UpMatched Irelia vs Kennen Matchup Guide
Irelia
Top Lane Skirmisher
The Blade Dancer — mobile duelist who stacks Ionian Fervor off spell hits and chains Bladesurge resets through marked targets
Kennen
Top Lane Mage
Yordle lightning mage who stacks Mark of the Storm for stuns, pokes with shurikens, and turns teamfights with Slicing Maelstrom
Champ Select Cheat Sheet — Irelia vs Kennen
ConquerorConquerorGain stacks of adaptive force when attacking enemy champions. After reaching 12 stacks, heal for a portion of damage you deal to champions. pays off once Irelia reaches Kennen and forces the extended fight his burst kit cannot sustain. 
TriumphTriumphTakedowns restore 5% of your missing health and grant an additional 20 gold. sustains through 
Mark of the StormP – Mark of the StormKennen stuns enemies he hits 3 times with his abilities. stun-into-trade sequences; Alacrity compounds 
Ionian FervorP – Ionian FervorWhen Irelia strikes enemies with spells she gains stacking bonus Attack Speed. At maximum stacks she also gains bonus damage on hit. attack speed; 
Last StandLast StandDeal more damage to champions while you are low on health. matters when 
Slicing MaelstromR – Slicing MaelstromKennen summons a storm that strikes at nearby enemy champions for magical damage. drops Irelia low before the turn.
Second WindSecond WindAfter taking damage from an enemy champion heal back some missing health over time. regens the chip damage from Kennen's empowered W autos and 
Thundering ShurikenQ – Thundering ShurikenKennen throws a fast moving shuriken towards a location, causing damage and adding a Mark of the Storm to any opponent that it hits. harass, 
OvergrowthOvergrowthGain permanent max health when minions or monsters die near you. adds raw HP that buffers against his burst rotation. Attack speed shard, adaptive force, flat health.
FlashFlashTeleports you a short distance toward your cursor. + 
IgniteIgniteDeals true damage over time to target enemy champion and reduces healing effects on them for the duration. when chasing kills on Kennen's 
Lightning RushE – Lightning RushKennen morphs into a lightning form, enabling him to pass through units and apply a Mark of the Storm. Kennen gains Move Speed when entering this form, and attack speed when leaving it. cooldown; FlashFlashTeleports you a short distance toward your cursor. + 
TeleportTeleportAfter a brief channel, become untargetable and travel to an allied unit. Upgrades into Unleashed Teleport, which significantly increases travel speed. for lane sustain and matching his roamsMatchup Dynamics
How This Matchup Works
Mezouze rates this a Skill matchup tilted toward Irelia, with Medium laning difficulty. Kennen's ranged autos and empowered W - 
Electrical SurgeW – Electrical SurgeKennen passively deals extra damage and adds a Mark of the Storm to his target every few attacks, and he can activate this ability to damage and add another Mark of the Storm to targets who are alread... procs punish melee approach in the first three levels; survive that stretch rather than forcing trades into his poke rotation. Once Irelia has three abilities, the lane flips on an E - 
Flawless DuetE – Flawless DuetIrelia sends out two blades which converge on each other. Enemies caught in between are damaged, stunned and Marked. landed while Kennen's E - Lightning RushE – Lightning RushKennen morphs into a lightning form, enabling him to pass through units and apply a Mark of the Storm. Kennen gains Move Speed when entering this form, and attack speed when leaving it. is down; without that escape he cannot avoid the stun or the all-in that follows. Channel W - 
Defiant DanceW – Defiant DanceIrelia charges a strike that deals more damage as she charges. She takes reduced physical damage during the charge. through R - Slicing MaelstromR – Slicing MaelstromKennen summons a storm that strikes at nearby enemy champions for magical damage. to blunt his strongest burst window; after the channel ends, the passive stacks accumulated from the exchange fuel the finish.
Early Game (1-5)
Skill Matchup - Levels 1-6: Kennen dictates the pace with ranged autos and Q - Thundering ShurikenQ – Thundering ShurikenKennen throws a fast moving shuriken towards a location, causing damage and adding a Mark of the Storm to any opponent that it hits. poke. Farm with Q - 
BladesurgeQ – BladesurgeIrelia dashes forward to strike her target, healing herself. If the target is Marked or dies to Bladesurge, its cooldown refreshes. resets where possible; concede CS rather than eating an empowered W proc plus a Mark of the StormP – Mark of the StormKennen stuns enemies he hits 3 times with his abilities. stack. At level 3, look for E - Flawless DuetE – Flawless DuetIrelia sends out two blades which converge on each other. Enemies caught in between are damaged, stunned and Marked. when Lightning RushE – Lightning RushKennen morphs into a lightning form, enabling him to pass through units and apply a Mark of the Storm. Kennen gains Move Speed when entering this form, and attack speed when leaving it. is on cooldown; a landed stun inverts the trade and Irelia wins extended exchanges once Ionian FervorP – Ionian FervorWhen Irelia strikes enemies with spells she gains stacking bonus Attack Speed. At maximum stacks she also gains bonus damage on hit. stacks.
Mid Game (6-11)
Irelia Favored - Levels 7-13: BotRK components compound and Kennen's burst rotation alone can no longer kill through Irelia's on-hit healing. Channel Defiant DanceW – Defiant DanceIrelia charges a strike that deals more damage as she charges. She takes reduced physical damage during the charge. through Slicing MaelstromR – Slicing MaelstromKennen summons a storm that strikes at nearby enemy champions for magical damage. pulses, then chase with Ionian FervorP – Ionian FervorWhen Irelia strikes enemies with spells she gains stacking bonus Attack Speed. At maximum stacks she also gains bonus damage on hit. attack speed once the channel releases. Engage only after Kennen spends Lightning RushE – Lightning RushKennen morphs into a lightning form, enabling him to pass through units and apply a Mark of the Storm. Kennen gains Move Speed when entering this form, and attack speed when leaving it.; without that escape he cannot outrun BladesurgeQ – BladesurgeIrelia dashes forward to strike her target, healing herself. If the target is Marked or dies to Bladesurge, its cooldown refreshes. resets through the wave.
