Patch 26.9 — Role Quests, Runes, Shyvana, and Arena Update
Patch 26.9 opens Season 2 with role quest tuning, minion wave changes, major rune and item updates, Shyvana adjustments, alternate champion build support, and a large Arena refresh.
Sources: Riot Games Patch 26.9 Notes
Patch 26.9 was published by Riot on April 28, 2026 and starts Summoner's Rift Ranked Season 2. The patch is broad: role quests are easier to understand, mid lane gets a more direct scaling reward, minion waves are adjusted, several older rune patterns return in new form, and Arena receives a large seasonal update.
Role Quest and System Changes
- Top LaneTop quest rewards move away from a flat global XP increase and toward flat XP on champion takedowns plus a slightly lower bonus from other sources.
- Mid LaneThe empowered recall reward is replaced by +6% bonus AD and +6% bonus AP, giving mid a clearer scaling payoff.
- Bot LaneBot lane bonus takedown gold is reduced from 50g to 40g to soften snowballing.
- Minion WavesMelee minion health scaling and minion-on-minion damage are adjusted to make wave states last longer in mid and late laning.
Champion Changes
R - Public Execution has a longer cast time, opening more counterplay and clarity when she commits.
Health growth is reduced from 100 to 95, trimming durability while keeping her kill pressure intact.
AP Ezreal gets support through higher AP ratios on Q, W, and R, including a larger Trueshot Barrage AP ratio.
AD and crit-focused Kennen receives new critical strike synergy on W and E.
Shyvana receives a larger kit pass aimed at separating AD bruiser and AP fireball builds, including base stat, Q, W, and E changes.
On-hit Teemo gets bonus AD ratios added to E - Toxic Shot.
Some AD scaling is shifted away from Q and into W and E to broaden bruiser build paths.
Passive on-hit damage scaling improves over game time to help late-game presence.
Items and Runes
- Statikk ShivStatikk Shiv is reworked into a hybrid on-hit scaling item with AD, AP, attack speed, move speed, and Energized chain lightning.
- TrailblazerTrailblazer is removed as Riot trims overlapping tank mobility item space.
- Voltaic CycloswordVoltaic Cyclosword is reworked so abilities can trigger Energized and it becomes a broader upfront burst option.
- Deathfire TouchDeathfire Touch returns as a Sorcery keystone for damage-over-time and sustained damage casters, with a mid-patch damage reduction on April 30.
- Stormraider's SurgePhase Rush is removed and Stormraider's Surge arrives as the new burst-damage-to-movement keystone.
- Hail of BladesHail of Blades loses some attack speed but gains bonus true damage on empowered attacks.
Ranked and Arena
- Ranked Season 2Summoner's Rift Ranked Season 2 starts April 29 at 12:00 local server time, with Apex rank resets in selected regions.
- ArenaArena receives a major update with new systems, guests of honor, augments, a new Petricite Grove map, and pacing changes.
- ARAMARAM gets item tuning, while ARAM: Mayhem receives Bard and Ornn changes plus Health Relic and augment adjustments.
For search and player value, this is the kind of patch page worth keeping fresh: it has ranked timing, build-changing rune and item updates, and champion-specific changes that should link into individual champion pages over time.