Kayn vs Zyra

Kayn
vs
45.6%

over 598 games

Zyra

Skill matchup

Heavy AP damageHeavy pokeHeavy CCHigh burst

Build vs Zyra

Build adapted to this matchup

Recommended items for Kayn: Hubris, Voltaic Cyclosword, Axiom Arc, Ionian Boots of Lucidity, Edge of Night, Serylda's Grudge, Bastionbreaker, Serpent's Fang.

Starting items

Gustwalker Hatchling
Health Potion

Core build

Hubris
1
Voltaic Cyclosword
2
Axiom Arc
3

Standard

Ionian Boots of Lucidity
4CDR
Edge of Night
5

Summoner spells

FlashSmite95%
SmiteDot5%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Edge of Night
Serylda's Grudge
Bastionbreaker
Serpent's Fang
Lord Dominik's Regards
Black Cleaver
Serrated Dirk
Death's Dance
Youmuu's Ghostblade
Eclipse
Endless Hunger
Guardian Angel
Maw of Malmortius
Spear of Shojin
Spirit Visage
Executioner's Calling
Umbral Glaive
B. F. Sword
Mortal Reminder
The Collector
Chempunk Chainsword
38.6% WR44 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

Zyra's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Garden of Thorns (P)

Seeds spawn around Zyra periodically, becoming faster with level. Zyra can cast Deadly Spines or Grasping Roots near seeds to grow plants, who fight for Zyra.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
37s0s11s–
66s0s11s1m50
95s0s11s1m50
115s0s11s1m40
165s0s11s1m30
185s0s11s1m30

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 Zyra

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Dodge her roots

    Get out of the line of Grasping Roots (E): the roots pass through minions and root every enemy hit, then her plants hit the trapped target.

  2. Step on her seeds

    Step on her seeds to destroy them before she grows them: Rampant Growth (W) seeds reveal you for a moment, but leave her no plant.

  3. Kill her plants

    Take down the plants born from Garden of Thorns (passive), or back off until they die: they take fixed damage, like a ward, and don't live long.

  4. Get out of her thorns

    Get out of the Stranglethorns (R) zone as soon as it appears: the vines knock you into the air 2 seconds later, and her plants are empowered inside.

  5. Engage when her plants are far

    If you can engage, go for Zyra when her plants are far from her: the Thorn Spitter from Deadly Spines (Q) only fires at 575 range.

Patch 16.21.1