League Classic 60 Champions, Old Kits, Runes and Items

League Classic launches on July 29, 2026, bringing back a Season 3-inspired experience with 60 League Classic champions, classic champion kits, old-school runes, mastery trees, and iconic items from League’s early years.

Whether you are a returning player looking to revisit the early League era or a new player curious about how classic League played, this guide covers everything you need to know about League Classic. We’ll explain how the mode works, the Classic League of Legends champion roster, returning old kits, classic runes and masteries, legendary items, famous builds, gameplay differences compared with modern League, and how to get the best Classic experience.

What Is League Classic? Everything You Need to Know

League Classic is a Featured Game Mode inside the main League of Legends client, not a separate game. You launch it the same way you would ARAM or any rotating game mode - no second download, no standalone client.

The mode recreates the gameplay, systems, and feel of early League of Legends, using Season 3 as its foundation while bringing together memorable elements from different periods of League’s early history. 

Key Launch Details of League Classic

League Classic Gameplay: How Does It Play?

If your last memory of early League is dying to Blue buff at level 1, League Classic has you covered. The mode intentionally rolls back over a decade of mobility creep, damage inflation, and system streamlining to deliver a version of the game where every decision carries more weight. Combat is slower, mana runs out, and a fed carry can genuinely solo-win a game, exactly as many players remember it.

The biggest gameplay differences come from how champions fight and make decisions:

In League Classic, mistakes are more punishing. Missing an important ability, wasting mana, or engaging at the wrong time can immediately change the outcome of a fight. Champions cannot always escape bad decisions through repeated dashes or short cooldown abilities.

League Classic 60 Champions List

The launch roster is split into two groups: the original 40 champions that shipped with early League, and 20 additional classic-era champions released between 2009 and 2013. Riot has confirmed that more champions from this era will be added over time through The Council voting system, but the mode will never include every champion released to date.

Original 40 League Classic Champions

These are the founding champions of League of Legends, the ones that defined the game's earliest identity:

Additional Classic Era Champions

These 20 classic League of Legends champions were released between 2009 and 2013 and were handpicked by Riot to round out the Classic experience:

Which Champions Have Their Old Kits?

One of the biggest reasons players are excited about League Classic is the return of iconic champion designs that no longer exist in modern League. Some classic League of Legends champions have changed completely through Visual and Gameplay Updates (VGUs), while others keep most of their original identity.

League Classic brings back classic-era versions of champions, including AP Master Yi, Old Sion, Old Evelynn, Old Ryze, Old Warwick, and Old Skarner.

AP Master Yi

Before Master Yi became the modern attack damage reset champion, his classic version was famous for the AP Master Yi playstyle. League Classic brings back the version built around ability power scaling, Alpha Strike damage, and powerful reset chains that allowed Yi to jump between enemies during team fights repeatedly.

Old Sion

Old Sion was one of the most dramatically different champions compared with his modern version. Classic restores his earlier identity as a hybrid fighter and burst mage, combining strong crowd control, AP scaling abilities, and a unique mix of offensive and defensive tools.

Old Evelynn

Before her modern assassin redesign, Evelynn was known as one of League’s original stealth champions. Classic brings back her older camouflage-based playstyle, where she relied on surprise attacks, burst damage, and unpredictable ganks from unexpected positions.

Old Ryze

Ryze has been reworked several times throughout League’s history. Classic brings back one of his earlier mana-scaling versions, built around repeated spell casts, targeted damage, and item combinations that rewarded large mana pools.

Old Warwick & Skarner

Both Warwick and Skarner represent a very different era of League jungle design. Classic brings back their earlier identities: Warwick as a reliable hunter focused on tracking and locking down weakened targets, and Skarner as a map-control jungler built around Crystal Spires and powerful enemy displacement. 

Old Nidalee

Before her modern spear-focused poke identity, Nidalee was a highly flexible champion who could switch between ranged harassment and melee combat through her transformation mechanic. Classic restores an earlier version built around versatility, mobility, and adapting her playstyle depending on the situation.

Classic Runes and Masteries Explained

If you started playing League after 2018, you've only known the streamlined Runes Reforged system. Classic brings back the two-layer pre-game customization that veterans spent hours theorycrafting: Runes (stat shards) and Masteries (talent trees).

How Runes Work in Classic

Runes are stat-enhancing items you slot into a Rune Page before the game. Each page has four categories:

Key differences from 2013: All runes start at Tier 3 strength (no grinding through Tier 1 and 2), the Rune Combiner is gone entirely, you start with 3 Rune Pages and earn 2 more through Classic Levels (with extras purchasable via IP), a default rune page is available from game one, and Riot has buffed some historically underpowered runes to make them viable choices.

How Masteries Work in Classic

Masteries are a 30-point talent tree split into three branches:

A typical setup might be 21/9/0 (offense-heavy bruiser), 21/0/9 (AP carry with utility), or 0/21/9 (full tank support). All mastery pages and points unlock at Classic Level 4, which you'll reach after just a few games.

Progression Timeline

League Classic Items and Old Builds

League Classic brings back the iconic items and creative build choices that defined early League of Legends. Unlike modern League, where item paths are often more standardized, League Classic brings back memorable items from different early League eras rather than recreating one exact historical shop.

The returning item pool is inspired by different early League seasons rather than one exact patch, bringing back memorable systems and interactions that many players have missed.

Returning Classic Items

Some of the most recognizable items from old League return in Classic, including:

Frozen Mallet
A famous bruiser item that provided health, attack damage, and a powerful slow effect. It allowed melee champions to stay on targets and create persistent pressure in fights.

Atma's Impaler
One of the most iconic items from early League, converting maximum health into attack damage. Combined with Warmog’s Armor, it created the legendary Atmogs build, a high-health setup that could also deal significant damage.

Deathfire Grasp
A defining mage item that increased burst damage and enabled champions to instantly eliminate priority targets. Many old AP assassins and mages were balanced around this powerful active effect.

Rod of Ages, Force of Nature, Heart of Gold, and other classic items also return, bringing back different approaches to scaling, defense, and economy that no longer exist in modern League.

Classic Builds Players Remember

The return of these items also brings back famous builds that became part of League history.

Atmogs
The combination of Warmog’s Armor and Atma’s Impaler created extremely durable fighters that could absorb damage while still threatening enemies.

AP Master Yi
A classic off-meta build that used ability power scaling to turn Alpha Strike into a devastating reset tool.

Deathfire Grasp Burst Builds
Mage champions could combine high AP ratios with Deathfire Grasp to create explosive one-shot combos.

Gold Generation Builds
Older support strategies often relied on passive gold items such as Heart of Gold and Philosopher’s Stone, allowing champions to generate income without taking farm.

The biggest difference between Classic and modern League is not simply that old items return; it is that these items create more experimentation. In early League, a champion’s identity was often shaped by the items they built, making unusual strategies and creative combinations a major part of the game.

League Classic vs Modern League: What Actually Changes?

League Classic changes almost every major part of the League experience, from League Classic champions design and itemization to runes and map gameplay. 

If you've only played modern League, this table captures the scale of the rollback:

How to Get the Best League Classic Experience

Since Classic gameplay relies more on precise timing and positioning, connection stability becomes especially important during fights.

A well-timed Deathfire Grasp combo or a point-and-click stun chain leaves no room for lag, and when you're playing with friends across different regions to relive the old days, routing issues can turn a nostalgic session into a frustrating one.

LagoFast can help optimize your connection for League Classic by:

• Reducing latency spikes during critical teamfight moments
• Stabilizing routing when playing across different regions
• Providing smoother overall gameplay so you can focus on landing those old-school skillshots

Play League Classic with a More Stable Connection with LagoFast

Step 1. Download and install LagoFast.

Free Trial

Step 2. Search for League of Legends in the game list.

Step 3. Select the recommended server route, and tap AI Boost.

Step 4. Tap Start Game and enjoy smoother gameplay with reduced latency fluctuations.

FAQ on Champions League Classic

Is League Classic a separate game?

No. League Classic is a gameplay mode inside the League of Legends client. Players can access it through the existing Riot Client without downloading another game.

How many champions are available in League Classic?

League Classic launches with 60 Classic League of Legends champions, including early League favorites and additional classic-era champions.

Will League Classic have ranked mode?

League Classic has its own progression system. Players can unlock champions through Classic-specific progression.

Can I use my existing skins in League Classic?

League Classic includes classic visual elements and cosmetics designed for the mode. Riot has also adjusted some classic visuals based on player feedback.

Does League Classic support WASD controls?

Yes. League Classic includes optional WASD controls as a modern quality-of-life improvement, while players can still use the traditional League camera controls.

Conclusion

League Classic brings back the gameplay systems that defined early League of Legends, including 60 League Classic champions, old champion kits, classic runes, mastery trees, and legendary items.

For veteran players, it offers a chance to revisit iconic experiences like AP Master Yi, Deathfire Grasp builds, and classic Summoner’s Rift gameplay. For newer players, it provides a unique way to explore how League evolved from its early seasons into the modern game.

With the right setup and a stable connection, you can fully enjoy the LOL classic experience and rediscover what made early League so memorable.