Riot Games has dropped a major Dev Update for League of Legends Season 3, and there's plenty to unpack for fans of the game's rich history and competitive spirit. From the nostalgic return of League Classic to a limited-time ARAM mode and the next Hall of Legends inductee, here's everything you need to know about the latest announcements from Pabro and Meddler.
League Classic: A Blast from the Past
The centerpiece of the update is League Classic, a new permanent game mode designed to celebrate League's early years. Launching next patch, Classic aims to recreate the 'greatest hits' experience with original Summoner's Rift, a starting roster of 60 champions, old-school items, runes, masteries, and classic mechanics. While more champions will be added over time, not every champion from the modern era will make the cut, preserving the mode's historical feel.
Progression in Classic is streamlined—unlock runes and masteries by playing, but at a much faster pace than the original game. All players will have access to default pages from the start, reducing the grind. To keep the experience smooth, Classic includes modern improvements like updated matchmaking, better server infrastructure, performance enhancements, modern pings, spell buffering, and optional WASD controls. Regular balance updates will follow, but with a unique philosophy focused on preserving what made early League special.
Additionally, Riot is introducing The Council, a community voting system that will help guide Classic's future development. For more details, check out the dedicated dev blog released alongside this update.
ARAM: Mayhem Classic-ish – A Limited-Time Twist
To celebrate Classic's launch, ARAM: Mayhem is getting a nostalgic makeover with ARAM: Mayhem Classic-ish. This limited-time mode features a Classic-inspired map, Classic items, and Classic-themed Augments. Only the 60 champions available in League Classic will be playable, though they'll use their modern versions for balance. Launching alongside League Classic, this mode will have its own queue, offering a fresh but familiar chaos for ARAM fans.
Other Announcements: Hall of Legends, Partner Program, and Future Plans
Riot also shared updates beyond Classic and ARAM. The League Partner Program will reopen applications in September, so keep an eye on official social channels for details. The next Hall of Legends inductee will be revealed on August 17, with an in-game event following shortly after.
Looking ahead, more information about Season 3 Act 2 will be shared before it begins. At Worlds, Riot will offer a sneak peek into future plans for 2027 and beyond, hinting at long-term developments for the game.
Key Takeaways at a Glance
League Classic launches next patch with original Summoner's Rift, 60 champions, and old-school mechanics.
Progression for runes and masteries is faster, with default pages available from the start.
Classic includes modern improvements like updated matchmaking, performance upgrades, and optional WASD controls.
ARAM: Mayhem Classic-ish is a limited-time mode with Classic-themed map, items, and Augments.
The Council community voting system will guide Classic's future updates.
League Partner Program applications reopen in September.
Next Hall of Legends inductee revealed on August 17, with in-game event to follow.
More Season 3 Act 2 details and 2027+ future plans teased at Worlds.
Source: Riot Games – TL;DW: Classic, Mayhem & More Dev Update (https://www.leagueoflegends.com/en-us/news/dev/tldw-classic-mayhem-more-dev-update)
