League Classic Patch 2 is the Classic portion of League of Legends patch 26.17, and it is a much larger day-to-day update than the headline champion balance list suggests. Riot gives every Classic player two additional Rune Pages, doubles Classic XP, increases Influence Point gains to more than twice their previous rate, lowers the IP cost of Minor Runes and Quintessences, adds Champion and Role swapping to Champion Select, launches the first Council vote, affects 18 champions, reshapes two jungle items, heavily buffs Innervating Locket, and fixes a long list of Classic-specific bugs.
This page covers only League Classic Patch 2. It does not mix in the normal Summoner's Rift champion changes from patch 26.17, so buffs such as Irelia, Qiyana, Yasuo, and Yone belong to the standard game patch and are intentionally excluded here. For the Classic mode, the practical priorities are simpler: claim the extra Rune Pages, take advantage of faster progression, rebuild any rune pages affected by the new prices, learn the new draft swaps, and recheck the champions and items that changed before locking the same build you used in Patch 1.
League Classic Patch 2 Quick Answer
League Classic Patch 2 shipped with patch 26.17 in late August 2026. Riot's official Patch 26.17 notes describe it as the second League Classic update and list roughly 20 balance changes, several dozen bug fixes, progression upgrades, Champion Select quality-of-life changes, map art updates, and the first Council vote.
| Patch 2 area | Confirmed change | What it means for players |
|---|---|---|
| Rune Pages | 2 additional Rune Pages for every player | More saved setups without constantly rebuilding pages between roles |
| Influence Points | IP gained per game is more than doubled | Runes and other Classic unlocks arrive much faster through normal play |
| Classic XP | XP gained per game is doubled | Classic Levels progress at twice the previous XP rate |
| Rune prices | Minor Runes cost 500 IP and Quintessences cost 1000 IP | Building several functional pages is cheaper than in Patch 1 |
| Champion Select | Champion swaps and champion pick-order swaps added | Teams can draft champions for one another and rearrange pick order |
| Balance | 18 champions plus key Classic items affected | Several Patch 1 outliers are nerfed while weak picks receive direct help |
| The Council | First in-client community vote is active | Eligible Classic players can influence future direction through weighted voting |
The most important distinction is that Patch 2 is not a new Classic season and does not replace the mode's core rules. Riot still treats Classic as a curated mix of early League rather than a perfect copy of one historical patch. The original League Classic developer overview explains that Season 3 is an anchor rather than a hard historical boundary, which is why Patch 2 can combine old tuning, restored mechanics, modern usability fixes, and new balance work in the same update.
Faster Classic XP, More Influence Points and Cheaper Runes
The progression changes are the part of Patch 2 that affects every Classic player, regardless of champion or role. Riot responded to feedback that Patch 1 made rune access and Classic progression feel too slow. Instead of removing the old Rune and IP systems, Patch 2 keeps them but reduces the amount of repetitive play required to build several usable setups.
Two additional Rune Pages are free
Every player receives two additional Rune Pages automatically. That matters more in Classic than in modern League because pre-game Runes are a larger part of a champion's stat profile and there is far more value in maintaining separate pages for different lanes, matchups, damage types, and experimental builds.
The best use of the new pages is not to duplicate a generic AP and AD setup. Keep one flexible page for the champion or role you play most often, then use the extra space for a matchup-specific page or a second role. Players still learning the old preparation systems can use the existing League Classic champion, rune, and build guide as a starting point, but Patch 2 balance changes should override any launch-era recommendation that depended on a champion's old numbers.
Classic XP is doubled and IP is more than doubled
Classic XP earned per game is now doubled. Influence Points gained per game are increased to more than twice the previous amount. The final patch notes use "more than doubled" rather than publishing one universal exact IP multiplier, so the safe conclusion is that both progression tracks are substantially faster without claiming that every account receives one fixed 2.5x IP value in every situation.
