League of Legends has undergone so many changes that someone who stepped away a few years ago might need to relearn a large part of the game. Champions have been reworked, items have vanished from the shop, and even the pace of matches has sped up. In July, part of that history will be revisitable without relying on community-run servers.League of Legends Classic is set to launch on July 29, 2026, as part of Patch 26.15. The new mode brings back the old Summoner's Rift, pre-rework champion kits, removed items, Runes, Masteries, and various strategies that were popular during the MOBA's early years.The goal isn't to launch an exact replica of a single patch. Riot used Season 3 as a starting point and selected elements from various moments between 2009 and 2013. The result acts as a "greatest hits" collection from that era—including a few things that probably shouldn't have been quite so successful.What is League of Legends Classic?League of Legends Classic is a game experience integrated into League of Legends that brings back mechanics, characters, and strategies from the MOBA's early years. The mode will feature separate progression and continue to receive Champions, skins, and updates after its launch.Season 3 served as the primary reference for development, though Riot drew content from various stages of the game's history. This explains the presence of setups such as AP Master Yi, mid-lane Sion, AD Alistar, and the dreaded Kassadin—who once reached over 95% ban rate.Also confirmed are legacy Summoner Spells, nearly all items from the early years, and various champion kits as they existed prior to reworks. Yasuo, however, was left out of this trip to the past.Official Riot Games news released gathers the key information about the mode.When will League of Legends Classic be released?League Classic will launch on July 29, 2026, alongside Patch 26.15. Riot hasn’t yet announced a specific release time, so availability will likely coincide with the patch rollout in each region.The mode will be accessible directly through League of Legends. Players who’ve been away for a while can use the days leading up to the launch to regain access or update their Riot Account details.Is League of Legends Classic free?Access to League of Legends Classic won’t require the purchase of a separate game. The experience will be available within the free League of Legends client and will feature a progression track open to all players.There will also be seasonal Classic Passes with both free and paid options. Purchasing the premium pass will be optional and tied to additional rewards, rather than serving as a requirement to join matches.Which version of League of Legends served as the basis?Season 3 serves as the primary reference point for League of Legends Classic, but the mode doesn’t fully replicate a specific update released in 2013. The team selected Champions, items, Runes, Masteries, and Summoner Spells from various periods during the game's early years.This approach allows for the combination of mechanics that never actually coexisted in the original game. The goal is to recapture the feel of that era without being bound by the technical limitations or issues of any single specific update.The visuals weren’t left untouched, either. Lighting, shadows, and textures were improved for better readability, ensuring that gameplay elements remain easy to identify during skirmishes.What will the gameplay of League Classic be like?Classic Summoner's Rift is returning. Wraiths are coming back to the jungle, while the Ancient Golem and Ancient Lizard will once again be accompanied by smaller creatures. These monsters deal more damage, respawn quickly, and should make early jungle clears more dangerous.Which Champions will be in League of Legends Classic?League of Legends Classic will launch with 60 Champions. The roster brings together the 40 original characters from 2009 and another 20 selected from releases up to 2013.The initial roster includes: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, Olaf, Pantheon, Rammus, Ryze, Shaco, Sion, Singed, Sivir, Skarner, Sona, Soraka, Taric, Teemo, Tristana, Tryndamere, Twisted Fate, Twitch, Vayne, Veigar, Warwick, Wukong and Zilean.Champions that underwent major reworks will appear with kits inspired by their older versions. This includes names such as Sion, Warwick, Evelynn, Fiddlesticks, Kayle, and Skarner.Players who already own one of these Champions on their account can use them immediately in Classic mode. Others can be unlocked by progressing through Classic levels or purchased in the store. The mode will also feature a free rotation.Riot plans to expand the roster over time, keeping the choices within the timeframe established for Classic mode. Modern Champions aren’t expected to be included in this selection.Which items and Summoner Spells will be available?Almost all items from the early years of League of Legends will return. Atma's Impaler, Frozen Mallet, Deathfire Grasp, and even Zz'Rot Portal are among the items mentioned by Riot.Builds like "Atmog", "Metagolem", and the old inventories packed with gold-generating items could make a comeback. Since "Classic" brings together content from various seasons, some combinations will be possible for the first time.All the old Summoner Spells are also part of the lineup. This includes options removed years ago, such as Fortify. Full availability and balance values are expected to be detailed in the Patch 26.15 notes.How will Runes and Masteries work?The old Runes and Mastery pages will need to be configured before matches. These systems can alter the attributes, item builds, and behavior of each Champion, bringing back