League of Legends Patch 26.18 has created several major shifts in the Solo Queue meta. Ekko is one of the biggest winners, reaching the top of mid lane after a significant win-rate increase, while tank junglers such as Rammus, Sejuani, Zac, Skarner, and Cho'Gath are quietly becoming much stronger. Jinx remains the dominant ADC, while Braum has emerged as one of the best support choices. Here is the updated Patch 26.18 tier list and the champions worth prioritizing for climbing.
1. Top Lane: Zahen Joins S Tier
Top lane has remained relatively stable in Patch 26.18, but Zahen is the biggest winner.
Following his recent buffs, Zahen moved from A tier into S tier after gaining roughly 1% win rate. The increase was enough to push him into the top group without making him overwhelmingly powerful.
Nasus also remains one of the strongest Solo Queue top laners. Although his lifesteal was nerfed previously, the reduction has not been enough to knock him out of the top tier.
For players looking to climb through top lane, Nasus remains a reliable scaling option, while Zahen is increasingly attractive for players comfortable with his matchups and mechanics.
2. Jungle: Tank Champions Are Back
The biggest surprise in Patch 26.18 is arguably the jungle meta.
Tank junglers have quietly returned to prominence after changes to jungle pet damage. Rammus, Sejuani, Zac, Skarner, and Cho'Gath are all finding considerably more success.
Rammus is particularly notable, sitting around the 53% win-rate range and remaining underpicked compared with more popular damage-oriented junglers.
Sejuani is another major riser and has finally earned an S-tier position. Better tank itemization, stronger jungle pet damage, and repeated nerfs to bruiser options have improved her relative strength.
Master Yi also deserves attention. His recent buffs produced a larger impact than expected, pushing him into S tier.
3. Mid Lane: Ekko Is the Biggest Winner
Ekko is the standout champion of Patch 26.18.
His win rate increased by roughly 1.5%, pushing him into the OP tier for mid lane. His Q changes are particularly important because they make some of his weaker early-game matchups easier to survive.
Ekko can now use Q more comfortably to farm and reach his important power spikes. Once he has the items needed for skirmishing, his mobility and burst make him extremely dangerous.
Meanwhile, Cassiopeia dropped to C tier after her changes proved much more damaging to Solo Queue performance than expected. Syndra also fell into A tier, while champions such as Orianna, Ryze, and Mel remain relatively weak after repeated balancing aimed at competitive play.
Kassadin received buffs but has barely moved statistically and remains an A-tier choice.
4. ADC: Jinx Remains the Champion to Beat
The ADC meta is surprisingly stable, with Jinx occupying the lone OP-tier position.
Zeri successfully maintained her S-tier status despite receiving nerfs, while Xayah and Tristana also remain strong alternatives.
One of the biggest traps is Ezreal. Despite maintaining a very high pick rate, his win rate remains below 46%. Unless you are already highly experienced with Ezreal, there are stronger options available in Patch 26.18.
Varus is another champion worth monitoring because of the recent Rageblade changes. His early win-rate improvement suggests the item could become increasingly important as more data arrives.
5. Support: Braum and Jinx Make a Powerful Duo
The support meta continues to favor strong melee supports.
Braum, Leona, and Thresh occupy the OP tier, while Nautilus has dropped to A tier and Bard has fallen to B tier after their recent changes.
Seraphine remains an S-tier support because her nerf has limited impact during many standard support games.
The most attractive combination right now is Braum + Jinx. Jinx already has the strongest ADC position, while Braum provides reliable protection, crowd control, and excellent synergy with aggressive team compositions.
Braum also gains additional value because Yone remains popular in both top and mid lane, allowing Braum to function as a useful counter or teammate pairing.
Final Thoughts
Patch 26.18 has produced a more diverse Solo Queue meta than the previous patch. Ekko is the biggest mid-lane winner, tank junglers are quietly becoming excellent climbing choices, Jinx remains the premier ADC, and Braum offers enormous support value.
For players trying to climb, the safest approach is not simply to follow the most popular champions. Rammus, Sejuani, Braum, and Ekko all offer strong opportunities because their current power is not always reflected by their pick rates. Players looking for a fresh start can also explore a League of Legends Account to jump into the current Solo Queue meta.
The best strategy for Patch 26.18 is to focus on a small champion pool, prioritize strong fundamentals, and take advantage of these emerging picks before the wider Solo Queue meta catches up.
