Kayn

Kayn Build

the Shadow Reaper

Role: Jungle Pick Rate: 7.7% Win Rate: 52.86%

Recommended Build

Summoner Spells

Flash Flash
Smite Smite

Skill Priority

Q W E

Items

Start
Gustwalker Hatchling
Health Potion
Core
Hubris Hubris
Ionian Boots of Lucidity Ionian Boots of Lucidity
Voltaic Cyclosword Voltaic Cyclosword
Late
Death's Dance
Serylda's Grudge
Guardian Angel

Runes

Most Played
Domination
Dark Harvest
Dark Harvest 52% · 52.2% WR
Sudden Impact
Sudden Impact 56.4% · 52.3% WR
Grisly Mementos
Grisly Mementos 47.4% · 52.1% WR
Treasure Hunter
Treasure Hunter 48.2% · 52.4% WR
Inspiration
Cosmic Insight
Cosmic Insight 0.9% · 52.6% WR
Magical Footwear
Magical Footwear 0.3% · 53% WR
Adaptive Force
Adaptive Force
Adaptive Force
Adaptive Force
Health Scaling
Health Scaling
Best WR
Domination
Dark Harvest
Dark Harvest 52% · 52.2% WR
Sudden Impact
Sudden Impact 56.4% · 52.3% WR
Sixth Sense
Sixth Sense 8.8% · 53.2% WR
Treasure Hunter
Treasure Hunter 48.2% · 52.4% WR
Inspiration
Cash Back
Cash Back 0.8% · 52.7% WR
Triple Tonic
Triple Tonic 1% · 53.6% WR
Adaptive Force
Adaptive Force
Adaptive Force
Adaptive Force
Tenacity and Slow Resist
Tenacity and Slow Resist

Skill Order

Q
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
W
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
E
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
R
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15

Win Rate by Elo

Iron Iron 42.64%
Bronze Bronze 48.40%
Silver Silver 49.88%
Gold Gold 50.31%
Platinum Platinum 51.26%
Emerald Emerald 51.78%
Diamond Diamond 52.38%
Master Master 52.82%
Grandmaster Grandmaster 53.58%
Challenger Challenger 57.91%
All Elos All Elos 51.99%

Best Counters and Matchups for Kayn

See all counters for Kayn

Top 5 Counters Against Kayn

Maokai
40.7% WR -7.5%
Poppy
45.6% WR -4.1%
Udyr
49.2% WR +2.6%
Shen
49.4% WR +1.5%
Fiddlesticks
Fiddlesticks Matchup detail
49.6% WR +2.0%

Top 5 Best Matchups for Kayn

Morgana
62.3% WR +13.7%
Tryndamere
Tryndamere Matchup detail
62.0% WR +12.9%
Amumu
56.9% WR +8.9%
Jax
56.4% WR +8.2%
Dr. Mundo
Dr. Mundo Matchup detail
56.3% WR +7.7%

