en
LoL Patch 26.06 Preview: Azir and Skarner Return While Zaahen Takes a Hit
With First Stand 2026 set to be played entirely on Patch 26.05, the new League of Legends update can focus entirely on Solo Queue. This is why LoL Patch 26.06 looks set on buffing champions that have long underperformed at every level of the game, while also bringing down a few overperformers.
Let's have a look at some of the biggest changes coming our way once LoL Patch 26.06 releases on Wednesday, March 18.
Back from the Shadows? Azir and Skarner Get Buffed
Ever since being reworked back in April of 2024, Skarner has proven to be a nightmare for Riot to balance. Ultimately, so many of Skarner's abilities had to be repeatedly toned down that he now stands as one of the weakest champions in the entire game.
As for Azir, the champion has been a staple of the Mid Lane in pro play ever since his release. Similarly to Skarner, this caused Azir to receive so many nerfs that he is hardly worth picking up in Solo Queue.
For reference, Azir and Skarner currently have a 43.01% and 46.86% win rate in the Mid Lane and Jungle, respectively. Simply atrocious.
Now, LoL Patch 26.06 is finally looking to correct some of that by buffing both champions. Azir, for one, will be getting buffs to the damage dealt by both his [Q] Conquering Sands and [W] Arise! abilities. This should make him a more competitive Mid Laner at all stages of the game.
As for Skarner, his bread and butter damaging ability, [Q] Shattered Earth/Upheaval, is getting some much needed love. Not only will it now deal more damage, but it will also cost considerably less mana to cast.
Though these changes will definitely see Azir and Skarner headed in the right direction, it will be interesting to see how much pro players are able to benefit from this update after First Stand.
xPetu Gets Shen Nerfed
Ever since content creator xPetu started showcasing the power of Shen in the Jungle, the champion has started taking over Solo Queue (currently boasting a 53%+ win rate). Though Shen hasn't received a single change since June of 2025, his sudden rise has been enough for Riot to feel the need to bring him down a notch.
Top Lane Shen mains, you can all breathe a sigh of relief, as the coming nerf will only affect Shen's strength and speed in the Jungle, particularly in the early levels. Will it remove Shen from the role altogether, though? That remains to be seen.
Zaahen: Time for a Reality Check
Whether it be Solo Queue or pro play, Top Lane or Jungle, Zaahen seems to be showing up everywhere as of late. Though the newest League of Legends champion isn't entirely broken, Riot does feel like its time to bring him down a peg.
The nerfs won't be too harsh, however, and they will mainly be aimed at his role in the Jungle (his best performing role at the moment). With nerfs to both his [W] Dreaded Return and [E] Aureate Rush, Zaahen will be a slightly weaker duelist and feel a little slower in the Jungle after LoL Patch 26.06 hits the live servers. That said, it seems highly unlikely we will be seeing the last of Zaahen yet.
A Solo Queue Patch Through and Through
There's no doubt about it, League of Legends Patch 26.06 is almost exclusively aimed at balancing the game around Solo Queue. With a little bit of breathing room before regional splits kick off after First Stand, Riot decided this was the perfect time to try and address several issues outside of pro play once and for all.
All information about LoL Patch 26.06 was taken from an X (Twitter) post made by Matt "Phroxzon" Leung-Harrison, Lead Gameplay Designer for League of Legends. If you'd like to have a look at the complete list of changes, make sure to check out the post!
Follow Strafe Esports for the latest League of Legends news and our X account for the latest content and coverage. Also, stay tuned to Strafe's channel on YouTube for exclusive interviews, press conferences, and more.
Featured image credit: Riot Games
Read more:
Top Esports Report their Jungler naiyou for Potential Match-Fixing
Mel at First Stand 2026? Winners and Losers of League of Legends Patch 26.05
