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Kayn The Path of Shadows 01
Kayn
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A peerless practitioner of lethal shadow magic, Shieda Kayn battles to achieve his true destiny—to one day lead the Order of Shadow into a new era of Ionia Crest icon Ionian supremacy. He wields the sentient darkin weapon Rhaast Rhaast, undeterred by its creeping corruption of his body and mind. There are only two possible outcomes: either Kayn bends the weapon to his will... or the malevolent blade consumes him completely, paving the way for the destruction of all Runeterra Crest icon Runeterra.


KaynSquare"The child is gone. The killer remains."  Kayn
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Read Biography

Background[]

Early life[]

Noxus Crest icon Noxian by birth, Shieda Kayn was conscripted as a child soldier like many others. When he was no more than ten, he and his comrades were ordered to attack the province of Bahrl in Ionia Crest icon Ionia. He and other young soldiers made up the vanguard of the attack. While Kayn’s young comrades fled or were cut down by the defenders before the Noxian regulars came in from the flank, Kayn showed no fear and survived to see the end of the battle.

Zed Zed and his followers arrived on the battleground two days later. There, they found Kayn on the ground, leveling a sickle at Zed. The Master of Shadows saw potential in the boy and welcomed him into the Order of Shadow.

After joining the order, the young Kayn was given food and a home to stay. Growing up training as an acolyte of the order, Kayn was able to master all the weapons given to him while other acolytes spent years training with a single weapon. By drinking the Tears of the Shadow, Kayn gained the ability to cloak himself in the shadows to stealthily assassinate enemies. He was able to spread fear among the survivors through his swift kills, using fear as his weapon. As Kayn's power and reputation grew, he gained hubristic ambitions that one day he could be more powerful than even Zed.

Wielding Rhaast Rhaast[]

Kayn was later sent on a mission to Noxus as his final test: to procure a Runeterra Crest icon Darkin scythe recently uncovered in the Noxian city of Vindor to stop the weapon from being used against the Ionians. Accompanied by his fellow acolyte Nakuri, he used his shadow magic to sneak up on the three guards defending the noxtoraa, killing two of them before intimidating the last one, whom was killed by Nakuri. After killing several more Noxian soldiers, Kayn approached the weapon where he heard the Darkin Rhaast Rhaast call to him from within the scythe. One of the Noxians snatched the scythe in desperation, and began to swing it uncontrollably at his comrades as Rhaast's corruption took over. Realizing that the legends were true, Kayn, using a shadow technique, possessed the soldier's body, where he witnessed the atrocities that Rhaast inflicted over millennia. However, instead of destroying it as ordered, he was tempted to wield the Darkin for himself. Ignoring Nakuri's pleas, Kayn took hold of Rhaast and underwent the same corruption, but Kayn was able to resist his will and control his enhanced power. After a final struggle against Nakuri, Kayn killed his fellow acolyte. Since then, Kayn now duels Rhaast over control over his own body, until one of them wins and seizes control.

Future Scenarios[]

These scenarios are not canon to the official timeline, but future possibilities that have been hinted at in the lore and gameplay.

  • Should Kayn fully overcome Rhaast, he will take full control of the scythe's powers, unlocking his full potential as the Shadow Assassin Shadow Assassin.
  • Should Rhaast Rhaast overpower Kayn, he will completely assimilate Kayn's body and wield the scythe for himself, using his new body to resume his killing and bloodshed across Runeterra Crest icon Runeterra. He also hints that Kayn's consciousness has been trapped in the same dimension where he was sealed.

Appearance[]

Kayn is a young man with a thin, muscular build. He has black hair with a blue streak at the right side and a long braid on the back. He wears nothing but large, baggy pants with a rope around it and leather boots. Due to Rhaast's partial assimilation, his left arm has become bright red muscle with grey plating covering his shoulder, left pectoral and left eye. He has a blue tattoo spiraling around his right wrist. His right eye has a yellow iris, while his corrupted left eye has a dark red sclera and a glowing red iris.

As the Shadow Assassin Shadow Assassin, he now has pale white skin, glowing pupilless eyes and lacks the corruption on his body. He has dark blue tattoos on his eyes, torso and arms. His braided hair has been replaced with long-flowing hair with a larger blue streak.

