10 Best Champions To Counter Kennen In League of Legends

Kennen can be a nightmare to deal with in League of Legends, especially with his electrifying crowd control and high burst damage. His mobility, poke, and ability to dive into team fights with Slicing Maelstrom make him a strong pick in both the top and mid lanes. However, like any champion, Kennen has weaknesses that the right counter picks can exploit. Whether it’s champions that can withstand his poke, out-trade him in lane, or disrupt his engages, there are several options to shut him down. In this article, we’ll go over the 10 best champions to counter Kennen and how to play against him effectively.

#10: Singed

Singed is a strong counter to Kennen due to his ability to negate poke damage, sustain through trades, and punish Kennen’s short attack range. His Poison Trail allows him to constantly apply damage while disengaging, making it difficult for Kennen to land extended trades. When Kennen tries to engage with Lightning Rush, Singed can use Mega Adhesive to slow him down or Fling to completely disrupt his engage. Additionally, Singed’s tankiness and sustain with Insanity Potion allow him to outlast Kennen in fights, making it difficult for the Yordle to find effective all-ins. If played correctly, Singed can force Kennen into an uncomfortable lane where he struggles to farm and impact the game.

#9: Malphite

Malphite is an excellent counter to Kennen because he naturally counters AP-based poke champions and excels at shutting down squishy, mobile threats. His passive, Granite Shield, absorbs much of Kennen’s poke, making it difficult for the Yordle to whittle him down in lane. Additionally, Malphite’s high armor and defensive stats allow him to shrug off Kennen’s auto attacks, and his Thunderclap (W) helps him trade back effectively. When Kennen tries to engage with Lightning Rush, Malphite can use Seismic Shard (Q) to slow him down and Unstoppable Force (R) to completely shut down his teamfight presence. Since Kennen thrives on mobility and burst damage, Malphite’s durability and ability to engage on his own terms make him a frustrating matchup for the Yordle ninja.

#8: Irelia

Irelia is a strong counter to Kennen because of her ability to sustain through poke, close the gap quickly, and out-duel him in extended fights. Her passive, Ionian Fervor, grants her bonus attack speed and damage, allowing her to punish Kennen whenever he missteps. With Bladesurge (Q), she can easily dodge Kennen’s skill shots and gap-close onto him, making it difficult for him to poke safely. Additionally, her Defiant Dance (W) significantly reduces incoming damage, helping her survive Kennen’s harass. Once she lands her Vanguard’s Edge (R), Kennen struggles to escape due to the slow effect, making him an easy target for an all-in. If Irelia plays aggressively and times her engages well, she can dominate Kennen in lane and make his impact on the game minimal.

#7: Jax

Jax is a great counter to Kennen because he can dodge auto attacks, outscale him in duels, and punish Kennen’s short-range trading. His Counter Strike (E) allows him to avoid Kennen’s basic attacks and stun him, making it difficult for Kennen to poke effectively. Since Jax thrives in extended trades, he can use Leap Strike (Q) to close the gap and punish Kennen when he overextends. As the game progresses, Jax’s scaling with Grandmaster’s Might (R) makes him tanky and nearly unkillable in 1v1 situations. If Kennen tries to engage in team fights, Jax can jump onto him and lock him down, preventing him from freely using Slicing Maelstrom (R). With the right itemization and aggressive trades, Jax can turn Kennen’s lane into a nightmare.

#6: Fiora

Fiora is an excellent counter to Kennen due to her mobility, sustain, and ability to parry his key abilities. Her Lunge (Q) allows her to dodge Kennen’s skill shots while quickly closing the gap to trade. More importantly, Riposte (W) can block and stun Kennen if timed correctly against his Electrical Surge (W) or Slicing Maelstrom (R), completely shutting down his burst potential. Fiora’s passive, Duelist’s Dance, provides sustain through vital procs, allowing her to recover from Kennen’s poke and outlast him in lane. Since Kennen lacks the durability to withstand extended fights, Fiora can bully him in trades and eventually dominate him in the side lane, making it nearly impossible for him to match her in split-push scenarios. If Fiora times her abilities well, she can completely neutralize Kennen’s impact.

