League of Legends Patch 26.10 Solo Queue Tier List

League of Legends Patch 26.10 Solo Queue Tier List Breakdown

Patch 26.10 has landed in League of Legends, and honestly, it’s one of those updates that feels deceptively impactful, especially in solo queue. We’ve seen some absolutely meta-breaking champions emerge, while others that looked promising have completely fizzled out. This isn’t just about small number tweaks; item interactions and subtle stat changes have really turned the meta upside down, forcing players to rethink their entire approach to climbing.

Trying to keep up with the shifting power levels of champions and item builds can feel like a full-time job, especially when you’re just trying to grind out a few ranked games after work. One bad draft or a misjudgment on an item choice can easily snowball into a frustrating loss, making that climb feel impossible. So, let’s break down what actually matters in this patch, covering every role and highlighting the champions that are truly dominating—or surprisingly underperforming—in Season 16’s chaotic environment.

Top Lane Overview: Static Shiv Meta

Top lane usually sees a fair amount of volatility with each patch, but 26.10 was a bit of an anomaly. The big story here isn’t necessarily direct champion buffs or nerfs, but rather the massive impact of item reworks. Specifically, the recently reworked Static Shiv has reshaped the landscape for several champions, creating some surprisingly strong—and often infuriating to play against—picks.

Teemo and Kayle Hold the Line

Despite the relatively quiet patch for top lane *champions*, Teemo and Kayle continue to stand out as the most dominant solo queue top laners. Their power isn’t new, but it’s been significantly amplified by Static Shiv. It’s genuinely wild how an item can completely shift a champion’s performance. Shiv Teemo players, for example, are seeing a whopping 3% higher win rate compared to those still stubbornly building Nashor’s. It’s a clear-cut case of adapting or getting left behind, and honestly, a lot of players are still learning that lesson the hard way.

Anivia’s Fall From Grace

Anivia was one of the few top lane-relevant champions that saw changes, and she ended up losing a lot more power than most initially expected. On paper, base stat changes never look like much, but they always hit harder than anticipated in actual play. Anivia’s armor nerfs alone led to a noticeable 2% drop in her win rate. This is one of those frustrating realities of patch cycles: small tweaks can completely ruin a champion’s viability, and now she’s unfortunately dropped into the B tier for top lane. It’s a harsh reminder that every point matters.

Wukong and Amumu: Stable Picks

Wukong and Amumu’s changes aligned pretty much with expectations, which is a rare comfort in a patch like this. Wukong is currently an underrated A-tier pick, quietly strong and reliable. Amumu is slotting in as an average B-tier champion. They’re not meta-breakers, but they’re consistent, which in solo queue can sometimes be worth more than a flashy but inconsistent S-tier pick. It’s good to have some stable choices when everything else feels like a coin flip.

Jungle Meta Shifts and New Contenders

The jungle role is always a hotbed of activity, and 26.10 brought some significant shifts, especially concerning specific item buffs. If you’ve been feeling frustrated by inconsistent jungle performance, understanding these changes is critical.

Lich Bane Enthusiasts: Nidalee & Evelynn

As predicted, the Lich Bane buffs have been a massive boon for champions who rush the item. Nidalee, in particular, has seen a noticeable bump. Movement speed is an incredibly valuable stat in solo queue, and on a champion like Nidalee, it’s amplified. Being even a second or two quicker to a fight can dictate a win or loss. That small 2% movement speed boost from Lich Bane often means the difference between landing a crucial spear or watching your teammates dive in without you. She’s moved from B to A tier; not overpowered, but definitely stronger and more consistent. Evelynn is in a similar boat, slotting in as a strong S-tier pick due to the same item synergy.

Lee Sin’s Revitalized Solo Playmaking

Despite Riot categorizing Lee Sin’s changes as “adjustments,” which usually means power-neutral, he’s undeniably been buffed. The W change, with its significantly shorter cooldown when used on minions or wards while still granting a shield, has massively increased his solo playmaking potential. This is exactly what you want in solo queue: the ability to make plays without constantly relying on your team. While his W to allies is slightly nerfed, the tradeoff for a stronger ward hop is absolutely worth it. Plus, the quality-of-life change to his R, where enemies still knock up others even if killed, is just icing on the cake. Lee Sin is now a solid S-tier jungler for 26.10, ready to carry games if you can pilot him.

Wukong’s Unexpected Surge

Another big winner in the jungle this patch is Wukong. Before 26.10, he was largely forgotten, with a play rate below 2%. Now, his play rate has more than doubled, and his win rate has jumped by about 2%. These buffs were far more impactful than many expected. For the first time this season, Wukong is joining the S-tier, proving that sometimes, even small tweaks can revive a champion and make them a premier solo queue threat.

