Kennen ARAM Build and Guide

Updated for patch 26.21. Ability text is from Riot’s official game data for this patch; ARAM balance numbers come from the League of Legends Wiki’s champion data.

A Kennen ARAM build is an AP engage build: Liandry’s Torment, Zhonya’s Hourglass, Shadowflame and Rabadon’s Deathcap on Sorcerer’s Shoes. He’s buffed on the Howling Abyss with 105% damage dealt, 100% damage taken and 120% energy regeneration, and Slicing Maelstrom can stun a whole team in a lane this tight.

Why these four? Each Kennen ARAM item answers something written in his patch 26.21 kit, and no win-rate chart was consulted.

What are Kennen’s ARAM buffs?

Two of three lines help him. Damage dealt sits at 105%, energy regeneration at 120%, and damage taken stays unchanged at 100%. The energy line matters most. ARAM has no recall and no base to refill at, and Kennen’s game is spamming spells to stack Marks, so faster energy means more shurikens and more surges between fights (for what it’s worth, it also means fewer moments standing around empty).

How does Kennen play on the Howling Abyss?

His kit, from Riot’s patch 26.21 data:

• Mark of the Storm (passive): three ability hits stun.
• Thundering Shuriken (Q): a fast skillshot that marks whoever it hits. Cooldown 7/6.25/5.5/4.75/4.
• Electrical Surge (W): Marks off his attacks every few hits; the active damages and marks enemies already carrying a Mark. Cooldown 13/11.25/9.5/7.75/6.
• Lightning Rush (E): passes through units in lightning form, marking them, with Move Speed going in and Attack Speed coming out. Cooldown 10/9/8/7/6.
• Slicing Maelstrom (R): a storm that strikes nearby enemy champions over and over. Cooldown 120.

Here’s the combo that makes him a menace: Lightning Rush through the enemy team, marking everyone; Slicing Maelstrom striking each nearby champion repeatedly; Electrical Surge to add the final Mark to everyone already marked. Three Marks, a team-wide stun. Narrow lanes help, because the enemy can’t spread out far enough to dodge the storm. The weak spot? He has to stand in the middle of five people to do it, and he’s a squishy mage.

What should Kennen build in ARAM?

Liandry’s Torment first. Any damaging ability he lands sets a Torment burn on the target (percent max Health, 3 seconds), and staying in the fight ramps Suffering up to 6% extra damage. Slicing Maelstrom keeps reapplying the burn to everyone it strikes. It also brings 300 Health, which a diving mage needs.

Second, Zhonya’s Hourglass. Rush in, ult, then Time Stop for 2.5 seconds of Stasis while the storm keeps going and the enemy team stands there stunned or furious. That’s the whole Kennen highlight reel in one item, plus 50 Armor.

Then Shadowflame, whose Cinderbloom lets his magic damage crit anyone under 40% Health, and a stunned team tends to drop there fast (it also has 110 Ability Power and 15 Magic Penetration). Rabadon’s Deathcap finishes, adding 30% total Ability Power through Magical Opus. Sorcerer’s Shoes for flat Magic Penetration; Mercury’s Treads if their crowd control can stop him before he lands the rush.

How should Kennen engage in ARAM?

• Pre-stack Marks with Thundering Shuriken. A target already marked needs fewer hits to stun.
• Lightning Rush through as many enemies as possible. Every unit it passes through gets a Mark.
• Ult in the middle, then Electrical Surge. The active adds a Mark to everyone already marked.
• Stasis after the combo. The storm keeps striking while you’re safe.
• Use health relics between engages. No recall means no free heal.

Which summoner spells and fountain buys work for Kennen?

Spells lock before loading. Flash is the classic Kennen tool: Lightning Rush, Flash, ult, and the storm appears where nobody expected it. Mark offers another way in if the snowball connects, and on an engage champion that’s tempting. Honestly? Flash is safer.

No recall here, so he shops at the fountain when the game starts and after every death. Finishing Liandry’s Torment on the first trip back sets up his first big ult. Energy refills on its own, faster than usual thanks to the 120% line, so health relics are the only thing he needs from the map.

Is Kennen good in ARAM?

Yes. Three favorable lines (105% damage dealt, 120% energy regeneration, damage taken unchanged at 100%) plus an ult that can stun the whole enemy team in a crowded lane make him one of the scarier engage mages. His problem is getting caught on the way in.

The Kennen counters guide explains who punishes him, every item’s stats are in our LoL items list, and his skins are on the Kennen skins page.

Put simply, the Kennen ARAM build is Liandry’s Torment, Zhonya’s Hourglass, Shadowflame and Rabadon’s Deathcap on Sorcerer’s Shoes: pre-mark with Q, rush in, ult, surge, then Stasis.

FAQ

Is Kennen buffed in ARAM?

Yes. He deals 105% damage and has 120% energy regeneration, while damage taken stays at 100% (patch 26.21 Wiki data).

Why build Zhonya’s Hourglass on Kennen?

Slicing Maelstrom keeps striking while he’s in Stasis, so he can ult in the middle of the enemy team and stay safe for 2.5 seconds.

How does Kennen stun a whole team?

Lightning Rush and Slicing Maelstrom add Marks of the Storm to everyone they hit, and the third Mark stuns.

What is the cooldown of Slicing Maelstrom?

120 seconds at every rank.

How was this Kennen build chosen?

From his patch 26.21 kit and item texts: repeated area ult damage, a dive combo and a squishy body. No win rates were used.