K’Sante ARAM Build and Guide

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

A K’Sante ARAM build is a tank build that still hits: Iceborn Gauntlet for slows off every Ntofo Strike, then Jak’Sho, Kaenic Rookern and Unending Despair for long brawls. His ARAM line is 105% damage dealt with 100% damage taken, a small damage buff and no change to his toughness.

Items were picked from his patch 26.21 ability text and their own descriptions, not from win rates.

Does K’Sante get ARAM buffs?

Riot gives him a little extra punch. He deals 105% of his normal damage, while damage taken stays at 100%, which means unchanged. It’s a modest bump. Tanks in ARAM spend most of the game soaking poke they can’t avoid, and a few extra points of damage help the tank that eventually reaches someone (for what it’s worth, that tank is usually the one with the most dashes, and K’Sante has three).

How does K’Sante’s kit fit the Howling Abyss?

Riot’s patch 26.21 data:

• Dauntless Instinct (passive): abilities mark targets so his next attack deals more damage; All Out raises all his damage.
• Ntofo Strikes (Q): a short line hit that slows, and at 2 stacks a shockwave that pulls enemies in. Cooldown 3.5.
• Path Maker (W): reduced damage while charging, then a dash that knocks back and stuns. Cooldown 14/13/12/11/10.
• Footwork (E): a dash plus shield; aimed at an ally, it goes farther and shields both of them. Cooldown 10/9.5/9/8.5/8.
• All Out (R): knocks an enemy back through any wall, then he dashes after them with more damage, healing and new abilities but weaker defenses. Cooldown 120/100/80.

The narrow lane suits him in two ways. Ntofo Strikes on a 3.5-second cooldown means a pull every other cast, and in a five-man clump the shockwave often drags more than one enemy forward. Footwork onto an ally is the other trick: longer range and a shared shield, so K’Sante doubles as a peeler for the carry being dove. All Out is trickier here. Kicking a carry out of their team is great, but the defense drop matters more when five enemies can turn on you at once.

What should K’Sante build in ARAM?

Iceborn Gauntlet first. Spellblade turns the attack after an ability into bonus physical damage plus a frost field that slows for 2 seconds, and with Ntofo Strikes up every 3.5 seconds, that field is almost always on the ground. It also brings 50 Armor and 300 Health.

Why Jak’Sho, The Protean as the second item? Its Voidborn Resilience waits 5 seconds into a champion fight, then grows his bonus Armor and Magic Resist by 30% for the rest of it. ARAM fights last long enough that it nearly always triggers.

Third depends on the enemy. Against mage-heavy teams, Kaenic Rookern gives 80 Magic Resist and Magebane, a magic shield after 15 seconds without magic damage, which is perfect for walking up to a fight that hasn’t started yet. Versus attack damage, take Unending Despair instead; Anguish hits nearby enemy champions every 4 seconds in combat and heals him for 250% of the damage. Finish with whichever of the two you skipped.

Boots: Plated Steelcaps or Mercury’s Treads, read off the enemy comp. Honestly, it’s that simple.

How should K’Sante play ARAM teamfights?

• Stack Ntofo Strikes before the fight. The second stack pulls, and a pull into your team starts the engage.
• Footwork onto your carry when they’re dove. Both of you get the shield.
• Charge Path Maker through poke. He takes reduced damage while charging.
• All Out the carry away from their team, not into it. His defenses drop while it lasts.
• Take health relics on the way back. No recall exists in this mode.

Which summoner spells and fountain buys work for K’Sante?

Pick spells knowing they’re locked for the whole game. Mark gives K’Sante a fourth way in: hit the snowball, dash, then follow with Path Maker’s stun while the enemy is still turning around. Flash works when your team already has engage. Thing is, his kit already has three dashes, so Mark mostly adds range rather than safety.

No recall, so no mid-game shopping. Try to complete Iceborn Gauntlet on the first return (half an Iceborn gives stats, sure, but no frost field). Health relics fill in between.

Is K’Sante good in ARAM?

Yes, as a frontline engage. A small damage buff (105% dealt, 100% taken), a pull every other Q and an ally dash with a shield give him plenty to do in a cramped lane. Poke is his problem. He has to walk through it, and All Out’s defense drop gets punished quickly by a full enemy team.

The K’Sante counters guide lists the champions that cut through his resistances. Stats for every item here sit in our item database. Want his looks? The K’Sante skins page has them.

To sum up the K’Sante ARAM build: Iceborn Gauntlet, Jak’Sho, then Kaenic Rookern and Unending Despair on resistance boots. Stack Q for the pull, shield your carry with Footwork, and save All Out for a target you can isolate.

FAQ

Is K’Sante buffed in ARAM?

Slightly. He deals 105% damage, and damage taken stays at 100% (patch 26.21 Wiki data).

Which item should K’Sante finish first?

Iceborn Gauntlet. Ntofo Strikes triggers its Spellblade frost field every few seconds.

Can K’Sante shield allies?

Yes. Footwork aimed at an ally dashes to them with increased range and shields both.

Does All Out make K’Sante weaker?

Defensively, yes. He gains damage and healing but loses defenses while All Out lasts.

How was this K’Sante build chosen?

From his patch 26.21 kit and item texts: a short Q cooldown, long brawls and mixed enemy damage. Win rates were not used.