Kennen Top Lane Build Guides, Runes, Items, and Abilities

Kennen is a mage with mobility, crowd control, and huge AOE damage. In the early game, Kennen does well against Melee champions since he can use his range to his advantage. Kennen is a champion who doesn't have mana when using his abilities; instead, he uses energy. Although Kennen might be low on energy for most of the game, he can regain energy when he hits some of his abilities. Once you start to roam and group with Kennen, he can make a difference with his ultimate, Slicing Maelstrom, a huge team fight ability that can win the game.

Kennen can also be played in the Mid Lane; make sure to check the alternative build at the top of the page! The build with Kennen Mid Lane is the same as Top Lane, and not much else is different in terms of playstyles. The only thing to keep in mind is matchups. In the mid-lane vs other Mages, Kennen won't be able to get an advantage with his range, so he'll need to play safer and wait for Level 5.

AP kennen is the most basic version of kennen there is. This is by far the easiest kennen varient and can be used to great effect by almost anyone. This entire build is meant to get kennen into the fight with a great ultimate engage with use of (Hextech Rocketbelt) or (Night Harvester). Laning is very similar to any other ranged top laner in that you harass a lot. Due to kennen having one of the lowest base AD in the game this can be quite difficult. Being able to utilize the fifth auto from Electrical Surge is crucial to a good laning phase. The result of being extremely squishy is that distance must be kept throughout laning. If caught in close proximity to a champion such as Darius or Jax: without the use of Lightning Rush will usually cost you a death. Make sure to keep Lightning Rush up at almost all times unless you plan to shove waves. Proper use of all of your abilities is what will really keep you alive. Keeping Lightning Rush always ready is great to help back up in a lane if you are over extended as it gives you a great burst of movement speed. Being able to know when and when not to use Lightnig Rush comes with experience on the champion. Another important part of Kennen is the passive of his W Electrical Surge. This passive will help with Kennen's main passive of his 3 charge stun. This extra passive will keep a charge on your aa. Being able to trade effectivly involves being able to proc either electrocute or phase rush with Mark of the Storm to stun enemies, get out, and set up for another trade or all in. Another thing to keep in mind is the extra risistances given by your ultimate Slicing Maelstrom. Giving 20/40/60 to both armor and magic resist during the 3 seconds of slicing maelstrom will help make kennen more tanky then he seems. Although it was much better on kennen's E, having the armor during Slicing Maelstrom allows for kennen to dive into the backline and survive, even without hourglass.

1. Pros

• Good laning phase
• Fine scalling thanks to his ultimate
• Big damage
• Huge teamfights threat

2. Cons

• Can fall off if you lose lane
• Useless if behind
• Risky engages
• Too much CC is deadly for you.

• E + Q + W + E + AA: A trade used when there aren't minions blocking, E forward then Q. After you connect with E use W then recast E so you can AA.
• AA + Q + AA + W + AA: Your ideal ranged trading pattern when one stack away from W your passive is to, AA Q followed by AA W and conitnue to AA if needed.
• Q + AA + W: To quickly trade from afar when your W passive is up Q and instantly AA W.
• E + E + AA + W + Q + AA: A trade used when minions are around have your W passive up then E forward. Once your E connects instantly recast it and AA W, then quickly Q while they are stunned and continue to AA.
• E + R + W + E + Q + AA: To burst someone E forward then cast R once in range and instantly W, once your E connects recast it and instantly Q AA.
• R + AA + W + Q + AA + E + E + AA: To all in when someone is close R then AA W as quickly as you can then instantly Q followed by an AA. Quickly E, then recast it once it lands followed by more AA's.
• E + W + E + AA + Q + AA + R + AA + AA: To kill someone in an extended fight when your W passive up, E into melee range then instantly W E AA once it connects. Quickly Q then AA R and continue to AA.
• E + R + FLASH + W + Q + E + AA: When looking to engage or flank a teamfight E then R and instantly F W. Quickly Q then recast E to continue to AA.

In laning phase there are many different ways to trade effectively. Many of these combos are quite simple due to the age of kennen. The most basic trade combo is Empower AA - Q - W which will give you a quick stun from range and allow for 1-2 auto's. Another good combo is Empowered AA - E - W - E(cancel)- AA - Q - AA which allows you to get a quick stun, hit your Q on a stunned target, and get a few quick autos off on the enemy before they can react due to the attack speed buff giving by the passive of Electrical Surge. For an all in depending on your rune page will be different.

1. With Flash

Electrocute/Phase Rush... Simplist of all combos. R - Flash - E - W - E(cancel) - AA - Q. By ulting before the flash you will not allow for a reaction flash to come from your opponent.

2. Conqueror

With Conqueror gaining 4 stacks is a great way to set up for an all in. Having 4 stacks of conqueror before all inning will allow for the entire all in combo to aquire all 12 stacks required for allowing conqueror to heal. R - Flash - E - W - E(cancel) - AA - Q. While this is the exact same combo for electrocute and phase rush, it the required poke before hand is crucial to fully stack conqueror and obtaining healing in the fight.

3. Unsealed Spellbook

Always before starting a fight swap your Summoner spell if needed. As unsealed spellbook does not allow for the swapping of spells in combat it is crucial to swap beforehand. Using the same combo from earlier will do the trick. R - Flash - E - W - E(cancel) - AA - Q.

4. Without Flash

Without flash it is quite hard to close the distance with these runes. By using ( Hextech Rocketbelt) you will be able to gap close. By using the combo E - ( Hextech Rocketbelt) - R - W you turn into a missile and rush down your enemies.

5. Phase Rush

While not having a flash phase rush is required to be activated before engagin. To gain a boost of move speed use a quick Empowered AA - W - Q to activate phase rush then E - R - AA - Q - AA and hope that your burst is strong enough to kill.

6. Unsealed Spellbook

Through the combination of flash, Unsealed Spellbook, and (Hextech Rocketbelt) there should be almost no point in the game when you do not have an ability to gap close. By rotating through summoners such as Teleport, Ghost, and Heal you can gain movespeed quite rapidly. By using the basic all in combo of R - Summoner Spell - E - W - E(cancel) - AA - Q you can destroy almost any opponent.

Kennen is one of the best team fight champions in the game! If you like to group up with your team and focus on team fighting and winning with your team then Kennen is the go-to champion for you. He is also a safe champion in the laning phase as long as you keep your distance.

Thanks for Reading! If you want to gain more in-depth knowledge about LOL, check out many helpful articles here!

Good luck to you! – Cheng