Official system guideIndependent fan reference

League Classic Runes and Masteries

Choose runes and masteries before queueing. Riot says old Tier 3 runes are the baseline with no upgrade ladder, players start with three rune pages, unlock two more through Classic Levels, and can buy more with IP. Full mastery pages and points unlock after Classic Level 4.

Evidence Status Officially confirmed Last Verified Region Global mechanism guide; regional rewards and availability stay separate

Quick Answer

The most reliable answer now

Choose runes and masteries before queueing. Riot says old Tier 3 runes are the baseline with no upgrade ladder, players start with three rune pages, unlock two more through Classic Levels, and can buy more with IP. Full mastery pages and points unlock after Classic Level 4.

Rune system

Tier 3 runes and five progression pages

  • Classic uses old-style runes selected before the game.
  • Tier 3 is the baseline; players do not need to upgrade lower-tier runes into Tier 3 versions.
  • Players begin with three rune pages and can earn two more through Classic Levels.
  • Additional pages can be purchased with IP.
  • Riot says nearly every historically used rune returns, while under-picked choices may be adjusted. The final catalog and values still require verification.

Mastery system

Full mastery access after Classic Level 4

  • Masteries are selected before entering a Classic game alongside runes.
  • Full mastery pages and the available points unlock after Classic Level 4.
  • A default rune and mastery page is supplied when the player has not selected a setup.
  • Runes and masteries can change item and damage direction, but that relationship does not justify a universal recommended page before comparable match evidence exists.

Early testing ledger

AP, AD, tank and critical-strike configurations

Current creator-test recommendation readiness
ConfigurationSourcesObservable matchesCurrent decision
AP0 qualifying setup sources0Needs recheck
AD0 qualifying setup sources0Needs recheck
Tank0 qualifying setup sources0Needs recheck
Critical strike0 qualifying setup sources0Needs recheck
Evidence boundary

The public official showmatch is one game, and its mirrors, reactions, and highlights do not become independent matches. No configuration is presented as a recommended rune page or early recommendation.

Still pending

What launch verification must add

  • Every rune name, slot, quantity, effect, and regional acquisition rule
  • Every mastery node, rank, prerequisite, point limit, and effect
  • Comparable creator or live-production setups with timestamps, roles, patches, and match counts
  • Any global-versus-China differences in starting pages, rewards, IP costs, or unlock timing

Quick checks

Frequently Asked Questions

01Do I need to upgrade runes to Tier 3?

No. Riot says old Tier 3 runes are the baseline in Classic.

02How many rune pages do players start with?

Riot says players start with three pages, can unlock two more through Classic Levels, and can buy additional pages with IP.

03When are masteries fully available?

Riot says full mastery pages and points are available after Classic Level 4.

04What happens if I do not select a page?

Riot says a default rune and mastery page is provided.

Evidence ledger

Sources and verification dates

Claims use first-party evidence for the stated region. Public videos document observations only and do not imply creator endorsement.

Riot Games / League of Legends

/dev: League of Legends Classic

Scope
Global English
Last verified
July 15, 2026
Open source

Riot Games / League of Legends

League of Legends Classic Homepage

Scope
Global English
Last verified
July 14, 2026
Open source

Tencent Games / League of Legends China

经典模式定档7月30日,经典·战斗之夜 8月2日登场

Scope
Mainland China
Last verified
July 14, 2026
Open source