My thoughts on Kayn
I'm a Kayn main, I've played him ever since his release. I love his theme, design and kit, but I have one problem with him, and that is Rhaast (Red Kayn).
Even though I love playing as Rhaast, and even though it's the form that I choose the most, I still think that he outshines Shadow Assassin (Blue Kayn) in too many ways. Sure Shadow Assassin has better mobility and burst, but Rhaast has better DPS, sustain, overall survivability and, although not as mobile as Shadow Assassin, still pretty mobile. So there isn't enough compensation.
Rhaast is supposed to be strong against melee champions, while Shadow Assassin is supposed to be strong against ranged champions, but while Rhaast is strong against melee champions he's also pretty strong against ranged champions as well, and that's because he's mobile enough to get to them.
Yes, being a Skirmisher usually means having some mobility in your kit, but wouldn't it be better, as well as more fitting to his theme, if Rhaast was more of a Juggernaut rather than a Skirmisher?
He's already pretty tanky, already does a lot of damage, has high sustain, while having pretty good mobility on top of that, which just makes him a mobile Juggernaut, or in other words; a better Juggernaut.
So, the problem isn't that Shadow Assassin is too weak, it's that Rhaast is too strong, more specifically; too mobile.
Here are my ideas on how to fix this issue:
P - The Darkin Scythe:
- NEW: Evolving into Rhaast increases Kayn's champion size by X%.
Increasing Rhaast's size would make him easier to hit, which is a way to indirectly nerf his mobility, while also making him look more like a Juggernaut, and more badass on top of that.
Q - Reaping Slash:
-
REMOVED:
The dash's speed scales with Kayn's total movement speed -
NEW: Shadow Assassin: The dash's speed scales with Kayn's total movement speed.
The dash's speed no longer scales with movement speed on base Kayn and Rhaast, but still does on Shadow Assassin.
E - Shadow Step:
-
CHANGED: Kayn is ghosted and can ignore terrain collision for 1.5 seconds. Immobilizing effects will interrupt Shadow Step.
Kayn gains 40% movement speed and heals himself upon moving through terrain for the first time and, if not in champion combat, Shadow Step's duration is increased. While inside terrain, Kayn's vision pierces all obstructions although cannot see into brush.
-
CHANGED: Shadow Assassin: Casting Shadow Step grants 40% movement speed and removes slows while making Kayn immune to them for the duration.
-
NEW: Rhaast: Shadow Steps healing and bonus movement speed can now also be applied when moving through an enemy champion, but the duration won't be increased, instead the movement speed bonus will linger for 1 second afterwards.
Base Kayn and Rhaast no longer gains 40% movement speed when activating Shadow Step, but instead gets it when moving through terrain, in order to reduce their mobility. Shadow Assassin still does however, and gains the 40% additional movement speed when entering terrain, increasing it to 80% in total like before, leaving Shadow Assassin completely unaffected.
As a compensation Rhaast can now heal and gain the 40% movement speed when moving through an enemy champion, so that it doesn't become completely useless during fights, but it doesn't increase the duration, instead the bonus movement speed lingers for a second after moving through an enemy champion, and can only be applied once per cast of course. This would help him stick to the target without increasing his overall mobility, and could also be combo'd with his Q, meaning that if you cast E and then dash through an enemy champion with Q directly after, you gain the heal and bonus movement speed as well, making his kit more interesting.
These changes might initially make Rhaast too weak, but it could allow him to get some compensation buffs in other areas instead, like for example; give him more durability, maybe higher base AD, or something else.
Bonus idea:
R - Umbral Trespass:
- NEW: Activating Umbral Trespass cancels Kayn's previous action.
Note: Just a bonus idea, not important. Would allow Kayn to animation cancel with his R.
Those were my ideas, let me know what you guys think.