Patch History

V14.7
  • Reaping Slash Bonus AD ratio per hit increased to Champions stunned with Pyromania (P)85% bonus AD from 80%. Total bonus AD ratio increased to Champions stunned with Pyromania (P)170% bonus AD from 160%.
V14.6
  • Reaping Slash Darkin health ratio increased to Champions killed with Comeuppance (R)6% of target's maximum health from 5%. New Effect: Item actives are now locked out while casting.
  • Umbral Trespass Bonus AD ratio reduced to Champions stunned with Pyromania (P)150% bonus AD from 175%.
V14.5
  • The Darkin Scythe New Effect: Darkin healing now scales with Champions killed with Comeuppance (R)0.5% per 100 bonus health.
  • Umbral Trespass Darkin heal increased to 75% of damage amount from 65%. Base heal increased to Champions killed with Comeuppance (R)11.25% of the target's maximum health from 9.75% Heal bonus AD ratio increased to Champions stunned with Pyromania (P)7.5% per 100 bonus AD from 6.5%.
V14.2
  • The Darkin Scythe Removed: Damage instances dealt by Summon Aery no longer spawn orbs for transformation progress.
  • Umbral Trespass Bug Fix: Darkin version's heal is now granted automatically if the unit dies during the channel.
V13.18
  • The Darkin Scythe Darkin healing changed to 25% of damage dealt at all levels from 20% − 30% (based on level).
  • Umbral Trespass Darkin damage bonus AD ratio reduced to Champions stunned with Pyromania (P)10% per bonus AD from 13%. Darkin heal bonus AD ratio reduced to Champions stunned with Pyromania (P)6.5% per 100 bonus AD from 8.45%.
V13.17
  • The Darkin Scythe New Effect: Now fully restores his health and mana upon transforming. Does not apply in ARAM.
  • Blade's Reach Bonus AD ratio reduced to Champions stunned with Pyromania (P)110% bonus AD from 130%.
V13.8
  • Shadow Step Shadow Assassin cooldown increased to 10 seconds from 8. Shadow Assassin bonus movement speed reduced to 70% from 80%.
V13.3
  • The Darkin Scythe Shadow Assassin bonus damage increased to 15% − 45% (based on level) from 13% − 40% (based on level).
  • Reaping Slash Bonus AD ratio increased to Champions stunned with Pyromania (P)80% bonus AD from 65%. Total bonus AD ratio increased to Champions stunned with Pyromania (P)160% bonus AD from 130%.
V12.23
  • The Darkin Scythe Shadow Assassin bonus damage increased to 13% − 40% (based on level) from 9.3% − 31.4% (based on level). The previous values were intended to be 8% − 30.1% (based on level), but were greater in effect.
  • Shadow Step Bonus AD ratio increased to Champions stunned with Pyromania (P)45% bonus AD from Champions stunned with Pyromania (P)35% bonus AD.
V12.18
  • Reaping Slash Darkin bonus AD ratio reduced to Champions stunned with Pyromania (P)3.5% per 100 bonus AD from 5%.
V12.14
  • Stats Health growth increased to 109 from 99.
  • The Darkin Scythe Darkin heal reduced to 20% − 30% (based on level) from 25% − 35% (based on level).
V12.13
  • The Darkin Scythe Bug Fix: Damage instances dealt by First Strike no longer spawn orbs for transformation progress.
V12.11
  • Reaping Slash Darkin bonus AD ratio reduced to Champions stunned with Pyromania (P)5% per 100 bonus AD from 5.5%.
V12.10
  • Stats Base health increased to 655 from 585. Health growth increased to 99 from 85. Armor growth increased to 4.5 from 3.3. Magic resistance growth increased to 2.05 from 1.25.
  • The Darkin Scythe Darkin heal reduced to 25% − 35% (based on level) from 30% − 40% (based on level).
  • Shadow Step Base heal reduced to 90 / 100 / 110 / 120 / 130 from 100 / 115 / 130 / 145 / 160. Bonus AD ratio reduced to Champions stunned with Pyromania (P)35% bonus AD from 40%.
  • Umbral Trespass Darkin base heal reduced to Champions killed with Comeuppance (R)9.75% of the target's maximum health from 10.5%. Darkin heal bonus AD ratio reduced to Champions stunned with Pyromania (P)8.45% per 100 bonus AD from 9.1%.
V11.23
  • The Darkin Scythe Bug Fix: Now properly displays its transformation status in the allied chat when the portrait is pinged.
