Riot Games is making a major change to League of Legends Classic after players pushed back against the mode’s original monetization plans. The publisher has confirmed that Classic Skins will now be free for everyone instead of being sold individually for 500 RP.
The retro-inspired version of League of Legends is scheduled to launch on July 29, offering players access to older champion kits, legacy items, and gameplay systems based on the MOBA’s early seasons.
Following feedback from the Public Beta Environment, Riot is also making the old champion appearances the default option wherever Classic Skins are available.
TL;DR – League of Legends Classic Skin Changes
- Classic Skins will be free for all League Classic players.
- Riot originally planned to charge 500 RP for each retro champion model.
- Classic Skins will become the default appearance for supported champions.
- Some champions will still use modern models at launch.
- Riot is working to restore older champion voice-over lines.
- The mode is being adjusted to focus more closely on Season 3 content.
- Katarina is expected to receive her requested 2012 ability kit.
- Some modern quality-of-life features will remain to preserve player muscle memory.
Table of Contents
Classic Skins Will Be Free for Every Player
Riot initially planned to sell older champion models as separate Classic Skins for 500 RP each. The decision quickly became one of the most controversial parts of the League Classic reveal, with players arguing that retro appearances should be included as a core part of the nostalgic mode.
Check our League of Legends Classic Guide.
Only two days after League Classic arrived on the PBE, game director Brian “FeralPony” Feeney confirmed that Riot had changed course.
Classic Skins will no longer require a purchase. Every player will be able to use them without spending RP.
Classic Skins Will Replace Modern Base Models by Default
Riot is going further than simply making the skins free. For champions that have a Classic Skin, the older appearance will become the default model in League Classic.
This means players will automatically see the retro version rather than the champion’s current League of Legends base design.
Not every character in the mode’s initial roster of 60 champions will have a Classic Skin available at launch. Some modern models and selected newer cosmetics will therefore remain playable.
| Feature | Updated Plan |
|---|---|
| Classic Skin price | Free |
| Default champion appearance | Classic model where available |
| Champions without Classic Skins | Modern models may still be used |
| Modern skins | Some will remain available |
Riot Is Working to Bring Back Old Champion Voice-Overs
Classic character models are not the only nostalgic element Riot wants to restore. The development team is also attempting to reintroduce as many original champion voice-over recordings as possible.
However, this process is more complicated than replacing visual assets. League of Legends did not launch in every region at the same time, which means some languages never received certain early voice lines.
According to David “Phreak” Turley, Riot’s localization systems require different language versions to contain matching voice-over structures. Restoring an old recording in one language can therefore require substantial work across every supported localization.
Because of that, legacy voice-over updates will not all arrive simultaneously. Riot plans to release them gradually as the localization work is completed.
League Classic Is Moving Closer to Season 3
League Classic was originally presented as a version of the game built around content from League’s first five seasons, with Riot selecting what it considered the strongest historical version of each champion.
The initial cutoff point was set near the beginning of Season 4 and the release of Yasuo. However, the PBE version also contained selected mechanics and content associated with Season 5.
Following community feedback, Riot is now moving the mode further back in time. The new target is to keep the core experience closer to Season 3.
This should create a more consistent snapshot of early League rather than combining systems from several different eras.
Revised direction: A more authentic Season 3-focused experience.
Riot has not ruled out using content from later seasons, but Feeney explained that the team will only move beyond the new cutoff when a newer element would provide a meaningful improvement.
Champion Kits Are Also Being Revised
The Classic Skin decision is part of a wider set of changes being made in response to PBE feedback.
One notable example is Katarina. Riot initially selected an older version of her kit, but players requested the 2012 version instead.
The studio has agreed to make that adjustment, and Katarina’s requested ability set is expected to appear in an upcoming PBE update.
Similar changes may follow as Riot evaluates how accurately each champion reflects the version of League players want to revisit.
Some Modern Quality-of-Life Features Will Remain
League Classic is designed to recreate older gameplay, but it will not remove every modern interface and convenience feature.
The newer ping system, for example, remains in place. Riot does not want players to relearn basic controls every time they switch between League Classic and the current version of League of Legends.
The goal is to restore historic champion kits, items, balance systems, and presentation without creating unnecessary friction in areas tied to player muscle memory.
Riot has also clarified that League Classic uses the old bounty system. The confusion came from the fact that the legacy system is displayed through a modern user interface.
| Element | League Classic Approach |
|---|---|
| Champion kits | Older versions based largely on Season 3 |
| Items | Legacy selection |
| Champion models | Classic versions where available |
| Ping system | Modern version retained |
| Bounty system | Legacy mechanics with modern UI |
Riot Responds Quickly to League Classic Feedback
The decision to remove the 500 RP price from Classic Skins represents a significant reversal only days after the mode reached the PBE.
By making retro champion models free and default, shifting the content cutoff toward Season 3, restoring older voice-overs, and revisiting requested champion kits, Riot is positioning League Classic as a more faithful recreation of early League of Legends.
The mode will still contain selected modern improvements, but those features are intended to support usability rather than change the underlying classic gameplay.