some of the preparation that used to take place even before Champion Select.Runes will be available directly at Tier 3, eliminating the need to acquire weaker versions before obtaining the best ones. Most popular options will return, while some rarely chosen Runes have been adjusted to make them more useful.Each player will start with three Rune pages. Two more can be earned by leveling up in Classic mode, and additional pages will be available in exchange for Influence Points earned in matches.All Mastery points and pages will be unlocked upon reaching Level 4 in Classic mode. Players who enter a match without configuring their settings will be assigned a preset page, preventing an excessive disadvantage.Which modes will be available?League of Legends Classic will feature a PvP Blind Pick queue at launch. Co-op vs. AI matches and custom games will also be available for practice or testing item builds.A traditional ranked queue isn’t part of the initial plans. The team intends to keep Classic an experience focused on having fun with friends, though they’ve created a separate system for those who wish to track their progress.Champion Select will feature position preference. Players can rank lanes by preference, and the system will attempt to assign the top choice while avoiding the last one. Depending on queue times, the second or third choice might be assigned instead.This feature puts an end to the old scramble to type "mid" in chat first. Some traditions are truly best left to memory.What is the Summoner's Journey?The Summoner's Journey will be the performance progression system for League Classic. It becomes available once a player reaches Level 10 in the mode.The path begins at the Salt tier, moves through Wood, and leads up to Legend. Riot hasn’t yet revealed all the intermediate divisions, though they’ve explained that only a small fraction of the community will manage to reach the highest level.The Journey won’t function as a separate ranked queue. Instead, it’ll serve to track achievements, demonstrate experience, and provide a long-term goal for the most dedicated players.How do Classic Levels and Passes work?Classic Levels form a free progression track that advances as the player participates in matches. It unlocks Runes, Talents, Influence Points, Blue Essence, access to the Summoner's Journey, and cosmetic rewards.The "Rustier Blitzcrank" skin is among the items offered in this progression. These levels won’t reset each season and will function similarly to a permanent account level.Classic Season Passes will feature both free and paid tracks. Planned rewards include Influence Points, Blue Essence, Rune pages, emotes, titles, Portraits, and Classic Skins.How will Classic Skins work?Classic Skins bring back the look certain Champions had between 2009 and 2013. The old Evelynn, for instance, can visually return through this system.These cosmetics will be unlocked using Classic Skin Tokens obtained via season passes or the store. Players can save their Tokens if the desired skin isn't available yet.Many skins already owned on the account will be usable in League Classic right from launch. Compatibility won't cover the entire catalog immediately, and new options will be adapted in future updates.Base models will feature the distinctive visual outlines of early League of Legends. Champions who underwent major reworks will also receive effects, animations, and sounds that match their classic kits.Classic Chromas and Portraits round out the cosmetic offerings. Portraits are alternative illustrations displayed during match loading screens. Like the Classic Skins and Chromas, these items will be exclusive to this mode.What is the League Classic Council?The Council will serve as a voting mechanism allowing the community to influence the future of League of Legends Classic. Consultations may cover upcoming Champions, new skins, and changes to game mechanics.Access will be unlocked based on Classic Tiers. Players who dedicate more time to the mode will hold greater voting power, giving more influence to the segment of the community that regularly participates in matches.Decisions regarding game health and balance will remain Riot's responsibility. The Council will help indicate the directions desired by the community, while the team will decide how to implement those choices.Will League of Legends Classic be permanent?Riot hasn’t announced a date for taking League of Legends Classic offline. Plans to add Champions, run seasons, sell passes, and hold Council votes point to an experience designed to keep evolving after launch.The future will depend on the community's reception and the decisions made during the initial updates. Launching with 60 Champions marks just the starting point of this new timeline.Will League Classic replace the current League of Legends?League of Legends Classic will function as an additional experience and won’t replace the modern version of the game. Players will still be able to access standard League of Legends queues, Champions, and updates.Progression in Classic will also be separate, though Champions already owned and some account skins will carry over to the mode. This ensures no one has to leave behind years of collecting just to revisit the old Summoner's Rift.The launch offers an intriguing opportunity for two different audiences. Veterans can rediscover strategies that vanished following reworks, while newer players will finally understand why certain names still send shivers down the spines of those who faced the Kassadin of that era.Now, tell us:What do you most want to see return in League of Legends Classic?
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