Personality[]

(TBA)

Abilities[]

  • Weapon Prodigy: During his training in the Shadow Order, Kayn was able to master all weapons available to him with ease, whereas most of his fellow acolytes took years to master one weapon.
  • Shadow Magic Shadow Magic: Kayn has been empowered with the powers of the Tears of The Shadow, greatly enhancing his abilities, and letting him control the shadows to his wishes.
    • Intangibility: Kayn can turn his body into shadow, allowing him to pass through walls.
    • Shadow Cloning: Upon becoming the Shadow Assassin, Kayn is able to create shadowy clones of himself to attack.
  • Darkin Weapon Darkin Weapon: Having taken the Darkin Rhaast as a weapon and resisted the Darkin's will, Kayn's physical atributes were greatly enhanced.
  • Resistant Will: Kayn has a strong will which allows him to resist being taken over by Rhaast, and even allows him to fully overcome Rhaast in order to become the Shadow Assassin. However, his will cannot stop the possibility of him losing the battle against Rhaast.
  • Possession: Kayn can temporarily possess others using his shadow magic. He was shown to have possessed a Noxian soldier's body prior to his corruption from Rhaast.

Relations[]

Zed Zed[]

When Kayn was a child soldier, Zed saw the potential within him and recruited him to be a part of his order, feeding him and giving him a home. Kayn became Zed's favorite and most loyal disciple, trusting him enough to confide valuable information and hoping that Kayn would become the new leader of the Order of Shadow if something were to happen to him. Kayn refused to betray him when Kusho urged him to, because of how he saved him from a hopeless fate and gave him a new purpose in life. Despite his loyalty, Kayn's growing arrogance led him to believe that with Rhaast's power, he would even surpass Zed one day.

Rhaast Rhaast[]

Kayn sees his wieldership of Rhaast as being his destiny, risking the Darkin's corruption to unlock his true potential. While Rhaast tries to manipulate him into embracing violence, Kayn defies him just as easily. They both fight against each other over control of his body, with Kayn intending to fully overpower Rhaast and claim his power for himself.

Jhin Jhin[]

Kayn, along with Zed and other members of the Shadow Order, were attacked by Jhin.

Akali Akali[]

Kayn may have a crush on Akali. She knows Kayn and finds him hot but too crazy for her taste.

Kusho Kusho[]

Kusho manipulated Kayn into serving him and ordered him to kill Zed, but Kayn remained loyal to Zed due to the latter being his mentor whom gave him his new purpose in life.

LoR Non-Champion Non-Spell Indicator4 Royce[]

Royce sympathizes with Kayn due to them both growing up as child soldiers of Noxus, considering Kayn as a "brother in blood".

Master Yi Master Yi[]

Kayn fought against Master Yi and his Wuju disciples to obtain the LoR Non-Champion Non-Spell Indicator1 The Darkin Bloodletters that they were guarding.

Read More

Biography

Kayn OriginalCentered
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Ionia Crest icon

Biography

The Shadow Reaper

By Michael McCarthy

Starring Champion

Kayn Darkin Corruption
EditImageReference

Ionia Crest icon

Short Story • 5 Minute Read

The Blade of Millenia

By Michael McCarthy

Kayn stood confidently in the shadow of the noxtoraa, surrounded by dead soldiers, and smiled at the irony. These triumphal arches of dark stone were raised to honor the strength of Noxus—to instill fear and to demand fealty from all who passed beneath them. Now this one was a tombstone, a monument to false strength and arrogance, and a symbol of the fallen warriors' own fear turned against them.

Kayn The Path of Shadows 01
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Ionia Crest icon

Video

The Path of Shadows

Will he deliver death with a whisper or make the world scream?

Zed Comic 1 Cover 2
EditImageReference

Ionia Crest icon

Comic

Zed: Issue 1

By Odin Austin Shafer, Edgar Salazar, Lorenzo Ruggiero, Chris O'Halloran

Zed is lured back to a village where he and Shen once encountered a great evil, a brutal killer from their past resurfaces: the magically gifted psychopath Khada Jhin!

Zed Comic 2 Cover 2
EditImageReference

Ionia Crest icon

Comic

Zed: Issue 2

By Odin Austin Shafer, Edgar Salazar, Lorenzo Ruggiero, Chris O'Halloran

Zed is under attack from all sides! He and his band of assassins are ambushed by the twisted Khada Jhin! In order to survive, Zed will be forced to confront his past sins and seek the aid of his most bitter enemy--the Eye of Twilight, Shen!

