Riot plans bot-lane changes for patch 26.16

Riot plans several bot-lane changes for patch 26.16. The work targets the balance between marksmen and mages. It also changes how support gold and experience penalties begin.

The current plan remains part of testing before the patch reaches live servers. It includes changes to Berserker’s Greaves, Fleet Footwork and Heal. Marksmen may also receive higher base magic resistance.

About one in five bot-lane picks at MSI were mages. Their presence rose again during later professional events. Similar growth then appeared in ordinary ranked games.

Why Riot is changing the bot lane

Early season systems gave traditional marksmen a strong partnership with ranged supports. Enchanters could protect scaling carries and maintain lane control. That combination reduced the space available to several mage picks.

Patch 26.11 then strengthened melee supports and reduced some ranged support power. Those changes altered common pairings in the bottom lane. Mages gained more room because the old protection pattern became less common.

Professional teams increased mage use during major tournaments. The picks were not limited to one region or one short event. Ranked players also began choosing them more often.

Riot does not plan to remove mages from the role. The developers consider them a valid part of bot-lane selection. The stated concern is that the balance moved too far.

Support penalties move to a later level

The plan changes the penalty for supports who collect gold away from their lane partner. The reduction may rise from 25 percent to 33 percent. Its duration may also continue until level five instead of level three.

That rule concerns early movement and shared lane resources. It does not directly lower the damage of a mage champion. The system instead changes how quickly unusual lane arrangements gain resources.

Extending the penalty creates a longer early period with clearer support responsibilities. A support can still leave lane and help elsewhere. The economic return from farming alone would remain lower for longer.

This part of the proposal affects every support class. Melee tanks, enchanters and damage supports all use the same basic item system. Riot is testing both values across every support class.

Marksman tools receive direct attention

Berserker’s Greaves are included in the planned buffs. The boots are a common early purchase for attack-speed marksmen. A stronger version would improve a familiar route without changing champion kits.

Fleet Footwork is also listed for an increase. The rune gives healing and movement during lane trades. Its value can help marksmen remain in lane against repeated spell damage.

Heal may receive another buff as part of the same package. The summoner spell is closely linked with traditional bot-lane pairings. A stronger Heal would improve survival during coordinated attacks.

These changes are easier to understand than a large group of champion-specific buffs. They strengthen tools used by many marksmen. They also preserve differences between individual champions.

Marksmen may gain more early magic resistance

Riot are testing higher base magic resistance for marksmen. The same proposal lowers magic resistance gained through later levels. That moves protection toward the early lane rather than the late game.

The distinction matters because mage pressure is strongest during repeated early trades. Higher starting resistance reduces each spell’s immediate damage. Lower growth prevents that advantage from increasing throughout the match.

A flat early increase can support marksmen without making them universally durable. They would still depend on positioning during later team fights. Assassins and control mages would retain strong damage after completing items.

Mage bot lanes remain part of the intended role choices. Riot is not treating every mage pick as a problem. The work focuses on their overall use and lane balance.

Riot tests the plan in professional and ranked games

Riot are testing the package before patch 26.16 reaches live servers. The review covers professional matches and ordinary ranked games.

Professional teams coordinate support movement and lane coverage. Ranked players usually make those decisions with less shared information.

The test therefore measures the same systems in two different environments. Riot are comparing lane frequency, early damage and support income.

Patch 26.16 is the planned release point for the combined work. The stated target is a wider choice between marksmen and mages.

Mage use differs between professional and ranked games

About one in five bot-lane picks at MSI were mages. Their priority then increased at the Esports World Cup and KeSPA Cup. The same champions also appeared more often in ranked matches.

Professional teams often connect mage lanes with early support movement. Coordinated players can share information and cover the empty lane. That pattern is harder to repeat with unfamiliar teammates.

In regular matches, mages often win through repeated spell damage. Brand, Swain, Ziggs, Veigar, Seraphine and Xerath can all appear there. Their early power can force a marksman away from the minion wave.

Riot also noted that some mages are easier to use in a first match. Their win rates can therefore look stronger than their full mastery curve. That is one reason the update does not target every mage directly.

The planned package uses several smaller changes instead. Support income, early resistance, boots, a rune and Heal are all involved. Each part addresses a different stage of the bottom lane.

The package supports marksmen through several shared systems. Mages remain available as bot-lane choices under the same role rules.

The plan covers support income and marksman tools

Brand, Swain, Ziggs and Seraphine remain valid bot-lane selections. The proposal changes shared systems instead of banning individual champions.

Support income addresses early roaming and farming away from a lane partner. Magic resistance addresses repeated spell damage during early trades.

Berserker’s Greaves, Fleet Footwork and Heal support traditional marksman lanes. The three tools affect attack speed, recovery, movement and survival.

The changes cover support income, early durability and marksman combat tools. Patch 26.16 remains the planned release point for the combined work.