New season preview: Chinese style themed heroes for 2026, Li Xin may be the next hero to receive animation production.

Skin releases have entered a lull, and Summoners are turning their attention to the new season. New content is being revealed one after another, with topics including new heroes, matchmaking mechanics, animation production, hero reworks, and the revamp of the Peak Match. All of this can be previewed through the test server, and the developers will make official announcements in the live stream later.

New heroes of traditional Chinese culture, with Yu the Great leading the charge.

The silhouette of the new hero hints at a brand-new male hero, related to ocean waves. The riddle isn't hard to guess; on the same day as the co-creation night, the developers had already announced the hero plan for 2026, adopting a Chinese cultural theme. The game will delve into their backstories and character connotations, conveying traditional culture beyond just game entertainment. The three male protagonists are Yu the Great, Liu Er, and Wang Wei. The first CG animation revealed features ocean waves and a giant cauldron, perfectly matching the silhouette easter egg. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the new hero for Season 42 will definitely be Yu the Great. "Yu the Great controlled the floods, passing his home three times without entering," a line of dialogue that exudes dominance and is still vivid in players' minds.

Skill mechanics may be related to the river.

Since the character design is related to the water element, the skill and combat mechanics might emulate those of Doria and Lan. The river would be a source of buffs; the former could heal and create waves, while the latter could dive in to increase movement speed and become a top-tier finisher. If we replace him with Yu the Great, what new gameplay would be introduced? We need to know his role; he's most likely to be played in the top lane or mid lane. After all, most new heroes released in recent years have focused on the side lanes. Season 41 featured Chi Tu, the "weapon-obsessed girl" of the Jianmu Guishan clan, who possessed a wide variety of weapons. Season 40 featured Sun Quan, a marksman, both skilled in offense and defense. As for mages, we really have to go back to Hainuo in 2023. Two years later, shouldn't the mage class get a new member?

There aren't many male mid-lane heroes to begin with, and the focus is on the female market. Hainuo, who has been absent for a long time, has been transformed into a magic attack warrior and disappeared from the mid-lane. Da Yu has a strong image and is expected to achieve a full output effect. The mid-lane has always pursued the ultimate in killing, with unlimited burst power. No matter how tanky or powerful he is, he won't last long. Season 43 is expected to be updated in April, with Liu Er joining. Finally, the third hero, Wang Wei, should be released in Season 44, after the update in July.