Riot also fixed a progression bug where solo-queued players could incorrectly receive party XP or IP bonuses. When comparing Patch 1 and Patch 2 progression, account for that fix: solo-queue results from the launch period may include rewards that were not intended for solo players.
Minor Runes and Quintessences cost less
The price reductions are targeted rather than universal. Minor Runes drop from 650 to 500 IP, while Quintessences drop from 1250 to 1000 IP. Riot summarizes the wider change as reducing the cost of about one third of the rune pool, so players should not assume that every Rune in the store received the same discount.
| Progression item | Patch 1 | Patch 2 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Additional Rune Pages | No additional Patch 2 bonus | 2 free pages | Immediate Classic quality-of-life gain |
| Classic XP per game | Previous baseline | 2x baseline | Doubled |
| Influence Points per game | Previous baseline | More than 2x baseline | Major increase |
| Minor Rune | 650 IP | 500 IP | 150 IP cheaper |
| Quintessence | 1250 IP | 1000 IP | 250 IP cheaper |
| Health Regeneration Quintessence | 1.5 Health per 5 seconds | 3.0 Health per 5 seconds | Effect doubled |
For a fresh or returning Classic account, the efficient order is to avoid buying several narrow pages immediately. Play enough games to benefit from the new XP and IP rates, identify the two or three champions you actually use, then spend on runes that overlap between those champions before buying specialized alternatives. The cheaper shop reduces the penalty for experimentation, but it does not make unused runes valuable.
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All League Classic Patch 2 Champion Changes
Patch 2 affects 18 Classic champions. The broad direction is easy to read: Riot targets dominant safety and reliability on picks such as Ahri, Blitzcrank, Evelynn, Gragas, Tristana, Tryndamere, and Twitch while giving substantial help to Annie, Ashe, Dr. Mundo, Garen, Kayle, Lux, Miss Fortune, and Sivir. Ezreal receives a mixed adjustment, while Heimerdinger and Jax are primarily affected by bug fixes or functionality changes.
| Champion | Direction | Main Patch 2 change | Practical impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ahri | Nerf | Lower health and regeneration, longer early Spirit Rush cooldown | Less forgiving lane sustain and fewer early escape or engage windows |
| Annie | Buff | Longer stun plus higher Q and W base damage and AP ratios | Stronger burst and more reliable all-in threat |
| Ashe | Buff | Volley gains damage and range | Better long-range lane control and poke |
| Blitzcrank | Nerf | Weaker Mana Barrier, shorter and more expensive Q, weaker R | More punishment for missed hooks and less early all-in pressure |
| Dr. Mundo | Buff | More health, health growth, and level 1 attack speed | Better durability and a smoother early jungle clear |
| Evelynn | Nerf | Lower mana regeneration, Q damage, and W availability | Slower clear and less free map movement |
| Ezreal | Adjusted | Q loses AD ratio and range while R gains AP ratio | AD Ezreal is weaker; AP Ezreal receives compensation |
| Garen | Buff | Higher AD, armor growth, W defenses, and E AD scaling | Meaningfully stronger early trades and better scaling through normal items |
| Gragas | Nerf | Longer Q, W, and R cooldowns plus lower Q damage | Fewer safe lane cycles and fewer high-impact ultimate windows |
| Heimerdinger | Adjusted | Rocket display correction and empowered turret double-damage bug fixed | More accurate information and less unintended turret burst |
| Jax | Adjusted | Leap Strike becomes magic damage and R functionality corrected | Matchups and spell-effect interactions change without a simple buff or nerf label |
| Kayle | Buff | Righteous Fury cooldown reduced by 2 seconds at every rank | Permanent ranged uptime becomes reachable with at least 38% cooldown reduction at rank 5 |
| Lux | Buff | More attack speed, faster shield response, wider E, better R cast interactions | Stronger lane control, safer defensive reactions, and smoother combos |
| Miss Fortune | Buff | Move speed, Q, E, and R all improved | One of the broadest offensive buffs in the patch |
| Sivir | Buff | Ricochet bounce radius increased and damage falloff reduced | Stronger multi-target output in waves and team fights |
| Tristana | Nerf | Lower attack speed growth, higher mana growth, and scaling mana cost on Q | AD bot-lane power is targeted, while higher mana growth partly compensates AP/mid Tristana |
| Tryndamere | Nerf | Lower regeneration, much lower maximum passive crit, longer R cooldown | Less early resilience and fewer random high-crit lane swings |
| Twitch | Nerf | Lower base attack speed and health | Less forgiving laning and lower immediate damage after stealth |
This table is a patch-impact guide, not a new tier list. A champion can be nerfed and remain strong, or receive a large buff without immediately becoming a top pick. Any launch ranking built around Patch 26.15 conditions now has several changed assumptions, so the right approach is to compare roles and archetypes, then retest the affected champions instead of copying the old ordering unchanged.
