Riot Games is ready to launch league of legends classic With patch 26.15 on July 29, 2026. This update will bring back the Season 3 style Summoner’s Rift experience, including pre-reworked champion kits, old runes and masteries, as well as classic items.
The new mode will initially include 60 champions and introduce an updated progression system, a community voting feature called The Council, and a Seasonal Classic Pass with cosmetic rewards.
While the game mode is primarily based on Season 3, it will also include champions from earlier and later seasons, chosen for recreations of their kits.
What’s included in League of Legends Classic at launch and the 60-champion roster
League Classic launches with a recreation of the initial Summoner’s Rift map:
60 champions with pre-rework kits, old-school runes and masteries, and classic items and item combinations. It also includes summoner spells from that era, as well as a leveling and summoner’s journey progression system.
Seasonal Classic Passes offer both free and paid tracks, complemented by classic skins that restore champion looks from 2009 to 2013.
Portraits, a new cosmetic type, are also introduced along with The Council, a community voting system.
In addition to League Classic, Riot will also release ARAM Mayhem Classic-ish, a limited-time mode that offers a themed ARAM experience focused on League Classic.
The launch roster consists of the original 40 champions, with an additional 20 released between 2009 and 2013. There are plans to release more champions beyond that initial league period after launch.
The full roster of 60 champions includes Ahri, Alistar, Amumu, Anivia, Annie, Ashe, Blitzcrank, Brand, Cho’Gath, Korki, Dr. Mundo, Evelyn, Ezreal, Fiddlesticks, Gangplank, Garen, Gragas, Heimerdinger, Janna, Jarvan IV, Jax, Karthus, Kassadin, Katarina, Kayle, Kog’maw, Lee Sin Are. Leona, Lulu, Lux, Malphite, Maljahar, Master Yi, Miss Fortune, Morgana, Nasus, Nidalee, Nunu and Willump, Olaf, Pantheon, Ramus, Rhys, Shako, Singed, Sion, Sivir, Skarner, Sona, Soraka, Tarik, Timo, Tristana, Tryndamere, Twisted Fate, Twitch, Wayne, Veigar, Warwick, Wukong, and Zilian.
With exceptions such as Malphite and Morgana, all champions use older or pre-rework kits whose updates have changed little since their Season 3 versions. Some champions feature updated visual effects, animations, and sounds to match their classic kits, particularly those whose modern versions have undergone significant changes following visual and gameplay updates.
Gameplay changes, classic runes and masteries, and progression system
League Classic reduces the pace and dynamism that characterizes modern League of Legends. The main differences include slower scaling and more deliberate trading. The mana cost is more significant, making mana-out conditions more common.
Pushing opponents out of lane now grants a meaningful experience and gold gain. Those carries who gain the lead can more easily play the game alone. The game features small jungle camps similar to older versions which include ghosts and jungle buffs.
Respawn timers are faster, and Jungle Camps take more damage. The map has been redesigned for better clarity with improved lighting, shadows and textures.
The classic Runes and Masteries are back but with updated quality of life features. All runes start immediately at tier 3. They are obtained through a pass-like progression system. Players start with three Rune Pages, and two more are unlocked as they level up in Classic Mode.
Additional Runes can be purchased using Page IP. Mastery Pages and Points are fully unlocked at Classic Level 4. The goal of this system is to preserve the feeling of the old League experience that longtime players remember, without requiring a long run to level 30.
Council voting system, what players need to know, and availability
The Classic tier is a free, one-time progression track separate from the regular account tiers. Players earn Classic levels by playing League Classic and can unlock various features including Runes, Masteries, and more.
IP and BE currencies, rune pages and cosmetics. The Summoner’s Journey unlocks after a player reaches Classic level 10. Rank progression occurs from Salt through Legend, with only a small portion of players expected to reach the highest levels.
Role selection is based on priorities, which discourages the old-fashioned final selection, siled approach. Players choose their preferred roles before the game begins.
Seasonal Classic Passes offer both free and paid reward tracks. Rewards include IP and BE currencies, rune pages, emotes, titles, classic skins and images. Classic skins restore the original appearance of champions from 2009 to 2013. They can be unlocked using Classic Skin Tokens obtained from the Seasonal Pass or purchased in the Shop. Classic Chroma will also be available.
At launch, many existing skins will be compatible with League Classic, and support for more skins will be added over time. Portraits are a new cosmetic feature that replaces or rotates between different loading screen splashes, with styles ranging from doodles to champion reinterpretations.
The Council is a new community voting system that allows players to influence future decisions of League Classic. Community votes will determine which champions will be added next, which skins will be created for the mode, and some gameplay changes.
The biggest differences players returning from Season 3 will notice are: the original pace and slower game flow, a simplified champion pool, and the re-introduction of the build system that was removed in Modern League.
For new players, expect to encounter AP master Yi with lifestyle item builds, Kassadin with high ban rates reaching 95 percent, Cyan mid and Alistar at the top as viable strategies, as well as AP assassin Poppy and other uncommon builds.
New players should also be prepared for more challenging jungle camps than recent League editions. Riggle’s Lantern returns to maintain the jungle, and dying to the blue buff remains a common issue of the early game for those unfamiliar with that era.
League Classic launches with patch 26.15 on July 29, 2026. This mode is included in the standard League of Legends client and does not require a separate download or subscription. Players can queue for League Classic through the regular client interface.
Riot Games has not announced additional champions beyond the initial 60 at launch, but has hinted that more initial era champions will be added later. The council voting system will help determine which champions will be introduced next. Further content, remaining changes, and updates on future Classic Season Passes will be available through official League of Legends channels as the mode is developed.
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