LoL Patch Notes
Every patch preview, full changelist, and patch notes breakdown.
Riot ships a new League of Legends patch every two weeks on Wednesday. Every patch shifts the meta, sometimes a little, sometimes enough to invalidate half your champion pool. We track the full cycle: PBE preview when changes hit testing, final patch notes on live release day, and post-patch winners and losers once the dust settles.
If you're chasing rank, the difference between knowing what's broken and finding out the hard way is 100+ LP. Bookmark this page, or skip ahead to the live tier list for current patch standings.
How to Read LoL Patch Notes Without Wasting an Hour
Riot's official patch notes are 4,000+ words of changelogs. Most of it doesn't matter for ranked play. The 80/20 read:
- Skip flavor changes, VFX updates, particle reworks, sound effects. Doesn't affect winrate.
- Look for >5% nerfs and buffs on champions you play. Below 5% rarely shifts a matchup.
- Item changes are the highest leverage, one item adjustment can buff or nerf 20+ champions at once. Read the items section first.
- System changes (XP, gold, objectives) are the biggest meta shifts. They change how every game flows, not just specific picks.
- Ignore "minor adjustments" unless they're stacking on a champion that's already strong. Riot uses these to nudge winrates 0.5%, mostly invisible.
Our previews break down what actually matters before patch day. Our final patch notes recap covers what hit live, what got reverted in hotfixes, and what's emerging from pro play.
LoL Patch Cycle FAQ
How often does League of Legends patch?
Every two weeks on Wednesday during the regular season, with rare hotfixes between cycles. Mid-Season and Pre-Season patches can be larger and ship on different days.
When do patch previews release?
Riot posts the patch preview on PBE roughly 7-10 days before the live patch, usually the Tuesday or Wednesday before live release. Numbers can change between preview and live; don't bet your placements on a preview-only buff.
What are hotfixes vs full patches?
Full patches ship on the regular 2-week cadence and require a client download. Hotfixes are server-side adjustments Riot pushes between patches when a champion is too broken to wait, usually a 5-15% number tweak with no client update.
Do patches affect ranked placements?
Yes, and this is why timing matters for smurfs. A patch that buffs your main while nerfing common counters is the ideal time to grind ranked. Starting a fresh climb on a smurf account the week of a favorable patch can be worth 200+ LP.
Where do I see the live tier list after a patch?
Our live tier list updates within 48 hours of every patch with current S/A/B/C/D rankings by role, weighted by winrate, pickrate, and pro play.