Biggest Champion Buffs in Classic Patch 2
The strongest buffs are not evenly distributed. Annie, Garen, Lux, and Miss Fortune receive changes that affect several parts of their normal game plan at once, while Ashe, Mundo, Kayle, and Sivir receive narrower upgrades that target a known weakness or restore an old identity.
Annie and Garen get direct power instead of small quality-of-life help
Annie's Pyromania stun increases from 1.5 to 1.75 seconds. Disintegrate rises from 85/125/165/205/245 plus 70% AP to 90/130/170/210/250 plus 75% AP, while Incinerate gets the same five-point base damage increase and its AP ratio rises from 75% to 80%. Riot also fixes Molten Shield and Tibbers interactions that were suppressing or incorrectly applying intended damage. The result is a cleaner burst package, not just a minor lane comfort buff.
Garen receives one of the clearest stat packages in Patch 2. Base AD rises from 55.5 to 60, armor growth from 2.7 to 3, Courage's bonus Armor and Magic Resistance increase rises from 20% to 30%, and Judgment gains another 10 percentage points of total AD scaling at every rank. He should hit harder with ordinary fighter purchases while also becoming more durable without requiring a niche setup.
Lux and Miss Fortune receive broad kit improvements
Lux gets more attack speed growth, a higher attack speed ratio, immediate shield deployment at the start of Prismatic Barrier's cast, a Lucent Singularity radius increase from 310 to 350, and new cast interactions that let her detonate E or use summoner spells and items while Final Spark is casting. These changes improve normal AP Lux even before anyone experiments with the unusual on-hit paths Riot explicitly wants Classic players to test.
Miss Fortune gains 10 movement speed, more Double Up damage, stronger Make It Rain damage, a longer slow duration, a rank-based mana cost, and higher bonus AD and AP ratios on Bullet Time. Several bugs that could cause Q or R to miss intended hits are also fixed. That combination improves movement, lane pressure, spell reliability, and ultimate scaling at the same time, making her one of the most important Patch 2 champions to retest.
Ashe, Mundo, Kayle and Sivir get focused help
Ashe's Volley range grows from 1200 to 1300 and its later-rank damage increases, strengthening the long-range poke identity Riot wants for her. Mundo gets more base health, slightly more health growth, and higher level 1 attack speed, with the last change especially useful for jungle. Kayle's Righteous Fury cooldown is reduced by two seconds at every rank, allowing permanent ranged uptime at rank 5 once the build reaches at least 38% cooldown reduction. Sivir gets a larger Ricochet bounce radius and less damage falloff, which gives her a clearer multi-target niche.
Players who are switching to one of these newly buffed champions but need help understanding old lane patterns, spacing, or draft priorities can use League of Legends coaching as broader gameplay support. The service is separate from Riot's Classic progression and does not grant Rune Pages, IP, or Classic XP.
Biggest Nerfs: Blitzcrank, Tryndamere and the Patch 1 Outliers
Riot's nerfs mostly attack champions that could create pressure too safely or too often. The most important changes are not small damage trims: several champions lose sustain, cooldown access, range, or early reliability, which changes how often they can force the same play pattern.
