Riot Games is bringing back the old-school League of Legends experience with League of Legends Classic, launching with Patch 26.15 on July 29. If you’ve ever wanted to relive the early days of one of gaming’s biggest titles, now’s your chance. This isn’t just a trip down memory lane, though. Riot is mixing in some modern touches to keep things fresh for everyone.
League of Legends Classic takes us back to the 2013 Season 3 era, but it’s not just a carbon copy of one patch. Riot has cherry-picked features and content from the game’s early years. You’ll see the return of old-school runes and masteries, 60 classic champions (some with their original kits), fan-favorite items, and a Summoner’s Rift map that looks like the original but with better lighting and textures so it’s easier to see what’s going on.
The developers have emphasized that this is not a one-to-one recreation, but rather an homage to League’s roots. Executive Producer Paul Bellezza stated that League Classic is a project the team at Riot Games feels personally invested in, having heard requests for its return over the years. He explained that many developers at Riot also miss the early League of Legends atmosphere and that, while the new mode is not an exact recreation, it aims to honor the game’s roots and evoke a sense of nostalgia. The goal is to offer an experience that feels familiar to longtime players and welcoming to those returning after time away.
Gameplay in League Classic is all about bringing back the slower, more strategic feel of early League. Champions will have more defined strengths and weaknesses, and fights won’t be as fast as what we’re used to now. You’ll need to think a bit more before diving in. If you remember the old item builds and combos, you’ll find a lot of them here again. The rune and mastery system is also back, but it’s been tweaked to be simpler and faster to progress through than before.
At launch, League Classic will have a single PvP draft queue, Co-op vs AI, and custom games. You’ll level up through Classic Levels, unlocking runes, masteries, in-game currency, and cosmetics as you go. Hit Classic Level 10, and you’ll start the Summoner’s Journey, which is a throwback to how progression used to feel in the early days.
Classic Skins and collectible Portraits are coming with the mode, too. You can unlock skins using Classic Skin Tokens, which you can earn or buy, and Portraits give you alternate splash art for your loading screens. These cosmetics are only available in League Classic, so if you want them, you’ll have to play here.
Riot is also rolling out The Council, a community voting system where players get to help decide what’s next for League Classic, like which champions or skins get added. The more you play and level up, the more voting power you’ll have, so active players get a bigger say in how things develop.
League of Legends Classic drops on July 29. It’s built to hit you with nostalgia, but it’s also a fresh start for veterans, returning players, and anyone curious about how League used to be.
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