League of Legends Patch 26.18 Will Trade Cassiopeia’s Lane Power for Stronger AP Scaling

The September 10 update will also nerf five champions, buff five others, and bring Caps' Hall of Legends content to the game.

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Cassiopeia wearing her Bewitching skin and conjuring blue-purple magic

League of Legends Patch 26.18 will arrive on September 10 after a one-day delay, and Cassiopeia is receiving the patch’s most pointed adjustment. Riot is cutting some of her lane pressure and ultimate damage while improving several AP ratios, a trade aimed at reducing her pro-play strength without leaving her scaling behind. A September 5 preview of League Classic Patch 3 outlined League Classic Patch 3 and its related 26.18 balance pass; Riot’s September 9 notes for the September 10 standard-game patch add the full champion changelog.

The update will also nerf Bard, Nautilus, Seraphine, Syndra, and Zeri, while buffing Ekko, Kassadin, Master Yi, Viego, and Zaahen. Caps’ Hall of Legends Battle Pass, Demacian champions in League Classic, and Risen Legend skins are also part of 26.18. Team-wide voice chat is planned for Patch 26.20 on some servers instead.

IT’S ALL CAPS FOR 26.18

– Hall of Legends Battle Pass
– Demacian champs join League Classic
– Risen Legend skins

Check out the full notes here:https://t.co/jL8yJDUD3J pic.twitter.com/5YcFZmNAo6

— League of Legends (@LeagueOfLegends) September 9, 2026

Cassiopeia’s passive movement speed, Q damage, E mana cost, and R base damage will all move down. In return, Q’s AP ratio will rise from 65% to 75%, E’s base AP ratio will move from 10% to 20%, and R’s AP ratio will increase from 50% to 75%. Her enhanced E ratio drops, so empowered Twin Fangs will remain important for her damage pattern.

The Hall of Legends event will begin alongside the patch on September 10. Its Orianna and Tristana cosmetics are tied to Caps’ celebration.

League of Legends Patch 26.18 Patch Notes

Champion changes make up the core of the update. Nerfs target durability, support damage, Syndra’s mana and W cooldown, and Zeri’s ratios, while buffs give several champions more room to work. The complete champion notes follow in Riot’s order.

LoL Patch 26.18 Champion Nerfs

Bard

Base Stats
- Armor: 34 + 5/Level ⇒ 32 + 4.7/Level

Nautilus

Base Stats
- Attack Damage: 61 + 3.3/Level ⇒ 58 + 3.3/Level
Q – Dredge Line
- Damage: 85 / 130 / 175 / 220 / 265 (+90% AP) ⇒ 85 / 125 / 165 / 205 / 245 (+90% AP)

Seraphine

E – Beat Drop
- Cooldown: 11 / 10.5 / 10 / 9.5 / 9s ⇒ 11s

Syndra

Passive – Transcendent
- Splinter Mana: 20 – 255 ⇒ 20 – 199
W – Force of Will
- Cooldown: 12 / 11 / 10 / 9 / 8s ⇒ 13 / 12 / 11 / 10 / 9s

Zeri

W – Ultrashock Laser
- Damage: 30 / 70 / 110 / 150 / 190 (+120% tAD) ⇒ 30 / 70 / 110 / 150 / 190 (+100% tAD)
- Wall Damage: 45 / 105 / 165 / 225 / 285 (+180% tAD) ⇒ 45 / 105 / 165 / 225 / 285 (+150% tAD)
- Critical Strike: 150% (+15% IE)

LoL Patch 26.18 Champion Buffs

Ekko

Q – Timewinder
- Mana Cost: 50 / 60 / 70 / 80 / 90 ⇒ 40 / 50 / 60 / 70 / 80
- Return Damage Ability Power Ratio: 60% ⇒ 70%

Kassadin

Q – Null Sphere
- Ability Power Ratio: 70% AP ⇒ 80% AP
R – Riftwalk
- Base Damage: 70 / 90 / 110 ⇒ 80 / 95 / 110

Master Yi

Base Stats
- Armor Growth: 33 + 4.5/Level ⇒ 33 + 5/Level
R – Highlander
- Move Speed: 35 / 45 / 55% ⇒ 40 / 50 / 60%

Viego

Base Stats
- Attack Damage Growth: 3.5 ⇒ 4
Passive – Sovereign’s Domination
- Heal: 2% (+…. ) ⇒ 2% (+ 2.5% per 100 bonus AD) (+ 2% per 100 AP) (+ 5% per 100% bonus attack speed) (+ 2% per 500 bonus HP) of the target’s maximum health

Zaahen

Q – The Darkin Glaive
- NEW Cooldown Behavior: If Q is active, it is now placed on Cooldown immediately upon being put in Resurrection
- Q2 Damage: 25 / 50 / 75 / 100 / 125 (+20 / 25 / 30 / 35 / 40% bonus AD) ⇒ 30 / 60 / 90 / 120 / 150 (+20 / 25 / 30 / 35 / 40% bonus AD)

LoL Patch 26.18 Champion Adjustments

Cassiopeia

Passive – Serpentine Grace
- Move Speed Bonus: 6% – 40% (based on level) ⇒ 5% – 36% (based on level)
Q – Noxious Blast
- Damage: 75 / 110 / 145 / 180 / 215 ⇒ 65 / 100 / 135 / 170 / 205
- Ability Power Ratio: 65% ⇒ 75%
E – Twin Fang
- Mana Cost: 40 ⇒ 45
- Base Ability Power Ratio: 10% ⇒ 20%
- Enhanced Ability Power Ratio: 55% ⇒ 45%
- Total Ability Power Ratio: 65% ⇒ 65%
- Damage: 52 – 120 ⇒ 50 – 120
R – Petrifying Gaze
- Damage: 150 / 250 / 350 ⇒ 125 / 225 / 325
- Ability Power Ratio: 50% ⇒ 75%

Which 26.18 change will affect your champion pool most? Share your thoughts in the comments, and follow us on X, Bluesky, YouTube, Instagram, Steam, and Telegram.

League of Legends is a fast-paced, competitive online game that blends the speed and intensity of an RTS with RPG elements. Two teams of powerful champions, each with a unique design and playstyle, battle head-to-head across multiple battlefields and game modes. With an ever-expanding roster of champions, frequent updates and a thriving tournament scene, League of Legends offers endless replayability for players of every skill level.