Matchup
You are stronger late game — farm safe and avoid early trades.
Build vs Kindred
Build adapted to this matchup
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
100%Anti AD
Anti Heal
Anti CC
Anti Tank
DPS
Sorcery
Deathfire Touch
Manaflow Band
Transcendence
Scorch
Inspiration
Magical Footwear
Cosmic Insight
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Malzahar
KindredKindred's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
Kindred can mark targets to Hunt. Successfully completing a Hunt permanently empowers Kindred's basic abilities. Every 4 hunts completed also increases Kindred's basic attack range.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 9s | 18s | 14s | – |
| 6 | 9s | 18s | 14s | 2m40 |
| 9 | 9s | 17s | 14s | 2m40 |
| 11 | 9s | 16s | 14s | 2m20 |
| 16 | 9s | 14s | 11s | 2m |
| 18 | 9s | 14s | 8s | 2m |
Playing against Kindred
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
Kindred's marks are visible: defend marked camps to prevent them from stacking.
Their R prevents dying in the zone but heals afterwards — either stay and burst after the heal, or leave the zone.
Kindred is fragile in early game and depends on stacks — invade their jungle and contest marks.
The R also protects ENEMIES: use this to your advantage by entering the zone if you're low.
Source: op.gg + LTL Engine · Patch 16.9.1 · May 9, 2026