Riot Games has announced several significant changes to
League of Legends Ranked play that will take effect with
Patch 26.15. The
Aegis of Valor system, introduced at the start of the season, is set to be adjusted. Originally unveiled at the end of 2025, the feature was designed to protect players who were assigned to an autofilled role in Ranked games.
Under the original system, autofilled players could either earn double LP for a victory or receive full LP loss protection after a defeat, provided they achieved at least a C Champion Mastery grade. The last two features are now being removed as Riot shifts Aegis of Valor toward a different purpose.
Encouraging players to give "their very best"
As explained by Riot Games in the patch notes, "Aegis of Valor has helped make autofill games feel worth playing out, but its loss protection and Mastery requirement created a secondary objective: play for the grade, not necessarily for the win. [...] We want every Ranked teammate to share the same goal, which is trying their very best to win the game."
As a result, Riot is removing LP loss protection for defeats in autofill games. On the other hand, players will no longer need to earn at least a C Champion Mastery grade to receive double LP after a victory. Instead, the bonus will now be granted automatically whenever an autofilled player wins. According to Riot, the change is intended to encourage a more competitive mindset while improving the overall Ranked experience.
Apex duo queue returns for Master players
The same patch notes also confirm the return of duo queue for Master-tier players. They will once again be able to queue with another player, provided both accounts are close in rank. The restriction remains in place for Grandmaster and Challenger players, however.
"As our matchmaking systems improve, we'll keep looking for ways to bring duo queue back to GM and Challenger, but only once we can do so without compromising the fairness and competitive integrity they're meant to represent," Riot Games added.
