Riot Games Launches League Classic Mode Featuring Pre-Rework Champions and Legendary Players

Riot Games officially announced League Classic, a nostalgic game mode built on Season 3 mechanics, following an exhibition match at the 2026 Mid-Season Invitational Finals. The mode will launch on live servers on July 30 alongside Patch 26.15, bringing back 60 classic champions that received significant nerfs and reworks over the years. The announcement came during an exhibition event held at the Daejeon Convention Center, where retired esports legends faced off to showcase the mode's gameplay.

What League Classic Offers

League Classic reconstructs an earlier era of League of Legends gameplay by reverting to a Season 3 foundation. Beyond the expanded roster of pre-rework champions, the mode includes legacy versions of removed items, runes, and masteries systems that have been replaced in the modern game. The focus on early-game mechanics and champion designs aims to provide players with a distinct experience from current competitive play.

The 60 classic champions available include pre-rework versions of Karthus, Amumu, Alistar, Skarner, and Kassadin, heroes whose gameplay has been substantially altered through balance changes over more than a decade. This preservation of legacy champion kits addresses longtime player interest in experiencing the game as it existed during its formative competitive seasons.

Exhibition Match Lineup

The inaugural League Classic event featured two teams composed entirely of retired professional players. Team Baron, which secured victory in the exhibition match, included Ambition (Kang Chan-yong) and Doublelift, with Doublelift's Vayne carry performance ultimately driving the comeback win. Team Dragon featured international talent alongside regional legends, including Levi, Weixiao, Pawn (Heo Won-seok), and Captain Jack (Kang Hyung-woo).

Team Dragon initially dominated through Levi's aggressive jungle play and early-game coordination, but Team Baron rallied in the mid-to-late game. The turning point came through synergy between Doublelift's Vayne and Weixiao's Lulu, demonstrating how legacy champion interactions differ from contemporary League gameplay. The match drew attention from both nostalgic players and esports fans interested in seeing iconic figures compete in a reimagined format.