Everything You Need to Know About League of Legends Classic

Riot Games has released full details about League of Legends Classic, which will release on July 29 with LoL Patch 26.15.

LoL Classic will take the game back to Season 3 (2013) with a mixture of items, old champion abilities, and items from the past, which Riot describes as ‘greatest hits’.

League Classic will feature old-school Runes and Masteries, items, Summoner Spells, a starting roster of 60 classic champions with many pre-rework kits, and a recreation of the old Summoner’s Rift map.

Riot has promised that the game will be slower and more strategic as it used to be, compared to modern LoL’s focus on mobility and action.

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What is LoL Classic Exactly?

LoL Classic is a combination of items, champions, and systems that were previously present in LoL before Season 4.

While anchored in Season 3, Classic will also feature much older content, including every single Summoner (even Fortify), and almost every single item from the first few years of LoL, including Atma’s Impaler and Frozen Mallet.

Plus, there will be 60 old playable champions at launch with a lot of pre-rework kits and abilities.

Classic will also feature the old gameplay that many LoL fans fell in love with, as Riot described:

“In Classic, champions have sharper strengths and weaknesses, missiles and dashes are slower, and there are more stuns.

“Each one of your spells costs more to cast and do substantially more damage than modern League. That means you need to be more strategic about when and how you engage with your opponents.”

Riot has also recreated the old version of Summoner’s Rift, including Wraiths and friends for Red and Blue Buff.

However, the publishers have also made some improvements to readability with improved lighting, shadows, and textures to aid gameplay clarity.

LoL Classic Champions

LoL Classic will launch with 60 champions, including the original 40 and then another 20 select champions from before Season 4 – meaning no Yasuo.

Riot says it limited the initial roster so that jumping back into Classic won’t be too overwhelming.

Players who already own a champion in LoL will have immediate access if that champion is in Classic.

Otherwise, players can unlock Classic champions through the in-game levelling system (Classic Level), by getting them in the shop, or through a free champion rotation.

Riot has also promised to add more champions from 2009-2013 to LoL Classic in the future.

For now, the playable champions in League Classic at launch will be:

Ahri
Alistar
Amumu
Anivia
Annie
Ashe
Blitzcrank
Brand
Cho’Gath
Corki
Dr. Mundo
Evelynn
Ezreal
Fiddlesticks
Gangplank
Garen
Gragas
Heimerdinger
Janna
Jarvan IV
Jax
Karthus
Kassadin
Katarina
Kayle
Kog’Maw
Lee Sin
Leona
Lulu
Lux
Malphite
Malzahar
Master Yi
Miss Fortune
Morgana
Nasus
Nidalee
Nunu & Willump
Olaf
Pantheon
Rammus
Ryze
Shaco
Singed
Sion
Sivir
Skarner
Sona
Soraka
Taric
Teemo
Tristana
Tryndamere
Twisted Fate
Twitch
Vayne
Veigar
Warwick
Wukong
Zilean

League Classic Items, Runes & Masteries

Many iconic classic items and item combinations will return in League Classic, with a focus on memorable builds of the past.

Atmogs (Warmogs and Atma’s Impaler), metagolem, and all gold per 10 item builds were all confirmed to return, as is the item Zz’Rot Portal.

The old Runes and Masters system is also returning, but Riot has made it a lot simpler and faster to unlock them.

LoL Classic players will unlock Runes and Masteries just by playing, and all of them will be Tier 3 to start with so Runes won’t need to be upgraded.

Players will start with three Rune Pages, unlock another two through Classic Levels, and more can then be purchased for IP, the returning currency, which will be earned through playing.

Masteries will also be easily accessible, with all Mastery pages and points fully unlocked after reaching Classic Level 4.

Riot also confirmed that everyone will have default Runes and Masteries pages, so they won’t be underpowered going into game if they forget to change them.

Summoner’s Journey Replaces Ranked

At launch, League Classic will have a single PvP draft queue, Co-op vs AI, and customs as playable gamemodes.

There won’t be a ranked mode at launch as Riot doesn’t want a “sweaty” grindfest when the game first comes out.

However, instead, Riot is introducing a new progression system called Summoner’s Journey.

Once a player reaches Classic Level 10 in-game, they will start their Summoner Journey at Salt, then progress to Wood, and then through other tiers, with Legend being the top.

This will be a way for players to still flex their skills, as only a single-digit percentage of the playerbase will make it to Legend.

League Classic Champion Select

Many seasoned LoL players will remember the mad rush to call their position in Blind Draft and the arguments that would unfold afterwards.

To avoid this, Riot is implementing a positional preference system, which will allow players to rank the roles they want in order.

Riot promised it will try to give players their first choice and avoid their fifth choice, but warned players may occasionally have to play their second or third preference to keep queue times to a minimum.

LoL Classic Skins and Other Cosmetics

Riot has announced Classic Skins for the upcoming game, which will return champions to their original looks.

These Classic Skins won’t be default in the game; instead, champions will have their current models but with the old-school inking outlines.

Classic Skins will be unlockable through Classic Skin Tokens, which players can access through the Seasonal Pass (both on paid and free tracks) or in the in-game shop.

Tokens can be used to unlock any Classic Skin, with Riot promising to add more in the future.

Riot has also confirmed that some skins players already own in LoL will also be automatically unlocked in LoL Classic.

Again, Riot says the list of skins accessible in League Classic will be expanded in future updates.

Additionally, some champions have also gotten VFX, animation, and sound updates to match their Classic kits, if they’ve received VGUs since this time period, like Sion, for example.

And Riot has confirmed there will be new Classic Chromas, which recolour old skins.

And Riot also confirmed a new kind of cosmetic for League Classic: Portraits.

Portraits are alternate-styled splash arts for the loading screen, ranging from silly doodles made by Riot’s designers to pretty reinterpretations of champions.

Riot confirmed that Portraits, Classic Skins, and Classic Chromas will only be usable in League Classic.

‘The Council’ Will Decide the Future of League Classic

Riot Games has also introduced a new system called ‘The Council,’ which will give players a say in future updates to LoL Classic.

The community voting system will allow players to decide on which champions are added next, what skins are made for Classic, and even gameplay changes.

Players will earn access to The Council through their Classic Level. Playing more games will then give those players more voting power.

Riot says it will still control game balance and have the final say, but promises to work closely with the community.

What champion are you most excited to play as in LoL Classic? Let us know on the Insider Gaming Discord.

And in other news, Riot has confirmed Riftbound cards for LoL Worlds 2025 champions T1. And for even more Insider Gaming delivered directly to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter.