Guide Details x Intro x Closing x Changelog Champion x Pros / Cons x Abilities

Pre-Game x Masteries x Runes In-Game x Items x Mix Bag

Good morning/evening/afternoon everyone. My name is Arcthunder and this is a beginner-friendly guide for Kindred, The Eternal Hunters. Now, the big kicker to this guide is that not only is this my first guide, I haven't played Kindred for a long time, and I'm only Silver 5 (I just literally did my promos). So, why am I writing this? Simply put, I want to make a guide that... Gives beginners to Kindred a strong understanding of what they need to know. Shows a beginner's mindset firsthand (hi there!), and then shows a stronger mindset instead (through your feedback). To experience the insanity of keeping up with patches. Now that that's over, let's get started!

1.6 ~ A lot has happened since the last update! With the changes Kindred received, plus new items like Stormrazor, it was due time since this thing got updated.
1.5 ~ Preseason is on! Woo!!
1.4 ~ The Items and Masteries section received a massive redo. Check it out!
1.3 ~ Thanks to Wølƒarya's advice, this guide is even stronger (although I refused to change Black Cleaver)! Check out his/her guide here! Also, I changed up the max order.
1.2 ~ Added a few alternate builds on the whim.
1.1 ~ A few grammatical errors.
1.0 ~ Wolf's Calling was created!

As stated by Riot themselves, Kindred was made to fill the gap of a ADC who can thrive in the JUNGLE. This leads to some interesting, yet expected pros and cons.

Pros + High Damage Output + % health damage on W + Built in kiting with Q + Decent clears + Passive great for mind games + Team Saving Ult Since Kindred doubles as an ADC (which is now viable after this rework), her (or them, if you want specifics) damage output is great for dealing with those annoying squishy targets. Also, her W, Wolf's Frenzy deals % health magic damage, and is great for keeping opponents away from an area. Her passive ( Mark of the Kindred) is very unique to League of Legends, and allows for some intense strategy for more advanced players. Finally, your ult ( Lamb's Respite) saves EVERYTHING FROM DEATH That's cool in of itself!

Cons - Weak if lacking marks - Super Squishy - No longer a full Attack Speed Champ - Passive is hard to remeber - Easy to counterjungle against - Can easily save enemies with ult. Marks are a very essential part to Kindred, since it can provide tons of useful stats when it comes to your abilities. That being said, lacking them makes you practically useless. Also, grabbing Wolf's marks are very difficult, since everyone can see where you are. This makes champs like Kha'Zix and Lee Sin dangerous to fight against since they can easily deny you your marks. Additionally, your ult can save EVERYONE...including that fed Vayne that your team needs to kill.

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Mark of the Kindred (Passive)

Both Lamb and Wolf mark targets to hunt. Scoring a takedown on a marked target permanently empowers Kindred's abilities, as well as granting her 75 - 250 (based on Marks) bonus range. This is the passive that makes Kindred so unique. There are two main ways you can use this. You can... Use this to give your laners some breathing room. For example, take your top lane, which has your allied Gnar pushed up against the tower. By marking your opponent top laner (which let's say is the DUNKMASTER Darius), he may back off in the fear of the gank, allowing your prehistoric yordle friend a recall or something along the lines of that. This can apply to more than one lane, even in the jungle! To claim your mark. This is probably your most practical use of your passive. By doing this, you can grab more marks, which equals MORE STATS. However, make sure to mark it before you gank a lane. The activation of the mark takes around 8 seconds, so if you mark that dying Draven 3 seconds before he dies, you will not get your marks. Specifically, marks improve these stats... Permenant range for everything (attack range, abilities, etc.). Dance of Arrows gains a higher attack speed bonus. This allows more freedom in your build for AD. Wolf's Frenzy deals more % health magic damage. Honestly, you won't find more power here. Mounting Dread deals more % missing health damage. Great for executions. Nothing for your ultimate :(

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Dance of Arrows (Q) RANGE: 340 COST: 35 mana COOLDOWN: 4 / 3.5 / 3 / 2.5 / 2

Lamb dashes in the target direction, gaining 10% (+ 5% per Mark of the Kindred Mark) bonus attack speed for 4 seconds while firing up to three homing arrows on arrival against the three nearest targets, dealing them physical damage. This skill, when combined with your W, Wolf's Frenzy is what makes Kindred so great at kiting. Especially with the new attack speed bonus on-cast, you should have no problem dueling with isolated champions. We max this ability first for its reduced cooldown when cast with Wolf's Frenzy and its utility in the jungle.