V11.22
  • Reaping Slash Darkin bonus AD ratio increased to Champions stunned with Pyromania (P)5.5% per 100 bonus AD from 4%.
  • Umbral Trespass Darkin base damage increased to Champions killed with Comeuppance (R)15% of target's maximum health from 10%. Darkin base heal increased to Champions killed with Comeuppance (R)10.5% of target's maximum health from 7%.
V11.20
  • General Adjusted splash artwork for Nightbringer Kayn and Prestige Nightbringer Kayn.
  • Blade's Reach Bug Fix: Fixed a bug where Shadow Assassin would only receive half of local tower gold if his living shadow was active and in range.
V11.17
  • The Darkin Scythe Shadow Assassin bonus damage reduced to 8% − 30% (based on level) from 12% − 44% (based on level).
V11.15
  • The Darkin Scythe Bug Fix: Global transformation SFX now plays for both allies and enemies. Bug Fix: Transformation SFX is now stereo for the local player.
  • Blade's Reach Bug Fix: On-hit SFX is now form-specific.
  • Shadow Step Bug Fix: Fixed a bug where the SFX made a popping noise when it looped.
  • Original Kayn Bug Fix: Recall SFX is now form-specific.
  • Odyssey Kayn Bug Fix: Dance music is now form specific.
V11.13
  • Blade's Reach New Effect: VFX is now revealed when cast within terrain towards enemy champions.
  • Umbral Trespass Bug Fix: Now correctly cancels early if stunned during the channel.
V11.9
  • Reaping Slash Darkin AD ratio increased to Champions stunned with Pyromania (P)65% AD from Champions stunned with Pyromania (P)55% AD.
V11.5
  • General Undocumented: Kayn's non-classic skins' base-form portraits will no longer appear on the scoreboard for all players.
V11.1
  • Stats Base magic resistance reduced to 32 from 32.1.
V10.25 - December 15th Hotfix
  • Stats Base armor increased to 38 from 35.
  • Reaping Slash Base damage increased to 75 / 95 / 115 / 135 / 155 from 65 / 85 / 105 / 125 / 145.
V10.25
  • Stats Base armor reduced to 35 from 38.
  • Reaping Slash Cooldown increased to 7 / 6.5 / 6 / 5.5 / 5 seconds from 6 / 5.5 / 5 / 4.5 / 4. Base damage reduced to 65 / 85 / 105 / 125 / 145 from 75 / 95 / 115 / 135 / 155.
V10.20
  • Odyssey Kayn Bug Fix: Fixed a bug where he would expand and shrink when an enemy player highlighted him.
V10.12 - June 15th Hotfix
  • Blade's Reach Bug Fix: No longer able to cast globally to all enemies on the map.
V10.10
  • The Darkin Scythe Darkin heal reduced to 30% − 40% (based on level) from 34.5% − 43% (based on level).
V10.9
  • Reaping Slash Cooldown reduced to 6 / 5.5 / 5 / 4.5 / 4 seconds from 7 / 6.5 / 6 / 5.5 / 5. New Effect: Bonus damage now applies to minions. Undocumented: Rhaast capped damage no longer also considers the bonus damage.
  • Blade's Reach Slow increased to 90% from 70%.
V10.6 - March 19th Hotfix
  • Blade's Reach Bug Fix: Can no longer self-cast to damage units globally.
V10.6
  • General Recommended items updated.
  • The Darkin Scythe Orb gain rate changed to 3 − 10.39 (based on minutes) from 3 − 10 (based on minutes).
  • Blade's Reach Undocumented: If self-casted, Blade's Reach now hits all units globally, instead of only up to 4500 units away.
V10.5
  • The Darkin Scythe Orb gain rate changed to 3 − 10 (based on minutes) from 3 / 6 / 10 (based on minutes).
  • Blade's Reach Slow strength increased to 70% from 60%.
V10.3
  • The Darkin Scythe Bug Fix: Fixed a bug where he could select neither form if he died damaging both a ranged and a melee champion when the orb count for both forms were within 8% of each other.
V9.21
  • Reaping Slash Base damage increased to 75 / 95 / 115 / 135 / 155 from 60 / 80 / 100 / 120 / 140. Darkin AD ratio increased to Champions stunned with Pyromania (P)55% AD from Champions stunned with Pyromania (P)50% AD. Bonus damage against monsters reduced to 40 from 55.
  • Blade's Reach Bug Fix: Having the living shadow from Shadow Assassin's Blade's Reach stand on the Eye of the Herald no longer has that non-champion entity pick it up.