Late Game (12+)
Skill Matchup - Levels 14+: side-lane duels favor Irelia if she can reach Kennen, but teamfight impact swings back to Kennen when Slicing MaelstromR – Slicing MaelstromKennen summons a storm that strikes at nearby enemy champions for magical damage. hits a clumped team from a flank. Track his positioning before grouped fights; a clean Kennen engage on three or more targets decides the fight regardless of the 1v1 gap.
Key Interactions
- W - Defiant DanceW – Defiant DanceIrelia charges a strike that deals more damage as she charges. She takes reduced physical damage during the charge. absorbs Slicing MaelstromR – Slicing MaelstromKennen summons a storm that strikes at nearby enemy champions for magical damage.: Kennen's R pulses multiple times over a few seconds; channeling Defiant DanceW – Defiant DanceIrelia charges a strike that deals more damage as she charges. She takes reduced physical damage during the charge. through the initial burst cuts the incoming magic damage substantially. Release the channel once the pulse rate slows, then re-engage with the passive stacks built during the exchange.
- E - Flawless DuetE – Flawless DuetIrelia sends out two blades which converge on each other. Enemies caught in between are damaged, stunned and Marked. punishes a spent Lightning RushE – Lightning RushKennen morphs into a lightning form, enabling him to pass through units and apply a Mark of the Storm. Kennen gains Move Speed when entering this form, and attack speed when leaving it.: Lightning RushE – Lightning RushKennen morphs into a lightning form, enabling him to pass through units and apply a Mark of the Storm. Kennen gains Move Speed when entering this form, and attack speed when leaving it. gives Kennen the movement speed to dodge both Flawless DuetE – Flawless DuetIrelia sends out two blades which converge on each other. Enemies caught in between are damaged, stunned and Marked. blades; wait until the ability is on cooldown before casting. A landed stun without Lightning RushE – Lightning RushKennen morphs into a lightning form, enabling him to pass through units and apply a Mark of the Storm. Kennen gains Move Speed when entering this form, and attack speed when leaving it. available removes his only repositioning tool and opens the full engage sequence.
- Electrical SurgeW – Electrical SurgeKennen passively deals extra damage and adds a Mark of the Storm to his target every few attacks, and he can activate this ability to damage and add another Mark of the Storm to targets who are alread... empowered auto zones melee approach: Every fourth Kennen auto-attack carries bonus magic damage and adds a Mark of the StormP – Mark of the StormKennen stuns enemies he hits 3 times with his abilities. stack. Walking into auto range when the empowered hit is loaded invites a free proc plus passive progress toward a stun; track the indicator and trade after it discharges on a minion.
- BladesurgeQ – BladesurgeIrelia dashes forward to strike her target, healing herself. If the target is Marked or dies to Bladesurge, its cooldown refreshes. into Kennen's wave for gap close: Kennen kites backwards through his own caster line; use Q resets on marked or low-HP minions to close distance rather than dashing onto Kennen directly. Reaching him via wave navigation preserves the Q cooldown for the kill or disengage.
Irelia
Strengths
- Extended fights favor Irelia once P - Ionian FervorP – Ionian FervorWhen Irelia strikes enemies with spells she gains stacking bonus Attack Speed. At maximum stacks she also gains bonus damage on hit. reaches full stacks; Kennen's burst rotation runs dry while Irelia's damage per second climbs
- W - Defiant DanceW – Defiant DanceIrelia charges a strike that deals more damage as she charges. She takes reduced physical damage during the charge. soaks Slicing MaelstromR – Slicing MaelstromKennen summons a storm that strikes at nearby enemy champions for magical damage., converting Kennen's strongest ability into a survivable exchange
- Q - BladesurgeQ – BladesurgeIrelia dashes forward to strike her target, healing herself. If the target is Marked or dies to Bladesurge, its cooldown refreshes. resets let Irelia close through the wave even when Kennen kites backward at range
Weaknesses
- No ranged farming tool; the first two levels depend on absorbing poke or conceding CS to stay healthy
- Flawless DuetE – Flawless DuetIrelia sends out two blades which converge on each other. Enemies caught in between are damaged, stunned and Marked. is wasted if thrown while Lightning RushE – Lightning RushKennen morphs into a lightning form, enabling him to pass through units and apply a Mark of the Storm. Kennen gains Move Speed when entering this form, and attack speed when leaving it. is available; a dodged E costs the entire engage window
- Falling behind early against ranged poke snowballs fast; Kennen can freeze and zone Irelia from XP if the HP gap grows
Kennen
Strengths
- Ranged auto-attacks plus empowered W procs control spacing in the first three levels before Irelia's kit is complete
- Lightning RushE – Lightning RushKennen morphs into a lightning form, enabling him to pass through units and apply a Mark of the Storm. Kennen gains Move Speed when entering this form, and attack speed when leaving it. provides both damage and an escape, making it hard for Irelia to land Flawless DuetE – Flawless DuetIrelia sends out two blades which converge on each other. Enemies caught in between are damaged, stunned and Marked. while it is available
- Slicing MaelstromR – Slicing MaelstromKennen summons a storm that strikes at nearby enemy champions for magical damage. in a grouped fight can stun an entire team; a well-timed flank outweighs the 1v1 deficit against Irelia
Weaknesses
- No sustain in kit; every trade that connects chips Kennen's HP with no way to
