Akali, Kennen, and Shen are joining the roster in the first major patch for League Classic.
League Classic has only been live for a short time, but Riot is already working on the first larger adjustments. The focus is not only on three new champions with Akali, Kennen and Shen, but also on progression, Runes, map feel, turrets and balance. League Classic designer David "Phreak" Turley has commented on the upcoming changes in a detailed video. The patch feel less like a normal content update and more like Riot’s first real attempt to push Classic in the right direction after launch.
Akali, Kennen and Shen Bring the Ninja Era Back
The most obvious part of the update is the three new champions. With Akali, Kennen and Shen, Riot is expanding the Classic roster with a trio that fits perfectly into League’s early identity. All three champions were well known in the old League years, but they are not simply coming into the mode as their modern versions.
Akali is based on her June 2012 version. What matters most here is her old hybrid identity between AD and AP. Her passive rewards those stats, her Q marks enemies and has to be triggered with an auto attack, her W grants stealth and resistances, and her ultimate once again works with multiple charges. That exact version should hit many veterans, because it plays very differently from modern Akali.
Kennen is based on Patch 3.9 and is closer to his current form by comparison. His passive stun system remains recognizable, Q stays a skillshot, W works with auto attacks and an active mark effect, while his E grants movement and resistances. His ultimate is especially interesting: it hits enemies individually, which makes it more reliable in 1v1 situations, but less predictable in teamfights.
Shen, meanwhile, is one of the clearest Classic throwbacks. His old Q is once again a targeted projectile that allows allies to regain health by attacking the target. His W is essentially a shield, E remains the taunt, and his ultimate is still basically recognizable. Shen in particular shows well why Classic does not only bring back old numbers, but different champion identities.
Riot Wants Classic to Look Closer to 2013
Another important point concerns presentation. Riot is moving the sun on Summoner’s Rift back to its historical position, which changes the lighting and color temperature. A larger texture pass is also planned for the second patch, bringing the map closer to its 2013 look.
That sounds small, but it matters for Classic. After launch, there were repeated discussions about whether the mode really feels old enough or whether too many modern elements still show through. Map lighting, champion VFX and small visual details strongly influence whether Classic feels like nostalgia or just like a special mode.
Runes and Progression Become Less Grindy
One of the biggest topics is progression. According to the preview, Riot acknowledges that unlocking Runes currently feels too slow. That is a delicate point, because Runes and grind were part of the old League feeling, but they should not become an unfair entry barrier again.
That is why Riot is distributing 6,000 IP through missions, increasing IP gains and adding new Energy Runes that are especially relevant for champions like Akali and Kennen. Placeholder Runes are also being strengthened, so players who have not unlocked the right Runes yet are less heavily disadvantaged.
That is a sensible compromise. Classic can have progression, but players should not feel like they are losing matches only because they have not grinded long enough yet.
Gameplay Becomes More Accessible Without Becoming Completely Modern
There are also several gameplay adjustments. Riot is slightly increasing passive gold while slightly reducing gold from CS. That gives weaker laners a bit more breathing room without making farming irrelevant. Early-game respawn timers are also being shortened slightly, so an early death does not immediately destroy the entire game.
The most important change, however, concerns turrets. Riot is giving Outer, Inner and Inhibitor Turrets more health. Historically, turrets in 2013 were indeed more fragile, but modern players are much better at setting up dives and managing aggro cleanly. That is why Riot is deliberately making turrets stronger than they were back then.
This shows very well how Riot thinks about Classic. Historical accuracy matters, but it is not absolute. If modern players exploit old systems harder than players did back then, Riot sometimes has to move away from the original so the game still feels right.
Player Council and Balance Show the Future of the Mode
Riot is also preparing the Player Council. The first votes could arrive with Patch 2 or 3, while official surveys are meant to help collect feedback from more regions. Riot emphasizes that Reddit, Twitter, Twitch and YouTube do not represent the entire player base, especially because those platforms are heavily English-speaking.
The balance list is also extensive. Weaker champions such as Alistar, Amumu, Lux, Skarner and Veigar are getting help, while standout picks like Heimerdinger, Jarvan IV, Katarina, Nasus, Tryndamere, Twitch and Warwick are being nerfed. The goal seems clear: Riot does not want to balance Classic into something sterile, but it does want to catch extreme outliers early.
After the first major patch, one thing is clear: League Classic remains a nostalgia project, but not a museum. Riot is bringing old champions back, improving Runes and progression, strengthening turrets against modern dive habits and working to bring the mode visually closer to its source material. That exact mix could be decisive. Classic has to be old enough to feel special – but flexible enough to still be fun in 2026.