League of Legends ARAM: Mayhem Patch 26.12 Removes Traits, Introduces Ability Augments

By Peter Tingson GameDaily

Updated May 28, 2026 2:53 PM

League of Legends developer Riot Games has detailed the upcoming ARAM: Mayhem changes coming in Patch 26.12. The new update arrives with Season 2 Act 2.

Alongside the recent Dev Blog, Riot released a new blog explaining several planned gameplay changes. These include the removal of Traits, new Ability Augments, and additional Quest Augments.

Traits Being Removed From ARAM: Mayhem

One of the biggest changes coming in Patch 26.12 is the removal of Traits from ARAM: Mayhem. Riot said the system originally aimed to make Augment selection feel deeper while helping players discover stronger combinations.

According to Riot, Traits created several unintended issues during the mode's first season, including:

Homogenized builds, where different Augment paths resulted in similar gameplay experiences
Reduced game-to-game variety because players could consistently access similar effects
Traits overshadowing champion identity in a "champion-first" game mode
Individual Augments feeling weaker because too much power depended on Trait bonuses

Riot used the Firecracker Trait as one example. The developers said many builds eventually revolved around bombarding enemies with firecracker effects regardless of champion choice.

As a result, some ARAM: Mayhem matches started feeling too similar despite the mode focusing on experimentation and unpredictable builds.

Popular Traits Returning as Standalone Augments

Although Traits are being removed, Riot confirmed some popular effects will return as standalone Augments. One example mentioned was Stackasaurus.

Previously, players needed to complete its Trait bonus before unlocking the full scaling effect. Under the new system, Stackasaurus immediately grants its stacking effect after selection.

Riot said the change supports the team's goal of making every Augment feel impactful individually. The developers also confirmed ARAM: Mayhem will continue experimenting with new systems in future updates.

New Ability Augments Coming in Patch 26.12

Patch 26.12 will also introduce a new category called Ability Augments. According to Riot, many players were most interested in Augments that modified specific abilities or gameplay patterns. The developers pointed to Bread And Butter as one example, which grants 100 Ability Haste to a champion's Q ability.

Riot said the new Ability Augment system expands on that idea by heavily enhancing individual abilities and pushing the "mayhem" factor even further.

Ability Augments heavily enhance specific abilities and can significantly change how champions are played. Riot said the new category should create more unique gameplay experiences across different champions.

One example is Multishot. The Augment causes abilities to fire additional spell bolts toward nearby enemies. Riot said champions like Lux could potentially snare multiple enemies with one Light Binding. Another Ability Augment is Chain Reaction, which enhances knock-up effects during fights.

Enemy champions launched into terrain or other enemies trigger additional crowd control and bonus damage effects.

Quest Augments Expanding Further

Riot is also expanding the Quest Augment system in Patch 26.12. The developers said they want to add more rewards that feel meaningful for different champions.

One of the new additions is Quest: Tooth Fairy. Dealing enough burst damage within a short window causes enemies to drop teeth, granting Lethality and Magic Pen for each one collected.

Another new Augment is Quest: Support Main. Healing or shielding allies progresses the quest and increases team Health Regeneration based on those effects.

Riot Explains ARAM: Mayhem Balance Philosophy

Riot also addressed balance concerns in the new blog post. The developers acknowledged that some Augments may appear intentionally overpowered.

According to Riot, the mode's main goal is keeping gameplay fun and fresh rather than perfectly balanced. However, the developers still outlined several balancing principles for ARAM: Mayhem.

Every champion should have a strong build path
No champion should consistently achieve the strongest build
Strong builds alone should not determine match outcomes

Riot said the team will continue rotating problematic Augments out of the mode. The developers also plan to introduce new Augments for underserved champion classes. They also added that weaker Augments may receive future adjustments when necessary.

More ARAM: Mayhem Content Planned

Riot confirmed that ARAM: Mayhem will continue receiving updates beyond Patch 26.12. The developers said more systems and future content are already being discussed for later releases.

Patch 26.12 will introduce major changes to how ARAM: Mayhem works, especially with the removal of Traits and the addition of Ability Augments.

This story was originally published May 28, 2026 at 2:08 PM.