Riot Will Replace Mel’s Reflect Ability in League of Legends

Riot Games will rework Mel’s Rebuttal in League of Legends patch 26.22 on Wednesday, Nov. 4. The update will remove the ability’s projectile reflection and replace it with a shield for Mel and nearby allied champions.

In an Oct. 20 blog post, Riot described Mel as being “no longer in an acceptable place” after professional and top-ranked players continued using her kit. By the middle of 2026, she was banned in about 15% to 30% of matches and had a win rate of 45% to 47%, according to the company.

Rebuttal currently allows Mel to reflect incoming projectiles at the champion who fired them. The ability requires precise timing and can return powerful attacks to their source.

After the update, Rebuttal will destroy enemy projectiles instead of reflecting them. Each destroyed projectile will trigger a shield for Mel and nearby allied champions.

Riot’s blog post noted that the company tested several versions that kept the reflection effect. It found that versions outside Mel’s ultimate either created too much frustration for opponents or were unpopular with most Mel players. “We know her reflect is a significant part of what some Mel players love about her kit,” Riot wrote.

Mel’s other abilities will receive smaller changes. Her E root will be less effective against enemies closer to her, while the immediate burst from her Q, Searing Brilliance, will be reduced. The Q will also receive a fixed cooldown refund when it hits at least one enemy champion. Her ultimate will gain additional cooldown reduction as it is leveled.

Riot wrote that the Q and ultimate changes are intended to help Mel build her passive stacks faster and use her ultimate against more champions. The revised kit will be released with League of Legends patch 26.22 on Nov. 4.