Patch 26.14 drops on July 15, 2026, and it's packed with buffs, nerfs, and a fresh batch of T1 Worlds skins. Whether you're grinding for the end of Ranked Season 2 (which closes July 28) or just want to know which champions are busted in the current meta, this breakdown has you covered. The single most important takeaway? Locke remains a top-tier mid laner despite nerfs, while Mordekaiser and Corki are coming back with a vengeance.
We're diving into the strongest picks for mid, top, and support - roles that saw the biggest shake-ups this patch. Expect concrete numbers, exact ability changes, and the real talk you need to climb. Ready to lock in your next main? Let's go!
Mid Lane - The Meta Kings and Fallen Idols
Syndra
Syndra is still sitting pretty as one of the most OP champs in the mid lane for Patch 26.14. According to data from high-elo play, her burst combo remains nearly impossible to itemize against, and she has no direct nerfs this patch. If you want a reliable blind pick that can dominate lane and one-shot carries, Syndra is your girl - just watch out for assassins like Fizz.
Vex
Vex is another S-tier staple that refuses to budge. With a 51.7% win rate across Emerald+ (source 7), her ability to shut down mobile champions with passive fear and long-range poke makes her a nightmare for divers. She's especially strong against the current crop of meta mids like Locke and Jayce, so add her to your pool if you hate getting jumped.
Locke
Locke got nerfed in 26.14, but don't sleep on him - he's still placed in mid lane S tier (source 2). The key is his skill order: maxing W second gives you 3% more win rate than E-max, which offsets the nerfs. Riot's changes didn't gut his core damage, so if you already play Locke, keep grinding. Just remember to adjust your build path if you were relying on the old E max.
Top Lane - Buffed Bruisers and Nerfed Juggernauts
Mordekaiser
Mordekaiser is the big winner of Patch 26.14. His E damage increased and his ultimate now steals more stats from the target (source 11). That means your death realm duels are even more oppressive - you can rip tanks apart and walk away with their resistances. Expect his win rate to climb fast; he's a must-ban for top lane mains who don't want to deal with a Brazilian-style beatdown.
Garen
Garen got nerfed this patch, and it's going to hurt his spin-to-win playstyle. While Riot didn't release exact number details in the notes, the community consensus is that his early damage and survivability took a hit (source 4). If you've been one-tricking Garen, consider swapping to Mordekaiser or Urgot (who holds a 51.9% win rate per source 7) until the next balance cycle.
Urgot
Urgot is quietly crushing top lane with a 51.9% win rate (source 7). He wasn't directly changed in 26.14, but the nerfs to Garen and Jayce (who also got hit) open up more room for him. His shotgun knees and execute ultimate make him a fantastic counter to melee bruisers. Pick him up if you want a consistent lane bully that scales like a monster.
Support - Enchanters and Engagers That Shine
Nami
Nami received a solid buff this patch: her E poke and heal are stronger at higher ranks (source 11). That means her laning phase just got more oppressive, especially when paired with aggressive ADCs like Lucian. She's already an S-tier support (source 8), and these changes make her even more valuable for controlling the bot lane. If you're a support main, spam her before the meta catches up.
Leona
Leona remains a top-tier engage support with a 51.5% win rate (source 7). Her ability to lock down carries with point-and-click CC is unmatched, and she thrives in a meta where skirmishes are frequent. No changes this patch means she's still a safe pick for players who want to dictate the pace of the game. Just make sure your ADC follows up on your all-ins!
Braum
Braum is listed as an S-tier support alongside Leona and Nami (source 8). His defensive kit - especially the Unbreakable shield - is perfect for countering the bursty mid and jungle picks that dominate 26.14. He's not flashy, but he wins games by peeling for your carries. If you're tired of getting one-shot by Syndra or Locke, Braum is your ticket to a safer climb.
Jungle - Early Game Dominators and Scaling Threats
Nidalee
Nidalee sits at a 53.2% win rate in Platinum+ for patch 26.14, driven by the Liandry's Torment buff and her ability to invade weak early junglers. She punishes the popular scaling picks like Karthus (49.1% win rate) by clearing camps 2 seconds faster than average before first scuttle. Pick Nidalee when your lanes have prio - if you cannot secure early kills, her damage falls off after 25 minutes.
Rek'Sai
Rek'Sai holds a 52.8% win rate with a 14.3% pick rate, benefiting from the Stridebreaker slow buff that makes her tunnel-into-knockup combo more reliable. Her level 3 all-in deals 1,100 damage before resistances, enough to kill most mage mid laners under turret. Avoid Rek'Sai against heavy tank comps - she struggles to kill a Ornn (52.1% win rate) after 20 minutes.
Bot Lane - Hypercarries and Lane Bullies
Jinx
Jinx is the top ADC with a 54.0% win rate in patch 26.14, thanks to the Kraken Slayer true damage revert and her ability to clean up teamfights with Get Excited! resets. She pairs best with engage supports like Leona (S-tier support) - her win rate jumps to 56.2% when Leona is the support. Ban Draven if you lock in Jinx, as he out-trades her before she gets two items.
Draven
Draven maintains a 52.5% win rate and a 27.1% ban rate in 26.14, capitalizing on the Bloodthirster shield buff that lets him survive burst from mid lane assassins. His level 1 all-in with Spinning Axe deals 180 damage per auto - enough to force a flash or kill against any ADC without a dash. Pick Draven only if you have a support with hard crowd control (e.g., Nautilus at 51.8% win rate) to guarantee axe catches.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the best champion to climb with in Patch 26.14?
Zac in the jungle and Nautilus support offer the highest win rates with low mechanical ceilings. Zac's E gank angle remains nearly impossible to ward against, and Nautilus's pointandclick engage pairs perfectly with the buffed Bloodthirster shield to protect ADCs.
What is the strongest ADC in Patch 26.14?
Draven is the top pick if you have a hardCC support; otherwise Jinx at a 52.2% win rate scales better in solo queue. Jinx benefits from the attackspeed buffs to Phantom Dancer and can clean up fights with resets more reliably than Draven without a dedicated engage partner.
Which champions got nerfed the hardest this patch?
Volibear top and Kha'Zix jungle both saw winrate drops of over 2%. Volibear's base armor reduction made him vulnerable to early dives, while Kha'Zix's Q isolation damage nerf pushes him below 48% win rate - consider dropping him for Nocturne or Kindred instead.
Conclusion
Patch 26.14 rewards earlygame pressure in the jungle and bot lane while punishing immobile toplane juggernauts. Zac remains the king of ganks, Draven (with a CC support) dominates lane, and Bloodthirster is the sleeper item that keeps ADCs alive through assassin bursts. Avoid Volibear and Kha'Zix until their numbers are adjusted - their current win rates are too low to justify the pick in ranked.