Zed Comic 3 Cover 2
EditImageReference

Ionia Crest icon

Comic

Zed: Issue 3

By Odin Austin Shafer, Edgar Salazar, Lorenzo Ruggiero, Chris O'Halloran

In order to survive, Zed will be forced to confront his past sins and seek the aid of his most bitter enemy--the Eye of Twilight, Shen!

Zed Comic 4 Cover 2
EditImageReference

Ionia Crest icon

Comic

Zed: Issue 4

By Odin Austin Shafer, Edgar Salazar, Lorenzo Ruggiero, Chris O'Halloran

Khada Jhin's master plan comes together in a most explosive and deadly manner! But even if Zed and Shen survive, they might just kill one another! Only one will be left standing by the end of this issue!

Zed Comic 5 Cover 2
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Ionia Crest icon

Comic

Zed: Issue 5

By Odin Austin Shafer, Edgar Salazar, Lorenzo Ruggiero, Chris O'Halloran

Zed has been captured and is at the mercy of his most bitter enemy--and once most trusted friend--Shen! Meanwhile Akali sets out on her own in search of the deadly Jhin--a journey that may lead her to her own doom! But what is Jhin's endgame?

Zed Comic 6 Cover 2
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Comic

Zed: Issue 6

By Odin Austin Shafer, Edgar Salazar, Lorenzo Ruggiero, Chris O'Halloran

It's all led to this: Zed and Shen, united in a final battle with the psychopathic murderer Khada Jhin! And the life of the captive Akali hangs in the balance! Then--Shen and Zed's greatest enemy will stand revealed…and you'll never guess who it is! Shocking secrets about the past AND the present will be unveiled…and whoever survives will be left to pick up the pieces!

Mentioned Champion

Zed OriginalCentered
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Ionia Crest icon

Biography

The Master of Shadows

By Michael Luo, Ariel Lawrence

Void The Fall Of Icathia
EditImageReference

Void Crest icon

Short Story • 22 Minute Read

Where Icathia Once Stood

By Graham McNeill

My name is Axamuk Var-Choi Kohari Icath'or.

Alternate Universes

Worlds Just One More
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Video

Just One More

Every League of Legends player knows what it's like to chase the next win. Inspired by the true story of the five North American League of Legends players with the longest losing streak in one sitting. It's On.

Heartsteel PARANOIA
EditImageReference

Runeterra Crest icon

Music Video

PARANOIA

By Heartsteel

breakout stars
HEARTSTEEL is a band. kayn, ezreal, sett, yone, k’sante, and aphelios are in it. “PARANOIA” features BAEKHYUN, tobi lou, ØZI, and Cal Scruby

HEARTSTEEL Promo 02
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Runeterra Crest icon

Short Story

Riot's virtual artist HEARTSTEEL will surpass K/DA

By Park Ji-yoon, Ha Ye-jin

Witness the debut of 'HEARTSTEEL', which will capture your heart once you see it.

Worlds Solo Darius
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Runeterra Crest icon

Video

Solo Darius

It's easy crushing top lane when you're SoloRenektonOnly. It’s On.

Worlds Spooky Jinx
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Runeterra Crest icon

Video

Spooky Jinx

Sometimes your worst nightmare has a nightmare. Just ask KayPea. It's On.

Odyssey The Lure
EditImageReference

Runeterra Crest icon

Short Story

The Lure

By Dan Abnett

Ordinal Shieda Kayn slings out to the unremarkable edgeworld of Ionan, hot on the trail of a band of millitant Templars. These enemies of the state were clearly looking for something important...but what?

Odyssey Welcome Aboard
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Video

Welcome Aboard

Consider this your invite to join the greatest crew in the galaxy.

MSI Represent
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Video

Represent

13 regional champions will compete at the 2019 Mid-Season Invitational, but there can be only one winner. Who will lift the trophy? Who will represent?

Trivia[]

  • Kayn is around 20 years old.
  • Rhaast is between 3496 and 4396 years old.
  • The blue streak in Kayn's hair is the result of using Rhaast.[1]
  • In Zed: Issue 6 it is revealed that Rhaast's Rhaast's corruption of Kayn's left arm is able to be reverted back to normal by either Rhaast's or Kayn's will.

Change log[]

Character blurb
Added.

References[]

See also[]

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