Riot Games is preparing to add a new champion named Locke to League of Legends. The studio has confirmed that the character will serve as an AP mid assassin and will be numbered as champion 173 in the roster.
Riot Games confirms new champion Locke joins roster as number 173
The release timeline points toward June 10, 2026. This date aligns with patch 26.12 and the launch of Season 2 Act 2. Game Director Pu Liu previously posted an April Fool's joke suggesting that Locke would trigger the removal of another champion to maintain a roster cap of 172 players.
Head of League Studio Andrei van Roon indicated in a Reddit comment that new content is expected around the middle of the year. The specific June date remains unconfirmed and subject to change as development continues.
Riot Games has not confirmed whether any existing champion will actually be removed from the game. The studio also has not finalized the exact release window for Locke or the associated patch cycle.
Source: PCGAMESN