healHealRestores Health and grants Move Speed to you and target allied champion. it back outside potions and base - Lightning RushE – Lightning RushKennen morphs into a lightning form, enabling him to pass through units and apply a Mark of the Storm. Kennen gains Move Speed when entering this form, and attack speed when leaving it. on cooldown leaves Kennen without a mobility option; Irelia's full engage sequence lands cleanly in that window
- Squishy build path; once Irelia reaches Kennen in a side lane, the stat-check favors the melee fighter
Power Curve Comparison EXPERIMENTAL
Power Curve Visualization
Win Conditions
Irelia's Win Condition
- Survive levels 1-2 without losing too much HP to ranged poke; concede minions rather than tanking empowered W procs
- Land E - Flawless DuetE – Flawless DuetIrelia sends out two blades which converge on each other. Enemies caught in between are damaged, stunned and Marked. only when Kennen's E - Lightning RushE – Lightning RushKennen morphs into a lightning form, enabling him to pass through units and apply a Mark of the Storm. Kennen gains Move Speed when entering this form, and attack speed when leaving it. is on cooldown; a landed stun without his escape opens the full engage
- Channel W - Defiant DanceW – Defiant DanceIrelia charges a strike that deals more damage as she charges. She takes reduced physical damage during the charge. through Slicing MaelstromR – Slicing MaelstromKennen summons a storm that strikes at nearby enemy champions for magical damage. to cut the burst; re-engage with passive stacks after the channel
- Force extended trades once Ionian FervorP – Ionian FervorWhen Irelia strikes enemies with spells she gains stacking bonus Attack Speed. At maximum stacks she also gains bonus damage on hit. is stacked; Kennen's short burst rotation runs dry before Irelia's damage does
Kennen's Win Condition
- Start E – Lightning RushE – Lightning RushKennen morphs into a lightning form, enabling him to pass through units and apply a Mark of the Storm. Kennen gains Move Speed when entering this form, and attack speed when leaving it. and use the E -> W -> Q combo for guaranteed Mark of the StormP – Mark of the StormKennen stuns enemies he hits 3 times with his abilities. stuns; the secured path beats fishing for raw Q hits against a mobile target.
- Predict Irelia's BladesurgeQ – BladesurgeIrelia dashes forward to strike her target, healing herself. If the target is Marked or dies to Bladesurge, its cooldown refreshes. dashes with Q – Thundering ShurikenQ – Thundering ShurikenKennen throws a fast moving shuriken towards a location, causing damage and adding a Mark of the Storm to any opponent that it hits. early; punish her wave navigation by throwing shurikens where she lands, not where she stands.
- Dodge Flawless DuetE – Flawless DuetIrelia sends out two blades which converge on each other. Enemies caught in between are damaged, stunned and Marked. with Lightning RushE – Lightning RushKennen morphs into a lightning form, enabling him to pass through units and apply a Mark of the Storm. Kennen gains Move Speed when entering this form, and attack speed when leaving it. or sidestepping; both blades missing removes Irelia's stun and engage tool for its full cooldown.
- Transition to grouped play once Irelia completes on-hit items; Slicing MaelstromR – Slicing MaelstromKennen summons a storm that strikes at nearby enemy champions for magical damage. on a clumped team generates more value than contesting a losing side-lane 1v1.
Laning Phase Guide
| Level/Phase | Irelia | Kennen |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Start E - Flawless DuetE – Flawless DuetIrelia sends out two blades which converge on each other. Enemies caught in between are damaged, stunned and Marked. against Kennen per Mezouze. Farm with autos where safe; do not walk into Kennen's auto range without minion aggro pulling off. The empowered W proc is loaded on his fourth auto - track the indicator. |
Start E – Lightning RushE – Lightning RushKennen morphs into a lightning form, enabling him to pass through units and apply a Mark of the Storm. Kennen gains Move Speed when entering this form, and attack speed when leaving it.. Irelia plays for a kill at level 1; E gives the movement speed to escape her engage or proc a  markMarkThrow a snowball in a straight line at your enemies. If it hits an enemy, they become marked, granting True Sight, and your champion can quickly travel to the marked target as a follow up. on contact and exit. If she commits without landing her stun, E through her and auto once for a favorable short trade. |
| Level 2 | Take Q - BladesurgeQ – BladesurgeIrelia dashes forward to strike her target, healing herself. If the target is Marked or dies to Bladesurge, its cooldown refreshes. second. Use Q on low-HP casters to collect farm without walking into poke range. Avoid committing to a trade unless Kennen steps too far forward with his empowered auto already spent on a minion. |
Take W – Electrical SurgeW – Electrical SurgeKennen passively deals extra damage and adds a Mark of the Storm to his target every few attacks, and he can activate this ability to damage and add another Mark of the Storm to targets who are alread... second. E through Irelia applies one markMarkThrow a snowball in a straight line at your enemies. If it hits an enemy, they become marked, granting True Sight, and your champion can quickly travel to the marked target as a follow up.; W active follows up for the second. Save Q for CS or a third stack if she stays in range. |
| Level 3 | Take W - Defiant DanceW – Defiant DanceIrelia charges a strike that deals more damage as she charges. She takes reduced physical damage during the charge. third. Now the kit is complete: if Kennen wastes E - Lightning RushE – Lightning RushKennen morphs into a lightning form, enabling him to pass through units and apply a Mark of the Storm. Kennen gains Move Speed when entering this form, and attack speed when leaving it. to poke or reposition, throw E - Flawless DuetE – Flawless DuetIrelia sends out two blades which converge on each other. Enemies caught in between are damaged, stunned and Marked. immediately. A landed stun into Q and autos with Ionian FervorP – Ionian FervorWhen Irelia strikes enemies with spells she gains stacking bonus Attack Speed. At maximum stacks she also gains bonus damage on hit. stacking wins the trade. |
