Kennen vs Irelia
Skill matchup
Build vs Irelia
Build adapted to this matchup
Recommended items for Kennen: Hextech Rocketbelt, Shadowflame, Zhonya's Hourglass, Sorcerer's Shoes, Hextech Gunblade, Oblivion Orb, Stormsurge, Rabadon's Deathcap.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Irelia's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
When Irelia strikes enemies with spells she gains stacking bonus Attack Speed. At maximum stacks she also gains bonus damage on hit.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 10s | 20s | 16s | – |
| 6 | 8s | 20s | 16s | 2m05 |
| 9 | 6s | 18s | 16s | 2m05 |
| 11 | 6s | 16s | 16s | 1m45 |
| 16 | 6s | 12s | 13s | 1m25 |
| 18 | 6s | 12s | 10s | 1m25 |
Playing as Kennen
Tips to maximize your impact
- Harass melees with Q
Against a melee champion, harass with Thundering Shuriken (Q) from your range: the shuriken flies far and applies Mark of the Storm (passive).
- Three marks to stun
Hit the same target with Thundering Shuriken (Q), Lightning Rush (E) then Electrical Surge (W): each spell applies Mark of the Storm (passive), and the third stuns.
- Trade with your 5th auto
Take your trades when your 5th auto is ready: Electrical Surge (W) adds magic damage and a Mark of the Storm (passive) to it.
- Engage into the middle of the group
To engage, rush into the group with Lightning Rush (E), Flash if needed, then cast Slicing Maelstrom (R): its repeated hits apply marks and stun.
Playing against Irelia
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Stay away from low-health minions
Don't stand near your low-health minions: Bladesurge (Q) resets when it kills, so she chains dashes from minion to minion until she reaches you.
- Dodge the line of her blades
As soon as the first blade of Flawless Duet (E) lands, change direction: the stun only hits enemies caught between the two blades.
- Trade before her passive stacks
Take your trades when Ionian Fervor (passive) isn't stacked: she builds stacks with her abilities, and at max stacks her autos deal more damage.
- Wait out her Defiant Dance
Save your burst for after Defiant Dance (W): while charging, she takes much less damage, but she can't do anything else.
- Dodge her blade ult
Dodge Vanguard's Edge (R): its blades make you Unsteady, which resets Bladesurge (Q) on you, and the cage they form damages and slows anyone who crosses it.
Other Kennen matchups
Patch 16.21.1