Kai'Sa vs Varus

Kai'Sa
vs
50.4%

over 3261 games

Varus

Skill matchup

Heavy AD damageHeavy pokeHeavy CCHigh burst

Build vs Varus

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

Doran's Bow
Health Potion
x2

Core build

Kraken Slayer
1
Guinsoo's Rageblade
2
Terminus
3

Standard

Berserker's Greaves
4AS
Nashor's Tooth
5

Summoner spells

FlashBarrier68%
BoostFlash17%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Nashor's Tooth
Zhonya's Hourglass
Statikk Shiv
Phantom Dancer
Seeker's Armguard
Rabadon's Deathcap
Shadowflame
Infinity Edge
B. F. Sword
Voltaic Cyclosword
Guardian Angel
Dusk and Dawn
Runaan's Hurricane
Mercurial Scimitar
Yun Tal Wildarrows
Luden's Echo
Lord Dominik's Regards
Quicksilver Sash
Bloodthirster
Wit's End
Banshee's Veil
Jak'Sho, The Protean
The Collector
Mortal Reminder
Blade of The Ruined King
Fiendhunter Bolts
Executioner's Calling
53.9% WR1,326 games
PrecisionPrecision
Lethal TempoLethal Tempo
Presence of MindPresence of Mind
Legend: BloodlineLegend: Bloodline
Coup de GraceCoup de Grace
InspirationInspiration
Magical FootwearMagical Footwear
Biscuit DeliveryBiscuit Delivery
Attack SpeedAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Varus's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Living Vengeance (P)

On kill or assist, Varus temporarily gains Attack Damage and Ability Power. This bonus is larger if the enemy is a champion.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
316s40s18s–
614s40s18s1m40
912s40s18s1m40
1112s40s18s1m20
1612s40s14s1m
1812s40s10s1m

Playing as Kai'Sa

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. 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.

  2. Attack after your ally's CC

    Attack right after your support lands CC: with Second Skin (passive), your allies' immobilizing effects also stack Plasma.

  3. 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.

  4. 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 Varus

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Back off with his Blight on you

    Back off after taking a few autos: each one applies a Blight stack from Blighted Quiver (W), and his spells detonate them for damage based on your max health.

  2. Engage while he charges

    If you can engage, go in while he charges Piercing Arrow (Q): charging slows him, and he has no dash to escape.

  3. Leave his hail of arrows

    Get out of the Hail of Arrows (E) zone fast: the desecrated ground slows you and reduces the healing you receive.

  4. Spread out from the chained ally

    When an ally is caught by Chain of Corruption (R), move away from them fast: the corruption spreads to nearby champions, but dies out if you get far enough in time.

Patch 16.21.1