Q – Thundering ShurikenQ – Thundering ShurikenKennen throws a fast moving shuriken towards a location, causing damage and adding a Mark of the Storm to any opponent that it hits. completes the kit. E -> W -> Q is the secured combo path for a guaranteed stun proc. Predict Irelia's dashes with Q — aim at the minion she wants to BladesurgeQ – BladesurgeIrelia dashes forward to strike her target, healing herself. If the target is Marked or dies to Bladesurge, its cooldown refreshes. to, not at her. |
| Level 4-5 | Continue farming through Q resets. Look for the Lightning RushE – Lightning RushKennen morphs into a lightning form, enabling him to pass through units and apply a Mark of the Storm. Kennen gains Move Speed when entering this form, and attack speed when leaving it. cooldown window after Kennen uses it aggressively; he has no other escape for the next several seconds. |
Poke with the E -> W -> Q combo when Irelia walks up to CS. Predict her BladesurgeQ – BladesurgeIrelia dashes forward to strike her target, healing herself. If the target is Marked or dies to Bladesurge, its cooldown refreshes. resets and punish with Q. Ward river; the early advantage fades if her jungler covers the deficit. |
| Level 6 | R -  Vanguard's EdgeR – Vanguard's EdgeIrelia fires a massive number of blades that explode outward upon hitting an enemy champion. Enemies hit by the blades are damaged and Marked. unlocks. The ideal fight sequence: land E while Lightning RushE – Lightning RushKennen morphs into a lightning form, enabling him to pass through units and apply a Mark of the Storm. Kennen gains Move Speed when entering this form, and attack speed when leaving it. is spent, Q in, channel W through Slicing MaelstromR – Slicing MaelstromKennen summons a storm that strikes at nearby enemy champions for magical damage. if he pops it, then finish with the passive stacks from the exchange. R marks targets for additional Q resets. |
R – Slicing MaelstromR – Slicing MaelstromKennen summons a storm that strikes at nearby enemy champions for magical damage. adds burst and multi-target stuns. Do not commit ult while Irelia holds W – Defiant DanceW – Defiant DanceIrelia charges a strike that deals more damage as she charges. She takes reduced physical damage during the charge.; she channels through the pulses and negates the damage. Force W out with a shorter trade first, then re-engage with R. |
| Level 7-8 | On-hit component items start landing; each piece makes extended fights more favorable. Kennen's burst rotation is already mapped out - absorb it with W and force the long fight he does not want. | Irelia's on-hit components start closing the sustain gap. Short E -> W -> Q trades remain favorable, but extended fights no longer are. Roam or TeleportTeleportAfter a brief channel, become untargetable and travel to an allied unit. Upgrades into Unleashed Teleport, which significantly increases travel speed. for plays elsewhere rather than forcing prolonged lane exchanges. |
| Level 9 | Q reaches max rank. Wave navigation with resets is smoother, and gap-closing through the caster line onto Kennen requires fewer setup pieces. The 1v1 is reliably Irelia-favored now when Lightning RushE – Lightning RushKennen morphs into a lightning form, enabling him to pass through units and apply a Mark of the Storm. Kennen gains Move Speed when entering this form, and attack speed when leaving it. is down. |
Irelia's Q reaches max rank and her wave navigation becomes fluid. The side-lane 1v1 is no longer favorable. Group for objective fights where Slicing MaelstromR – Slicing MaelstromKennen summons a storm that strikes at nearby enemy champions for magical damage. on clumped targets carries more value than the losing split. |
Power Spikes
Level Spikes
| Irelia | Kennen | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Level | Description | Level | Description |
| 3 | Minor Full kit online; E - Flawless DuetE – Flawless DuetIrelia sends out two blades which converge on each other. Enemies caught in between are damaged, stunned and Marked. into Lightning RushE – Lightning RushKennen morphs into a lightning form, enabling him to pass through units and apply a Mark of the Storm. Kennen gains Move Speed when entering this form, and attack speed when leaving it. cooldown windows becomes the primary engage pattern |
3 | Minor All three basic abilities online; Q-W-E poke combo applies three Mark of the StormP – Mark of the StormKennen stuns enemies he hits 3 times with his abilities. stacks for a passive stun |
| 6 | Major R - Vanguard's EdgeR – Vanguard's EdgeIrelia fires a massive number of blades that explode outward upon hitting an enemy champion. Enemies hit by the blades are damaged and Marked. marks targets for additional Q resets and adds a slow field that pins Kennen in fights |
6 | Major Slicing MaelstromR – Slicing MaelstromKennen summons a storm that strikes at nearby enemy champions for magical damage. adds AoE burst and multi-target stuns; Kennen's teamfight identity comes online |
| 9 | Major Max rank Q; wave navigation is fluid and gap-closing through minions onto Kennen takes fewer steps | ||
Item Spikes
| Irelia | Kennen | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Item | Description | Item | Description |
 Blade of the Ruined KingBlade of The Ruined KingDeals damage based on target's Health, can steal Move Speed |
First completed item per Mezouze; on-hit healing outraces Kennen's poke and the current-HP proc punishes his squishy  Hextech RocketbeltHextech RocketbeltActivate to dash forward and unleash a fiery explosion build path |
Hextech RocketbeltHextech RocketbeltActivate to dash forward and unleash a fiery explosion |
Dash adds gap close for ult engages; magic penetration sharpens burst against Irelia's MR purchases |
 Mercury's TreadsMercury's TreadsIncreases Move Speed and reduces duration of disabling effects |
