Here’s how you can master League of Legends’ newest champion, Kayn (2024)

At long last Kayn has arrived on the Rift, bringing a whole new set of terrifying abilities to the jungle and a brand-new trick that League of Legends has never seen before. Kayn is the game's first multi-class champion, allowing him to transform into a deadly assassin perfect for picking off squishies or a more durable bruiser with lifesteal, extra CC, and the ability to melt tanks.

His addition to the game's roster will add a new dimension of flexibility for teams who choose the Shadow Reaper. Will he become the Shadow Assassin and start ripping through your ADC or will he morph into the Darkin Rhaast, and rip the very heart from your bruisers?

We've spent the week getting to know Kayn and how to make the best use of his ability set. If you're picking him up for the first time, then you'll find this Kayn guide useful, whether you're planning on testing him out, or merely trying to survive with your usual main.

What to max first?

We've found two routes for Kayn that seem to work best, depending on how you want to play him. If prioritising damage above all else, then we suggest maxing-out your abilities with the following priority: R (Umbral Trespass), Q (Reaping Slash), W (Blade’s Reach), E (Shadow Step). Reaping Slash is better at dealing damage than Blade's Reach if both the dash and subsequent AoE connect with their target.

However, if you're not as confident about landing both, then it's perfectly acceptable to max in the order R, W, Q, E instead, prioritising Blade's Reach, which is a far easier ability to land.

See Also
Kayn/LoL

Shadow Assassin vs Darkin

By attacking enemy champions, Kayn fills his transformation meter. When it's complete (which is perfectly possible by level five or six if you're a diligent ganker), then he's offered the choice to become one of his two final forms. If you've attacked more melee champions, you'll be offered the choice to turn into Rhaast. If you've struck more ranged champs, then his assassin form will be offered.

Which one to choose? Kayn's Darkin form is much more durable than his assassin form and offers more CC, deals percent health damage and his abilities heal. The Shadow Assassin, on the other hand, provides heightened mobility and extra magic damage, making him perfect for cutting into low-health targets.

Team composition will likely be the biggest factor in your decision of which to choose; an enemy team consisting of a single tanky hero and four squishy targets is an enticing proposition for the Shadow Assassin. On the other hand, if the enemy has a Darius top lane, Alistar support, and Maokai in the jungle, you're almost certainly better off picking Rhaast.

Don't worry too much if you accidentally end up attacking more melee champions, but want to be become the Shadow Assassin – the second transformation option also opens up for Kayn after a short delay.

Unusual pathing is key

The most deadly trick in Kayn's arsenal is Shadow Step. His ability to travel through terrain at high speed makes him an insanely powerful ganker. Without solid vision, you don't know where he'll hop out and begin slicing.

  • Shadow Step forces you out of terrain at the nearest edge. Be sure to position yourself at the optimal position to gain maximum distance travelled when the ability ends.

  • The small heal from Shadow Step can be the difference between life and death. Hop into terrain if you feel a fight going south.

  • It's even useful in mid-lane to approach your target quickly. Use Shadow Step to run through the walls travelling parallel with the river.

  • Remember, you can also travel through the map's outer walls: you can run along its edge to get into lane faster, and also to chase enemies who are trying to escape.

Umbral Trespass has many uses

  • Once you've hopped into someone, you go where they go. If you see an enemy trying to escape with a channeled teleport, or even a dash about to come off cooldown, hop inside and they'll be unable to avoid you.

  • Umbral Trespass is a great way to avoid telegraphed abilities and CC, like Bard or Maokai's ultimates.

  • Think carefully about your exit vector: you want to block paths to escape as much as possible.

  • Remember that the longer you stay inside an enemy, the more time their cooldowns have to refresh as well as yours. If they're low on health, you may be better off exiting sooner rather than later.

  • Umbral Trespass will reset tower aggro, affording Kayn insane tower dive potential.

  • When playing as the Darkin Rhaast, you'll want to time your Umbral Trespass to grant the biggest heal possible, so consider waiting to tank some damage before you jump into your enemy.

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Here’s how you can master League of Legends’ newest champion, Kayn (2024)

FAQs

How old is Kayn in League of Legends? ›

Kayn is around 20 years old. Shadow Order.

Who is Kayn champion League of Legends? ›

A peerless practitioner of lethal shadow magic, Shieda Kayn battles to achieve his true destiny—to one day lead the Order of Shadow into a new era of Ionian supremacy. He wields the sentient darkin weapon Rhaast, undeterred by its creeping corruption of his body and mind.

What role is Kayn? ›

Kayn is one of the few full-slayer Junglers in League of Legends and can take both playstyles of slayers, making him unique. He can be either a full-on assassin or skirmisher. It depends on which form he takes. As a shadow assassin, Kayn can deal heavy burst damage while staying swift.

When was Kayn released? ›

July 12th, 2017

Does Kayn have a crush on Akali? ›

Kayn know each other. He has tried to flirt with her multiple times and Akali finds him hot but too crazy for her taste.

Does Jinx have a crush on Kayn? ›

Despite their enemy status, Jinx somehow develops a crush on him. Jinx's crush on Kayn is a somewhat major part of her character in Odyssey. Though it is primarily played for comedy/absurdity as opposed to a sincere romance.

Who can beat Kayn? ›

They're listed based on their win rate against Kayn.
  • Singed.
  • Vladimir.
  • Quinn.
  • Malphite.
  • Gragas. 72.7%
  • Gangplank. 72.7%
  • Poppy.
  • Gwen. 69.2%

Who is stronger Kayn or Zed? ›

Kayn wins against Zed 53.25% of the time which is 4% higher against Zed than the average opponent. After normalising both champions win rates Kayn wins against Zed 2.7% more often than would be expected. Below is a detailed breakdown of the Kayn build & runes against Zed.

Is Zed Kayn's master? ›

In the wake of a massacre near the Epool River, he came upon Kayn, a Noxian child soldier wielding nothing but a farmer's sickle. Zed could see the boy was a weapon waiting to be sharpened, and took him as his personal student. In this young acolyte, he saw a purity of purpose to match his own.

Is Kayn weak early? ›

Weaknesses: Weak early game. Not the best in early duels.

Who is Kayn inspired by? ›

Everyone can thank anime for Kayn's base form—his appearance was heavily influenced by cool and collected anime villain tropes. “I drew a lot of inspiration from the unflappable, super bad guys in anime,” Hdot says.

Is Kayn hard to use? ›

His mechanics are fairly easy. But understanding his early game and the capability of both forms can take a bit. Medium skill floor.

How tall is Kayn in LOL? ›

It seems everyone's talking about Kayn's height. League players know he's 6 feet tall, while TFT players are convinced he's 5'4".

Is Kayn Zeds a student? ›

In the wake of a massacre near the Epool River, he came upon Kayn, a Noxian child soldier wielding nothing but a farmer's sickle. Zed could see the boy was a weapon waiting to be sharpened, and took him as his personal student.

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