Cho'Gath vs Kayn

Cho'Gath
vs
Not enough games
Kayn
Heavy AD damageHigh burstHigh sustainDive threat

You are stronger late game. Farm safe and avoid early trades.

Build vs Kayn

The champion's reference build, for lack of enough games in this matchup

Recommended items for Cho'Gath: Hextech Rocketbelt, Riftmaker, Dead Man's Plate, Plated Steelcaps, Heartsteel, Thornmail, Bramble Vest, Unending Despair.

Starting items

Doran's Ring
Health Potion
x2

Core build

Hextech Rocketbelt
1
Riftmaker
2
Dead Man's Plate
3

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Heartsteel
5

Summoner spells

FlashTeleport56%
FlashDot38%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Heartsteel
Thornmail
Bramble Vest
Unending Despair
Hollow Radiance
Jak'Sho, The Protean
Randuin's Omen
Kaenic Rookern
Dark Seal
Sunfire Aegis
Frozen Heart
Warmog's Armor
Force of Nature
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

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 Cho'Gath

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. Aim Rupture where they're going

    Aim Rupture (Q) where your opponent is going, not where they are: the area knocks them into the air and slows them.

  2. Silence after the knock-up

    Follow a successful Rupture (Q) with Feral Scream (W): the silence stops them from casting spells, dashes included.

  3. Charge your spikes before a trade

    Cast Vorpal Spikes (E) before a trade: your next 3 autos launch spikes that slow enemies in front of you and deal damage based on their max health.

  4. Eat as soon as Feast is up

    Finish with Feast (R) as soon as it's up: each kill gives you permanent max health, but minions and non-epic monsters only give a limited amount.

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