MR and tenacity counter Kennen's entirely magic kit; shorter Mark of the StormP – Mark of the StormKennen stuns enemies he hits 3 times with his abilities. stuns mean Irelia breaks free faster to resume BladesurgeQ – BladesurgeIrelia dashes forward to strike her target, healing herself. If the target is Marked or dies to Bladesurge, its cooldown refreshes. chains |
 Zhonya's HourglassZhonya's HourglassActivate to become invincible but unable to take actions |
Stasis during Slicing MaelstromR – Slicing MaelstromKennen summons a storm that strikes at nearby enemy champions for magical damage. lets pulses continue while Kennen is untargetable; core teamfight tool |
 Wit's EndWit's EndResist magic damage and claw your way back to life. |
Stacks MR and on-hit damage against Kennen's full-AP build; the attack speed from Wit's EndWit's EndResist magic damage and claw your way back to life. plus Ionian FervorP – Ionian FervorWhen Irelia strikes enemies with spells she gains stacking bonus Attack Speed. At maximum stacks she also gains bonus damage on hit. makes the run-down after Lightning RushE – Lightning RushKennen morphs into a lightning form, enabling him to pass through units and apply a Mark of the Storm. Kennen gains Move Speed when entering this form, and attack speed when leaving it. expires faster |
 ShadowflameShadowflame110 Ability Power15 Magic PenetrationCinderbloomMagic and true damage Critically Strike enemies below 40% Health, dealing 20% increased damage. |
Flat magic penetration into Irelia's typical MR items; increases burst on Thundering ShurikenQ – Thundering ShurikenKennen throws a fast moving shuriken towards a location, causing damage and adding a Mark of the Storm to any opponent that it hits. and ult pulses |
 Sterak's GageSterak's GageShields against large bursts of damage |
Shield catches the Thundering ShurikenQ – Thundering ShurikenKennen throws a fast moving shuriken towards a location, causing damage and adding a Mark of the Storm to any opponent that it hits. and Electrical SurgeW – Electrical SurgeKennen passively deals extra damage and adds a Mark of the Storm to his target every few attacks, and he can activate this ability to damage and add another Mark of the Storm to targets who are alread... follow-up after Defiant DanceW – Defiant DanceIrelia charges a strike that deals more damage as she charges. She takes reduced physical damage during the charge. absorbs Slicing Maelstrom's initial pulses |
 Banshee's VeilBanshee's VeilPeriodically blocks enemy abilities |
Spell shield blocks the first Flawless DuetE – Flawless DuetIrelia sends out two blades which converge on each other. Enemies caught in between are damaged, stunned and Marked. blade, denying Irelia's primary engage setup |
 Death's DanceDeath's Dance60 Attack Damage50 Armor15 Ability HasteIgnore PainA percentage of damage taken is dealt to you over 3 seconds instead.DefyWhen a champion that you damaged within 3 seconds dies, cleanse Ignore Pain's... |
Bleed passive converts Kennen's Slicing MaelstromR – Slicing MaelstromKennen summons a storm that strikes at nearby enemy champions for magical damage. and Q-W front-loaded burst into a manageable DoT; the takedown healHealRestores Health and grants Move Speed to you and target allied champion. resets Irelia after finishing him |
||
Best Build for Irelia
Starting Items
Core Items
Blade of the Ruined KingBlade of The Ruined KingDeals damage based on target's Health, can steal Move Speed first per Mezouze; on-hit sustain flips extended trades against Kennen's burst-only kit. Mercury's TreadsMercury's TreadsIncreases Move Speed and reduces duration of disabling effects shorten Mark of the StormP – Mark of the StormKennen stuns enemies he hits 3 times with his abilities. stuns and blunt his entirely-magic damage profile. Wit's EndWit's EndResist magic damage and claw your way back to life. layers more MR with on-hit synergy against a full-AP lane opponent. Sterak's GageSterak's GageShields against large bursts of damage and Death's DanceDeath's Dance60 Attack Damage50 Armor15 Ability HasteIgnore PainA percentage of damage taken is dealt to you over 3 seconds instead.DefyWhen a champion that you damaged within 3 seconds dies, cleanse Ignore Pain's... cover the follow-up burst after Defiant DanceW – Defiant DanceIrelia charges a strike that deals more damage as she charges. She takes reduced physical damage during the charge. absorbs Slicing MaelstromR – Slicing MaelstromKennen summons a storm that strikes at nearby enemy champions for magical damage..
Runes
Primary: ConquerorConquerorGain stacks of adaptive force when attacking enemy champions. After reaching 12 stacks, heal for a portion of damage you deal to champions. pays off once Irelia reaches Kennen and forces the extended fight his burst kit cannot sustain. TriumphTriumphTakedowns restore 5% of your missing health and grant an additional 20 gold. sustains through Mark of the StormP – Mark of the StormKennen stuns enemies he hits 3 times with his abilities. stun-into-trade sequences; Alacrity compounds Ionian FervorP – Ionian FervorWhen Irelia strikes enemies with spells she gains stacking bonus Attack Speed. At maximum stacks she also gains bonus damage on hit. attack speed; Last StandLast StandDeal more damage to champions while you are low on health. matters when Slicing MaelstromR – Slicing MaelstromKennen summons a storm that strikes at nearby enemy champions for magical damage. drops Irelia low before the turn.
Secondary: Resolve tree picks: Second WindSecond WindAfter taking damage from an enemy champion heal back some missing health over time. regens the chip damage from Kennen's empowered W autos and Thundering ShurikenQ – Thundering ShurikenKennen throws a fast moving shuriken towards a location, causing damage and adding a Mark of the Storm to any opponent that it hits. harass, OvergrowthOvergrowthGain permanent max health when minions or monsters die near you. adds raw HP that buffers against his burst rotation. Attack speed shard, adaptive force, flat health.
