LoL Patch 26.3 Release Date, Changes & Highlights – GameWilds

Patch 26.3 lands on Feb 4, 2026, with a staggered rollout (NA 3:00 AM PT, EUW 5:00 AM GMT, EUNE 3:00 AM CET), and notes dropping as servers go live. You’ll see Mel’s rework reshape control tools—slower AoE Q, shielding and projectile-clearing W, and a quicker E with a flat 1.5s root—plus trims and bug fixes. Expect a tilt toward zoning and peel. But before you lock picks, there’s one key shift you shouldn’t overlook…

LoL Patch 26.3 Release Date

Mark your calendar: LoL Patch 26.3 is slated to deploy on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, following Riot’s biweekly cadence after 26.02 (January 22). You can expect a staggered rollout by region: NA goes first at 3:00 AM PT, EUW follows at 5:00 AM GMT, and EUNE at 3:00 AM CET. Plan your ranked sessions around those windows to avoid maintenance downtime.

Riot will publish the patch notes as the rollout begins, with shard-specific maintenance updates on the status page confirming when your server is live. If something slips, watch for delay notices or hotfix posts within 48 hours of the scheduled release. For the most accurate timing, check your client’s service banner and the official status hub the morning of deployment.

Overview of Patch 26.3 Changes

Although 26.3 lands on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, the spotlight is squarely on Mel’s full rework: Riot slows her Radiant Volley (Q) with a longer cast and reduced projectile speed while shifting much of its burst into a persistent AoE DoT, swaps W’s damage reflection for a shielding, projectile-destroying zone that also applies a 40% decaying movespeed slow, and reshapes E into a faster projectile with shorter range that roots for a flat 1.5 seconds. You’ll also see base and passive trims that drop her attack speed ratio from 0.625 to 0.4, curb scaling, and remove non-champion marks to blunt early DPS and odd projectile kills. Expect VFX polish, clearer telegraphs, refined hit indicators, and a projectile-kill bug fix, with potential hotfixes targeting Q pacing, W interactions, and E edge-root reliability.

Mel Changes and Rework in Patch 26.3

You’ll feel Mel’s rework immediately through base stat tweaks like a lower attack speed ratio and the removal of passive marks on non-champions. We’ll break down how her kit shifts from burst to sustained damage, with Radiant Volley’s slower, clearer AoE DoT, Rebuttal’s new shielding/projectile control, and Solar Snare’s flat 1.5s root plus DoT. Here’s what these changes mean for your trades, counterplay windows, and optimal combos.

Mel Base Stat Adjustments

While Patch 26.3 targets Mel’s snowbally skirmishes, the core lever is base stat tuning and a trimmed passive. You’ll feel it immediately: her attack speed ratio drops from 0.625 to 0.4, slowing follow‑up autos and cutting early DPS and on‑hit spikes. Overwhelm’s per‑projectile damage and AP ratio are trimmed, and it no longer marks non‑champions, removing wave and jungle abuse. Hidden projectile‑kill interactions are fixed, so you won’t see those odd burst moments after minion kills.

Monitor PBE values and DoT‑amplifying items; the goal’s cleaner spacing and longer fights, not insta‑snowball trades. Track early matchups to adjust runes and openers accordingly.

Change	Old	New
AS Ratio	0.625	0.4
Passive Damage	24–150	24–75
Passive AP Ratio	15% AP	9% AP
Marks on Non‑Champs	Enabled	Disabled
Bugged Interactions	Present	Fixed

Mel Ability Changes Explained

Because Patch 26.3 reshapes Mel’s entire combat loop, her abilities now trade snap burst and reflect gimmicks for clearer windows, slower setups, and sustained pressure. Radiant Volley (Q) casts slower (0.25s → 0.4s), travels slower (4500 → 3800), and explodes smaller, but shifts damage into an AoE DoT with clearer telegraphs and hit cues, rewarding pre-placement.

