Nunu & Willump 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 Nunu & Willump: Liandry's Torment, Dead Man's Plate, Spirit Visage, Plated Steelcaps, Hextech Rocketbelt, Dark Seal, Zhonya's Hourglass, Thornmail.
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 Nunu & Willump
Tips to maximize your impact
- Roll your snowball from far away
Cast Biggest Snowball Ever! (W) from far away for your ganks: the longer it rolls, the bigger it gets, and the more its damage and knock-up grow.
- Hit with all three snowballs
Hit your target with all three snowballs of Snowball Barrage (E): they're slowed, then at the end of the spell, Willump roots nearby slowed enemies.
- Absolute Zero on locked-down enemies
Cast Absolute Zero (R) on enemies who are already immobilized: the slow grows stronger, and the explosion hurts more the longer you channel.
- Save your bite for the objective
Save Consume (Q) to finish the dragon or Baron with Smite: against a monster, the bite deals true damage and heals you.
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 Nunu & Willump matchups
Patch 16.21.1