Summoner Spells
FlashFlashTeleports you a short distance toward your cursor. + IgniteIgniteDeals true damage over time to target enemy champion and reduces healing effects on them for the duration. when chasing kills on Kennen's Lightning RushE – Lightning RushKennen morphs into a lightning form, enabling him to pass through units and apply a Mark of the Storm. Kennen gains Move Speed when entering this form, and attack speed when leaving it. cooldown; FlashFlashTeleports you a short distance toward your cursor. + TeleportTeleportAfter a brief channel, become untargetable and travel to an allied unit. Upgrades into Unleashed Teleport, which significantly increases travel speed. for lane sustain and matching his roams
Priority Build Path
Blade of the Ruined King
On-hit sustain outheals Kennen's poke between waves; the current-HP proc matters because his squishy build lacks the HP pool to absorb it
Mercury's Treads
Tenacity shortens Mark of the StormP – Mark of the StormKennen stuns enemies he hits 3 times with his abilities. stuns that would otherwise lock Irelia mid-BladesurgeQ – BladesurgeIrelia dashes forward to strike her target, healing herself. If the target is Marked or dies to Bladesurge, its cooldown refreshes. chain; MR blunts his entirely magic damage profile
Wit's End
Stacks additional MR and on-hit damage against Kennen's full-magic kit; the attack speed compounds with Ionian FervorP – Ionian FervorWhen Irelia strikes enemies with spells she gains stacking bonus Attack Speed. At maximum stacks she also gains bonus damage on hit. to run him down after Lightning RushE – Lightning RushKennen morphs into a lightning form, enabling him to pass through units and apply a Mark of the Storm. Kennen gains Move Speed when entering this form, and attack speed when leaving it. expires
Sterak's Gage
Shield catches Kennen's follow-up Thundering ShurikenQ – Thundering ShurikenKennen throws a fast moving shuriken towards a location, causing damage and adding a Mark of the Storm to any opponent that it hits. and Electrical SurgeW – Electrical SurgeKennen passively deals extra damage and adds a Mark of the Storm to his target every few attacks, and he can activate this ability to damage and add another Mark of the Storm to targets who are alread... after Defiant DanceW – Defiant DanceIrelia charges a strike that deals more damage as she charges. She takes reduced physical damage during the charge. absorbs the Slicing MaelstromR – Slicing MaelstromKennen summons a storm that strikes at nearby enemy champions for magical damage. opener
Death's Dance
Bleed passive spreads Kennen's front-loaded Slicing MaelstromR – Slicing MaelstromKennen summons a storm that strikes at nearby enemy champions for magical damage. and Q-W burst over time; the takedown healHealRestores Health and grants Move Speed to you and target allied champion. resets HP when Irelia finishes the kill
Guardian Angel
Revive saves Irelia when Kennen lands Slicing MaelstromR – Slicing MaelstromKennen summons a storm that strikes at nearby enemy champions for magical damage. plus Zhonya's while Defiant DanceW – Defiant DanceIrelia charges a strike that deals more damage as she charges. She takes reduced physical damage during the charge. is on cooldown; the respawn outlasts his ult duration
Situational Adjustments
Plated SteelcapsPlated SteelcapsEnhances Move Speed and reduces incoming basic attack damage: Kennen's team is heavily AD; swap from Mercury's TreadsMercury's TreadsIncreases Move Speed and reduces duration of disabling effects when the stun duration matters less than the auto-attack reduction
Maw of MalmortiusMaw of MalmortiusGrants bonus Attack Damage when Health is low: Kennen plus another AP threat on the enemy team; the magic shield stacks with the MR from Wit's EndWit's EndResist magic damage and claw your way back to life.
Key Patterns
Lethal Combos
E > Q > W (through ult) > Q > R > Q > AA
Lightning RushE – Lightning RushKennen morphs into a lightning form, enabling him to pass through units and apply a Mark of the Storm. Kennen gains Move Speed when entering this form, and attack speed when leaving it. cooldown before throwing Flawless DuetE – Flawless DuetIrelia sends out two blades which converge on each other. Enemies caught in between are damaged, stunned and Marked.; BladesurgeQ – BladesurgeIrelia dashes forward to strike her target, healing herself. If the target is Marked or dies to Bladesurge, its cooldown refreshes. in on the stun; channel Defiant DanceW – Defiant DanceIrelia charges a strike that deals more damage as she charges. She takes reduced physical damage during the charge. through Slicing MaelstromR – Slicing MaelstromKennen summons a storm that strikes at nearby enemy champions for magical damage. pulses; release W and finish with Vanguard's EdgeR – Vanguard's EdgeIrelia fires a massive number of blades that explode outward upon hitting an enemy champion. Enemies hit by the blades are damaged and Marked. marks feeding the final BladesurgeQ – BladesurgeIrelia dashes forward to strike her target, healing herself. If the target is Marked or dies to Bladesurge, its cooldown refreshes. reset.
E > R > Zhonya's > W > Q
Lightning RushE – Lightning RushKennen morphs into a lightning form, enabling him to pass through units and apply a Mark of the Storm. Kennen gains Move Speed when entering this form, and attack speed when leaving it. in, pop Slicing MaelstromR – Slicing MaelstromKennen summons a storm that strikes at nearby enemy champions for magical damage., Zhonya's for pulses during stasis, then clean up with Electrical SurgeW – Electrical SurgeKennen passively deals extra damage and adds a Mark of the Storm to his target every few attacks, and he can activate this ability to damage and add another Mark of the Storm to targets who are alread... and Thundering ShurikenQ – Thundering ShurikenKennen throws a fast moving shuriken towards a location, causing damage and adding a Mark of the Storm to any opponent that it hits..
Trading Combos
Q (minion) > Q (minion) > E > Q (Kennen) > AA
AA (empowered) > Q > W > E away
Mark of the StormP – Mark of the StormKennen stuns enemies he hits 3 times with his abilities. stacks and a passive stun; Lightning RushE – Lightning RushKennen morphs into a lightning form, enabling him to pass through units and apply a Mark of the Storm. Kennen gains Move Speed when entering this form, and attack speed when leaving it. out before Irelia can retaliate.
