Varus vs Kai'Sa

Varus
vs
Not enough games
Kai'Sa
Sustained DPSHigh burstHeavy AP damageHeavy AD damage

Build vs Kai'Sa

The champion's reference build, for lack of enough games in this matchup

Recommended items for Varus: Experimental Hexplate, Dusk and Dawn, Riftmaker, Plated Steelcaps, Statikk Shiv, Nashor's Tooth, Rabadon's Deathcap, Zhonya's Hourglass.

Starting items

Doran's Bow
Health Potion
x2

Core build

Experimental Hexplate
1
Dusk and Dawn
2
Riftmaker
3

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Statikk Shiv
5

Summoner spells

ExhaustFlash60%
FlashBarrier30%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Statikk Shiv
Nashor's Tooth
Rabadon's Deathcap
Zhonya's Hourglass
Jak'Sho, The Protean
Guardian Angel
Stormsurge
PrecisionPrecision
Press the AttackPress the Attack
TriumphTriumph
Legend: AlacrityLegend: Alacrity
Last StandLast Stand
ResolveResolve
OvergrowthOvergrowth
Bone PlatingBone Plating
Attack SpeedAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Kai'Sa's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Second Skin (P)

Kai'Sa's basic attacks stack Plasma, dealing increasing bonus magic damage. Allies' immobilizing effects help stack Plasma. Additionally, Kai'Sa's item purchases upgrade her basic spells to have more powerful properties.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
310s20s16s–
68s20s16s2m10
96s18.5s16s2m10
116s17s16s1m40
166s14s13s1m10
186s14s10s1m10

Playing as Varus

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. Apply Blight, then a spell

    Apply Blight with your autos through Blighted Quiver (W), then detonate it with a spell: each stack deals damage based on max health and, on a champion, lowers your cooldowns.

  2. Fire early at close range

    Against a close target, fire Piercing Arrow (Q) without waiting for a full charge: charging adds damage, but it slows you in the meantime.

  3. Cut their healing with your hail

    Cast Hail of Arrows (E) on enemies who are healing or charging at you: the desecrated ground slows them and applies Grievous Wounds.

  4. Target an enemy near their team

    Cast Chain of Corruption (R) on a champion close to their allies: the corruption then spreads to nearby champions and roots them too.

Playing against Kai'Sa

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Stay near your minions

    Stay near your minions: Icathian Rain (Q) splits its missiles between nearby enemies, and on your own, you take them all.

  2. Harass her before she evolves

    If your attack range beats her 525 units, harass her early: Second Skin (passive) only evolves her spells as she buys items.

  3. Dodge her Void Seeker

    Dodge Void Seeker (W): it marks you with Plasma and reveals you, which lets Killer Instinct (R) dash onto you from very far away.

Patch 16.21.1