League of Legends Classic launches on July 29 with Patch 26.15, bringing back an early version of Summoner’s Rift with old-school Runes and Masteries, classic items, Summoner Spells, pre-rework champion kits, and a 60-champion starting roster.
Riot Games has been asked about bringing back some of the old season flavor in one way or another for a good while, and it looks like this is the time for it to happen.
The game mode is generally based around Season 3, but some of the included champions are plucked from earlier and later seasons as well, based on how fun their kits were.
League Classic champions
League Classic launches with 60 champions. The roster includes the original 40 champions and 20 more champions released between 2009 and 2013, with more champions planned after launch from the same early League period.
| Champion | Champion | Champion |
|---|---|---|
| Ahri | Jax | Rammus |
| Alistar | Karthus | Ryze |
| Amumu | Kassadin | Shaco |
| Anivia | Katarina | Singed |
| Annie | Kayle | Sion |
| Ashe | Kog’Maw | Sivir |
| Blitzcrank | Lee Sin | Skarner |
| Brand | Leona | Sona |
| Cho’Gath | Lulu | Soraka |
| Corki | Lux | Taric |
| Dr. Mundo | Malphite | Teemo |
| Evelynn | Malzahar | Tristana |
| Ezreal | Master Yi | Tryndamere |
| Fiddlesticks | Miss Fortune | Twisted Fate |
| Gangplank | Morgana | Twitch |
| Garen | Nasus | Vayne |
| Gragas | Nidalee | Veigar |
| Heimerdinger | Nunu & Willump | Warwick |
| Janna | Olaf | Wukong |
| Jarvan IV | Pantheon | Zilean |
All of these champions will have older and pre-rework kits, aside from the ones like Malphite and Morgana, who barely changed at all.
Newer players will face the menace that is AP Master Yi, 95% ban rate Kassadin, Sion mid, Alistar top, AP assassin Poppy, and many other fun and interactive builds.
Some champions also have updated VFX, animation, and sound to fit their Classic kits, especially if their modern versions changed heavily after a VGU.
League Classic gameplay changes
League Classic is closer to early League in pacing and gameplay balance. The mode reduces some of the speed and mobility that define modern League, making scaling slower and trades more deliberate. You will much more easily run out of mana, forcing your opponent out of lane will net you a meaningful experience and gold advantage, and a fed carry is more likely to solo win you the game.
The Classic map recreates the early Summoner’s Rift layout, including wraiths and jungle buffs with smaller monster camps around them. Jungle camps deal more damage than modern players may expect and respawn faster, and with items like Wriggle’s Lantern, newer players are in for a treat. Don’t get discouraged if you die to the Blue buff!
The map is still getting readability improvements. Lighting, shadows, and textures have been adjusted for better clarity, so it’s not just the old, low-poly Rift with poor lighting all over again.
Classic items, Runes, and Masteries
Classic items and old item combinations are returning, including early-era builds like Atmogs and Metagolem setups. Don’t be surprised if you see every other character building AP: back in the day, Riot Games really liked slapping high AP ratios on champion kits.
Runes and Masteries are also returning, but you will get them at tier 3 immediately and acquire them through the pass-like progression that is there to emulate the old account leveling to 30.
Players start with three Rune Pages, can unlock two more through Classic Levels, and can buy additional pages with IP. Mastery pages and points fully unlock at Classic Level 4, which should keep the system from becoming the same long grind we old League players remember too well and not too fondly.
Classic Levels and Summoner’s Journey
Classic Levels are a free, one-time progression track separate from regular account levels. Players gain Classic Levels by playing League Classic and can unlock Runes, Masteries, IP, BE, Rune Pages, and cosmetics through the system.
At Classic Level 10, players unlock Summoner’s Journey. The progression starts at Salt and climbs through ranks up to Legend, with only a few players expected to reach the highest tier.
To dissuade old-school role calling and “last pick – don’t speak” mentality, Riot implemented the preference system that will have you pick your roles in order of preference.
Classic Passes, skins, and Portraits
League Classic will have Seasonal Classic Passes with free and paid reward tracks. Rewards include IP, BE, Rune Pages, emotes, titles, Classic Skins, and Portraits.
Classic Skins restore the 2009–2013 look of Classic champions. They are unlocked through Classic Skin Tokens, which can be earned from the Seasonal Pass or purchased in the Shop, and Classic Chromas will also be available for Classic Skins.
Many existing skins will work in League Classic at launch, and more supported skins will be added over time. Portraits are a new cosmetic type for League Classic, replacing or rotating alternate loading screen splashes with styles ranging from doodles to champion reinterpretations.
The Council
The Council is a new community voting system for the League Classic. Players will be able to help influence future decisions, including which champions are added next, which skins are made for the mode, and some gameplay changes.
What does League Classic include at launch?
League Classic launches with the early Summoner’s Rift map, 60 champions, many pre-rework kits, old-school Runes and Masteries, classic items, Summoner Spells, Classic Levels, Summoner’s Journey, Seasonal Classic Passes, Classic Skins, Portraits, and The Council. For returning players, the biggest changes are the old pacing, the simpler champion pool, and the return of build systems that modern League removed years ago.
Along with this, Riot will release ARAM Mayhem Classic-ish, a themed, limited-time ARAM Mayhem mode, themed and stylized around the very same League Classic.
