Guide Sections (15)
- Champion Stats
- The Mana-Efficient Trade
- The Kennen Skin Tier List
- When They Ban Kennen
- Runes That Work on Kennen
- Leveling Kennen's Abilities
- Mastering Kennen's Kit
- Matchups That Matter for Kennen
- Positioning Laziness
- When They Outrange You
- The Backline Artillery
- The Scaling Build
- Kennen's Strongest Moments
- The Combo Nuke
- Recent Patch History
Champion Stats
Low elo players don't respect Kennen's range and poke. They will let him land Q-W trades for free until they are low enough for an all-in. They also fail to watch their flanks, allowing Kennen to find the perfect angle for a 5-man ultimate. A smurf can use the Mark of the Storm (Passive) to consistently stun enemies in lane and secure easy solo-kills.
The Mana-Efficient Trade
Start Q (Thundering Shuriken) for early poke and mark-stacking. In lane, your AA-Q-AA trade is surprisingly strong. Level 2 with W (Electrical Surge) allows you to trigger the stun once you've landed a Q and an empowered AA. Most top laners can't trade back efficiently against a ranged Kennen.
Start Q. Land Q, Walk up, Auto-W-Auto. The stun is instant. Level 1-2 you are a lane bully. Most top laners respect you too much. Abuse that respect. Auto them every time they touch a minion.
The Kennen Skin Tier List
'Arctic Ops Kennen' is the classic 'try-hard' smurf skin—the unique shuriken and camo theme are perfect. 'Super Kennen' is a fun choice with great visual clarity. 'Infernal Kennen' offers amazing fire effects. Avoid 'Karate Kennen' as it's just a recolor.
'Arctic Ops' is the classic 'try-hard' skin; the shurikens are distinct. 'Super Kennen' is fun. 'Infernal' has great fire effects. 'DWG Kennen' is the pro choice. Arctic Ops feels the sharpest.
When They Ban Kennen
Rumble offers similar 'AOE-ultimate' teamfight destruction. Neeko provides the disguise and big AOE stun. Vladimir gives scaling AOE damage. Rumble is the best 'press R to win fight' pivot.
Runes That Work on Kennen
Electrocute is the best choice for maximizing your burst in lane trades and ultimate engages. First Strike is an alternative for faster gold scaling. Secondary Inspiration with Magical Footwear and Cosmic Insight to reach your core items and Flash faster.
Leveling Kennen's Abilities
Max Q first—it's your primary damage and mark-stacking tool. Max W second for the increased damage and scaling on your empowered AA. Max E last as the energy return and speed are sufficient with one point.
Mastering Kennen's Kit
Thundering Shuriken. Kennen throws a shuriken that deals magic damage and applies a mark. It's a skillshot, so land it to start your combo.
Electrical Surge. Passive: Every 5th attack deals bonus damage and applies a mark. Active: Deals damage to all nearby marked enemies and applies another mark. Use this to trigger stuns.
Lightning Rush. Kennen becomes a ball of lightning, gaining movement speed and dealing damage to enemies he passes through, applying a mark. It also grants bonus resistances.
Slicing Maelstrom. Kennen summons a storm that repeatedly strikes nearby enemies, dealing magic damage and applying marks. This is your game-winning teamfight tool.
Matchups That Matter for Kennen
Easy Matchup. You can easily poke him out and stun him whenever he tries to Q-silence you. Your E allows you to escape his spin every time. Just don't get greedy.
Easy Matchup (for smurfs). You out-range him and can stun him if he tries to hook you. Use your E to stay out of his Q range. Just poke until he's forced to back.
Skill Matchup. He has better range and burst in cannon form, but you have better teamfight presence. Focus on landing Qs and don't take free damage from his E-Q combo.
Positioning Laziness
Stop wasting your Flash! Your Flash-R combo is your most powerful tool. If you use it for an unnecessary solo-kill, you're useless for 5 minutes of teamfights. Also, manage your energy! If you empty your bar on poke, you won't have enough to use your full combo during a gank. Also, use your W selectively to ensure the stun triggers when you need it.
Stop wasting Flash! Your Flash-R is your only engage. If you use it for a greed kill, you are useless for 5 minutes. Manage energy. If you enter a fight with 0 energy, you are just a glittering minion.
When They Outrange You
Dodge if facing heavy 'disengage' or 'shields' comps with Janna, Lulu, or Morgana if your team has no other engage. They can push you away or block your stun. Also dodge into Irelia who can out-dash your kit.
Dodge Janna or Lulu. Their disengage (Monsoon/Wild Growth) pushes you away the instant you ult. You deal 0 damage and die. Also Irelia—she dashes through your ult and kills you.
The Backline Artillery
In teamfights, you are the primary AOE threat. Your job is to find a flank or follow up an initiation. Activate E (Lightning Rush) to close the gap, then Flash into the enemy backline and activate R (Slicing Maelstrom). Spam W to stack marks and stun everyone. You are the lightning that strikes the heart of the enemy team.
Flank. Do not engage from the front. E speed boost -> Flash -> R into their backline. W to stun. Hourglass immediately. Your job is to delete the ADC and Mid, not to peel the tank.
The Scaling Build
Full AP 'Nuclear Shuriken' Kennen. Rocketbelt -> Shadowflame -> Rabadon's Deathcap. With this build, your R-W combo will literally delete squishies before the second stun even triggers. It's hilarious to see an entire team disappear in a storm of lightning. Maximum BM, high-risk.
Rocketbelt -> Shadowflame -> Rabadon's. The magic pen allows your R to true-damage squishies. Shadowflame crits on low HP targets, ensuring your ult executes. You are a nuclear bomb.
Kennen's Strongest Moments
Level 1-2 is your strongest lane poke phase. Level 6 is your massive teamfight spike. Your biggest item spike is reaching Hextech Rocketbelt, which gives you the extra gap-close needed for the perfect ultimate.
Level 1 Poke. Level 6 Teamfight. Rocketbelt Completion. Level 11 and 16 R ranks. You spike whenever your Flash is up. You are weak when it is down. Play around your summoner spells.
The Combo Nuke
Type 'Shocking, isn't it?' in all-chat after a 5-man stun. Spam the 'dance' emote while running in circles with E active. The sound of Kennen's ultimate is a psychological trigger that makes enemies panic and scatter.
Type 'Shocking!' after a 5-man stun. Spam the dance emote while running in circles with E. The sound of Kennen's ultimate triggers a 'flight' response in enemies. Use that panic.
Recent Patch History
Recent Balance Changes
| Patch | Date | Type | Changes |
|---|---|---|---|
| V14.17 | Aug 28, 2024 | NERF | Q nerfed |
| V14.13 | Jun 26, 2024 | NERF | Base stats nerfed |
| V14.9 | May 1, 2024 | BUFF | E adjusted, R adjusted |
| V14.2 | Jan 24, 2024 | BUFF | W buffed |
| V13.18 | Sep 13, 2023 | BUFF | E buffed, R buffed |
