Two items receive adjustments in Patch 26.5. Hubris total price is reduced from 3000 to 2800 gold, making it more accessible as a snowball item . Locket of the Iron Solari shield values are adjusted to better compete with Bandleglass Mirror .
Since Patch 26.5 is the official tournament patch for First Stand 2026 (March 16-22), these changes will directly impact the international meta. Azir and Orianna priority drops while Mel and Lee Sin (as a flex pick) rise. In jungle, Lee Sin joins Jarvan IV, Xin Zhao, and Zaahen in the top tier. In bottom lane, lethality Varus is nerfed, potentially opening up AD caster builds .
According to pro play analysts, “An increase in viable options is always a good thing” for tournament variety, and this patch delivers exactly that .