V9.15
  • Umbral Trespass Bug Fix: Now properly goes on cooldown if the target dies while he has infested them.
V9.9
  • Umbral Trespass Bug Fix: When reactivated quickly, his model no longer appears before Umbral Trespass completes.
V9.8
  • Shadow Step New Effect: Shadow Assassin form sets the cooldown to 8 seconds at all ranks.
V9.2
  • The Darkin Scythe Removed: Damage and takedowns against melee champion dropping red orbs and against ranged champions blue orbs. New Effect: Damage and takedowns against enemy champions grants orbs. New Effect: Once the bar is filled, if your percentage of damage done against melee champions is higher than your percentage of damage done against ranged champions you gain Rhaast, otherwise you gain Shadow Assassin. New Effect: The transformation progress bar now color tints towards the transformation type that's furthest along, becoming deeper blue when Shadow Assassin is far ahead, and deep red for Rhaast. New Effect: Can now ping the transform bar to inform allies how far or close Kayn is to transform. New Effect: Can now ping that a form is available. New Effect: Can now ping that a form is unavailable and the time remaining before it is ready to be activated. New Effect: Once a form is unlocked, you can collect orbs from the opposite champion type to reduce the second form's timer by 5 seconds each. Total transformation points required increased to 500 from 400. New Effect: If when collecting their final transformation points, the two forms are within 8% of each other, the type of champion range you finally hit will determine the transformation. Bug Fix: No longer immediately harvests orbs when damaging ranged champions who hadn't yet damaged him. He'll now properly wait until exiting combat.
  • Reaping Slash Bug Fix: Fixed a Shadow Step into basic attack into Reaping Slash bug where, if Shadow Step's buff expired during Reaping Slash's cast time (due to the basic attack putting Kayn in combat), Q dealt no damage.
  • Shadow Step New Effect: Can now start Recalling during Shadow Step if not inside terrain. Bug Fix: Fixed a bug where Shadow Step ending due to casting a basic attack would occasionally cut his Reaping Slash attack short and dealing no damage.
  • Umbral Trespass New Effect: Can now emerge from target with a distance below 300 units. New Effect: Shadow Assassin's Umbral Trespass gains 200 bonus range when emerging from his target.
  • Soulhunter Kayn Bug Fix: Fixed a bug where he would hear the audio for Master Yi's Highlander forever if he transformed into Rhaast with Master Yi in the game.
V9.1
  • The Darkin Scythe New Effect: Can now ping the time until other form is available if Kayn's already unlocked a form.
V8.17
  • Shadow Step Empowered duration increased to 7 / 7.5 / 8 / 8.5 / 9 seconds from 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9.
  • Shadow Step (Shadow Assassin) Bonus movement speed increased to 80% from 70%.
V8.7
  • The Darkin Scythe Passive points gained based on minutes changed to 3 / 6 / 10 (based on minutes) from 0.5 − 15 (based on minutes).
  • Reaping Slash New Effect: Other abilities can now be queued up while casting Q.
  • Shadow Step Bug Fix: Shadow Step no longer copies an enemy's Master Yi's Highlander SFX.
V8.6
  • Blade's Reach Bonus AD ratio increased to Champions stunned with Pyromania (P)130% bonus AD from 120%.
  • Umbral Trespass Bonus AD ratio increased to Champions stunned with Pyromania (P)175% bonus AD from 150%.
V7.24b
  • Stats Attack damage growth increased to 3.3 from 2.8.
  • The Darkin Scythe Darkin heal increased to 34.5% − 43% (based on level) from 26% − 43% (based on level).
V7.22
  • Stats Base attack damage increased to 68 from 60. Base armor increased to 38 from 29.
  • Reaping Slash Base damage increased to 60 / 80 / 100 / 120 / 140 from 55 / 75 / 95 / 115 / 135.