Jungle OP Tier: Nocturne and the Pack

Mid-patch adjustments mean Nocturne is now standing alone as the most overtly “OP” jungler in solo queue. Shyvana’s nerf did hurt her, moving her from OP down to S, but honestly, she’s still a fantastic pick—just not quite on Nocturne’s level. Warwick also moves into S-tier, as Nocturne clearly outperforms everyone else in this current meta. It’s one of those patches where a few champions just feel head and shoulders above the rest, making drafting against them a real pain.

Udyr’s Versatility and Understated Strength

Udyr is in a surprisingly strong, yet underrated, state right now. His versatility is his biggest asset, with both AD and AP builds being equally viable after his recent AD buffs. You can go for a Spear of Shojin rush with Q max for physical damage, or a Liandry’s rush with R max for magic damage. This flexibility makes him one of the best blind-pick junglers in the game. When you can adapt your build on the fly to fit any team composition, you’re already ahead of half the lobby.

Quinn Jungle: A Failed Experiment?

Riot’s buffs to Quinn jungle, regrettably, haven’t made her a viable jungler. The data shows her hovering around a dismal 42% win rate, which means she doesn’t even qualify for the tier list. Sometimes, changes just don’t land, and this looks like one of those cases. Players might try to optimize her build next patch, but as of now, it’s not looking promising. Don’t waste your ranked games trying to make it work; save yourself the frustration.

Hecarim’s Rune Preference Flip

For Hecarim players, the big news is that Stormraider’s Surge is back. In 26.9, Conqueror was the go-to, but the buffs to Stormraider’s this patch have flipped the script. Hecarim players running Stormraider’s are now seeing higher win rates. It’s a small but significant detail that separates the truly adapted players from those still clinging to old habits.

Mid Lane Dynamics: Item Synergies Taking Over

Mid lane is, as always, a battleground of skill and champion knowledge. This patch, however, has seen item synergies become a much larger factor, particularly for burst-oriented champions.

Xin Zhao Mid: The Surprise Power Pick

While Xin Zhao has seen some top lane play recently, he’s actually performing even better as a mid laner in 26.10. His play rate in mid has jumped to about 1.5%, which is decent for a niche pick. What makes him so effective is his W for poke and, more importantly, a truly ridiculous interaction with Static Shiv. If you proc the Shiv Energized effect on an enemy, it *extends the range of Xin Zhao’s E*. You don’t even need to land your W; if Shiv procs, you get insane instant engage range. This means diving squishy mid laners becomes incredibly easy. Most players have never faced Xin Zhao mid, let alone know about this Shiv interaction, so you’ll be getting a lot of free kills by catching them off guard.

The only real problem for Xin Mid right now is Vex, whose easily procced fear makes it hard for Xin to go as aggressive as he wants. For builds, it’s a Shiv rush into Duskblade of Draktharr. Third item is flexible: Nashor’s for split push threat or Rift Maker for tankiness and team fight impact. Hail of Blades is your core keystone for burst and reliable Q knock-ups. However, against high-mobility champs like LeBlanc or Ahri, Stormraider’s Surge, which also got buffs this patch, provides crucial sticking power. This kind of nuanced item and rune choice is what separates the climbers from the hard-stuck.

Lich Bane Mid Laners Surge

Just as with the jungle, mid laners who love Lich Bane have seen a massive surge in power. Fizz, Katarina, Diana, Ekko, and Twisted Fate are all significantly better, with every single one of them landing in S tier or higher. We noted in the pre-patch list that Ekko was one to watch specifically because of his option to run Dusk and Dawn. Interestingly, both Lich Bane and Dusk and Dawn are performing equally well on Ekko, which is fantastic for build variety. Lich Bane offers more burst for games against squishy teams, while Dusk and Dawn shines in extended fights against tankier compositions, providing durability and ability haste. Don’t sleep on Lich Bane Ekko; it’s a genuinely viable alternative now.

Mid Lane OP Tier Breakdown

The OP tier for mid lane in 26.10 is currently dominated by Xerath and Fizz. Our assumptions about Fizz’s rise due to Lich Bane buffs were spot on. Katarina and Ekko are both promoted to S-tier, also thanks to those Lich Bane buffs. Katarina, who previously had multiple viable rush items, now finds Lich Bane miles ahead of Gunblade and Kraken. It’s a good example of how a single item change can completely centralize builds.

Zed and Anivia: Tier Adjustments

Zed’s nerfs turned out to be more impactful than many hoped, leading him to drop one tier into A. Similarly, Anivia’s nerfs hit harder than expected, moving her from S down to A. It’s a stark reminder that even a champion with a loyal player base can get knocked down pretty hard by balance changes.

