League Classic to Arrive in Season 3: What to Expect

League Classic to Arrive in Season 3: What to Expect

27 Jun, 2026, 09:39

|

Last updated: 12 Jul, 2026, 14:40

We have our first look at the much-anticipated League of Legends Classic or League Classic game mode and there’s a lot to be excited about.

Earlier on June 27th, Riot Games mistakenly included files for the upcoming game mode on the LoL PBE (Public Beta Environment) and keen eyes were quick to latch on to the information. Let’s have a look at everything we can expect to see.

*Last updated: 12/07/2026

What is League Classic?

For those out of the loop, League Classic is an upcoming game mode that will serve as Riot Games’ attempt to recreate gameplay from the earlier days of League of Legends.

The 16-year-old game has seen incalculable patches since its release and the modern League of Legends resembles very little of its original counterpart. But what if you could go back? Play your favourite iteration of your favourite champion or re-experience a specific Season from the past. That’s what League Classic is attempting to capture.

What Can We Expect on Launch?

According to the Skin Spotlight video, League Classic very much appears to be a separate game within the client; complete with its own battlepass, levelling system, and shop. Influence Points (IP), one of the legacy in-game currencies that League of Legends phased out with the introduction of Blue Essence, will also be making a return.

Players will be able to experience the original Rune and Mastery systems along with the return of old shop items. A token system and voting mechanic have also datamined but their purpose is unclear at this stage. Not every League of Legends champion will be made available in Classic. Only 60 champions will be available, the full list available below:

All champions coming to League Classic
AhriAlistarAmumuAniviaAnnie
AsheBlitzcrankBrandCho'GathCorki
Dr. MundoEvelynnEzrealFiddlesticksGangplank
GarenGragasHeimerdingerJannaJarvan IV
JaxKarthusKassadinKatarinaKayle
Kog'MawLee SinLeonaLuluLux
MalphiteMalzaharMaster YiMiss FortuneMorgana
NasusNidaleeNunu and WillumpOlafPantheon
RammusRyzeShacoSingedSion
SivirSkarnerSonaSorakaTaric
TeemoTristanaTryndamereTwisted FateTwitch
VayneVeigarWarwickWukongZilean

Most notably of all the expected features is of course the return of the old Summoner’s Rift map from all those seasons ago. Riot Games also released their own official announcement video following the leak.

Based on the announcement, it appears likely that Riot Games wishes to take a different approach from other game developers such as Blizzard, who released World of Warcraft Classic back in 2019. From the short announcement video, it is clear that the central focus is on when. Since League Classic was initially hinted at, dataminers have been trying to determine which era(s) Riot would would be returning them to; and the results are from all across the timeline. 

League Classic is expected to arrive in Season 3 on June 29th. Stay tuned for more information.


Follow Strafe Esports for the latest League of Legends news, and our X account for the latest content and coverage. Also, stay tuned to Strafe's YouTube channel for exclusive interviews, press conferences, and more.

Featured Image Credit: Riot Games

Latest news

EWC 2026 Launches One-of-one Faker x Chovy Collectible

EWC 2026 Launches One-of-one Faker x Chovy Collectible

The Esports World Cup is auctioning a one-of-a-kind handmade chessboard played on and signed by Faker and Chovy, with proceeds going toward player wellbeing initiatives.
12 Aug
Sofia Guimarães

New LoL Skin Heartsong Seraphine: Splash Art, Release Date, Price, and More

Heartsong Seraphine, along with Ocean Song Jinx and Soraka, will arrive in League of Legends with Patch 26.17. Proceeds from Heartsong Seraphine will support the Riot Games Social Impact Fund.
11 Aug
Sofia Guimarães

Flandre Announced as Bilibili Gaming’s New Top Laner

Li “Flandre” Xuan-Jun has been announced as the new top laner for Bilibili Gaming. His addition to the League of Legends roster follows the announcement last month that Chen “Bin” Zen-bin would be taking a leave of absence from competing temporarily.
9 Aug
Foo Zen-Wen

Oner Replaced by Painter for T1 Homeground

T1 Academy jungler Painter will step in for Oner ahead of the 2026 T1 Home Ground. He made his Tier 1 debut against Hanwha Life Esports.
9 Aug
Sofia Guimarães

League of Legends Classic Patch 1: Akali Enters the Rift and Champion Balances

It’s been just over a week since League Classic officially launched as a game mode for Summoners around the globe and we are getting our first massive patch delivered by Phreak. New champions abound, tweaks to the gameplay and system, and champion buffs and nerfs. Let’s get into it.
7 Aug
Foo Zen-Wen

League of Legends Patch 26.16 Preview: ADC Magic Resist, Camille Support Nerf, and More

League of Legends Patch 26.16 is set to shake up the current meta with a fresh batch of changes, including increased Magic Resist for ADCs and nerfs to Camille that could hit her support presence.
5 Aug
Sofia Guimarães

Riot Games Opens Doors for League of Legends Community Tournaments

Life is set to become much easier for tournament organizers looking to host League of Legends competitions, as Riot Games has updated its Community Competition Guidelines. The changes remove several outdated restrictions.
4 Aug
Sofia Guimarães

Comments (0)

Log in to comment on this match