Quick Answer
Biggest Winners:
Alistar
Kai'Sa
Zac
Maokai
Bel'Veth (late-game players)
Biggest Losers:
Locke
Riven
Naafiri
Sylas
Bel'Veth (early-game players)
Hidden Winners:
AP junglers
Tank junglers
Split-push champions
On-hit ADCs
Bottom line: Patch 26.15 isn't about one overpowered champion—it's about Riot reshaping jungle pacing, fighter builds, and late-game scaling.
Not every buff creates a winner, and not every nerf creates a loser. Some of Patch 26.15's biggest beneficiaries weren't changed directly—they simply thrive because the meta around them shifted.
Patch 26.15's biggest winners are Alistar, Kai'Sa, Zac, Maokai, and late-game Bel'Veth. The biggest losers are Locke, Riven, Naafiri, Sylas, and Bel'Veth's early-game invade playstyle. Indirect winners include AP junglers, tank junglers, split-pushers, and on-hit ADCs thanks to system and item changes.
What Riot Is Actually Trying to Fix
This patch isn't just a random collection of buffs and nerfs. Riot has clear goals :
Bel'Veth's unhealthy invade pattern — Her early Q dominance forced repeated nerfs that hurt other parts of her kit. Riot is shifting power from early invades to late-game scaling .
Locke dominating skilled ranks — He's terrorizing Emerald/Diamond where players can execute his snowball pattern without throwing. Over 60% ban rate in ranked .
Fighter item diversity — Sundered Sky has been "meta-defining at the highest levels" and suppressing AP and tank junglers .
Better first-item diversity — Bastionbreaker, Terminus, and Yun Tal Wildarrows all got buffs to open up build paths .
Rather than simply buffing underperforming champions, Patch 26.15 shifts power across multiple systems, meaning indirect winners could end up stronger than champions receiving direct buffs.
Biggest Winners
Bel'Veth (Late-Game Winner, Early-Game Loser)
Bel'Veth isn't dead—she changed jobs. Riot gutted her early power to unlock her scaling fantasy :
AS ratio: 0.85 → 0.67 (big early nerf)
AD: 60 → 55
Base armor: 32 → 28
Base HP: 610 → 580
But here's the payoff:
Level 16 with 80 stacks: Empowered form lasts indefinitely
Passive on-hit now procs every attack (was every other)
E damage: 6-10 → 10-18 per strike (less amp but higher base)
R heal: 100-200 → 100-400 with better AD scaling
Who should play her now? Players who enjoy scaling, macro-focused jungling. She's no longer a first-blood invader—she's a late-game monster.
Alistar (+5 Movement Speed)
Change: Base MS 330 → 335
This looks tiny. It's not.
After the mobility boot removal, Alistar's roaming felt clunky. +5 MS helps him:
Rotate for objectives faster
Land more consistent engages
Keep up in the roam-heavy support meta
Riot explicitly noted melee supports have been moving up relative to ranged supports, and this is fine-tuning .
Who benefits? Support players who love engage tanks. Alistar is back on the menu for coordinated play.
Kai'Sa (Passive Scaling Buff)
Change: Corrosion Scar base damage 4-24 → 4-30
Hidden synergy: She benefits from the Terminus buff (now scales with bonus AD and AP) and Yun Tal Wildarrows (cost 3100→3000, AS 40→45%) .
Who benefits? ADC players who enjoy late-game hypercarries with hybrid damage.
Zac & Maokai (Jungle Tank Winners)
Zac:
Armor growth: 4.7 → 5.2
E cooldown: 22-10s → 21-9s
Maokai:
Q monster damage: 140-180% → 150-190%
AP ratio: 40% → 50%
Why they win: Fighter item system changes (Sundered Sky nerfs) create more room for tank junglers. Riot explicitly said Sundered Sky has been suppressing AP and tank jungle diversity .
Who benefits? Jungle players who prefer front-line engage and teamfight utility.
Volibear (Quiet Winner)
Change: Q cooldown reduced
A shorter early Q cooldown improves his ability to reach targets and gank before completing core items. He isn't the biggest winner of the patch, but he's a solid pickup if fighter builds continue shifting.
Biggest Losers
Locke (Significant Nerf)
Changes:
Base HP: 655 → 620
Q damage: 50-82 → 40-72
W movement speed: 40-60% → flat 40%
W grey health max: 40-160 → 40-120
Why? Locke has been terrorizing Emerald/Diamond with >60% ban rate in ranked and 100% presence in KeSPA Cup (7 wins) .
He's still viable but no longer a free win. Riot targeted his ability to snowball and never fall off.
Riven (Damage Gutted)
Changes:
R bonus AD: 25% → 20%
Wind Slash minimum ratio: 60% → 55% (maximum 180% → 165%)
Riven has been overperforming due to item synergies. This shaves off burst without changing her identity.
Naafiri (Ultimate Damage Hammered)
Changes:
R damage: 150-300 (+120% AD) → 125-275 (+100% bonus AD)
Pack damage: 15-30 (+12% AD) → 12.5-27.5 (+10% AD)
Her assassination reliability took a significant hit.
Sylas (Q Damage Reduced)
Change:
Q1 damage: 40-140 (+45% AP) → 40-120 (+40% AP)
Hidden factor: Jack of All Trades nerf also hits hybrid Sylas builds.