  • Blade's Reach Base damage increased to 90 / 135 / 180 / 225 / 270 from 80 / 125 / 170 / 215 / 260.
V7.16
  • The Darkin Scythe Bug Fix: No longer gains transformation progress from ticks of Corrupting Potion, Deathfire Touch, Crest of Cinders, or Challenging Smite. Other periodic effects, such as Ignite, already had no impact on transformation progress.
  • Blade's Reach Bug Fix: Shadow Assassin's tooltip for Blade's Reach now displays the proper slow duration, slow value, and bonus attack damage ratio. In-game effects are unchanged.
  • Umbral Trespass Bug Fix: Once again marks targets for Umbral Trespass, even when his damage is completely absorbed by a shield.
V7.15
  • Umbral Trespass Bonus AD ratio increased to Champions stunned with Pyromania (P)150% bonus AD from 110%. Bug Fix: Fixed a bug where Umbral Trespass wasn't making Kayn "unseen" for Duskblade of Draktharr's Nightstalker proc. Bug Fix: Fixed a bug where Shadow Assassin's passive wasn't amplifying damage-over-time (ex. Deathfire Touch) or proc (ex. Duskblade of Draktharr) effects. Bug Fix: Fixed a bug where Shadow Assassin's passive triggered against Fiora's Riposte, Pantheon's Aegis Protection, and Shen's Spirit's Refuge even though there's no damage to amplify. Bug Fix: Fixed a bug where Kled's Bear Trap on a Rope ended Umbral Trespass early. Bug Fix: Fixed a bug where Kayn could cast Umbral Trespass on an enemy he attempted to damage when all of the damage was absorbed by a shield.
  • Soulhunter Kayn The Darkin Scythe Bug Fix: Orb particles during his passive are now more visible.
V7.14 July 18th Hotfix
  • General Bug Fix: Fixed a bug causing Kayn's UI to break, sometimes preventing him from transforming altogether.
  • Umbral Trespass Bug Fix: Kled no longer ends up in a weird spot if Kayn uses Umbral Trespass on him to avoid the targeted dash at the end of Chaaaaaaaarge!!!.
V7.14 Added
  • The Darkin Scythe Innate: Kayn wields an ancient, sentient weapon, that battles with him for control. Dealing damage against champions causes them to drops orbs that are automatically collected upon leaving combat, filling a bar above Kayn's portrait. Once the bar is full he can choose to either be overwhelmed by Rhaast or expel him to become the Shadow Assassin, based on whether he has damaged more melee or ranged champions, respectively. Once primed, the other option becomes available after 4 minutes. The transformation can only be performed by interacting with their portrait while on the summoning platform, permanently changing their abilities. Shadow Assassin: Kayn's basic attacks and abilities deal 12% − 44% (based on level) of post-mitigation damage as bonus magic damage, lasting for 3 seconds upon entering in combat with an enemy champion, refreshing after 8 seconds out of combat with them or by using Umbral Trespass. Rhaast: Rhaast heals for 26% − 43% (based on level) of the post-mitigation damage that he deals with spells against enemy champions.
  • Reaping Slash Active: Kayn dashes forward, dealing 55 / 75 / 95 / 115 / 135 Champions stunned with Pyromania (P)(+ 65% bonus AD) physical damage to all enemies he passes through before flourishing his scythe, dealing the same damage again to surrounding enemies. Shadow Assassin: Reaping Slash is unchanged. Rhaast: Both instances of Reaping Slash's damage are modified to Champions stunned with Pyromania (P)50% AD Champions killed with Comeuppance (R)(+ 5% Champions stunned with Pyromania (P)(+ 4% per 100 bonus AD) of target's maximum health) physical damage, capped at 200 / 250 / 300 / 350 / 400 against monsters. Regardless of the form, both instances of Reaping Slash deals 55 bonus damage against monsters. Mana Cost: 50 Cooldown: 7 / 6.5 / 6 / 5.5 / 5 seconds
