Guide · Jungle

Kayn Guide

the Shadow Reaper

Fighter

Assassin

Tier B Jungle

Kayn, the Shadow Reaper, is a fighter and assassin champion that is demanding to master. Across our 668 analysed ranked games, Kayn is mostly played in the Jungle (100% of its games), with a 54.3% win rate in that role: tier B among Jungle champions (#19 of 48, ranked by win rate). Kayn's damage is mostly physical (86%): armor is the best defensive answer against this champion. Win rate varies with game length: 56.5% in medium-length games (25 to 35 min, 356 games) versus 49.4% in short games (under 25 min).

Averages measured over 668 Jungle games played with Kayn, from our ranked Solo/Duo data collection.

Combos and how to play

Kayn is a jungler fighting Rhaast, the Darkin of his weapon: either Rhaast triumphs (healing based on the ability damage dealt to champions), or Kayn masters him and becomes the Shadow Assassin (bonus damage in the first seconds of a fight). Shadow Step lets him pass through terrain and his ultimate hides him inside an enemy to deal huge damage.

The trade

Q › AA AA › W

When: An enemy is within range.

Reaping Slash dashes you then strikes, Blade's Reach damages and slows along a line.

The assassination

E › R › Q › W

When: A carry is isolated behind a wall.

Shadow Step lets you pass through terrain, Umbral Trespass hides you inside the enemy then deals huge damage when you come out.

The escape

E › W

When: You need to get away.

Shadow Step lets you pass through terrain to cut off the chase.

Laning phase

Reaping Slash dashes you then strikes: both deal damage. Shadow Step lets you avoid obstacles and reposition.

Common mistakes

• Using the ultimate on a target who cannot heal or flee.
• Not choosing your form according to your situation.
• Passing through terrain with no exit.

Riot's official tips for playing Kayn

• Look at the line-up of both your team and the enemy's team when picking your form.
• Remember that nearby enemies can see which wall you're in.

Build, runes and summoner spells

The most-played core build is Edge of Night, Serylda's Grudge, and Voltaic Cyclosword (52 games, 67.3% win rate).

Edge of Night+Serylda's Grudge+Voltaic Cyclosword

52 games · 67.3%

Serylda's Grudge+Axiom Arc+Voltaic Cyclosword

52 games · 57.7%

Serylda's Grudge+Hubris+Voltaic Cyclosword

48 games · 54.2%

Summoner spells

Flash + Smite54.9% · 648 games

Smite + Ignite33.3% · 18 games

Most-played runes

Dark Harvest + Inspiration

51.1% · 221 games

Primary tree · Domination

Sudden Impact100%

Grisly Mementos89%

Treasure Hunter92%

Secondary tree · Inspiration

Cosmic Insight92%

Magical Footwear82%

Shards

Adaptive force99%

Adaptive force100%

Health scaling92%

Conqueror + Sorcery

55.1% · 118 games

Primary tree · Precision

Triumph100%

Legend: Haste98%

Last Stand98%

Secondary tree · Sorcery

Axiom Arcanist98%

Transcendence98%

Shards

Adaptive force98%

Adaptive force96%

Health scaling94%

Dark Harvest + Precision

65.1% · 109 games

Primary tree · Domination

Sudden Impact99%

Sixth Sense69%

Treasure Hunter91%

Secondary tree · Precision

Coup de Grace89%

Triumph76%

Shards

Adaptive force87%

Adaptive force100%

Health scaling62%

For each row, the most picked rune among the games played with this page (share of games in brackets).

Which items to build against the enemy team?

We sort every game by the enemy team's damage. These are Kayn's completed items and their win rate in each situation; "▲" marks an item that does at least 3 points better than its usual win rate.

Mostly magic-damage enemy team58.2% · 177 games

At least 50% of their damage is magic

Voltaic Cyclosword 59.1% ▲

Edge of Night 65.5%

Hubris 50.9%

Serylda's Grudge 66.7%

Axiom Arc 65.8% ▲

Black Cleaver 60.0% ▲

The item that stands out most is Black Cleaver: 60.0% win rate, +5 points versus its usual win rate.

Mostly physical-damage enemy team51.4% · 177 games

Less than 35% of their damage is magic

Voltaic Cyclosword 51.3% ▼

Black Cleaver 52.7%

Death's Dance 53.1% ▼

Hubris 46.2% ▼

Eclipse 54.5% ▲

Axiom Arc 48.4% ▼

The item that stands out most is Eclipse: 54.5% win rate, +5 points versus its usual win rate.

Balanced enemy team53.8% · 314 games

Mixed physical and magic damage

Voltaic Cyclosword 53.8%

Hubris 55.7% ▲

Black Cleaver 54.0%

Death's Dance 57.3%

Axiom Arc 64.8% ▲

Serylda's Grudge 66.1%

The item that stands out most is Hubris: 55.7% win rate, +3 points versus its usual win rate.

Counters and matchups

Who counters Kayn in the Jungle

Talon Kayn: 33.3%18 games

Talon has the edge in 67% of the 18 Jungle duels against Kayn. See the Talon guide.

Lee Sin Kayn: 39.3%28 games

Lee Sin has the edge in 61% of the 28 Jungle duels against Kayn. See the Lee Sin guide.

Nocturne Kayn: 40.0%15 games

Nocturne has the edge in 60% of the 15 Jungle duels against Kayn. See the Nocturne guide.

Shaco Kayn: 41.2%17 games

Shaco has the edge in 59% of the 17 Jungle duels against Kayn. See the Shaco guide.

Viego Kayn: 70.6%17 games

Viego has the edge in 29% of the 17 Jungle duels against Kayn. See the Viego guide.

Who Kayn is strong against

Viego70.6% · 17 games

Shaco41.2% · 17 games

Nocturne40.0% · 15 games

Lee Sin39.3% · 28 games

Talon33.3% · 18 games

How to play against Kayn

• Umbral Trespass requires Kayn to damage a target first. Try to dodge Blade's Reach to deny him a long range cast of Umbral Trespass.
• When Kayn is in terrain near you, you will get a visual warning on the edge of the terrain he's in.
• Damage Kayn while he's in Shadow Step to shorten its duration, or apply hard crowd control (stun, charm, knockup, etc) to end Shadow Step immediately.

Win rates measured over direct same-role duels; only matchups with more than 15 games are listed. See all of Kayn's matchups.

Abilities

PassiveThe Darkin Scythe

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.

QReaping Slash

Kayn dashes, then slashes. Both deal damage.

WBlade's Reach

Kayn damages and slows targets in a line.

EShadow Step

Kayn can walk through terrain.

RUmbral Trespass

Kayn hides in an enemy's body, dealing massive damage when he bursts out.

Frequently asked questions

Full Kayn page · League of Legends tier list · All champion guides