Hello, this is my first guide in Mobafire.

My name's John, known as Drake (or iDrake in-game) and i'm here to present you how i build my main character, hope you enjoy it.

I've played Kennen for a long time now, always loved the concept of energy in a champion, knowing you have to save or not for certain situations, imo it takes more intelligence than rather mana/-less champions (i'm not criticizing, just my point of view, cooldowns of certain skills also take tactic in mind, strategies, etc.)

Well, either that and you can harass without wasting too much, how convenient :3

P.S.: If you can, tell me what animal he is, i never quite understood :O

2012

11/3 - Added mastery tree sets on "Masteries" section. Few aspect changes
13/3 - Tested sorcerer's shoes, added to build, but boots of cd still a good option.

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Pros > High mobility skill > Able to farm efficiently > Can poke from far enough > Tons of damage.. and stuns :D > Good sustain with spell vamp

spaaaaaace

Cons < Energy runs out fast < No stun sucess on ganker(s) is dangerous. < Can be preety squishy early game < Most of the times, focused down. < Cleanse / Quicksilver Sash can be a counter

This is my personal set, I enjoy it in kennen, but i don't find any of these extra special, besides the magic pen.

Greater Mark of Magic Penetration - I use these in every AP champion, it helps alot, i prefer ir over flat AP or AP/level.

Greater Seal of Vitality - I pick these because, as i said, he can be hell squishy in terms of health in the early levels, so i'd rather this over magic resist or armor.

Greater Glyph of Cooldown Reduction - I'd rather have cooldowns so i can poke easily and also, get that hard last hit that i can't reach (in terms of range or damage) with a regular basic attack, once in a while without losing much. Kennen's cooldown's are only low in early levels, plus with [*] Ionian boots of lucidity you can burst your opponent down easier before he can react that flash, dash, or any other, like Kassadin's Riftwalk

Greater Quintessence of Ability Power - I prefer these over the rest, like magic pen, due to the fact that it will improve your early game, not very much but it really can help you outcome your opponent's harass.

The Offensive-Utility Tree:

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The Offtank Tree:

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The Sustained Offensive Tree:

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The Utility-Offensive Tree:

Personal:

Flash : Flash + ulti is a great combo, but beware of other flashes aswell, of course. Flash, imo, is a great overall summoner spell for positioning, escaping and attacking too. It has great uses, but in kennen, it has this little advantage.

Ignite : I use this in every AP character, sometimes when they're out of bursts, they require it to finish off. Either that or if your enemy can heal. Exhaust and ignite in one champion to me, means a big target on his head. Not recklessly though.

Options:

Ghost : Is a great Summoner spell aswell. Imagine it combined with your E.

Surge : I don't like it so much.. The AP can help you but... the attack speed can only help you to get one more Mark of the storm with W's passive. I'd keep this one aside, but if you prefer it, go for it.

Cleanse : Great against heavy cc teams, 'nuff said.

Heal : Since Riot buffed it, my feel is the same, i don't pick it over ignite or flash in an AP champion, especially kennen, unless you tower dive often.

Exhaust : Pick this if you don't feel secure about your laner's burst and want to guarantee he won't win you in a duel. Also, if nobody in your team picks it... It is required.

Teleport : If you want to solo top with kennen, pick this, you'll probably be the only one who picks it and it can be a tower-saver (or even a life-saver if you find recall time not enough ;P)


Well, the rest is for other roles. Except Revive. It is.. terrible. Try not to die very often ^^'

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]Mark of the Storm: It's what makes Kennen such a hard champion. His cc is wondrous, almost as good as Leona. The effect is diminished though, which makes consecutive stuns less effective, since it lowers it's duration

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Thundering Shuriken: This is Kennen's only skill shot, you throw a star which is your main damaging skill (besides ult) and it adds a mark. It has the highest AP scaling in Kennen's abilities, although Lightning Rush seems to have more base damage. It pokes really well, even at low levels, and is also a cool finisher move if anyone flashes out at low hp ;)

You're going to want to max out ][Thundering shuriken] as soon as possible

• Try to know Thundering Shuriken's range and speed, it helps alot when trying to predict the enemies movement.
• Try to land as many as you can consecutively. It really hurts.
• If you land Thundering Shuriken and you're in range, both of your other skills will most likely guarantee a stun.

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Electrical Surge: Kennen's passive/active ability. Every 4th attack it adds a mark of the storm. Plus, everyone who already has at least one mark, will get another one, actively, if Kennen's in range of that unit.

You're going to want to max out [Electrical Surge] second.

• If you're gonna jump on an enemy, or a teamfight is close, keep the passive up on the next auto attack.
• Electrical Surge's active can help you detect invisible champions, because it sends a lightning bolt to where the champion is, if it has a mark.
• Try to save the skill for as many marks as possible, as it will influence your spell vamp too, if required. Can be a life saver sometimes.

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Lightning Rush: This skill makes you move alot faster for a few seconds, while giving you defensive stats. Which makes this a decent gap closer, and it adds a mark to anyone who you pass through.

You're going to want to max out [Lightning rush] last.