Blitzcrank loses reliability across multiple parts of the kit
Mana Barrier now uses 50% of current mana instead of maximum mana, so a Blitzcrank who spends heavily before taking damage receives a smaller shield. Rocket Grab range falls from 1080 to 1050 and its mana cost rises from 120 to 140. Static Field loses early active damage and its cooldown grows from 30 to 40 seconds. Power Fist also receives bug fixes that remove unintended cooldown and stun advantages.
The practical result is that missing Q costs more. Blitzcrank still has the same basic pick identity, but Patch 2 gives opponents a larger punishment window after failed aggression and makes repeated early ultimate plays less frequent.
Tryndamere loses early sustain and passive crit ceiling
Tryndamere's base health regeneration drops from 10 to 7.5 and regeneration growth from 0.9 to 0.75. The larger change is Battle Fury: maximum critical strike chance falls from 50% to 30%, and that maximum is reached at 5% health instead of exactly 0%. Undying Rage's cooldown changes from 110/100/90 seconds to 130/115/100 seconds, an increase of 20/15/10 seconds by rank.
Riot notes that heavily itemized Tryndamere with at least three critical-strike items can still reach 100% total crit at low health, so this is not a removal of the late-game fantasy. The real target is early and mid-game volatility, where free passive crit could turn otherwise even lane states into high-variance wins.
Ahri, Evelynn, Gragas, Tristana and Twitch are less forgiving
Ahri loses health and health regeneration while Spirit Rush becomes less available early. Evelynn loses Q damage, passive mana recovery, and the ability to use Dark Frenzy as a free low-cooldown movement button. Gragas receives longer cooldowns on Q, W, and R plus lower Q damage. Tristana loses attack speed growth while Rapid Fire becomes more expensive at higher ranks, specifically targeting AD bot-lane performance; her mana growth increases from 32 to 40 as compensation that is especially relevant to AP mid Tristana. Twitch loses both health and attack speed.
These are meaningful nerfs, but none of them should be translated into "unplayable." Patch 2 is correcting top performers after the opening stretch of Classic play. Matchups, old item spikes, and team compositions still matter more than a simple buff-versus-nerf label.
Innervating Locket, Wriggle's Lantern and Feral Flare Changes
Patch 2 also makes two important item interventions. Innervating Locket is heavily buffed because Riot's launch version landed too weak, while Wriggle's Lantern and Feral Flare are reshaped from Attack Damage items into Attack Speed items to fit the hybrid Classic jungle ecosystem more cleanly.
Innervating Locket becomes much cheaper and stronger
Innervating Locket's combine cost falls from 750 to 350 gold, reducing total cost from 2650 to 2250. Health rises from 430 to 500, the item gains 10% cooldown reduction, and Innervation's restore effect rises from 50 Health and 20 Mana to 60 Health and 25 Mana. Riot also confirms that multiple Lockets can stack across different players on the same team.
This is large enough to justify revisiting support and utility builds that dismissed the item in Patch 1. The lower entry price matters as much as the stat gains because Classic support economies are constrained and a 400-gold reduction can move a complete item into an earlier fight window.
Wriggle's Lantern and Feral Flare move from AD to Attack Speed
Both jungle items now build from Madred's Razors plus Recurve Bow instead of Madred's Razors plus Vampiric Scepter. Their 2000-gold total cost remains unchanged, but 25 Attack Damage is removed and replaced with 30% Attack Speed. Riot's goal is to separate them from Spirit of the Elder Lizard and better match the mix of 2013 jungle tuning and later Classic item availability.
Do not treat this as a universal jungle buff. Champions that valued raw AD can lose immediate spell or attack damage, while auto-attack-focused junglers may prefer the new profile. Recheck the first and second clear with the actual champion rather than assuming an unchanged 2000-gold price means unchanged power.
