Locke League of Legends Champion Preview

League of Legends is getting its first new assassin in nearly three years, and Riot Games appears to be taking a different approach with Locke.

Set to arrive with Patch 26.13 on June 24, Locke, the Ashen Exorcist, is a melee AP assassin designed around preparation and execution rather than instant burst. While assassins are typically known for diving onto targets and eliminating them in seconds, Locke's kit encourages players to set up their damage before committing to an engagement.

The champion will be the only new League of Legends release in 2026 and is expected to occupy the mid lane.

Locke's Skills Preview

At first glance, Locke shares many of the characteristics players expect from an AP assassin. He has mobility, burst damage, and multiple tools that allow him to chase down vulnerable targets. The difference lies in how he creates those opportunities.

Passive – Silver Stake

Silver Stake gives Locke bonus magic damage on his basic attacks. The passive becomes stronger against low-health targets, allowing him to finish off enemies that survive his initial burst.

Like many assassin passives, Silver Stake rewards Locke for committing to extended trades and helps maintain his damage output even when his abilities are on cooldown.

Q – Ritual Nails

Ritual Nails is the centerpiece of Locke's kit.

The ability sends out a series of Soul Nails that damage, slow, and mark enemies. Those marks can then be detonated by Locke's other abilities or basic attacks, dealing additional damage.

Because so much of his burst revolves around these marks, Ritual Nails often serves as the first step in Locke's combo. Landing the ability gives him a window to engage, while missing it significantly lowers his damage potential.

W – Soul Ignition

Soul Ignition grants Locke additional movement speed at the cost of a percentage of his health each second.

When the effect ends, Locke restores part of the damage taken during its duration. The ability cannot kill him, making it a relatively safe tool for aggressive plays.

In practice, Soul Ignition helps Locke stick to targets during trades, chase fleeing enemies, or reposition during skirmishes. Proper timing will likely separate experienced Locke players from newer ones.

E – Ashen Pursuit

Ashen Pursuit is Locke's primary mobility tool.

The ability allows him to blink to a location while damaging nearby enemies. His next basic attack gains increased range and causes him to dash directly to his target, damaging enemies in his path.

This is usually the ability Locke uses to capitalize on Ritual Nails. After marking an opponent, he can quickly close the distance and detonate those marks for a large burst of damage.

Ashen Pursuit also resets on champion takedowns, giving Locke the ability to reposition and continue fighting during teamfights.

R – Purgatory

Purgatory gives Locke a powerful execute mechanic.

The ultimate throws a totem that slows enemies and deals damage over time. Opponents who fall below a certain health threshold are instantly executed.

Successful executions permanently increase that threshold by a small amount and partially refund the ability's cooldown. The execute can also be triggered by allied damage, allowing Locke to contribute even if he doesn't land the finishing blow himself.

While the scaling is relatively modest, Purgatory gives Locke additional teamfight value and makes him increasingly dangerous in longer matches.

How Locke's Combo Works

Locke's gameplay revolves around preparation before execution.

Most trades begin with Ritual Nails to apply marks and slow the target. Once those marks are active, Locke can activate Soul Ignition for movement speed before using Ashen Pursuit to close the distance and detonate the marks for burst damage. Silver Stake helps finish off weakened opponents, while Purgatory provides an execute option when enemies attempt to escape.

The overall flow feels closer to Ekko than traditional assassins such as Zed or Talon. Instead of instantly diving onto a target, Locke often needs to set up his damage first before committing to the kill.

Familiar Elements for Ekko Players

Although Locke introduces a new identity to League's roster, some players may find his gameplay familiar.

Riot developer Blake "Squad5" Smith, who previously worked on champions such as Hwei and Mel, has described Locke's combat flow as being closer to Ekko than many of League's existing assassins. Both champions rely on setting up engagements before diving in, combining mobility with delayed burst damage rather than relying solely on instantaneous eliminations.

Locke's passive also encourages extended skirmishes more than some traditional assassins. His attacks deal additional magic damage that scales with an enemy's missing health, allowing him to remain threatening even after his primary cooldowns have been used.

Meanwhile, Soul Ignition introduces an additional layer of risk and reward. The ability drains Locke's health while active, but later restores a portion of the damage taken. Players who activate it at the wrong moment may find themselves vulnerable, while those who use it effectively can gain valuable mobility during trades.

Purgatory Gives Locke Scaling Execute Potential

Locke's ultimate, Purgatory, may end up being one of the most talked-about parts of his kit.

The ability damages and slows enemies before executing champions below a specific health threshold. More notably, each successful execution permanently increases that threshold, allowing the ultimate to become slightly stronger throughout a match.

The scaling appears intentionally conservative, increasing by only 0.5% per successful execution, but it gives Locke a form of long-term progression that many assassins lack. Riot has also confirmed that allies can trigger the execute effect, creating opportunities for coordinated team fights.

While the mechanic is unlikely to define every match, it provides an additional incentive for Locke players to remain active throughout the game.

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Arriving After MSI

Locke will officially join League of Legends with Patch 26.13 on June 24. Riot has already confirmed that the champion will be disabled for MSI 2026, giving professional teams additional time to learn the champion before he becomes available in major esports competitions.

As League's first assassin release since Naafiri debuted in 2023, Locke fills a champion class that has seen relatively little attention in recent years. Whether he becomes a staple pick in solo queue or eventually finds a place in professional play remains to be seen, but his combination of setup-focused gameplay, mobility, and scaling execution mechanics should make him one of the more closely watched releases of the season.