#5: Pantheon

Pantheon is a strong counter to Kennen due to his early-game dominance, high burst damage, and ability to block Kennen’s key attacks. His Comet Spear (Q) allows him to poke Kennen from a distance, while his Shield Vault (W) provides a point-and-click stun, making it difficult for Kennen to escape trades. The real game-changer is Aegis Assault (E), which completely negates Kennen’s Electrical Surge (W) and a significant portion of Slicing Maelstrom (R), allowing Pantheon to survive all-ins and turn fights in his favor. Since Kennen is a squishy champion, Pantheon can take advantage of his high early-game damage to zone him off farm, force him under turret, and snowball the lane. If Pantheon maintains lane pressure and roams effectively with Grand Starfall (R), he can make Kennen’s impact on the game minimal.

#4: Trundle

Trundle is a surprisingly strong counter to Kennen due to his ability to sustain through poke, trade effectively, and disrupt Kennen’s mobility. His King’s Tribute passive provides constant healing, allowing him to shrug off Kennen’s harass and stay healthy in lane. With Chomp (Q), Trundle can reduce Kennen’s attack damage, weakening his short trades. The real game-changer is Pillar of Ice (E), which can be used to slow and displace Kennen, making it difficult for him to position for Slicing Maelstrom (R) or escape when things go wrong. Additionally, Trundle’s Subjugate (R) allows him to drain resistances from Kennen, making him even harder to kill while weakening Kennen’s durability. In extended trades, Trundle’s tankiness and sustain give him a clear edge, forcing Kennen into a passive playstyle where he struggles to make an impact.

#3: Garen

Garen is a powerful counter to Kennen due to his natural tankiness, sustain, and ability to punish squishy champions with his all-in potential. His passive, Perseverance, allows him to regenerate health quickly after avoiding damage for a short time, negating Kennen’s poke advantage. Garen’s Decisive Strike (Q) grants him a speed boost to close the gap and silence Kennen, preventing him from escaping with Lightning Rush (E). Once Garen gets close, Judgment (E) shreds through Kennen’s low durability, forcing him to play defensively. If Kennen mispositions or gets too low, Demacian Justice (R) ensures a quick execution. With his natural tankiness and straightforward playstyle, Garen can make laning against Kennen frustrating, forcing him to play passively and limiting his impact in fights.

#2: Darius

Darius is one of the strongest counters to Kennen because of his ability to dominate short-range champions in lane, sustain through poke, and force extended trades where he thrives. His Hemorrhage (Passive) stacks up quickly due to Kennen’s low durability, making every trade dangerous for the Yordle. If Kennen tries to disengage with Lightning Rush (E), Darius can pull him back with Apprehend (E), ensuring he stays in melee range. His Decimate (Q) provides healing and massive damage, making it difficult for Kennen to poke him down effectively. Once Darius reaches five stacks of Hemorrhage, his Noxian Guillotine (R) can execute Kennen instantly. With his superior sustain, tankiness, and ability to punish missteps, Darius forces Kennen into a passive playstyle where he struggles to have any real impact.

#1: Renekton

Renekton is the best counter to Kennen due to his early-game dominance, sustain, and ability to quickly burst down squishy targets. His Cull the Meek (Q) provides healing and wave control, allowing him to shrug off Kennen’s poke and stay aggressive in lane. With Ruthless Predator (W), Renekton can stun Kennen, preventing him from escaping with Lightning Rush (E) and ensuring a winning trade. Since Kennen relies on mobility and poke to win lane, Renekton’s ability to gap-close with Slice and Dice (E) makes it nearly impossible for him to stay safe. Once Renekton gets Dominus (R), he becomes even tankier and can force all-ins where Kennen has little counterplay. If played correctly, Renekton can completely shut down Kennen, deny him farm, and snowball the game before the Yordle becomes a threat in team fights.

Conclusion

Kennen may be a strong and slippery champion, but the right counter picks can shut him down and make his impact on the game minimal. Champions like Renekton, Darius, and Garen thrive in aggressive melee matchups, punishing Kennen’s short range and lack of sustain, while others like Malphite and Pantheon can block his key abilities and outlast his burst. Whether you prefer bruisers, tanks, or high-damage duelists, there are plenty of ways to outplay Kennen in lane and prevent him from reaching his full potential. By understanding his weaknesses and playing champions that can exploit them, you’ll have a much easier time dealing with the Yordle ninja and securing victory.