Orianna’s Small Boost From Runes

Orianna gets a small bump out of the C tier thanks to the buffs to Stormraider’s Surge. She’s definitely not a top-tier mid laner by any stretch, but she’s no longer completely in the gutter. It just goes to show that sometimes, even indirect buffs to rune choices can make a champion feel slightly less awful to play.

ADC: Smolder’s Reign and Meta Ripple Effects

The ADC role is usually pretty stable, but 26.10 saw one champion absolutely dominate to the point of forcing immediate hotfix nerfs, which then had ripple effects across the entire role.

Smolder: The Unkillable King?

Nothing changed for the top ADC picks, except that Smolder, already an OP-tier champion, somehow gained *even more* win rate. This forced Riot’s hand into issuing hotfix nerfs.

From what we’ve seen, these hotfix nerfs were significant, but not enough to dethrone Smolder from the OP tier. He started the patch with a mind-boggling 55% win rate, so even a 2-3% drop still leaves him outperforming every other ADC in the game. It’s not until 26.11, when Riot nerfs the Black Cleaver and Deathfire Touch interaction, that we expect to see him truly pushed out of the meta. It’s almost comical how broken he’s been; this kind of power imbalance makes solo queue a nightmare for anyone not playing him or banning him.

The Ripple Effect on Other ADCs

With Smolder having a 25% play rate and a 54% win rate, it’s had a predictable—and frustrating—effect on almost every other ADC: their win rates have gone down by about 0.5% to 1%. We rarely see most ADCs sitting below a 50% win rate, but that’s the reality right now. If Smolder isn’t banned, you’re almost certainly playing into him, and his dominance makes life hell for everyone else. It’s the kind of imbalance that really saps the fun out of climbing.

Senna ADC: Synergy for Days

If Smolder is banned and you’re looking for another strong pick to abuse this patch, consider Senna. She’s a top-tier pick for both ADC and support, largely thanks to her core build of Static Shiv with Black Cleaver and Deathfire Touch. This combination has immense synergy, especially her interaction with Cleaver. When you Q a target, you gain five stacks of the Cleaver passive almost instantly, making it incredibly reliable.

Zeri’s Buffs Fall Flat

Zeri was buffed this patch, but honestly, the changes didn’t move the needle at all. On paper, they looked significant, but the data shows she gained less than 0.5% win rate. She’s moving back down to B-tier, even with proper itemization and fewer players building the “bait” item of Static Shiv on her. It’s a prime example of how buffs can sometimes just not translate to real power in game.

Support Meta: Power Picks Holding Strong

The support role saw very few impactful changes to its highly picked meta champions in 26.10, making it look almost identical to 26.9. Consistency is a small mercy sometimes.

Senna’s Support Domination

The only significant change to the support tier list is Senna joining Seraphine in the OP tier. Her Black Cleaver rushing Deathfire combo is just too powerful right now. The way her Q instantly grants five stacks of Cleaver’s passive makes the item incredibly reliable on her. While Black Cleaver was always a good purchase, its synergy with Deathfire Touch has elevated it to OP status. Riot has already stated they’ll be nerfing this interaction for 26.11, so take advantage of it while you still can. It’s a classic example of players finding a broken synergy before Riot has time to react, leading to a temporary reign of terror.

Deathfire Touch & Brand: Minor Shifts

The Deathfire Touch nerf did impact Brand a little, but we already moved him into A-tier during the pre-patch tier list, and that’s where he’ll stay. He’s still a solid pick, just not quite as oppressive. It’s good to see some minor balancing, even if the major power outliers remain untouched for now.

Final Takeaways

Patch 26.10 has been a wild ride for solo queue. The key takeaway is the sheer power of specific item interactions, with Static Shiv and Lich Bane completely transforming several champions’ viability across multiple roles. Smolder’s absurd dominance has undeniably shaped the ADC landscape, forcing other picks into suboptimal states. Champions like Xin Zhao mid have emerged from nowhere, exploiting unique item synergies that most players aren’t ready for.

Adapting to these shifts isn’t just about reading patch notes; it’s about understanding how these item tweaks actually play out in game. If you’re looking to climb, focusing on these newly empowered champions and their core builds is essential. Ignoring the Static Shiv and Lich Bane meta is just asking to get hard-stuck. On the flip side, beware of the champions who received “adjustments” that ended up hurting them far more than anticipated. This patch highlights how quickly the meta can evolve, and how crucial it is to stay informed on those subtle, but impactful, item synergies.