Kai'Sa vs Samira
Skill matchup
Build vs Samira
Build adapted to this matchup
Recommended items for Kai'Sa: Kraken Slayer, Guinsoo's Rageblade, Terminus, Berserker's Greaves, Nashor's Tooth, Zhonya's Hourglass, Statikk Shiv, Phantom Dancer.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Samira's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
Samira builds a combo by hitting attacks or abilities unique from the previous hit. Samira's attacks in melee range deal additional magic damage. Samira's attacks against enemies affected by Immobilizing effects will dash her to her attack range. If the enemy is Knocked Up, she also keeps them Knocked Up briefly.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 6s | 30s | 20s | – |
| 6 | 4s | 30s | 20s | 5s |
| 9 | 2s | 28s | 20s | 5s |
| 11 | 2s | 26s | 20s | 5s |
| 16 | 2s | 22s | 16s | 5s |
| 18 | 2s | 22s | 12s | 5s |
Playing as Kai'Sa
Tips to maximize your impact
- Use Q on an isolated target
Cast Icathian Rain (Q) on an isolated target: the missiles split between nearby enemies, so a lone target takes them all.
- Attack after your ally's CC
Attack right after your support lands CC: with Second Skin (passive), your allies' immobilizing effects also stack Plasma.
- Mark your target before your R
Before Killer Instinct (R), stack Plasma on your target, from range with Void Seeker (W): the dash needs a marked target and gives you a shield.
- Play around your evolves
Make use of each spell that Second Skin (passive) evolves: Supercharge (E) makes you invisible to get in, and Icathian Rain (Q) fires more missiles at a lone target.
Playing against Samira
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Trade after her Wild Rush
Take a trade once Wild Rush (E) is used: it's her only dash, and it only comes back if a champion she damaged dies within 3 seconds.
- Hold your projectiles
If you have projectiles, wait for Blade Whirl (W) to end: it destroys those that enter its area, but not spells without a projectile.
- Back off when she chains hits
Back off when she chains her hits: each one that differs from the last builds her Style, and at an S rating, Inferno Trigger (R) shoots every enemy around her.
Other Kai'Sa matchups
Patch 16.21.1