Jinx vs Kai'Sa
Skill matchup
Build vs Kai'Sa
Build adapted to this matchup
Recommended items for Jinx: Hexoptics C44, Runaan's Hurricane, Infinity Edge, Berserker's Greaves, Lord Dominik's Regards, B. F. Sword, Yun Tal Wildarrows, Kraken Slayer.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Kai'Sa's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
Kai'Sa's basic attacks stack Plasma, dealing increasing bonus magic damage. Allies' immobilizing effects help stack Plasma. Additionally, Kai'Sa's item purchases upgrade her basic spells to have more powerful properties.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 10s | 20s | 16s | – |
| 6 | 8s | 20s | 16s | 2m10 |
| 9 | 6s | 18.5s | 16s | 2m10 |
| 11 | 6s | 17s | 16s | 1m40 |
| 16 | 6s | 14s | 13s | 1m10 |
| 18 | 6s | 14s | 10s | 1m10 |
Playing as Jinx
Tips to maximize your impact
- Poke with rockets, trade with minigun
Poke with Fishbones, the rocket launcher of Switcheroo! (Q), for its range and splash damage, then swap back to the minigun for long trades.
- Kite whoever charges you
Fire Zap! (W) to kite the bruiser running at you or catch an enemy who's fleeing: it slows and reveals the first enemy hit.
- Put your traps in their path
Throw Flame Chompers! (E) in the path of their engage or their escape: they root the champion who steps on them and last 5 seconds.
- Focus the lowest-health target
In teamfights, focus the lowest-health target first: each takedown triggers Get Excited! (passive), a big boost to attack speed and move speed.
- Save your rocket to finish
Fire Super Mega Death Rocket! (R) to finish a fleeing enemy rather than to start a fight: its damage grows with their missing health and over its first second of flight.
Playing against Kai'Sa
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Stay near your minions
Stay near your minions: Icathian Rain (Q) splits its missiles between nearby enemies, and on your own, you take them all.
- Harass her before she evolves
If your attack range beats her 525 units, harass her early: Second Skin (passive) only evolves her spells as she buys items.
- Dodge her Void Seeker
Dodge Void Seeker (W): it marks you with Plasma and reveals you, which lets Killer Instinct (R) dash onto you from very far away.
Other Jinx matchups
Patch 16.21.1