Ranked Season 2 ended on July 28, 2026 and Season 3 began the following day alongside Patch 26.15. The reset brings a handful of changes that alter how the first weeks of a split feel, and a couple of them reward playing early.
| Change | Season 2 | Season 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Aegis of Valor LP | Standard LP, mastery required | Double LP on wins, no requirement |
| Loss protection | Active | Removed |
| Duo queue | Allowed above Master | Master only |
Aegis of Valor: double LP, no safety net
The biggest ranked change is to Aegis of Valor. It now awards double LP for wins and no longer requires mastery to earn, but loss protection has been removed. The design intent is clear: winning is what moves you, and the system no longer cushions the losses.
Practically, this makes early-season LP swings larger in both directions. If you are going to grind, a good stretch now is worth more than the same stretch was last split — and a bad one costs more.
Duo restrictions moved
Duo queueing is allowed in Master, but restricted in Grandmaster and Challenger. If you climb past Master with a duo partner, expect to finish the split solo.
League Classic
Patch 26.15 also introduced League Classic, a retro mode with 60 champions and classic gameplay mechanics. It does not affect your ranked LP, but it is worth knowing it exists before you wonder why your friends are not in queue.
How to open a split sensibly
- •Play your placements on a champion you already know — this is the worst moment to learn a new pick
- •Check Rank Distribution after the reset settles; tier boundaries move in the first weeks and your MMR context changes with them
- •Watch the 26.15 balance changes before locking a main: Bel'Veth was restructured, and Locke, Naafiri, Riven, Sylas and Mordekaiser were all nerfed
- •Alistar, Kai'Sa, Maokai, Volibear and Zac were buffed — cheap value picks while the meta settles
Alistar
Maokai
Volibear
Zac