Lethal Thresholds
- Irelia Kill Range: Once BotRK finishes and Lightning RushE – Lightning RushKennen morphs into a lightning form, enabling him to pass through units and apply a Mark of the Storm. Kennen gains Move Speed when entering this form, and attack speed when leaving it. is burned, all-ins win from almost any HP bar. FlashFlashTeleports you a short distance toward your cursor. onto Kennen if Electrical SurgeW – Electrical SurgeKennen passively deals extra damage and adds a Mark of the Storm to his target every few attacks, and he can activate this ability to damage and add another Mark of the Storm to targets who are alread... marks are down and he lacks an E escape.
- Kennen Kill Range: E -> W -> Q secures a stun from any position where E connects. Without ult, finishing Irelia requires her below half HP before the combo; with Slicing MaelstromR – Slicing MaelstromKennen summons a storm that strikes at nearby enemy champions for magical damage. the burst kills through higher thresholds, but only if Defiant DanceW – Defiant DanceIrelia charges a strike that deals more damage as she charges. She takes reduced physical damage during the charge. is already spent.
- Critical Levels: 3 (both kits complete) / 6 (both ultimates) / 9 (Q max rank for Irelia) / Zhonya's (Kennen teamfight ceiling)
Level by Level Game Plan
| Level | Primary Goal | Lane Position | Trading Opportunities | Kill Windows | Setup Opportunities |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Survive the ranged poke | Behind casters; only step up for safe last-hits | Concede minions rather than eating empowered W procs | Low | Track Kennen's empowered auto indicator |
| 2 | Farm through Q resets | Near low-HP minions for Q escape routes | Q to a dying caster, auto Kennen once, Q back to another minion | Low | Watch for jungle gank angle; Kennen is vulnerable to ganks if he overextends |
| 3 | Threaten the first real trade | Mid-wave, ready to engage or retreat through minions | Wait for Lightning RushE – Lightning RushKennen morphs into a lightning form, enabling him to pass through units and apply a Mark of the Storm. Kennen gains Move Speed when entering this form, and attack speed when leaving it. to be spent; throw E and go in |
Medium if E lands cleanly | Track Lightning RushE – Lightning RushKennen morphs into a lightning form, enabling him to pass through units and apply a Mark of the Storm. Kennen gains Move Speed when entering this form, and attack speed when leaving it. cooldown before committing |
| 4-5 | Build a CS lead through Q usage | Wave control; keep the wave on Irelia's side for safe farming | Engage only on Lightning RushE – Lightning RushKennen morphs into a lightning form, enabling him to pass through units and apply a Mark of the Storm. Kennen gains Move Speed when entering this form, and attack speed when leaving it. cooldown; otherwise farm |
Low without jungle help | Manage wave to avoid pushing into Kennen's freeze |
| 6 | Channel W through Slicing MaelstromR – Slicing MaelstromKennen summons a storm that strikes at nearby enemy champions for magical damage. |
Near enough to engage but with Q-reset path through minions | E when Lightning RushE – Lightning RushKennen morphs into a lightning form, enabling him to pass through units and apply a Mark of the Storm. Kennen gains Move Speed when entering this form, and attack speed when leaving it. is down; Q in; W through ult; finish with R and Q resets |
High if E lands and W absorbs ult | Hold W specifically for Slicing MaelstromR – Slicing MaelstromKennen summons a storm that strikes at nearby enemy champions for magical damage.; do not spend it early |
| 7-8 | Press the item advantage | Push for plates when Kennen roams | Force fights with on-hit components; extended trades are favorable | Medium-High; Kennen's burst alone no longer finishes the fight | Track Kennen's map position for possible TeleportTeleportAfter a brief channel, become untargetable and travel to an allied unit. Upgrades into Unleashed Teleport, which significantly increases travel speed. flanks |
| 9+ | Control the side lane | Shove and threaten tower | Q-max gap close through wave; all-in on Lightning RushE – Lightning RushKennen morphs into a lightning form, enabling him to pass through units and apply a Mark of the Storm. Kennen gains Move Speed when entering this form, and attack speed when leaving it. cooldown |
High in 1v1; Kennen transitions to grouped play | Ward flanks; Kennen may rotate for an ult engage elsewhere |
| Mid Game (11-16) | Split or group based on Kennen's ult status | Side lane when Slicing MaelstromR – Slicing MaelstromKennen summons a storm that strikes at nearby enemy champions for magical damage. is down; group when it is up |
1v1 duels in the side lane are favorable; avoid grouped fights where Kennen flanks | High in side lane; variable in teamfights | Track Kennen's ult cooldown; if it is up, expect a grouped play |
| Late Game (16+) | Pick Kennen before he reaches a flank angle | Split with vision; collapse for objectives | Win the 1v1 but respect the grouped ult | High alone; teamfight depends on Kennen ult placement | Clear wards on Kennen's likely flank paths; deny the engage angle |
First Back Goals
Teamfight Tips
| Aspect | Irelia | Kennen |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Role | Race Kennen to the engage angle. If he flanks with Slicing MaelstromR – Slicing MaelstromKennen summons a storm that strikes at nearby enemy champions for magical damage. first, channel Defiant DanceW – Defiant DanceIrelia charges a strike that deals more damage as she charges. She takes reduced physical damage during the charge. through the pulses and counterdive his backline. If Irelia flanks first, Vanguard's EdgeR – Vanguard's EdgeIrelia fires a massive number of blades that explode outward upon hitting an enemy champion. Enemies hit by the blades are damaged and Marked. marks feed BladesurgeQ – BladesurgeIrelia dashes forward to strike her target, healing herself. If the target is Marked or dies to Bladesurge, its cooldown refreshes. chains that finish carries before Kennen can Lightning RushE – Lightning RushKennen morphs into a lightning form, enabling him to pass through units and apply a Mark of the Storm. Kennen gains Move Speed when entering this form, and attack speed when leaving it. into position. |
