Kayn vs Ambessa

Kayn
vs
53.6%

over 84 games

Ambessa

Skill matchup

Heavy AD damageDive threatHigh burstSustained DPS

Build vs Ambessa

Build adapted to this matchup

Recommended items for Kayn: Voltaic Cyclosword, Black Cleaver, Death's Dance, Ionian Boots of Lucidity, Serpent's Fang, Axiom Arc, Hubris, Bastionbreaker.

Starting items

Scorchclaw Pup
Health Potion

Core build

Voltaic Cyclosword
1
Black Cleaver
2
Death's Dance
3

Standard

Ionian Boots of Lucidity
4CDR
Serpent's Fang
5

Summoner spells

FlashSmite91%
SmiteDot9%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Serpent's Fang
Axiom Arc
Hubris
Bastionbreaker
Edge of Night
Eclipse
Lord Dominik's Regards
Serylda's Grudge
Spear of Shojin
Serrated Dirk
Spirit Visage
Endless Hunger
Mortal Reminder
Guardian Angel
Youmuu's Ghostblade
83.3% WR6 games
DominationDomination
Dark HarvestDark Harvest
Sudden ImpactSudden Impact
Grisly MementosGrisly Mementos
Treasure HunterTreasure Hunter
InspirationInspiration
Magical FootwearMagical Footwear
Cosmic InsightCosmic Insight
Adaptive ForceAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Ambessa's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Drakehound's Step (P)

Entering an attack or movement command while casting an ability will cause Ambessa to dash a short distance once the ability is cast, granting her next attack bonus range, damage, and attack speed, and refunding energy.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
314s18s13s–
612s18s13s2m10
910s17s13s2m10
1110s16s13s1m55
1610s14s11s1m40
1810s14s9s1m40

Playing as Kayn

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. 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.

  2. Gank through walls

    Gank through walls with Shadow Step (E): you move through terrain faster, and you heal when you first enter it.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

Playing against Ambessa

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Wait until her spells are down

    Take a trade once her spells are down: Drakehound's Step (passive) only gives her a dash when she casts an ability, and her basic spells cost 70 energy.

  2. Don't hit into her guard

    Stop hitting her when she casts Repudiation (W): if she blocks damage from a champion, her ground slam hurts much more.

  3. Respect her level 6

    Once she hits level 6, don't isolate yourself at the back of your team: Public Execution (R) lets her blink to the farthest enemy in the line, and it can't be stopped.

Patch 16.21.1