LoL Season 2 introduces WASD and biggest meta shift of the year

Naerlyn Published April 15, 2026

On April 29, Season 2 of 2026 will begin for League of Legends. With it comes a series of massive changes to the game and how it can be played. Most notably, Season 2 will shift the meta for the second half of the Spring Split in LoL Esports.

WASD comes to LoL ranked in Season 2 2026

After months of testing in unranked queues, the WASD control scheme has reached a point where Riot considers it fully functional and balanced. As a result, players will now be able to opt into it in all game modes.

WASD will become a fully supported control scheme in League of Legends, including in LoL Esports.

A shorter duration for LoL Season 2 2026

Unlike all other seasons, this one will last for six patches instead of eight. Patch 26.09 will kick it off on April 29, and it will end with the release of patch 26.15 on July 29.

This will make it coincide with the beginning of Summer Split for LoL Esports, after MSI. For instance, the LCK’s Rounds 3-4 kick off on the same day. While the starting dates of the other regions’ Summer Splits haven’t been announced yet, they should all be within one week of Season 3.

LoL Season 2 2026 brings back keystone runes Stormraider’s Surge and Deathfire Touch. Image source: Riot Games

The LoL Season 2 2026 changes

Beyond simple changes, this patch brings major design changes. Here are the ones that Riot announced.

New keystone runes

• Phase Rush phases out, Stormraider’s Surge returns in its place. Stormraider’s has the same effect but procs from dealing 30% of an opponent’s health instead of three hits. This returning rune is better on assassins while no longer being a good option for the likes of Alistar and Gragas.
• Deathfire Touch comes back as well. This new Sorcery keystone applies a DoT after hitting abilities, making it a rune of choice for burn mages.

Item changes

• Dusk and Dawn loses stats but gains a heal on its proc.
• Statikk Shiv is now once again an Energized item. Giving AD, AP, and attack speed, it applies the lightning once with on-hit effects.
• Voltaic Cyclosword loses its synergy with dashes. Instead, it can proc on abilities.
• Opportunity and Trailblazer are removed from the game.
• There are two new starting items, Doran’s Bow and Doran’s Helm. The former gives AD, AS and omnivamp with no defensive stats, the latter grants health and resistances.
• Gluttonous Greaves are new Omnivamp boots.

Role quests updates

The mid and top role quests will receive an update to make them fit the playstyle of more champions.

• Top laners will receive more experience from teamfighting. Additionally, the range to be counted in the top lane spreads further.
• Mid laners no longer get an Empowered Recall. Instead, completing their quest increases their AD and AP by 6%.

Other additions

LoL Season 2 2026 will also see the release of a new mid laner, during Act 2. The mid lane AP assassin will be the only new champion to come out in 2026.

Arena will receive another overhaul, changing the very way the game is played and the number of players in it. Lastly, Riot will release new batches of skins in this season, including two Prestige skins.

Who will win MSI during the LoL Season 2 2026? Image source: Bruno Alvares / Riot Games

LoL Esports Season 2 2026 predictions

These are important changes, as patch notes impact esports betting drastically. This update favors creativity and flexibility. The new items bring niche options for alternative ways to play champions, and the quests changes allow for more playstyles. Teams that are unafraid to play by their own rules will benefit from this the most.

In the LEC, that means G2 Esports and SK Gaming. In the LCS, it’s LYON that steers from the beaten path the most. Bilibili Gaming has the best players in the LPL and that naturally allows them to experiment more.

In the LCK, the same should be said for Gen.G, but they’ve currently lost their footing since First Stand.

In the end, regionally, this mostly empowers the teams that already were the best. Internationally though, it’s G2 and BLG who will reap the most benefits. The LCK regularly lags behind with creativity, and LYON crumbles from faulty fundamentals.

Featured image source: Riot Games