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Wolf's Frenzy (W) RANGE: 500 COST: 40 mana COOLDOWN: 18 / 17 / 16 / 15 / 14

Wolf dashes to the target location and claims the surrounding area as his territory for the next 8.5 seconds, separating from Lamb. Wolf attacks enemies within the area autonomously, prioritizing Lamb's attack target. There are two main uses for this ability. Using it in your jungle clears. A special little "passive" to this ability is that if the target that Wolf is attacking is a monster ( Red Brambleback), then it will deal 50% more damage and slow them for two seconds. This allows for more openings to kiting when fighting jungle monsters. Also, Rito has finally blessed us with the return of Hunter's Vigor. With it, you are always guaranteed to be healthy when you're ganking, since the heal is fairly significant. Faze opponents. Wolf deals max health damage, so opponents aren't going to want to stand in there for a while. Now that you can cast it to a small location, you can hold a small spot and make sure nobody comes forward. Also, if someone is chasing you, drop down this ability and watch them consider if it's worth it or not.

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Mounting Dread (E) RANGE: 500 (+ 75 - 250 (based on Marks)) COST: 50 mana COOLDOWN: 16 / 15 / 14 / 13 / 12

Lamb cripples the target unit, slowing them by 50% for 1 second. If Lamb manages to attack the target twice in the next 4 seconds of each other, her third attack in the next 4 seconds after instead directs Wolf to pounce on them, dealing bonus physical damage, capped at 300 against monsters. Riot was having a problem with Kindred in the development process. Kindred showed more Lamb than Wolf, if you get what I mean. To balance it out, Riot created Kindred's E, Mounting Dread. It used to be a great ability; dealing max health damage after three hits (kinda like Vayne), but now it's just an execution. One of the biggest shifts that happened in Kindred's mini rework is that with her E, the execution cap is now raised via critical strike chance. This forced players to consider building crit, making her more like an ADC.

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Lamb's Respite (R, or Ultimate) RANGE: N/A COST: 100 mana COOLDOWN: 160 / 130 / 100

Lamb blesses the ground under herself for 4 seconds. While inside the area, all units (including champions, minions and monsters; both allied and enemy) cannot be reduced below 10% their maximum health. All units within the zone are healed immediately after the blessing ends. Let me start by saying this. If you are being 3v1ed and no help is on the way, DON'T USE YOUR ULTIMATE. I have a terrible habit of doing this because I think I can kill that fed Fiora and Vayne. Now, this doesn't mean that you can't use it to turn the tides of the battle. I have had many moments where I was 1v1ing someone and managed to walk away with a kill. Here's a good rule of thumb: If the number of enemies you are saving outnumbers the number of allies, then save the ultimate.

Domination

Keystone - Dark Harvest: Why Dark Harvest you ask? Well, this rune packs a major punch when it comes to Kindred's late game. With it, you gain stacks (much like your own marks) and with every stack, you deal more upfront damage. This, combined with Youmuu's Ghostblade absolutely obliterates any targets with one shot. Combine a Statikk Shiv and you hit very hard in teamfights.

Tier One Rune - Sudden Impact: Dance of Arrows counts as a leap/dash/etc., so you get free lethality and magic pen (with works well with Statikk Shiv). More lethality and magic pen = more damage! Cheap Shot works well too, since Mounting Dread counts as impairment.


Tier Two Rune - Eyeball Collection: If you need the vision, then I guess take Ghost Poro. Other than that, you will be better off with the increase in AD.

Tier Three Rune - Relentless Hunter: As a jungler, movement is very important. Taking Relentless Hunter versus taking Ravenous Hunter allows you to move around and gank more while sacrificing healing and lifesteal. It is up to you, although the other hunter rune isn't very good.

Precision

Tier Four Rune - Triumph: This rune is great for staying healthy during ganks and teamfights. Additionally, it increases the amount of money you get, making it extremely strong for any jungler. Presence of Mind is nice too, but it kind falls off late game.

