Legends of Runeterra

Legends of Runeterra Update: Hecarim Charges Into Path of Champions

The latest update for Legends of Runeterra, version 7.7, appears to bring the Shadow Isles cavalry commander Hecarim into the Path of Champions mode. Based on the available sources, this is the headline addition for the patch that went live around July 15, 2026.

Hecarim's arrival in the roguelike PvE mode is the kind of addition that makes sense on paper but raises questions in practice. The Spectral Rider has always been a tempo-oriented card in constructed play, relying on attacking with multiple ephemeral copies to overwhelm opponents. How that translates into the slower, progression-based Path of Champions format will be interesting to see. Riot has a mixed track record with translating aggressive champions into that mode.

The update text also points to new followers joining Warwick and Ambessa. Both of these champions were added to Path of Champions in earlier patches—Warwick arrived in Patch 5.11 back in November 2024 alongside the Arcane prologue content, while Ambessa followed later. These new follower cards could fill gaps in their respective deckbuilding options or provide new synergies.

New champion bundles for Hecarim are also indicated. These typically include the champion card itself, some associated cards, and often a cosmetic or two. For players who have been waiting to unlock Hecarim without grinding through his adventure path, this is the straightforward option.

The Reddit patch notes thread for 7.7 mentions that the new card art for the Warwick and Ambessa followers looks great, which is a small but welcome detail. Visual polish matters in a card game where you stare at the same boards and effects for hours.

I'll be honest—I'm mildly surprised to see Hecarim getting this treatment before some other popular champions who still lack Path of Champions content. But the Shadow Isles roster in that mode has been thin, so it fills a gap.

The Facebook post about Warwick and Ambessa joining Path of Champions is from November 2024, so that's old news being recycled or referenced in context. The actual new content here is Hecarim and his associated additions.

Patch 7.6, which released June 3, brought Illaoi's Deep Voice Below the Waves Adventure. So Riot is maintaining a roughly monthly cadence for new Path of Champions content, which is a reasonable pace for a game mode that doesn't generate direct revenue the way card bundles do.

If you've been maining Warwick or Ambessa in Path of Champions, this update gives you new toys to experiment with. If you've been waiting for a reason to dive back into the mode, Hecarim might be that reason. The Shadow Isles have always had strong mechanical identity, and seeing how that translates into the PvE structure is worth a few runs.