• When using Lightning Rush to escape, if the champion is melee, it will probably get a mark. Use it in your advantage and stun him to guarantee an easier escape.
• Lightning Rush is not only for mobility. Since it gives defense, use it when targeted in Ace in the Hole or Requiem. It will guarantee a slightly higher chance of survival.
• Lightning Rush combined with Electrical Surge can push lanes, or even add marks to several champions.

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Slicing Maelstrom: One of the best ultimates in the game, this can be EASILY a game changer. In teamfights, you will shine (literally, if you have Zhonya's) while the most important roles in the enemy team get "nullified" by just your cc (probably more).

You're going to want to max out [Slicing Maelstrom] whenever you can. Respectively, at levels 6, 11 and 16

• Kennen needs positioning knowledge to do something for his team. Learn to position yourself if you want to be effective with Slicing Maelstrom.
• This can be used offensively or defensively, remember it takes time to get all 3 marks if you don't use any other skills
• Try to know if the enemy has flash up. It can be really frustrating if your ult gets wasted when you can't even stun one person (mid duel for first blood, for example)

Early Game:

Out of base:

I only have two picks for this one:

• Doran's Shield - I pick this for the extra health/-regen to stand up poking (especially against a solo top ad for the extra armor - Example Gangplank)
  
• Boots + 3 Health Potion - I don't usually bring this setup because Lightning Rush already gives you some mobility to evade most of the attacks, but if you require it against certain champs like... Karthus maybe. I don't know, pick it against low cooldown skill shooting/AoE champions

First trip to base:

On this one, I'm hoping you have enough gold for a Hextech Revolver and Boots. If not, which probably will happen against a hard duelist/poker, just pick the boots and if you can reach it, an Amplifying Tome. Please, buy wards too, it's a prerequesite before being able to buy these. Map awareness is 50% of the game's sucess rate factor. Maybe not that much, but close enough, bros.

Second trip:

If you couldn't afford what i mentioned later, buy it now, and if you need sustain, get Giant's Belt, if you need more AP, get a Blasting Wand or, if they are ganking you too much, or you're not being able to avoid annoying skills, get next tier boots. I'll explain some:

Ionian Boots of Lucidity: I believe these are the best for kennen, i prefer these boots's cd reduction due to my aggresive playstyle, but you might want another ones.

Sorcerer's Shoes: If you want more burst, get these, it will help on your poking capability, and "ganking quickness" for it will have a certain impact on your damage.

Mercury's Treads: As obvious, get these when there's hard CC on your lane, or even the jungler, for he can come at you anytime. ( remember, wards :) )


When this is over, and you get Will of the Ancients, you might be entering the..

Mid Game:

Ah... Laning Phase is semi-over. Time to shine on teamfights.

I usually build Rylai's Crystal Scepter first due to the 500 health it gives, for the better sustain, otherwise you'd just be focused and shut down before you click 'R', giving 80 ap, which is quite nice for a semi-support item, and it's passive, which makes it perfect for almost any AP, that slow can be used offensively or defensively, so it helps escaping or ganking too. Imo, a perfect item for the beggining of mid game.

After that, time to get the awesome Rabadon's Deathcap. It will make such a great difference (how could it not?). from now on, your damage should be quite useful in your team so you can shut down some squishies in the back line of the team fight. But: beware of stuns, silences, those hard cc's can be very dangerous for you if you want to kill the damage output of the enemy, for they will end you first.

Late Game:

The two last items are situational, probably i'll refer some optional ones later, but these two items aren't in order of preferency, but i believe being some of the best for kennen.

Abyssal Mask: being a great overall item for an AP, this beauty gives AP, Magic Resist, and a debuff of magic resist for close enemies. Well what more could you ask? You're not Lux or Xerath which can outrange and poke from afar, you, my man, are going right inside that teamfight, so you need some resistance too, that debuff helps alot.

Zhonya's Hourglass: Self-explanatory with kennen's Slicing Maelstrom. Laugh at the enemy team while they try to focus you and you just stun them like a god, before that happens. Remember: Don't use it if you're not being focused, only at that time, or you'll not enjoy not being able to do anything while the rest of your team can get killed because your positioning wasn't the best.

Remember, kills are not the only source of gold.

Last hitting is as important as every aspect in the game. It may look few gold for some but it can give you a better headstart, it only benefits you with your chances of winning. You are not a support so you can benefit even more of items than they do.

Check Shurelya's zoning guide, it helps quite alot in having control of your lane, so last-hitting can be much easier for you. Q also helps last hitting, as previous mentioned, aswell as E+W being able to push harder. If needed. Don't ever keep your lane pushed unless you really want to. Shortens ganking sucess in the enemy and might be easier for your jungler ^^

Well guys, I hope i've been clear in every aspect I've said, if not, tell me how to improve it. Remember, it's my first guide, i haven't added banners, nor anything at all, but focus on the info I provided you :D. Test it, use it, feel it, like it. I'm giving you my playstyle and a few techniques (really, just a few, i don't wanna spoil everything kennen has to offer, if you play him long enough, you'll realize much stuff, and combo potential aswell.)

I did this just for fun, and to share a little bit of my tiny knowledge about kennen.

I'll be updating though, just started so there's still a lot to learn.

A BIG Thanks to jhoijhoi. Her guide is godlike.

Have a good day, everyone.