Shyvana’s long-awaited VGU, which promises to overhaul her gameplay and visuals, has been delayed yet again. Originally slated for release in 2025, Riot Games has now pushed her rework back to 2026, citing new challenges and thematic considerations tied to League of Legends’ evolving seasonal structure.
In a Reddit post, Andrei “Riot Meddler” van Roon addressed the delay, explaining that Shyvana’s update is being postponed to better align with an upcoming seasonal theme. However, he acknowledged that announcing the rework prematurely, without a clear roadmap or direction, created false hope and led to frustration among players. Meddler apologized for the misstep, recognizing the community’s disappointment.
Shyvana’s update now sits behind Skarner’s VGU in Riot’s development pipeline—a project that has already faced multiple delays. For now, it’s unclear when her turn will come, making the 2026 timeline feel uncertain.
The delay isn’t entirely unexpected given Riot’s recent trend of aligning champion updates with broader narratives. For example, Viktor received a VGU alongside the release of Arcane Season 2, while Ambessa Medarda was introduced shortly before that. Riot’s prioritization of thematic synergy likely influenced the decision to push Shyvana’s rework further down the line.
What to Expect from Shyvana’s Rework
While Riot has shared limited details about Shyvana’s reimagined abilities, they’ve clarified their goals for her update. According to Riot Sopebox, the focus is on refining her existing identity rather than completely overhauling her lore or themes.
“[Shyvana] has a great theme and has become an iconic part of the League roster. We’re looking to enhance her gameplay and narrative without straying too far from what makes her unique. Think more Udyr and less Skarner,” said Sopebox.
Based on this approach, Shyvana will likely retain core elements of her kit, such as her Dragon form, while receiving new mechanics to enhance her playstyle.
However, with the rework still years away, nothing is set in stone. For now, players will have to remain patient.