Quick nostalgia hit
Riot has dusted off the old playbook and announced League of Legends Classic — a new mode that brings back pre-rework champions, the 2013 Summoner’s Rift vibe, and all the fondly embarrassing mechanics you forgot you used to love (or rage at). Think vintage LoL, but with modern matchmaking and fewer floppy disks.
Release date and how long it sticks around
Mark your calendar: LoL Classic goes live on Wednesday, July 29, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. (Spanish peninsular time). Will it be a blink-and-you-missed-it event or a permanent nostalgia lounge? Riot’s hints point toward a long-running mode: they plan to grow the roster (up to 100 champs over time), let players vote on changes, and added a bespoke progression system — all signs this could stick around for a while.
What you need to play
No secret passes required — just a League account that isn’t suspended. If you haven’t logged in for a century, dig up your password ahead of launch so you don’t miss the shuffle.
Want to jump in right now?
If patience isn’t your strong suit, the mode is playable on the Public Beta Environment (PBE). Warning: the PBE lives in North America, so players further away may enjoy lots of creative latency. It’s great for testing, less great for flawless plays.
Who’s in the roster (and how many will there be?)
Classic focuses on champs from the 2009–2013 era. The initial lineup includes 60 champions and Riot plans to expand that roster toward 100 over time to keep the experience authentic but not overwhelming. The starting lineup (alphabetical) 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, 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, and Zilean.
How to unlock champions
If you already own a champion in the main game, it will be unlocked in Classic. If not, you have two routes: grind the Classic-only progression to unlock them, or buy them from the main store. In short: you won’t be stuck praying to RNG — there are clear, friendly options.
Which patch is Classic based on?
Answer: it’s a bit of everything. Riot’s goal was to craft a mash-up of notable moments from LoL history. The Rift looks like 2013, but some champions appear in forms from different eras. The twist: players will help shape future changes via a voting mechanism (aka The Council), so Classic evolves with community input rather than being a single frozen patch.
Progression, currencies, and the Battle Pass
LoL Classic has its own leveling track — it’s free to play and rewards you for just showing up. Leveling unlocks things like runes and masteries, plus older currencies like Influence Points make a comeback (mainly for rune purchases). Reach level 10 and you’ll unlock Summoner’s Adventure, a chill ranking system that behaves a bit like Arena progression. There’s also a Battle Pass with free and premium tracks; it hands out cosmetics, emotes, and tokens you can spend on classic skins.
What we still don’t know (and what to expect)
Classic is still fresh on the PBE, so a few details are TBD: exact reward rates, cadence for new content, and finer monetization mechanics. Riot’s been drip-feeding info, so expect tweaks and additions — and this post will get updated as more facts arrive.
Final verdict (for now)
If you miss the chaotic, slightly cracked era of old-school LoL, Classic looks like a lovingly made blast from the past — but with modern conveniences and a community-driven roadmap. Prepare to relive ancient memery, cry at old balancing, and maybe finally figure out those runes you used to pretend you understood.
