Patch 26.03 marks the first major content expansion for the Demacia Rising metagame in League of Legends Season 2026, bringing Chapters 3 and 4 of “The Founding of Demacia.” This isn’t just new story beats — it’s deeper strategy, powerful new champions, and a slew of rewards. In this guide, you’ll learn how to manage Silver Shields, unlock Kayle and Galio, optimize research, and claim every reward before the seasonal deadline.
π What’s New in Patch 26.03
With Patch 26.03 live:
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Chapters 3 and 4 of Demacia Rising’s main arc are now available.
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Level 3 Settlements and Research unlock, requiring players to upgrade Zeffira’s city to access more powerful content.
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Two new champion units — Kayle and Galio — can be researched and trained to fight alongside your army.
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New cosmetic rewards (icons, an orb, and the “You Disappoint Me” emote) join the roster for completing the latest chapters.
These additions expand the strategic depth of the metagame while rewarding players for both in-client play and time spent on Summoner’s Rift or TFT.
π‘️ How Demacia Rising Works (Quick Recap)
Before diving into progression strategies, let’s revisit the essential systems:
πΉ Silver Shields — The Core Currency
Silver Shields are the metagame’s main resource. You earn them by playing games in League of Legends or Teamfight Tactics (TFT) and from daily/weekly missions. Ending your turn in Demacia Rising costs 10 Silver Shields, so managing this currency is vital.
πΉ Turn System
Each turn lets you perform actions like building structures, training units, investing in research, or moving armies. When you’re ready, click the Sun icon to end your turn, which consumes Silver Shields and advances time.
πΉ Kingdom Resources
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Food — sustains your army.
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Lumber, Stone, Metal — used to build and upgrade structures.
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Petricite — rare resource for unlocking top-tier upgrades and units.
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Valor — earned from battles and upgrades to unlock research items.
Planning your resource generation and spending Silver Shields efficiently maximizes your chapter progress.
π Demacia Rising Progression Loop
Progression is driven by completing turns and unlocking research and structures. Each chapter in Demacia Rising adds story objectives and tougher decisions for your kingdom.
Chapter Rewards Summary:
| Chapter | Unlocks | Rewards |
|---|---|---|
| Chapter 1 | Early metagame basics | Icon, BXP |
| Chapter 2 | Morgana research | Honorary title |
| Chapter 3 | Kayle research & new events | Icon + BXP |
| Chapter 4 | Galio research & late content | Orb + “You Disappoint Me” emote |
Tip: The sooner you reach each chapter’s objectives, the earlier you gain powerful rewards and battle pass XP.
π§ Research Strategy: What to Prioritize
Your Research Tree unlocks units, structures, and capabilities across four categories:
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Combat (Red): Improves military strength and unlocks advanced units.
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Kingdom (Blue): Enhances resource buildings and settlement efficiency.
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Champion (Gold): Unlocks champion units like Poppy, Morgana, Kayle, and Galio.
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System (Green): Miscellaneous upgrades often tied to Battle Pass and bonus systems.
π― Best Research Path (Patch 26.03 Focus)
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Champion (Gold) Research for Kayle and Galio as soon as they unlock. These units provide critical combat advantages later in the story.
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Combat Upgrades (Red) to strengthen your basic army and improve success in auto-resolved battles.
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Kingdom (Blue) to expand your resource capacity and unlock high-value structures.
Balancing these categories helps keep your kingdom growing while maintaining battlefield strength.
⚔️ Combat & Expansion Tips
Battles in Demacia Rising are auto-resolved, but your preparation and army composition determine outcomes:
π‘️ Unit Management
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Use a mix of unit types (soldiers, archers, and champions) to cover strengths and weaknesses.
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Champions like Kayle (high damage and splash effects) and Galio (front-line durability) greatly increase your chances against stronger enemies.
π§ Scout First
Before attacking, check enemy strength. You want to avoid taking unnecessary losses, especially when resources are limited.
π‘️ Defend & Adapt
Incoming raids can target your settlements. Move your army to defend key holdings — losing land slows progression.
πͺ Earning Silver Shields Faster
Silver Shields are essential, but players frequently feel they’re scarce if missions aren’t completed regularly.
Best Farming Methods:
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Daily Missions: Often reward 300+ shields for simple objectives, like a win or playing multiple games.
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Weekly Missions: Larger rewards for playing 3–7 games in a week.
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Battle Pass Bonuses: Purchasing the For Demacia: Act I pass gives instant Silver Shields and increases mission earnings.
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Skin Bonuses: The first game with a Season 1 skin awards a one-time Silver Shield bonus.
Pro tip: Focus on completing mission objectives in League or TFT consistently; playing without targeting missions often results in slower progression.
π¨ Battle Pass & Event Rewards
Completing Demacia Rising chapters also ties into your Battle Pass progression. Chapter objectives often grant Battle Pass XP (BXP) and unique cosmetics:
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Chapter 3: Icon + BXP boost.
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Chapter 4: Demacian Orb and the “You Disappoint Me” emote.
Completing Demacia Rising goals alongside the Battle Pass helps you unlock additional premium rewards faster.
π Timeline & Availability
Demacia Rising Act I runs from January 8, 2026 to March 4, 2026. After this window, the current Act’s rewards and progression will no longer be available, so plan your play accordingly.
Riot has signaled that future patch updates (like patch 26.5) will expand the meta with new story content and mechanics beyond this initial arc.
π§ Common Community Feedback
Players often enjoy the narrative and strategic depth of Demacia Rising but note that Silver Shields can feel time-gated, making progression slow if missions aren’t completed regularly.
To avoid stagnation:
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Space out mission play across the week.
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Track Silver Shield earn rates and prioritize high-reward missions.
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Use Shields efficiently — don’t end turns without queued actions.
π Closing Thoughts
Patch 26.03 brings major growth to Demacia Rising, offering a deeper strategic experience with new chapters, powerful champions, and engaging goals. By mastering Silver Shield economy, prioritizing research wisely, and completing objectives — you’ll expand your kingdom efficiently and unlock every reward available in Act I.
Ready to recruit Kayle and Galio? What strategies worked best for you in Demacia Rising? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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