Champion and Role Swap in Classic Champion Select
Patch 2 adds draft flexibility that launch Classic lacked. Riot's summary calls the feature Champion and Role swapping, while the concrete Champion Select controls listed in the final notes are champion swap requests and champion pick-order swapping. Champion swaps are available during the Loadout phase, and accepted champion swaps leave the assigned lanes unchanged.
- Use pick-order swaps to protect a priority pick. A teammate can move earlier or later in the draft without forcing the same player to own every first-pick responsibility.
- Pick a champion for a teammate when the draft needs it. This is useful for contested supports, junglers, or flexible champions that would otherwise be taken by the enemy team.
- Confirm the final lane separately. Riot states that lanes stay the same when players swap champions, so teams still need to communicate who is actually going where.
- Check Runes after the swap. Classic pages are selected before loading into the game, and the wrong page can cost much more power than a small item-order mistake.
The added Rune Pages make this system easier to use because players can keep more role-specific configurations saved. For players practicing broader League match routines outside Classic, Normal Matches assistance exists as a separate LoL service; it should not be confused with Riot's Classic queue, Classic XP, or Council progression.
The First League Classic Council Vote
Patch 2 also activates The Council, Riot's in-client voting system for League Classic. The separate Council developer post confirms that the first poll runs from August 26 through September 2, 2026. Eligible players vote from the Council tab, can change answers before the poll closes, and receive one vote per point of voting power on each question.
The first poll includes questions about game length, item revivals, jungle timers, base gates, snowballing, ward trinkets, and river critters. Riot distinguishes between sentiment questions, which identify areas to investigate, and binding questions, which determine an approach for a future improvement. Riot says the results will be published after voting closes in future Patch Notes.
- Vote before September 2. This is the shortest hard deadline introduced with Patch 2.
- Do not assume every poll answer becomes an immediate patch. Some questions measure sentiment rather than committing Riot to one change.
- Classic play can matter to voting power. Riot designed the system so more engaged Classic players can earn a larger voice.
- Balance remains Riot-controlled. The Council shapes direction, but game health and direct balance decisions are not handed entirely to player voting.
If you only have limited play time after Patch 2, vote first because the Council window closes. Rune Pages, cheaper Rune prices, and the champion changes remain available after the poll ends.
Map Art Updates and Important Bug Fixes
Patch 2 continues Riot's attempt to make Summoner's Rift look closer to the old map without sacrificing readability. The update adds missing foliage and decals, removes an unintended prop, adjusts map details, fixes affected wall, ground, and mesh normals, and updates lighting around both spawn points and the purple diamond torches. Riot also removes modern Ranked loading-screen borders from Classic.
The bug-fix list is more important for actual gameplay. Exhaust no longer reduces true damage. Several effects that should respect Master Yi's Highlander slow resistance or Morgana's Black Shield now do so correctly. Call for Help and minion aggro behavior is corrected for multiple spells. Tear interactions that could copy stacks or grant the wrong number of stacks are fixed, Statikk Shiv timing is corrected, and Sivir's Spell Shield now properly blocks Leona's Zenith Blade.
- Tear users: do not rely on old stacking exploits or inflated stack gains from Vayne E.
- True-damage champions: Exhaust should no longer incorrectly reduce true damage.
- Sivir players: Spell Shield versus Leona E now follows the intended interaction.
- Heimerdinger players: R-empowered turrets no longer deal unintended double damage.
- Jax players: Leap Strike now deals magic damage and Relentless Assault applies intended spell effects.
Bug fixes can move a matchup even when a champion receives no direct numerical nerf. That is why Patch 2 should be treated as a live rules update rather than a short list of buffed and nerfed names.
What to Do First After League Classic Patch 2
The efficient Patch 2 routine is to secure the time-limited action first, then update permanent progression and finally retest balance. There is no need to rebuild every rune page or abandon a favorite champion before playing a game.
- Open The Council and vote before September 2. This is the only major Patch 2 feature with a confirmed short deadline.
- Check your Rune Page count. Confirm that the two free pages appeared and decide which roles actually need dedicated setups.
- Review Rune prices before buying. Minor Runes and Quintessences are cheaper, so do not use an old Patch 1 cost sheet.
