League of Legends Classic release date, champions, Classic Pass, and The Council revealed

The wait is almost over as Riot finally lifts the curtain on everything coming to League of Legends Classic.

After teasing League of Legends (LoL) Classic earlier this month, and featuring the new game mode in a showmatch at the 2026 Mid-Season Invitational Grand Finals, Riot Games has now lifted the curtain on what players can expect when the nostalgic game mode launches later this month.

Launching with Patch 26.15 on 29 July, League Classic aims to recreate the feeling of early LoL while modernising select systems for today's players. According to the press release, the mode brings back the original Summoner's Rift, old-school Runes and Masteries, iconic items, pre-rework champion kits and a slower, more strategic style of combat.

Rather than recreating one exact patch from the past, Riot says League Classic is built around 2013's Season 3 while pulling together "a collection of greatest hits" from the game's early years.

Executive Producer Paul Bellezza said the project was born from years of player feedback. "League Classic is personal for us. You've been asking for this for years, and honestly, a lot of us at Riot have missed that early League feeling too," Bellezza said according to the press release. 

“We're not going for a one-to-one recreation of the old times,” he clarified. "We want League Classic to scratch that itch while still bringing something new to the table. At its core, this is about honoring League's roots. Whether you've been here since the beginning or you're coming back after years away, we want this to feel like home."

When does League of Legends Classic release?

League of Legends Classic launches on 29 July as part of Patch 26.15. At launch, players will be able to queue for a single PvP Draft mode alongside Co-op vs AI and custom games. Riot says the focus is on creating a fun social experience rather than another competitive Ranked grind.

The development team also confirmed in the dev blog that a positional preference system will replace the old "mid or feed" era of champion select. Instead of racing to claim a role, players can choose their preferred positions before queueing, helping them get their first choice while keeping queue times healthy.

What is League of Legends Classic?

League Classic is Riot's attempt to capture what made early League memorable without recreating a single patch from the past. According to the dev blog, the team started with Season 3 as its foundation before pulling together iconic mechanics, champions and items from the first few years of League. That means players can expect nearly every original Summoner Spell, plenty of pre-rework champion kits and familiar gameplay systems from across League's early history. One champion, however, won't be making the trip back in time.

"No Yasuos allowed," Riot joked in the dev blog. Gameplay has also been tuned to reflect the slower pace many veteran players remember. Compared to modern League, champions have more defined strengths and weaknesses, dashes and projectiles are slower, crowd control is more common, and abilities deal heavier damage while costing more mana. The result is a style of gameplay that rewards careful decision-making over constant mobility.

The recreated Summoner's Rift also brings back familiar landmarks including Wraiths and the original jungle camps, while receiving targeted improvements to lighting, textures and shadows to improve gameplay clarity.

League Classic launches with 60 champions

League Classic will launch with 60 champions, including the original 40 alongside another 20 champions released between 2009 and 2013. Riot says additional champions from that era will be added over time. Players who already own those champions in League of Legends will immediately have access to them in League Classic. Otherwise, champions can be unlocked through Classic Levels or purchased from the in-game shop.

Many of the champions have also received updated visual effects, animations and sound effects to better match their original kits, while all base models feature the thick inked outlines that defined early League's art style.

Which champions are in League of Legends Classic?

League Classic launches with 60 champions, consisting of the original 40 champions alongside another 20 released between 2009 and 2013. Riot says the roster is intentionally smaller to make it easier for both returning veterans and newer players to jump into the mode, with more champions from the era planned after launch.

Players who already own these champions in League of Legends will have immediate access to them in League Classic. Otherwise, they can unlock them by progressing through Classic Levels or purchase them from the in-game shop.

Here's the full launch roster for League Classic:

In addition to bringing back their classic kits, all champions feature the thick inked outlines that defined early League's visual style. Some have also received updated visual effects, animations and sound to better match their Classic abilities while preserving their nostalgic look.

Classic items, Runes and Masteries return in LoL Classic

Many of League's most iconic item builds are also making a return. Riot highlighted fan favourites such as Atmogs, the Metagolem build and even stacking multiple Gold per 10 items, while bringing back almost every item from the game's early years.

Old-school Runes and Masteries are also returning, although with a much faster unlock process than veterans may remember. Instead of purchasing and upgrading individual Runes, players simply unlock Tier 3 Runes, Masteries and additional Rune Pages by playing League Classic and increasing their Classic Level.

To help keep everyone on even footing, Riot will also provide default Rune and Mastery pages so players can jump straight into matches while unlocking more options through gameplay.

How progression works in League of Legends Classic

League Classic introduces Classic Levels, a permanent progression track available to every player. Simply playing matches earns Classic Levels, unlocking rewards including Runes, Masteries, Blue Essence, Influence Points, Rune Pages and a range of cosmetics.

Once players reach Classic Level 10, they begin their Summoner's Journey, progressing from Salt through several ranks before eventually climbing all the way to Legend. Riot says only a small percentage of players are expected to reach Legend, giving dedicated players a long-term goal without introducing a traditional Ranked ladder.

LoL Classic Passes, Classic Skins and Portraits explained

League Classic will also feature Seasonal Classic Passes with both free and paid reward tracks. Players can earn rewards including Blue Essence, Influence Points, Rune Pages, emotes, titles, Classic Skin Tokens and the new Portraits cosmetic.

Classic Skins recreate how champions looked between 2009 and 2013, while Classic Skin Tokens can be spent on any available Classic Skin instead of being tied to a specific champion. Existing skins will also be supported where possible, with Riot planning to expand compatibility over time.

League Classic also introduces Portraits, a new cosmetic that replaces the traditional loading screen artwork with alternate illustrations ranging from playful doodles to fresh reinterpretations of champions. Portraits, alongside Classic Skins and Classic Chromas, are exclusive to League Classic.

The Council lets players vote on LoL Classic's future

One of League Classic's biggest new features is The Council, a community voting system that gives players a direct say in the mode's future.

While Riot will continue to oversee game health and balance, players will be able to influence decisions such as which champions should be added next, upcoming Classic skins and selected gameplay changes. Access to The Council is unlocked through Classic Levels, with players earning greater voting power the more they play League Classic.

According to the dev blog, Riot created the system because community feedback was what made early League special in the first place, saying it wanted players to have a meaningful role in shaping where League Classic goes next. 

From pre-rework champions and classic item builds to community-driven updates through The Council, League Classic is shaping up to be far more than just a trip down memory lane.