According to the latest leaks, the next League of Legends champion will be named “Locke,” and we already have some information on how it would look and feel like. Riot has confirmed the next champion’s core role: a mid-lane AP assassin. The full reveal has not happened yet, so Locke is coming, but his final design, kit, lore, and release date still need official confirmation.

Riot can adjust names, numbers, animations, and mechanics before a champion reaches live servers. For now, Locke looks like a Demacia-linked assassin tied to League of Legends Season 2, with a likely focus on magic burst damage, mid-lane pressure, and fast kill windows.

What will Locke look like in League of Legends?

Locke does not have a full official champion reveal yet, so his final model and splash art remain unknown. Current reports connect him to a hooded figure shown around the Demacia storyline, with red glasses, a dark outfit, and a hunter-like look.

The main visual clue comes from the wider Season 2 theme. Riot is sending players to the outskirts of Demacia, with Vayne hunting demons and learning more about her past. That makes Locke’s reported design feel closer to a supernatural hunter than a classic Demacian soldier.

Players have also linked Locke to a strange weapon that looks like a nail or spike. Some reports describe it as petricite-related, which would fit Demacia’s anti-magic identity. Petricite is a major part of Demacian lore because it absorbs and stores magic. 

Thanks to a YouTuber called Big Bad Bear, we may have some more insight about the LoL champion. He claims some details about the champion in their video, and you can find that video below:

Locke skills and gameplay: Is Locke a mid laner?

Yes, Locke is expected to be a mid laner. Riot has confirmed that the next champion is a mid-lane AP assassin, and Locke is the champion most reports connect to that reveal.

That role tells players a lot, even before the full kit arrives. Mid-lane AP assassins usually rely on burst damage, ability combos, and movement tools. They often look for short trades in lane, then punish weak targets once they reach key levels or item spikes.

Locke’s exact skills are not official yet. Leaked gameplay reports claim he may use a nail-like projectile, a second form, area damage, and some kind of sealed artifact mechanic. Treat those details as early information, not final ability text.

A mid-lane AP assassin also needs clear counterplay. Riot usually gives these champions strong damage windows, but also leaves room for opponents to punish cooldowns, missed skillshots, or risky engages. If Locke follows that pattern, he may reward players who know when to trade, roam, and commit to a kill.

Is Locke AD or AP?

Locke is expected to be AP. Riot described the next champion as an AP assassin, which means ability power should be his main damage stat.

That makes Locke different from AD assassins such as Zed, Talon, Qiyana, or Naafiri. AP assassins usually deal magic damage and build items that increase ability power, magic penetration, cooldown access, or burst damage.

Locke release window and PBE expectations

Locke does not have a fully confirmed live release date. Riot has tied the next champion to the 2026 Season 2 cycle, and reports point toward Season 2 Act 2.

The PBE will likely give players the first real look at Locke’s kit. That is where players usually see ability names, cooldowns, numbers, passive effects, animations, voice lines, and early balance changes before a champion reaches live servers.

A PBE release also does not mean the final version is locked. Riot often changes damage numbers, cooldowns, scaling, or small mechanics after player testing. Early PBE footage can show the champion’s direction, but live patch notes will give the final launch details.

Locke lore and Demacia connection

Locke appears tied to Demacia’s Season 2 story direction. Riot’s current setup follows Vayne as she hunts demons near the outskirts of Demacia, which gives Locke a clear place in the same theme.

Demacia has always had a tense relationship with magic. Champions such as Lux, Sylas, Galio, Garen, Jarvan IV, and Vayne all show different sides of that region. Locke could add another angle if his weapon, enemy targets, or personal story connect to petricite, demons, or hidden magic.

The reported hunter image also fits the setting. Vayne already carries the demon-hunter identity in League, so Locke may expand that part of the world instead of starting a completely separate story.