At the heart of League of Legends Patch 26.22 is the redesign of Mel’s W ability. Instead of sending enemy projectiles back, it now creates an area that destroys projectiles before retaliating. Yasuo and Thresh are also receiving damage reductions. If you play one of these three champions, your first step should be to understand how their abilities now behave before changing your item build. In Mel matchups in particular, plays based on the old W interaction will need to be reconsidered.
How Does Mel’s W Work?
The reworked W – Rebuttal creates an expanding area. Enemy projectiles are destroyed by this area, and the retaliation occurs after the area completes its effect. The ability also grants Mel a shield and provides movement speed to her and allies within the area. Details of the mechanic are available in Riot’s Patch 26.22 notes. The first takeaway for players is to consider the timing of the defense and counterattack separately. When using W, pay attention to which projectile is incoming, where you are standing, and the positions of your teammates. Do not treat the retaliation as though it sends back every property of the enemy’s ability unchanged.
When playing against Mel, simply tracking the ability’s name will not be enough either. One approach you can try is waiting for the opponent to use W before committing your important projectile. Whether this is the right decision in every matchup depends on the lane state and the flow of the team fight. Do not change too many variables at once during your first attempts. Start by observing when W is useful in a matchup you already know, then evaluate your positioning and ability order. This will help you analyze the outcome of a play without confusing it with a timing mistake caused by habit.
Yasuo and Thresh: Which Damage Is Being Reduced?
| Yasuo Q total attack damage ratio | 105% | 100% |
| Thresh R base damage | 250/400/550 | 200/350/500 |
Yasuo Q’s base damage remains unchanged. Thresh R’s ability power ratio is also unchanged. Therefore, these two adjustments should not be interpreted as blanket nerfs that reduce all damage by the same proportion. Here is a simplified example for Yasuo: assuming 200 total attack damage, the portion of Q’s damage contributed by this ratio becomes 200 instead of 210. The difference of 10 is an example calculation made before accounting for other effects and defenses; it does not mean every Q hit will necessarily display exactly 10 less damage. For Thresh, the base value is reduced by 50 at every ability rank. When planning an engagement, reassess the enemy’s remaining health instead of relying on the old damage calculation. More data is needed before drawing a definitive conclusion about a champion’s entire role from a single numerical change.
What Is on the K/DA Cosmetics Schedule?
Content arriving after the patch includes K/DA FIRESTARTER Ahri, Evelynn, Kai’Sa, and Akali, K/DA Hitmaker Evelynn, and Prestige Classic Baron Kog’Maw. Riot lists these in the upcoming content section; this does not mean they are all available for purchase today or will be offered at the same RP price. If you have a collection goal, first choose the appearance you want, then check its acquisition method in the client. Seeing a skin’s name in the patch notes and learning which currency is required to obtain it are two separate stages of purchase planning.
ItemGold’s Take
Your first priority in this patch should be reviewing old habits when playing as or against Mel. It is also better to set your cosmetics budget after seeing the actual acquisition options in the store. For your separate RP needs, you can browse the ItemGold LoL RP Türkiye category and the League of Legends 1,005 RP product. The product is intended for Turkish accounts; separately confirm the acquisition method and required balance for the skin you want.
FAQ
Does Mel’s W send old abilities back exactly as they are?
No. The new mechanic destroys projectiles and then retaliates; do not rely on the old reflection logic.
Was Yasuo Q’s base damage also reduced?
No. The part reduced by this change is its total attack damage ratio.
Does the Thresh R nerf change its ability power ratio?
No. The adjustment applies to its base damage, while the ability power ratio remains unchanged.
Are all the K/DA skins available today?
The patch notes list this content among the items arriving after the patch. Check the in-client store for current availability.
What should I try first when preparing for the new patch?
If you play Mel, observe your W timing. If you play against her, pay attention to the order in which you use your important projectiles. Do not draw definitive power rankings from a single match.
