Ambessa vs Kayn

Ambessa
vs
Not enough games
Kayn
Heavy AD damageHigh burstHigh sustainDive threat

Build vs Kayn

Build adapted to this matchup

Recommended items for Ambessa: Eclipse, Spear of Shojin, Death's Dance, Plated Steelcaps, Voltaic Cyclosword, Black Cleaver, Endless Hunger, Executioner's Calling.

Starting items

Doran's Blade
Health Potion

Core build

Eclipse
1
Spear of Shojin
2
Death's Dance
3

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Voltaic Cyclosword
5

Summoner spells

FlashDot79%
FlashTeleport21%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Voltaic Cyclosword
Black Cleaver
Endless Hunger
Executioner's Calling
Profane Hydra
Chempunk Chainsword
Serpent's Fang
Maw of Malmortius
Guardian Angel
75.0% WR8 games
PrecisionPrecision
ConquerorConqueror
TriumphTriumph
Legend: HasteLegend: Haste
Last StandLast Stand
ResolveResolve
Second WindSecond Wind
OvergrowthOvergrowth
Adaptive ForceAdaptive ForceHealth

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Kayn's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

The Darkin Scythe (P)

Kayn wields an ancient weapon and fights Rhaast, the darkin within it, for control. Either the Darkin will triumph, or Kayn will master Rhaast and become the Shadow Assassin.Darkin: Heal for a percentage of spell damage dealt to champions.Shadow Assassin: For the first few seconds in combat with enemy champions, deal bonus damage.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
37s13s21s–
66s13s21s2m
95s12s21s2m
115s11s21s1m40
165s9s17s1m20
185s9s13s1m20

Playing as Ambessa

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. Weave an auto between spells

    Weave an auto between spells: Drakehound's Step (passive) empowers it and refunds energy, while your three basic spells cost 70 each.

  2. Hit with the edge of your sweep

    Hit with the edge of Cunning Sweep (Q): enemies caught by the edge take much more damage, and landing it readies Sundering Slam (Q).

  3. Short trades with your dash

    Take a short trade: Cunning Sweep (Q), an auto, then Lacerate (E) with a dash backward, which adds a strike at the end of the dash.

  4. Jump on their carry

    Cast Public Execution (R) toward the enemy carry: you blink to the farthest enemy champion in the line you choose, nothing can stop you, and you suppress them.

Playing against Kayn

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Dodge his Blade's Reach

    Dodge Blade's Reach (W): Umbral Trespass (R) can only target a champion he just damaged, and this ranged hit is how he marks you from range.

  2. Save your CC for his E

    If you have CC, land it during Shadow Step (E): once immobilized, he loses the spell and can't move through walls anymore.

  3. Save your spells for his exit

    Don't cast your spells during Umbral Trespass (R): hidden inside your ally, he's untargetable. Save them for when he bursts out.

  4. Ward your jungle too

    Ward your jungle too, not just the river: Shadow Step (E) lets him go through walls and show up from unexpected paths.

  5. Pressure him before he transforms

    Pressure him before his transformation: until he picks Rhaast or Shadow Assassin, The Darkin Scythe (passive) gives him no healing or bonus damage.

Patch 16.21.1