  • Blade's Reach Active: After a short delay in which he can't perform any other actions, Kayn performs an upwards sweep with his scythe, dealing 80 / 125 / 170 / 215 / 260 Champions stunned with Pyromania (P)(+ 120% bonus AD) physical damage to all enemies in a line and slowing them by 60%, decaying over 1.5 seconds. Shadow Assassin: Blade's Reach's range is increased by 200, deals Champions stunned with Pyromania (P)10% bonus AD bonus damage and the slow decays over 2 seconds. Additionally, Kayn conjures a living shadow at the casting position to perform Blade's Reach in his stead, allowing Kayn to perform other actions. Rhaast: Blade's Reach knocks up enemies for 1 second. Mana Cost: 60 / 65 / 70 / 75 / 80 Cooldown: 13 / 12 / 11 / 10 / 9 seconds
  • Shadow Step Active: Kayn gains 40% bonus movement speed, is ghosted and can ignore terrain collision for 1.5 seconds. Immobilizing effects will interrupt Shadow Step. Kayn heals himself for 100 / 115 / 130 / 145 / 160 Champions stunned with Pyromania (P)(+ 40% bonus AD) health upon moving through terrain for the first time and, if he's not in combat with enemy champions, Shadow Step's duration is increased to 5 seconds. Entering combat with a champion after the effect is enhanced reduces the remaining duration to 1.5 seconds. Shadow Assassin: Casting Shadow Step removes slows, additionally if Kayn enters terrain at least once, Shadow Step will be improved for the remainder of its duration to grant 70% bonus movement speed and make Kayn immune to slows. Rhaast: Shadow Step is unchanged. Mana Cost: 90 Cooldown: 21 / 19 / 17 / 15 / 13 seconds
  • Umbral Trespass Passive: Kayn basic attacks and abilities against champions apply Umbral Trespass for a few seconds. Active: Kayn infests a marked enemy champion for up to 2.5 seconds, revealing them and becoming untargetable for the duration. Reactivating Umbral Trespass ends it earlier. Upon reactivation or at the end of the duration, Kayn wrenches himself free from their body in the cursor's direction, dealing 150 / 250 / 350 Champions stunned with Pyromania (P)(+ 110% bonus AD) physical damage to the target. Shadow Assassin: Umbral Trespass gains 200 bonus range and emerging from the target resets The Darkin Scythe cooldown. Rhaast: Umbral Trespass damage is modified to deal Champions killed with Comeuppance (R)10% Champions stunned with Pyromania (P)(+ 13% per 100 bonus AD) of target's maximum health physical damage, and heals him for「 70% of the pre-mitigation damage 」「 Champions killed with Comeuppance (R)7% Champions stunned with Pyromania (P)(+ 9% per 100 bonus AD) of target's maximum health 」. Mana Cost: 100 Cooldown: 120 / 100 / 80 seconds

Recommended build

What players actually run on Kayn on the current patch: summoner spells, skill priority, starting, core and late items, runes and skill order.

Every entry comes with its pick rate (how often it is chosen) and, where available, its win rate. For runes, Most Played is the page the majority takes and Best WR the variant that wins most among those with enough games: when they differ, the second is usually the sharper choice, the first the safer one.

Win rate by elo

Kayn's win rate in each rank tier, from Iron to Challenger, plus all tiers combined.

A champion that climbs with rank is usually one that rewards mechanics or game knowledge; one that peaks in low elo is often easy to pick up and punished by better players. Read the tier you play in, not the average. Tiers with no data for this patch are hidden.

Counters and matchups

A preview of the counters page: the five opponents Kayn struggles against the most, and the five it beats most often, on the current patch.

Percentages are Kayn's own win rate in each duel, with the gap to its overall win rate. The full lists, with every matchup that has enough games, are on the counters page linked below each table.

Patch history

Balance changes that touched Kayn, patch by patch, most recent first, as published in the official patch notes.

The ten latest patches are shown, the older ones fold out. Use it to read the win rate movements above: a jump right after a patch is usually a buff or a nerf, not a change in how people play the champion.