Matchup

Heavy AD damageHigh sustainDive threatHigh burst

Build vs Kayn

Build adapted to this matchup

Starting items

Health Potion
x2

Core build

Locket of the Iron Solari
1HP
Zeke's Convergence
2Tank
Frozen Heart
3vs AD

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Solstice Sleigh
5HP

Summoner spells

41458%
3433%

Anti AD

Plated Steelcaps
4vs AD
Bandlepipes
5vs Hybride
Knight's Vow
vs AD

Anti Heal

Thornmail
6vs Hybride

Anti AP

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC
Abyssal Mask
5vs AP
Kaenic Rookern
vs AP

Other options

Solstice Sleigh
HP
Celestial Opposition
HP
Redemption
100.0% WR2 games
InspirationInspiration
Glacial AugmentGlacial Augment
Hextech FlashtraptionHextech Flashtraption
Biscuit DeliveryBiscuit Delivery
Cosmic InsightCosmic Insight
ResolveResolve
UnflinchingUnflinching
Bone PlatingBone Plating
Adaptive ForceAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Early (0-15)
Mid (15-30)
Late (30+)
ThreshThresh
KaynKayn
Passive
Favorable
Favorable

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