Kha'Zix vs Kayn
Skill matchup
Build vs Kayn
Build adapted to this matchup
Recommended items for Kha'Zix: Umbral Glaive, Voltaic Cyclosword, Bastionbreaker, Ionian Boots of Lucidity, Edge of Night, Serylda's Grudge, Hubris, Serrated Dirk.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Kayn's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
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.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| 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 |
Playing as Kha'Zix
Tips to maximize your impact
- Pounce on isolated targets
Jump on an isolated target with Leap (E), then Taste Their Fear (Q): with no ally nearby, Unseen Threat (passive) marks them and the spell hits much harder.
- Vanish to reposition
In teamfights, cast Void Assault (R) to vanish and reposition: the invisibility triggers Unseen Threat (passive), and your next auto damages and slows.
- Heal with your spike
Detonate Void Spike (W) close to you in the jungle or in teamfights: you heal if you're inside the explosion area.
- Pick your evolutions well
Pick your evolutions to fit the game: evolved Leap (E) resets on each takedown, evolved Taste Their Fear (Q) gains range and a lower cooldown on isolated targets.
Playing 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.
Other Kha'Zix matchups
Patch 16.21.1