League of Legends replay downloads are being limited to ten per hour during patch 26.21. Riot says the limit targets automated mass downloading while preserving access for players and creators reviewing matches.
The change covers the download workflow, not just one category of match. Riot says players will still be able to download their own replays, friends’ replays and those of other players. Its announcement does not describe an exemption from the hourly limit for your own games.
What changes for match review
For a player saving a few games from a session, ten downloads leaves room to review several matches. A coach or creator collecting a larger batch will need to spread that work out. Riot says it chose a time-based limit to keep content creation possible while stopping applications from scraping thousands of replays.
The notes do not specify whether the hour is a rolling window or a fixed reset, or whether a failed download counts. There is no published reset time to plan around. Riot says it will monitor download volumes as the restriction takes effect.
This is not a Worlds balance update
Riot published the 26.21 notes on 20 October. The opening explicitly separates the live-game changes from the locked Worlds patch, identified as 26.20 in the previous patch notes.
That distinction matters if you review professional matches alongside your own ranked games: 26.21’s champion and item changes should not be applied to a Worlds replay. Our Worlds Swiss-stage guide covers the tournament schedule; the replay cap is a client-download change, not a change to its competition format.