Kayn
Recommended Build
Most popular build path
Recommended items for Kayn: Voltaic Cyclosword, Black Cleaver, Death's Dance, Ionian Boots of Lucidity, Hubris, Axiom Arc, Edge of Night, Serylda's Grudge.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Anti CC
Other options
Domination
Dark Harvest
Sudden Impact
Grisly Mementos
Treasure Hunter
Inspiration
Magical Footwear
Cosmic Insight
Playing as Kayn
Tips to maximize your impact
- Pick your form based on their team
Take Rhaast against a tanky team, Shadow Assassin against squishy targets: The Darkin Scythe (passive) gives one healing, the other bonus damage at the start of fights.
- Gank through walls
Gank through walls with Shadow Step (E): you move through terrain faster, and you heal when you first enter it.
- Hide inside an enemy
To dodge a burst, cast Umbral Trespass (R) on a champion you just hit: inside, you're untargetable while your spells come back up.
- As Rhaast, hit everyone
As Rhaast, hit as many champions as you can with your spells: The Darkin Scythe (passive) heals you for part of the ability damage they take.
Versus
Compare against an opponent
Kayn matchups
Global strengths and weaknesses
All Kayn matchups
Build, runes and tips against each opponent
Kayn vs Viego
Kayn vs Kha'Zix
Kayn vs Graves
Kayn vs Wukong
Kayn vs Master Yi
Kayn vs Qiyana
Kayn vs Cho'Gath
Kayn vs Sylas
Kayn vs Talon
Kayn vs Hecarim
Kayn vs Lillia
Kayn vs EvelynnPlaying against Kayn
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Abilities and cooldowns
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.
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 7s | 13s | 21s | – |
| 6 | 6s | 13s | 21s | 2m |
| 9 | 5s | 12s | 21s | 2m |
| 11 | 5s | 11s | 21s | 1m40 |
| 16 | 5s | 9s | 17s | 1m20 |
| 18 | 5s | 9s | 13s | 1m20 |
How pros play Kayn
High-elo players who play this champion.
Patch 16.21.1