League Classic Patch 5: Five New Champions and the Return of a Controversial Spell

According to PCGamesN, League of Legends Classic has now received Patch 5, which adds another five champions to this old-school version of Riot Games' MOBA. The mode keeps growing in batches to recreate how the game was played in its early years, but this update comes with a detail that has people talking: it brings back an ability that the outlet considers one of the worst-designed in the game's entire history.

Why does it matter? Because League Classic is more than a nostalgia trip. Every patch changes what you can play, which team comps make sense and what content is worth creating around this mode. And when what comes back isn't just the fond memories but also spells that were once a byword for frustration, the question is unavoidable: how faithful do we want the classic experience to be to the original, flaws and all?

What you need to know

• League of Legends Classic is getting its Patch 5, according to PCGamesN.
• The update adds five new champions to the retro version of the game.
• Among the changes, a spell returns that the source describes as one of the worst-designed in League of Legends.
• PCGamesN doesn't mince words, bluntly stating in very casual language that some of the incoming spells are just plain bad.
• The source's summary doesn't specify which champions or which spell are involved, so it's worth checking the official patch notes before drawing conclusions about specific picks.

A mode that grows in batches and doesn't hide its scars

The logic behind League Classic is clear: instead of releasing the entire roster at once, Riot adds champions in blocks, and this fifth patch follows that pattern again with five more additions. For regular players of the mode, that means the meta never fully settles: each batch opens up new synergies, new counters and, above all, new ways to break what seemed solved.

What stands out about this release is how it has been received. The fact that an outlet like PCGamesN openly points out that one of the game's worst ability designs is back says a lot about the approach behind this version: kits aren't polished to meet modern standards, but restored exactly as they were, for better and for worse. It's a decision consistent with the idea of a classic mode, but also a risky bet.

Old-school design versus modern design

Over the years, League of Legends design has steadily moved toward more readable abilities, with clear visual cues and room for opponents to react. Bringing back mechanics from an earlier era almost always means returning to situations where the victim feels there was nothing they could do. That can be fun as a historical curiosity, but in games where people want to win, the fun runs out fast if a single ability decides too many fights.

Our take

At the Underworld Lordz newsroom, we appreciate Riot daring to stay true to the past. A classic mode that sands down every rough edge stops being classic and becomes a watered-down version of the current game. There's value, even educational value, in letting new generations see where modern design comes from and why certain ideas were abandoned.

That said, from a competitive standpoint, nostalgia has its limits. If a spell considered one of the worst-designed in the game returns without any adjustments, it will most likely end up dominating or causing constant frustration, and that affects anyone who wants to take the mode seriously, run internal tournaments or climb with their duo partner. We'd like Riot to make it clear whether League Classic is a playable museum or a competitive space, because each calls for different decisions.

For content creators, on the other hand, this patch is a gold mine. Broken or absurd abilities generate clips, reactions and debates, and the batch format provides recurring excuses for guides, tier lists and challenges. Our advice: ride the wave while it lasts, but be honest with your audience about what's fun and what's simply badly designed.

What do you think?

Would you rather have a League Classic that's faithful to the original, with its most controversial spells left intact, or do you think Riot should tweak them so the mode is fair and competitive? Tell us where you stand in the team chat or on our Discord: does nostalgia justify suffering through the game's worst designs all over again?