Rebuttal (W) drops damage immunity/reflect. You gain a shield, create an area that destroys incoming projectiles, and apply a 40% decaying slow for 1.5s; reflected physical damage is reduced.

Solar Snare (E) now has ~1000 range, faster travel (~1100), a flat 1.5s root, higher direct damage plus DoT, and less post-impact linger.

Overwhelm’s per-projectile damage and AP ratio are trimmed, no longer marks non-champions, and fixes projectile-kill exploits. Watch for launch bugs: Q telegraph desync, W failing to destroy projectiles, and E edge-root misses.

How Patch 26.3 Impacts the Meta

As Patch 26.3 lands in late January, expect the meta to slow and pivot toward control. Mel’s rework trims oppressive poke and adds clearer counterplay, so early lane snowballs should drop. You’ll see longer trades, more resets, and higher value on peel, shielding, and crowd control. Control mages and enchanters gain priority as fights hinge on space management, dodges, and layered CC rather than burst.

1) Mel shifts from burst to setup: slower Q and AoE DoT reward zoning; you’ll punish impatience, not just missteps.

2) Peel comps rise: W’s shield and projectile denial, plus E’s flat 1.5s root, favor chain-CC and front-to-back fights.

3) Itemization pivots: shielding mythics, anti-projectile tools, and DoT-friendly options climb, while solo-carry snowballing loses reliability.

What Players Should Watch Before the Patch

Before Patch 26.3 hits, lock in the exact rollout and verify your shard’s maintenance window so you don’t miss queue time: February 4, 2026 at 3:00 AM PT (NA), 5:00 AM GMT (EUW), and 3:00 AM CET (EUNE). Check Riot’s status page for any last-minute delays and the timestamped patch notes.

Track Mel’s rework on PBE and in notes: Q now has a 0.4s cast, slower projectile, and more DoT; W becomes a shield plus projectile-destroy zone; E’s range trims to ~1000 with a flat 1.5s root; passive loses AP scaling. Watch for number tweaks.

Scan known bugs and hotfix risk—Q telegraph desync, W not deleting projectiles, E root edge misses. On patch day, review item shifts favoring DoT and shielding synergies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will There Be Downtime or Server Maintenance During Deployment?

Yes, expect short maintenance and brief login queue spikes during rollout. You’ll see a disabled queue window, then staggered region restarts. Plan ranked games around the deployment window, and watch the service status page or launcher for live updates.

How Large Is the Patch Download Size on PC and Console?

Expect a 1–3 GB download on PC and a 3–6 GB download on console, depending on platform and region. You’ll see exact size in your launcher. Preload if available, and leave extra space for temporary files.

Are There Mission Rewards or Event Passes Tied to 26.3?

Yes. You can expect time-limited missions and an event pass with tiers, tokens, and shop rewards. You’ll earn orbs, essence, icons, emotes, borders, and chromas. Check patch notes for timelines, token values, and bundle pricing.

Will Replays or Custom Item Sets Break After the Patch?

They shouldn’t, but you might see hiccups. Expect the client to re-download replays; older files can desync after gameplay or item changes. Back up custom item sets, then verify files and relog. Watch patch notes for hotfixes.

When Do Ranked LP Gains/Losses Recalibrate Post-Patch?

They recalibrate as soon as the patch goes live and matchmaking finishes re-seeding MMR, typically within the first few ranked games. You’ll notice adjusted LP gains/losses immediately; play a handful to stabilize and reflect your new performance.

Conclusion

You’re set for Patch 26.3. Watch the staggered rollout times, skim the notes as they drop, and jump into games ready for zoning, peel, and control-heavy play. Mel’s rework changes your timings—respect her AoE DoT Q, play around the W shield/slow zone, and capitalize on the fast-root E. Expect base/passive trims to slow snowballing and reward smarter setups. Before queueing, review item and rune tweaks, test builds in normals, and track early win rates to adapt fast.