Matchup

Heavy AD damageHigh sustainDive threatHigh burst

Build vs Kayn

Build adapted to this matchup

Starting items

Doran's Ring
Health Potion
x2

Core build

Dark Seal
1
Liandry's Torment
2Mage tank
Bloodletter's Curse
3vs Tank

Standard

Sorcerer's Shoes
4Magic pen
Zhonya's Hourglass
5vs AD

Summoner spells

41487%
4129%

Anti AD

Plated Steelcaps
4vs AD
Zhonya's Hourglass
5vs AD

Anti Heal

Morellonomicon
6vs Heal

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Anti Tank

Shadowflame
5vs Tank

DPS

Riftmaker
Mage tank
Hextech Rocketbelt
Mage tank
Rabadon's Deathcap
Mage
Rylai's Crystal Scepter
Mage tank
100.0% WR2 games
SorcerySorcery
Arcane CometArcane Comet
Nimbus CloakNimbus Cloak
Absolute FocusAbsolute Focus
ScorchScorch
ResolveResolve
UnflinchingUnflinching
Bone PlatingBone Plating
Adaptive ForceAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Early (0-15)
Mid (15-30)
Late (30+)
RumbleRumble
KaynKayn
Favorable
Neutral
Neutral

Kayn's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

The Darkin Scythe (P)

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

LevelQWER
37s13s21s
66s13s21s2m
95s12s21s2m
115s11s21s1m40
165s9s17s1m20
185s9s13s1m20

Playing against Kayn

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

1

Ward beyond walls: Kayn passes through walls with his E, classic river wards aren't enough.

2

Blue form (assassin) is squishy: a CC kills him quickly. Red form (Rhaast) has sustain: Grievous Wounds is mandatory.

3

His R makes him untouchable — don't waste abilities when he's inside an ally.

4

Before his transformation, Kayn is relatively weak — invade his jungle early to delay his transformation.

Source: op.gg + LTL Engine · Patch 16.9.1 · May 9, 2026