- Play a few games before over-optimizing progression. Doubled Classic XP and more-than-doubled IP make normal play a faster way to fund the pages you actually use.
- Retest any champion changed in Patch 2. This is especially important for Blitzcrank, Tryndamere, Miss Fortune, Lux, Garen, Annie, and item-dependent junglers.
- Relearn Champion Select flow. Use champion and pick-order swaps, then double-check lane assignment and Runes before loading in.
- Update jungle builds. Wriggle's Lantern and Feral Flare have a new stat profile and build path even though their total gold cost remains 2000.
Players returning to Classic after missing launch should first review the League Classic launch and access guide, because Patch 2 assumes knowledge of Classic Levels, Rune Pages, the Summoner's Journey, and the mode's curated early-League rules. For broader help across League services, the League of Legends service hub lists current options without implying that standard ranked or account services advance Riot's separate Classic progression.
League Classic Patch 2 FAQ
These answers focus on the Patch 2 questions that are easiest to confuse with standard patch 26.17 or with launch-era Classic information.
Is League Classic Patch 2 the same as normal League patch 26.17?
No. Patch 2 is the Classic-specific section delivered inside patch 26.17. The standard game has its own champion and item changes that are not part of this Classic guide.
How many free Rune Pages do I get in Classic Patch 2?
Every player receives two additional Rune Pages for free.
How much faster is Classic XP now?
Classic XP gained per game is doubled compared with the previous baseline.
How much more Influence Points do I get?
Riot's final patch notes say IP gained per game is more than doubled. The final notes do not define one universal exact multiplier for every account situation.
How much do Runes cost after Patch 2?
Minor Runes cost 500 IP instead of 650, while Quintessences cost 1000 IP instead of 1250. Riot says about one third of the overall Rune pool is cheaper.
Can I swap champions in League Classic Champion Select?
Yes. Champion swap requests are available during the Loadout phase, and players can also swap champion pick order. Riot notes that lanes remain the same when champions are swapped, so confirm the final role with your team.
Which champions were buffed in League Classic Patch 2?
The clearest buffs go to Annie, Ashe, Dr. Mundo, Garen, Kayle, Lux, Miss Fortune, and Sivir. Ezreal receives a mixed adjustment rather than a pure buff.
Which champions were nerfed?
Ahri, Blitzcrank, Evelynn, Gragas, Tristana, Tryndamere, and Twitch receive direct nerfs. Heimerdinger and Jax are mainly affected by functionality or bug-fix changes.
Did Patch 2 add new Classic champions?
No new champions are listed in the final Patch 2 notes. The update focuses on balance, progression, items, Champion Select systems, art, The Council, and bug fixes.
When does the first Council vote end?
The first Council poll runs from August 26 through September 2, 2026. Eligible players can vote and change their answers before the poll closes.
Is the old League Classic tier list still accurate?
It is still useful for understanding roles and launch archetypes, but Patch 2 affects 18 champions and key items. Any ranking based on Patch 26.15 should be retested instead of treated as current data without adjustment.
Conclusion
League Classic Patch 2 fixes the mode's biggest progression complaint while making a serious first balance pass on the launch meta. Two free Rune Pages, doubled Classic XP, more-than-doubled Influence Point gains, cheaper Minor Runes and Quintessences, and the new Champion Select swaps all reduce friction without removing the preparation systems that define Classic. At the same time, Riot trims several Patch 1 standouts and gives meaningful help to weak champions such as Annie, Garen, Lux, and Miss Fortune.
The correct Patch 2 priority is to vote in The Council before September 2, confirm the new Rune Pages, stop using old Patch 1 rune prices, and then test affected champions and jungle items in live games. Do not mix these Classic changes with the ordinary 26.17 tier list, and do not assume every buff creates a new top-tier pick. Patch 2 is best understood as a progression and quality-of-life upgrade plus a targeted balance correction, not a complete reset of the League Classic meta.
