Nocturne vs Kayn
You are stronger late game. Farm safe and avoid early trades.
Build vs Kayn
The champion's reference build, for lack of enough games in this matchup
Recommended items for Nocturne: Profane Hydra, Axiom Arc, Voltaic Cyclosword, Plated Steelcaps, Experimental Hexplate, Stridebreaker, Lord Dominik's Regards, Guardian Angel.
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 Nocturne
Tips to maximize your impact
- Fight on your trail
Fight on the Dusk Trail left by Duskbringer (Q): on it, you gain move speed and AD, and you move through units.
- Stay in range during your fear
Stay near your target after Unspeakable Horror (E): if the tether holds until the end, they're feared, and you gain move speed toward them.
- Block their CC with your Shroud
Cast Shroud of Darkness (W) just before their CC: the barrier blocks the next enemy ability for 1.5 seconds, and a successful block doubles the spell's attack speed bonus.
- Paranoia on an isolated enemy
Cast Paranoia (R) when an enemy is isolated: they can no longer see their allies, and you can launch yourself at them from long range, farther with each rank.
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 Nocturne matchups
Patch 16.21.1