AoE engage; flank from fog with Lightning RushE – Lightning RushKennen morphs into a lightning form, enabling him to pass through units and apply a Mark of the Storm. Kennen gains Move Speed when entering this form, and attack speed when leaving it. into Slicing MaelstromR – Slicing MaelstromKennen summons a storm that strikes at nearby enemy champions for magical damage. on grouped targets. Zhonya's during ult pulses completes the combo. |
| Target Priority | Kennen before he reaches the flank angle; killing him pre-ult removes Slicing MaelstromR – Slicing MaelstromKennen summons a storm that strikes at nearby enemy champions for magical damage. from the fight entirely Carries left exposed while Kennen positions for his own flank; BladesurgeQ – BladesurgeIrelia dashes forward to strike her target, healing herself. If the target is Marked or dies to Bladesurge, its cooldown refreshes. resets through damaged front-liners close the gapVanguard's EdgeR – Vanguard's EdgeIrelia fires a massive number of blades that explode outward upon hitting an enemy champion. Enemies hit by the blades are damaged and Marked.-marked targets that Kennen clumped together with Lightning RushE – Lightning RushKennen morphs into a lightning form, enabling him to pass through units and apply a Mark of the Storm. Kennen gains Move Speed when entering this form, and attack speed when leaving it.; the marks feed BladesurgeQ – BladesurgeIrelia dashes forward to strike her target, healing herself. If the target is Marked or dies to Bladesurge, its cooldown refreshes. resets into his own ult zone |
Clumped groups of three or more for maximum Slicing MaelstromR – Slicing MaelstromKennen summons a storm that strikes at nearby enemy champions for magical damage. value Immobile carries without escape tools after the AoE stun lands Irelia only after she has committed Defiant DanceW – Defiant DanceIrelia charges a strike that deals more damage as she charges. She takes reduced physical damage during the charge. and Flawless DuetE – Flawless DuetIrelia sends out two blades which converge on each other. Enemies caught in between are damaged, stunned and Marked. |
| Objective Control | Contest inside the pit where tight terrain limits Kennen's Slicing MaelstromR – Slicing MaelstromKennen summons a storm that strikes at nearby enemy champions for magical damage. flank angles; Vanguard's EdgeR – Vanguard's EdgeIrelia fires a massive number of blades that explode outward upon hitting an enemy champion. Enemies hit by the blades are damaged and Marked. across the entrance blocks his Lightning RushE – Lightning RushKennen morphs into a lightning form, enabling him to pass through units and apply a Mark of the Storm. Kennen gains Move Speed when entering this form, and attack speed when leaving it. path in Sweep wards on Kennen's likely flank route before starting the objective; denying fog removes his surprise Slicing MaelstromR – Slicing MaelstromKennen summons a storm that strikes at nearby enemy champions for magical damage. engage |
Approach from fog to maximize surprise on the grouped team at the objective Coordinate the flank with a teammate's engage so Irelia cannot focus Kennen alone |
| Positioning | Hug the minion wave or jungle camps for BladesurgeQ – BladesurgeIrelia dashes forward to strike her target, healing herself. If the target is Marked or dies to Bladesurge, its cooldown refreshes. resets; open ground lets Kennen kite with Lightning RushE – Lightning RushKennen morphs into a lightning form, enabling him to pass through units and apply a Mark of the Storm. Kennen gains Move Speed when entering this form, and attack speed when leaving it. and Irelia has no dash target to close Check the minimap for Kennen before grouping; if he disappears, he is positioning for a Lightning RushE – Lightning RushKennen morphs into a lightning form, enabling him to pass through units and apply a Mark of the Storm. Kennen gains Move Speed when entering this form, and attack speed when leaving it. into Slicing MaelstromR – Slicing MaelstromKennen summons a storm that strikes at nearby enemy champions for magical damage. flank |
Hold Lightning RushE – Lightning RushKennen morphs into a lightning form, enabling him to pass through units and apply a Mark of the Storm. Kennen gains Move Speed when entering this form, and attack speed when leaving it. for the engage rather than using it to approach; the movement speed is the delivery tool for the ult Position in fog on the side of the fight where the enemy team is clumped; a telegraphed approach wastes the engage |
| Other Tips | If Kennen pops Slicing MaelstromR – Slicing MaelstromKennen summons a storm that strikes at nearby enemy champions for magical damage. in a teamfight, channel Defiant DanceW – Defiant DanceIrelia charges a strike that deals more damage as she charges. She takes reduced physical damage during the charge. through it rather than running; the damage reduction saves more HP than the distance gained Use Vanguard's EdgeR – Vanguard's EdgeIrelia fires a massive number of blades that explode outward upon hitting an enemy champion. Enemies hit by the blades are damaged and Marked. to markMarkThrow a snowball in a straight line at your enemies. If it hits an enemy, they become marked, granting True Sight, and your champion can quickly travel to the marked target as a follow up. multiple targets before dashing; the slow field also pins Kennen if he does not Lightning RushE – Lightning RushKennen morphs into a lightning form, enabling him to pass through units and apply a Mark of the Storm. Kennen gains Move Speed when entering this form, and attack speed when leaving it. out immediately |
Zhonya's HourglassZhonya's HourglassActivate to become invincible but unable to take actions during Slicing MaelstromR – Slicing MaelstromKennen summons a storm that strikes at nearby enemy champions for magical damage. lets the pulses continue while untargetable; time it for after the first pulse to maximize stacks applied If Irelia channels Defiant DanceW – Defiant DanceIrelia charges a strike that deals more damage as she charges. She takes reduced physical damage during the charge. through the ult, disengage and re-engage after the channel ends; fighting into active damage reduction wastes the burst |
