{"rewrite":{"id":"r_aaf04aee7692422ca1090198","clusterId":"c_c008cd19a0f64ddba57da5ca","slug":"league-of-legends-patch-26-11-boosts-tank-supports-and-buffs-heimerdinger","model":"deepseek-v4-flash","headline":"League of Legends Patch 26.11 Boosts Tank Supports and Buffs Heimerdinger","summary":"Riot Games has previewed League of Legends patch 26.11, scheduled for release after the current season 2 updates. Lead designer Matthew Leung-Harrison posted the preview on May 20. The patch focuses on shifting the support meta toward tankier champions by buffing runes like Guardian and Aftershock and items such as Heartsteel, Knight's Vow, Locket of the Iron Solari, and Zeke's Convergence. Enchanter and mage support options, including Summon Aery, Dream Maker, Helia's Echo, and Moonstone Renewer, will be nerfed. Five champions receive buffs: Ekko, Kassadin, Quinn, Diana, and Heimerdinger. Heimerdinger's turret range and E ability reliability are increased after minion aggro changes in the previous patch left his turrets vulnerable to ranged minions. The new Deathfire Touch rune will now deal magic damage, and Smolder, Brand, and AP Xin Zhao will be nerfed. In the top lane, Experimental Hexplate effectiveness for ranged champions is reduced, while Statikk Shiv gets an AD increase. The preview notes that all changes are subject to revision before the final patch goes live.","whyItMatters":"This patch represents a deliberate attempt to rebalance the bot lane by making tank supports more viable, potentially disrupting the current enchanter-heavy meta that has dominated recent competitive play.","webCardHtml":"\u003cp\u003eThe preview was posted on X (formerly Twitter) on May 20 by lead game designer Matthew Leung-Harrison, who regularly previews each patch's adjustments. The new Deathfire Touch rune, which many champions have been using, will now deal magic damage instead of its previous effect. Smolder and Brand, who have been particularly effective with this rune in the bot lane, will be nerfed. Xin Zhao's AP build will also have its healing slightly reduced.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAmong the five buffed champions, Quinn received jungle-oriented adjustments in the previous patch and will now have increased clear speed. Diana will see increased passive damage against monsters, further strengthening her in the jungle. Heimerdinger's changes are drawing attention from players. The previous patch's minion aggro adjustments left his placed turrets vulnerable to one-sided attacks from ranged minions outside their range, so their range will be increased. His E ability is also planned for improved reliability. Given his already overwhelming lane pressure against melee champions, top laners are voicing caution.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe patch is described as an effort to \"adjust the balance between melee and ranged supports.\" In the top lane, where many ranged champions have been appearing, Experimental Hexplate will have significantly reduced effectiveness for ranged champions. Statikk Shiv will receive an AD stat increase. All previewed changes are subject to revision before the final patch goes live.\u003c/p\u003e","blueskyPost":"Heimerdinger's turrets are getting a range buff after minion aggro changes left them vulnerable. Top lane players are already worried.","twitterPost":"Patch 26.11 aims to shift the support meta: tank items like Heartsteel and Knight's Vow get buffs, while enchanter items like Moonstone Renewer are nerfed.","threadsPost":null,"newsletterBlurb":"Riot previews League of Legends patch 26.11 with major support item changes favoring tanks, buffs to five champions including Heimerdinger, and nerfs to Smolder and Brand. The Deathfire Touch rune now deals magic damage. All changes are tentative.","attributionJson":"[{\"source\":\"Game Spark\",\"url\":\"http://www.gamespark.jp/article/2026/05/20/166691.html\",\"title\":\"Next Patch \\\"26.11\\\" Brings Major Adjustments Boosting Tank Supports, Including \\\"Heartsteel\\\" Enhancements; Meanwhile, Heimerdinger Gets Buffs-What Will Happen to Top Lane?! [League of Legends]\"},{\"source\":\"Inside\",\"url\":\"https://www.inside-games.jp/article/2026/05/20/181625.html\",\"title\":\"Next Patch 26.11: Major Adjustments Boost Tank Supports with 'Heart of Steel' and More; Meanwhile, Heimerdinger Gets Buffs-What Will Happen to Top Lane? [League of Legends]\"}]","lintFlagsJson":"[]","lintHits":0,"costUsd":0,"inputTokens":10364,"outputTokens":1271,"status":"published","repairAttempts":0,"nextRepairAt":null,"factsAttemptedAt":1779826598,"createdAt":"2026-05-20T15:31:16.000Z","publishedAt":"2026-05-20T15:45:01.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-05-20T15:45:01.000Z"},"cluster":{"id":"c_c008cd19a0f64ddba57da5ca","canonicalTitle":"次回「26.11」は「心の鋼」強化などタンクSUP後押しの大量調整！ 一方でハイマーディンガーにバフ、どうなるTOPレーン……！【リーグ・オブ・レジェンド】 | Game*Spark - 国内・海外ゲーム情報サイト","representativeArticleId":"a_b70ec9983ecc9687beb1d184","sourceCount":2,"writtenSourceCount":2,"writeAttempts":0,"isSolo":false,"entitiesJson":"{\"anime_titles\":[],\"manga_titles\":[],\"studios\":[],\"people\":[],\"type\":\"news\",\"domain\":\"games\",\"is_roundup\":false}","contentType":"news","status":"published","firstSeenAt":"2026-05-20T13:30:04.000Z","lastSeenAt":"2026-05-20T13:30:04.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-05-20T15:45:01.000Z"},"attribution":[{"source":"Game Spark","url":"http://www.gamespark.jp/article/2026/05/20/166691.html","title":"次回「26.11」は「心の鋼」強化などタンクSUP後押しの大量調整！ 一方でハイマーディンガーにバフ、どうなるTOPレーン……！【リーグ・オブ・レジェンド】 | Game*Spark - 国内・海外ゲーム情報サイト"},{"source":"Inside","url":"https://www.inside-games.jp/article/2026/05/20/181625.html","title":"次回「26.11」は「心の鋼」強化などタンクSUP後押しの大量調整！ 一方でハイマーディンガーにバフ、どうなるTOPレーン……！【リーグ・オブ・レジェンド】"}],"entities":{"anime_titles":[],"manga_titles":[],"studios":[],"people":[],"type":"news","domain":"games","is_roundup":false},"keyFacts":["Riot Games previewed League of Legends patch 26.11 on May 20, with lead designer Matthew Leung-Harrison posting the update on X.","The patch buffs tank supports by improving runes Guardian and Aftershock and items Heartsteel, Knight's Vow, Locket of the Iron Solari, and Zeke's Convergence.","Enchanter and mage support options, including Summon Aery, Dream Maker, Helia's Echo, and Moonstone Renewer, will be nerfed.","Five champions receive buffs: Ekko, Kassadin, Quinn, Diana, and Heimerdinger. Heimerdinger's turret range and E ability reliability are increased.","The new Deathfire Touch rune will now deal magic damage, and Smolder, Brand, and AP Xin Zhao will be nerfed."]}