Mordekaiser (Ultimate Weaker)
Changes:
R stat steal: 13% → 10%
E cooldown: 18-10s → 16-8s (compensation buff)
Riot overbuffed him in 26.14 and is walking it back. Still viable—just less oppressive in the Death Realm.
The Hidden Meta Winners
This is the section big sites usually miss.
AP Junglers
Examples: Diana, Elise, Ekko, Fiddlesticks
Why they gain: Riot explicitly noted Sundered Sky has been "suppressing a bit of meta diversity, especially for things like AP jungle or tank jungle" .
The logic: If fighter items lose power, AP junglers gain breathing room in the meta.
Tank Junglers
Examples: Zac, Maokai, Sejuani, Rammus
Why they gain: Same reason—less fighter dominance means more tank viability. And tanks like Zac and Maokai got direct buffs .
Split-Push Champions
Examples: Jax, Fiora, Yorick, Trundle
Why they gain: Bastionbreaker buff (cost 3200→3000g, damage 30/15→50/25) makes it more accessible for split-pushers who need tower damage.
On-Hit ADCs
Examples: Kai'Sa, Varus, Kog'Maw
Why they gain: Terminus now scales with bonus AD and AP. Yun Tal Wildarrows is cheaper with more AS . These are on-hit ADC items getting buffed.
The Jack of All Trades Rune
The Jack of All Trades nerf may also reduce the appeal of some hybrid builds, indirectly pushing players toward more specialised itemisation.
Community Predictions
Early discussion suggests players expect:
Bel'Veth's win rate to dip during the first few days as players adjust to her new scaling-focused playstyle.
Alistar to return in coordinated and high-ELO games thanks to his movement speed buff.
Bastionbreaker to become a niche split-pushing option rather than an item every fighter rushes.
AP and tank junglers to benefit indirectly if fighter item diversity improves.
Bel'Veth: Winner or Loser?
❌ Early game: weaker invade potential, lower base stats.
➖ Mid game: starts benefiting from new scaling.
✅ Late game: infinite empowered form and stronger scaling make her much more threatening.
She didn't get nerfed—she changed jobs. From early-game invade specialist to late-game hypercarry. The question is whether players will adapt.
Biggest Overreactions This Patch
"Bel'Veth is dead." ❌ False. She scales harder than ever. The infinite form at level 16 is transformative.
"Locke is unplayable." ❌ False. He's still strong in skilled brackets—just not oppressive.
"Bastionbreaker is broken." ❌ Too early to tell. The buffs are meaningful but not game-breaking.
Hidden Buffs Nobody Notices
AP junglers gain from Sundered Sky's reduced dominance
Roaming supports benefit from Alistar's MS buff
Objective-focused teams gain because Bel'Veth now wants to stack epic monsters for form duration
Scaling compositions benefit as the meta slows down
Who Should You Play This Week?
Safe Picks
Alistar (support)
Kai'Sa (ADC)
Zac (jungle)
Maokai (jungle/top)
Watch Closely
Bel'Veth — let players figure out optimal builds
Volibear — Q CD buff could matter
Bastionbreaker users — need to see if the buff matters in practice
Be Careful
Locke — nerfs hit hard, wait for data
Riven — damage gutted, new build needed
Naafiri — ultimate reliability is much worse
Biggest Mistakes Players Will Make
Copying old Bel'Veth builds — her new scalings reward different itemization
Calling Bel'Veth dead — she's just different
Ignoring item changes — Terminus and Yun Tal are now genuinely good
Overreacting to Day 1 win rates — small samples are misleading
Blindly swapping champion pools — adapt, don't panic
FAQ
Is Bel'Veth stronger now?
Stronger late-game, weaker early. She's a different champion—a scaling hypercarry instead of an early invade specialist.
Is Locke still worth playing?
Yes, if you're in Emerald/Diamond and can execute his snowball pattern. Just not a free win anymore.
Who benefits most from the item changes?
AP junglers, tank junglers, split-pushers (Bastionbreaker), and on-hit ADCs (Terminus + Yun Tal).
Best junglers now?
Zac, Maokai, and scaling Bel'Veth players. Fighter junglers lose some edge from Sundered Sky changes.
Should I stop using Jack of All Trades?
It's weaker now, so consider alternatives unless you're getting both offensive and defensive value from it .
Is Bastionbreaker worth buying?
More than before—cheaper and deals more damage. Try it on split-pushers and tanky fighters.
Which champions climbed the most in power?
Alistar, Kai'Sa, Zac, and Maokai got direct buffs. Bel'Veth's ceiling skyrocketed for players who can reach late-game.
What should I main after Patch 26.15?
Depends on your role. Tanks look stronger in jungle. Engage supports (Alistar) are back. ADCs who build Terminus/Yun Tal have better options.
Final Verdict
Patch 26.15 rewards players who understand meta shifts instead of simply copying patch notes. The biggest gains won't necessarily come from playing newly buffed champions—they'll come from recognizing which champions quietly become stronger because the game around them has changed.
The biggest winners may not be the champions Riot buffed directly—they're the ones that quietly thrive in the new ecosystem. AP junglers get more breathing room. Tank junglers return to relevance. Split-pushers get cheaper item access. And Bel'Veth finally fulfills her late-game fantasy.
Adapt or get left behind.
Read our Patch 26.15 Item Tier List to see which champions benefit the most from Bastionbreaker, Terminus, Yun Tal Wildarrows, and the Jack of All Trades changes.
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