Matchup

Heavy AD damageHigh sustainDive threatHigh burst

Build vs Kayn

Build adapted to this matchup

Starting items

Doran's Ring
Health Potion
x2

Core build

Hextech Rocketbelt
1Mage tank
Riftmaker
2Mage tank
Unending Despair
3vs AD

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Thornmail
5vs Hybride

Summoner spells

41267%
41426%

Anti AD

Plated Steelcaps
4vs AD
Thornmail
5vs Hybride
Dead Man's Plate
vs AD
Sunfire Aegis
vs AD
Randuin's Omen
vs AD

Anti AP

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC
Hollow Radiance
5vs AP
Kaenic Rookern
vs AP
Force of Nature
vs AP

DPS

Titanic Hydra
Bruiser
Rabadon's Deathcap
Mage

Other options

Heartsteel
Survival
Jak'Sho, The Protean
vs Hybride
Rod of Ages
HP
Oblivion Orb
Dark Seal
100.0% WR4 games
DominationDomination
Hail of BladesHail of Blades
Cheap ShotCheap Shot
Grisly MementosGrisly Mementos
Ultimate HunterUltimate Hunter
SorcerySorcery
Axiom ArcanistAxiom Arcanist
CelerityCelerity
Adaptive ForceMove SpeedHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Early (0-15)
Mid (15-30)
Late (30+)
ChogathChogath
KaynKayn
Passive
Favorable
Favorable

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 against Kayn

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

1

Ward beyond walls: Kayn passes through walls with his E, classic river wards aren't enough.

2

Blue form (assassin) is squishy: a CC kills him quickly. Red form (Rhaast) has sustain: Grievous Wounds is mandatory.

3

His R makes him untouchable — don't waste abilities when he's inside an ally.

4

Before his transformation, Kayn is relatively weak — invade his jungle early to delay his transformation.

Source: op.gg + LTL Engine · Patch 16.9.1 · May 9, 2026