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League of Legends 26.22 patch notes – pour one out for Mel mains
Riot’s League of Legends 26.22 update changes Mel’s W so it destroys incoming projectiles instead of reflecting them at their source. The change removes a distinctive part of her kit, which the writer valued, while addressing frustration among opponents; Mel’s win rate has reportedly been fairly low.
The patch also introduces a separate Teamfight Tactics client, with cosmetics and TFT-only Little Legends due in December, and lets players skip the TFT download. ARAM Mayhem is being adjusted to reduce snowballing, including changes to tanks that can combine strong durability with high damage through augments.
In short
- Mel’s W will destroy projectiles instead of reflecting them.
- TFT is getting a separate client and December cosmetics.
- ARAM Mayhem changes aim to curb snowballing tanks.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Changing Mel’s W may make her less distinctive and reduce the skill expression that players enjoy, especially if her win rate is already low. Keeping the reflection mechanic could preserve her identity while Riot explores narrower adjustments to address frustrating match-ups.
The case against
Destroying incoming projectiles can make Mel’s W clearer and less oppressive for opponents, who may feel that reflecting attacks back at their source leaves too little room to respond. Riot can reasonably prioritise fair, readable counterplay over preserving every distinctive mechanic, even if the change disappoints some Mel players.
Explained simply
League of Legends is a competitive online game in which two teams of players choose champions with different abilities and try to destroy the other team’s base. Mel is one of those champions. Her W ability could send enemy projectiles back towards their source, making it a distinctive tool in fights.
Teamfight Tactics, or TFT, is a separate strategy game set in the same world, where players build teams of characters that fight automatically. ARAM is a faster League mode in which players share a single lane, while Mayhem adds extra powers called augments. Changes to these modes affect how players access and experience different parts of the game.
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