LoL Patch 26.22: Mel's Rework Arrives on November 4 and Locke Gets Nerfed

Riot Games has set a date for its next move in League of Legends: patch 26.22 lands on November 4, and it is not arriving quietly. According to Movistar eSports, the update brings a rework to Mel, the champion who jumped from Arcane to the Rift, and a power cut to Locke. The former is already shaping up to be one of the most debated changes in recent memory, and the community has spent days sharpening its arguments for and against.

Why does it matter so much? Because a rework is not a simple numbers tweak. It changes how a champion is played, who picks them, which compositions they fit into and what answers the opponent has. For those competing in ranked or in tournaments, and for those who make a living creating content around the game, an update like this forces them to relearn, reassess and, in some cases, abandon picks that took months to master.

What you need to know

• Date confirmed: patch 26.22 arrives on November 4, according to information published by Movistar eSports.
• Mel rework: it is the headline of the update and is already being described as one of the most controversial changes in recent memory.
• Locke nerfs: Riot is cutting the champion's power, a sign that his performance had drifted beyond what the studio considers healthy.
• No numbers yet: the source does not detail the exact values of each change, so it is best to wait for the full patch notes before drawing firm conclusions.

What changes with Mel's rework

Mel came to League of Legends with a very distinct identity: a mage capable of reflecting projectiles and punishing anyone who dares to throw abilities at her without thinking. That mechanic made her a unique pick, the kind you either love or hate. Riot's decision to dig deep into her kit says a lot about how hard it has been to fit her into a healthy meta without making her frustrating for the opponent or useless for the player piloting her.

That is exactly what makes this rework controversial. When a champion has a unique mechanic, any deep change splits the community between those who believe it was broken and those who feel something they had made their own is being taken away. The source does not go into the details of each ability, so we still do not know whether this is a complete identity change or a partial rebuild. Until the full notes are out, the sensible approach is to stay calm, test her in normal games and leave ranked for when the new kit is properly understood.

Locke loses power

The other name on the patch is Locke. A champion receiving nerfs in the same update as a high-profile rework suggests Riot sees a performance or presence problem it does not want to carry into the final stretch of the competitive year. Cuts like these usually aim to rein in a runaway pick rate or win rate, although the source specifies neither the reasons nor the numbers. For those who have him as their main pick, it is time to go through the notes with a fine-tooth comb on launch day and check whether the changes affect his playstyle or only his raw numbers. Losing base damage is not the same as losing the power window that defines the champion.

Our take

At Underworld Lordz, we are less concerned about the rework itself than about how it is communicated. When Riot makes deep changes to a champion, competitive players need to know what problem is being addressed and where the character is being taken. Without that context, the community fills the void with theories, and that is where controversy is born. If the studio has concluded that Mel needed a rebuild, we would rather it do so now and with clarity than keep patching her with small adjustments for months.

That said, reworks are not the enemy. A champion that is impossible to balance ends up being a burden both for those who play them and for those who suffer against them in the opposite lane. What we do ask for is respect for those who have invested time in mastering a kit: a clear official guide, enough time on the test server and the willingness to correct course quickly if the result strays from what was intended. November 4 should be the start of a conversation, not the end of one.

For content creators, on the other hand, a patch like this is a gift. There are guides to write, builds to test, comparisons between the old Mel and the new one and debates to fuel for weeks. Our advice is simple: do not draw conclusions on day one. Reworks take time to settle, and anyone who rushes to absolute judgments risks having to backtrack publicly shortly after.

What do you think?

On November 4 we will have answers, but the debate has already started in our chat and on Discord. If you are a Mel main, do you feel the rework fixes the champion, or that the one you chose is being taken away from you?