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Balance4 min readFour cards banned a day into the Black Empire
A day after Reign of the Black Empire launched, Blizzard temporarily banned Bat Mask, Divergence and Reach Equilibrium in Standard, and Reincarnate in Wild. Its reason: the Old Gods are harder to keep in check than planned.Read the post
Balance4 min readPatch 26.21: Jinx and Lee Sin nerfed, Sion buffed
Two dozen champions change in Patch 26.21. Jinx, Lee Sin and Viktor come down, Sion, Darius and Nunu go up, and with the Worlds patch locked, Azir, Orianna and Ryze finally get their buffs.
Esports2 min readSwiss Round 1: eight best-of-ones on October 23
Every match of the Worlds Swiss Stage’s first round, with times: Gen.G against Invictus Gaming opens the day, and T1 meets Los Grandes at 18:00 CDT.
Meta3 min readEarly Black Empire decks, and what the bans took
The first Reign of the Black Empire decks to post records: N’Zoth, C’Thun and Zoo Warlock, and a Quest Priest built on Reach Equilibrium. Then four bans landed. Which decks lost what.
Balance3 min readMel loses her reflect in Patch 26.22
Riot’s midscope update for Mel removes Rebuttal’s reflect. It becomes a nova that destroys projectiles and shields her team, with power moved from her lane into her late game. No numbers yet.
Esports2 min readWorlds 2026: the Swiss Stage starts October 23
Karmine Corp won the Play-In, and sixteen teams now play the Swiss Stage in Allen, Texas, before the final in Brooklyn on November 14. The schedule, the format and the field.
News3 min readReign of the Black Empire: four Old Gods and Assemble
Hearthstone’s new expansion adds 135 cards and brings back the Old Gods, each a legendary with four abilities of its own. How C’Thun, Yogg-Saron, N’Zoth and Y’Shaarj work, what Assemble does, and the launch events.
News2 min readRiftbound: Radiance launches October 23
Radiance, the fifth set for Riot’s League of Legends card game, adds 180 cards, three new keywords and Showdown Decks that pit Seraphine against Evelynn.
News2 min readLeague Classic ends its run in January
Riot is closing League Classic in January 2027. Before then: set queue hours in quieter regions, custom games only in Japan and the Middle East, a final Battle Pass, and four more champions in 26.21.
Balance3 min readPatch 26.20, the patch Worlds is played on
Every Worlds 2026 game is played on Patch 26.20. Ambessa, Ashe, K’Sante and Yunara were trimmed for it, Kennen and Kindred buffed, and Rocketbelt retuned. What changed, and why it still matters.
Esports7 min readWorlds 2026 Swiss Day 1: every match in Eastern Time
Every Worlds 2026 Swiss match on Friday, October 23, in Eastern Time: Gen.G vs Invictus Gaming opens at 1:00 PM ET, LOS vs T1 is at 7:00 PM, and Team Secret Whales vs LYON closes at 8:00 PM.
Esports2 min readGen.G vs Invictus Gaming: 1:00 PM ET on October 23
Gen.G and Invictus Gaming open the Worlds 2026 Swiss Stage with a best-of-one at 1:00 PM ET (12:00 PM CDT) on Friday, October 23. How both teams got to Allen, and what one game decides.
Esports2 min readHanwha Life Esports vs Top Esports: 2:00 PM ET on October 23
Hanwha Life Esports vs Top Esports is the second best-of-one of Worlds 2026 Swiss Round 1, slotted for 2:00 PM ET (1:00 PM CDT) on Friday, October 23. The MSI champion against China's third seed.
Esports2 min readBilibili Gaming vs Movistar KOI: 3:00 PM ET on October 23
Bilibili Gaming vs Movistar KOI is slotted for 3:00 PM ET (2:00 PM CDT) on Friday, October 23, the third best-of-one of Worlds 2026 Swiss Round 1. Both teams arrive off a lost final.
Esports2 min readAnyone's Legend vs Karmine Corp: 4:00 PM ET on October 23
Anyone's Legend vs Karmine Corp is slotted for 4:00 PM ET (3:00 PM CDT) on Friday, October 23. China's top seed meets the Play-In winner in a Worlds 2026 Swiss Round 1 best-of-one.
Esports2 min readG2 Esports vs Dplus KIA: 5:00 PM ET on October 23
G2 Esports vs Dplus KIA is slotted for 5:00 PM ET (4:00 PM CDT) on Friday, October 23: the only LEC–LCK match of Worlds 2026 Swiss Round 1, and a best-of-one.
Esports2 min readTeam Liquid Alienware vs CTBC Flying Oyster: 6:00 PM ET on October 23
Team Liquid Alienware vs CTBC Flying Oyster: 6:00 PM ET (5:00 PM CDT) on Friday, October 23, a Worlds 2026 Swiss Round 1 best-of-one. The LCS Summer champion against the LCP's second seed.
Esports2 min readLOS vs T1: 7:00 PM ET on October 23
LOS vs T1 is slotted for 7:00 PM ET (6:00 PM CDT) on Friday, October 23, the seventh of eight Worlds 2026 Swiss Round 1 best-of-ones. T1 start their bid for a fourth straight title.
Esports2 min readTeam Secret Whales vs LYON: 8:00 PM ET on October 23
Team Secret Whales vs LYON closes Worlds 2026 Swiss Round 1 at 8:00 PM ET (7:00 PM CDT) on Friday, October 23, in the slot most exposed to delays. The Round 2 draw follows.