League of Legends Patch 25.17: Season 3 launch with Doom Bots

Highlights

• Season 3 begins — new ranked season, new

Battle Pass, new skins

• Doom Bots returns — the popular PvE mode

is back from retirement with a full rework

• Xin Zhao visual update — the most-requested

VGU in 2025 finally ships

• Vayne and Sett in the jungle — 2 new

junglers added to the pool

• AP Irelia, Lane Kayn — new off-meta builds
• Ranked Season 2 ends August 26, 23:59

local time — last chance for Victorious Fiora

Doom Bots (game mode)

Doom Bots is back after 4 years in retirement. The 2026 version is a full rework:

• 5-player co-op PvE against Veigar's

army of overpowered bots

• 3 difficulty tiers (Doom, Ultra Doom,

Mega Doom)

• 5 boss fights with unique mechanics
• Persistent meta-progression — unlock

new bot modifiers and abilities between runs

• 4-week duration (Aug 27 - Sep 24)

Doom Bots was the most-requested retired game mode in 2025 (per Riot's annual player survey). The 2026 version is the first with persistent progression.

Xin Zhao visual update

Xin Zhao gets his long-awaited VGU (Visual and Gameplay Update):

• New model (Source 2 quality, similar

to the 2025 Udyr and Warwick updates)

• New abilities — Q is now a 3-hit

strike with knock-up on the third hit

• New voice lines (the original Chinese

VAs return)

• 2 legendary skins (Wuxia and Imperial)

re-released at the new 750 RP price point

The old Xin Zhao skins (Commando, Imperial) are being raised from 520 to 750 RP with this update. If you don't own them, you can buy them at the old price before August 29.

New jungle picks

• Vayne jungle — Riot's first official

AD carry jungle since Graves rework. Condemn (E) is now a displacement with bonus damage to monsters.

• Sett jungle — Riot's first bruiser

jungle since Rek'Sai. The Haymaker (W) is now a 6-second cooldown on monsters with bonus true damage to large monsters.

Both picks are designed for experienced junglers. The clear times are slow but the gank potential is high.

Other balance changes

• Singed (nerf): armor 36 → 33, attack

speed growth 2.25% → 2.5%

• Gwen (nerf): Q on-hit damage modifier

75% → 65%

• Master Yi (nerf): E true damage

reduced by 10%

• Rumble (nerf): equalizer damage

reduced by 15%

• Rek'Sai (buff): Q damage increased

by 8%

• Illaoi (buff): tentacle slam damage

increased by 12%

The patch is overall a nerf to the dominant S-tier picks (Gwen, Master Yi, Rumble) and a buff to the underperforming ones (Rek'Sai, Illaoi).

New Battle Pass

The Season 3 Battle Pass launches August 27:

• 48 levels (down from 50)
• Free track: 2 Champion Shards, 1

Hextech Chest, 4 Ward Skins

• Premium track ($15): Arcana Lulu, Arcana

Jhin, Visions of the Fallen Garen, Visions of the Fallen Tryndamere, Elderwood Alistar, Prestige Visions of the Fallen Jarvan IV

The Battle Pass is faster to complete than the Season 2 pass (same XP, fewer levels).

Ranked Season 3

• Starts: August 27, 12:00 local time
• No LP reset — your Season 2 rank

carries over (like the Season 1 to 2 transition)

• Victorious Mission reset (15 ranked

games needed for Victorious Fiora)

• First split ends October 25, 2026

What's next

• Aug 27: Season 3 begins, Doom Bots live
• Sep 3: Patch 25.18
• Sep 17: Patch 25.19
• Oct 1: Patch 25.20
• Oct 14 - Nov 9: Worlds 2026 (location

TBA)

• Nov 12: Preseason patch 25.23

FAQ

When does LoL Season 3 begin?

August 27, 2026 at 12:00 local time.

When does Doom Bots end?

September 24, 2026. The mode returns to retirement after 4 weeks.

Will I get Victorious Fiora?

If you complete the Season 2 Victorious Mission (15 ranked wins) before August 26 23:59, you get the skin. The skin is not available after Season 2 ends.

What is the Xin Zhao VGU?

A full model and ability rework. The new Xin Zhao is more focused on early-game jungle duels. The old kit is gone (Q is now a 3-hit strike with knock-up).

Should I buy old Xin Zhao skins now?

Yes, before August 29 they cost 520 RP. After that they cost 750 RP. The Wuxia and Imperial skins are the best-looking.