Riot Games introduces Locke, LoL’s only 2026 champion

Riot Games has introduced Locke, the 173rd champion for League of Legends, scheduled to launch on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, with Patch 26.13. Locke will be the only champion added in 2026, and the reveal arrived with a 2D animated cinematic titled Back from the Brink.

Riot is limiting the 2026 slate to focus on visual and gameplay updates for existing champions and on preparations for the larger League Next update planned for 2027. Shyvana and another Demacian champion have been named for upcoming overhauls.

Locke is a Demacian demon hunter known as the Ashen Exorcist. Early community speculation points to an ability-power assassin profile, though full in-game details have not been disclosed.

The cinematic highlights Locke’s connection to Vayne. In the short film, Vayne comes under demonic influence until Locke uses a mystical skull to draw out the dark power and clear her mind.

The rollout coincides with the Mid-Season Invitational being played on Patch 26.13. New champions are typically unavailable in professional play at launch, so Locke is expected to be disabled during the tournament window.

Patch 26.13 is expected to bring the champion to live servers along with routine balance changes. Participation in ranked and casual queues will open after the patch deploys, while competitive eligibility for international events follows separate rules.

Previously, we reported that Riot rolled out Pride 2026 items across four games.