Tier Five Rune - Coup de Grace: With your full combo, your Mounting Dread should execute. This means that Coup de Grace will deal even more damage on the execute. Cut Down is perfect for a tanky enemy team. Even Last Stand is nice, since it works well with Lamb's Respite.

Red Blade Kindred used to require Skirmisher's Sabre - Bloodrazor, but now, they have more AD scalings after the rework. The result? Now, you must take Skirmisher's Sabre - Warrior. The AD and CDR is very useful in the early game, and provides some solid damage to work with until you get your Youmuu's Ghostblade. Please Riot...give us a lethality jungle item!

Nyoom Attack Boots The number one choice of any marksmen, and Kindred is no exception. The free movement speed, plus attack speed let you increase your damage output, which is essential for Kindred and nearly any champion.

Purple Sword of Death Primarily, lethality was something that you didn't even consider on Kindred. They were just better off with more crit items. However, ever since the marksmen rework, I have started taking Youmuu's Ghostblade and found significant results. Once it's completed, a high amount of Dark Harvest stacks plus this item can easily one-shot any squishy you can get your paws on. Plus, the active is perfect for escaping or engaging.

Ghost Blade...wait Tired of being one shot by assassins? Hit em with your arrows and relish in the reduced damage this item gives! Additionally, it also gives attack speed, critical chance, and some nice movement speed. Great item, I usually get it after youmuu's.

A Natural Disaster This item is perfect if you intend on teamfighting often (which you should). The bolts do wonders, allowing you to chip down enemies that you aren't even focusing. Additionally, it also grants similar stats to Phantom Dancer, and increases your DPS, letting [[youmuu's ghostblade get to work.

Lighting Blade It's funny, I've always wanted to take this item on Kindred, but their previous kit never made it viable. Now, it is a viable item for them! The attack speed, critical chance, and nice little movement speed allows Kindred to be hypermobile while dealing tons of damage. Additionally, the Shiv Lighting passive is perfect for providing some burst damage on-hit, reliving the old days of on-hit Kindred.

Your Route

Your route should be determined by two questions.

1. Do I want to meet the opponent jungler in my route?
2. What lane needs help?

These are your two primary routes you should take.

• Red>Wolves>Blue>Marked Scuttle>?

• Blue>Gromp>Red>Marked Scuttle>?

Keep in mind that your first mark will always appear on Scuttlecrab at 2:30. Knowing where your marks will/may be is the first step in being a better Kindred player.

Asking for Help

As I mentioned in the pros & cons of Kindred, Kindred struggles to get her marks since everyone can see them. Sometimes, you are going to need to ask for help getting them, in order to make sure you don't die by the jungler. Here are a few tips to get the laner to come with you.

I can guarantee you the laner won't come if...

1. Your laner is pushed up by the turret. "I'm a bit busy rn..."
2. Your laner is being toxic. "man ur trash I ain't dying cuz of you."
3. You're fed. "you can do it."

However, you can convince them by...

1. Ganking their lane and succeeding.
2. Give them blue (usually only applies to mid laners).
3. Make them happy beforehand.
4. Tell them that their winning lane (only if they are).

If they say no, then you have a choice. You can try and do something else (try invading area of the jungle where the mark isn't!), or you can try and do it yourself. However, keep in mind that the enemy jungler may have brought their teammates too. This is the struggle with your Mark of the Kindred, and that's the problem most people don't understand.

Ganking Combo

When ganking, I advise that you ward the bush before you go in it. It would suck to die by a surprise attack by a jungler who has the same idea as you. If it's clear, stand in the bush for a while. This is to see if they have a ward in the bust.

No reaction = no ward = they won't see you coming.

Here's your basic ganking combo

Stalker's Smite (or challenger's)>AA>Q>AA>W>AA>E>AA until dead.

As I mentioned before, Mounting Dread isn't only restricted to an execution. It slows too, so you can use it when that pesky Kog'Maw is getting away.

This is all of the knowledge that I can gift you. Keep in mind that I'm nowhere near a master at Kindred, so this guide will go further with your feedback and knowledge. Anything will be appreciated.

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy playing Kindred, The Eternal Hunters.