Riot Games has confirmed that Fearless Draft will return for the League of Legends 2026 season.
Its return was announced during Worlds 2025, ahead of the Grand Finals match between T1 and KT Rolster.
According to Sheep Esports, Chris Greeley, Global Head of League of Legends Esports, confirmed in a press conference that the ruleset will remain in effect for 2026.
First introduced in China’s League of Legends Pro League (LPL) in 2024, the Fearless Draft prevents athletes from using the same champions twice in a row during a series. This is to help balance the game’s rapidly expanding roster of playable characters.
Often featured in Bo3 and Bo5 matches, teams can place 10 additional Fearless bans in addition to the 10 bans from the standard pick-and-ban phase, forcing players to vary their strategies throughout a series.
Fearless Draft continued to be used in 2025, from the first split to the League of Legends World Championship, which, as of writing, has reached the Grand Finals.
The drafting system’s impact on the scene has been a popular topic amongst fans this year, with some arguing that the champion variety makes the viewership experience more enjoyable. On the other hand, others believe that the Fearless Draft has overstayed its welcome and has become stale.
Only time will tell how the Fearless Draft will impact the next season, or if Riot Games will make any changes to shake up the esports scene.
News of the Fearless Draft’s return was accompanied by Riot Games’ plans for next year’s events and their locations, including First Stand, Mid-Season Invitational, and Worlds.
All Eyes on Worlds 2025 Grand Finals
The crowning event of the League of Legends esports scene, Worlds 2025, nears its conclusion as T1 faces off against KT Rolster in the Grand Finals. The winner will be declared this season’s champion and take home the $1m (~£767,000) grand prize.
T1 enters the final series as the defending champions from last year’s event, and is regarded as one of the best team’s in the scene. However, KT Rolster has been a standout team throughout the tournament, topping the Swiss Stage with a 3-0 win/loss ratio, and defeating organisations like CTBC Flying Oysters and Gen.G Esports in the Knockout Stage.
