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Bot · SwiftplayMatchup guidePatch 16.20.1

Kai'Sa vs Vex

Build, runes, abilities and practical pre-game checks in one queue-aware reference.

Kai'SaVSVex

Matchup guide

Choose the matchup

Search every champion, choose the assigned role, then open the exact queue page.

VS
Role
Selected laneBot

Choose two champions from the list.

Role fit

BotKai'Sa

Kai'Sa has an established Bot carry plan that can scale through shared-lane farm and work with a Support partner.

Primary role
Review patch unknownRecommendation review pending

These patches track recommendation review, build validation and item lookup separately. Updating item data does not complete a build review.

Recommendation patch
— Data Dragon
Build validation patch
16.19.1 Data Dragon
Item lookup patch
16.20.1 Data Dragon

Swiftplay · Bot

On-hit marksman

Follow the completed-item order as a pre-game reference. Components and owned items do not create extra inventory slots.

Primary role
S
Swiftplay opening · separate from item 1

Guardian's Hammer

950 gold

Adds attack damage, health and life steal for physical champions who rely on repeated basic attacks in Swiftplay.

1
First item

Kraken Slayer

3,000 gold

Completes the six-item inventory with high attack damage and sustain for extended late fights.

2
Boots

Berserker's Greaves

1,100 gold

Adds attack speed and movement speed for champions whose repeated basic attacks remain central to the route.

3
On-hit core

Guinsoo's Rageblade

3,000 gold

Adds mixed scaling, attack speed and repeated on-hit triggers after the champion can safely keep attacking the same fight.

4
Second core

Nashor's Tooth

2,900 gold

Adds ability power, attack speed and on-hit magic damage for champions whose spell scaling and repeated basic attacks both matter.

5
Flexible defence

Zhonya's Hourglass

3,250 gold

Adds armour and stasis when committing a spell rotation would otherwise leave no safe way through retaliation.

6
Late sustain

Bloodthirster

3,400 gold

Adds high attack damage and sustain after the route can already reach targets and survive long enough to keep attacking.

Buy this only after selling the Guardian starter when all six permanent slots are needed.

Complete build choices

Choose the route before play

Recommendation review pending

AlternativeToo much healingMorellonomicon applies anti-heal. Buy it earlier only when healing is already deciding fights.View full route

Best when: Morellonomicon applies anti-heal. Buy it earlier only when healing is already deciding fights.

  1. First itemKraken Slayer
  2. BootsBerserker's Greaves
  3. Morellonomicon
  4. Second coreNashor's Tooth
  5. Flexible defenceZhonya's Hourglass
  6. Late sustainBloodthirster

Buy this only after selling the Guardian starter when all six permanent slots are needed.

AlternativeOne spell stops meBanshee's spell shield can protect the first important cast against you.View full route

Best when: Banshee's spell shield can protect the first important cast against you.

  1. First itemKraken Slayer
  2. BootsBerserker's Greaves
  3. On-hit coreGuinsoo's Rageblade
  4. Banshee's Veil
  5. Flexible defenceZhonya's Hourglass
  6. Late sustainBloodthirster

Buy this only after selling the Guardian starter when all six permanent slots are needed.

AlternativeThey stack magic resistVoid Staff becomes valuable when the target has bought meaningful magic resistance.View full route

Best when: Void Staff becomes valuable when the target has bought meaningful magic resistance.

  1. First itemKraken Slayer
  2. BootsBerserker's Greaves
  3. On-hit coreGuinsoo's Rageblade
  4. Void Staff
  5. Flexible defenceZhonya's Hourglass
  6. Late sustainBloodthirster

Buy this only after selling the Guardian starter when all six permanent slots are needed.

Complete build comparison

Complete build comparison

Recommendation review pending

Build review neededOn-hit marksmanRecommendation review pendingView full route

Recommendation review pending

  1. First itemKraken Slayer
  2. BootsBerserker's Greaves
  3. On-hit coreGuinsoo's Rageblade
  4. Second coreNashor's Tooth
  5. Flexible defenceZhonya's Hourglass
  6. Late sustainBloodthirster

Buy this only after selling the Guardian starter when all six permanent slots are needed.

AlternativeToo much healingMorellonomicon applies anti-heal. Buy it earlier only when healing is already deciding fights.View full route

Best when: Morellonomicon applies anti-heal. Buy it earlier only when healing is already deciding fights.

  1. First itemKraken Slayer
  2. BootsBerserker's Greaves
  3. Morellonomicon
  4. Second coreNashor's Tooth
  5. Flexible defenceZhonya's Hourglass
  6. Late sustainBloodthirster

Buy this only after selling the Guardian starter when all six permanent slots are needed.

AlternativeOne spell stops meBanshee's spell shield can protect the first important cast against you.View full route

Best when: Banshee's spell shield can protect the first important cast against you.

  1. First itemKraken Slayer
  2. BootsBerserker's Greaves
  3. On-hit coreGuinsoo's Rageblade
  4. Banshee's Veil
  5. Flexible defenceZhonya's Hourglass
  6. Late sustainBloodthirster

Buy this only after selling the Guardian starter when all six permanent slots are needed.

AlternativeThey stack magic resistVoid Staff becomes valuable when the target has bought meaningful magic resistance.View full route

Best when: Void Staff becomes valuable when the target has bought meaningful magic resistance.

  1. First itemKraken Slayer
  2. BootsBerserker's Greaves
  3. On-hit coreGuinsoo's Rageblade
  4. Void Staff
  5. Flexible defenceZhonya's Hourglass
  6. Late sustainBloodthirster

Buy this only after selling the Guardian starter when all six permanent slots are needed.

Runes and summoner spells

Runes and summoner spellsKai'SaBot

Preserve firing space and turn longer fights into sustained damage.

Swiftplay
Primary tree

Precision

Lethal TempoPresence of MindLegend: AlacrityCut Down
Secondary tree

Sorcery

CelerityGathering Storm
Summoner spells
FlashBarrier
Coordinate the Support

Avoid duplicating the same defensive spell without a reason. Barrier protects the user; Heal can protect both nearby lane partners.

Cleanse is specific

Choose Cleanse only when removable crowd control is the lane or fight problem and you can use it reliably.

Matchup notes

What changes when Vex is opposite you?

Pre-game kit comparison
Kit comparison

Respect the opponent's reliable threat

Track the cooldown and range of the ability that starts their safest trade. Do not treat this page as a statistical counter claim.

Your plan

Use the route you prepared

Treat Vex as one part of the map state. Their Jungler, nearby waves and which teammates can move determine whether the same trade or rotation is safe.

Ability reminders

Kai'Sa reminders

  • Try to catch enemy carries alone to burst them with Icathian Rain.
  • Work with your teammates to set up your Ultimate and optimize damage with your passive.
  • Make sure to buy items that will evolve at least 1 or 2 of your spells.

Static alternatives

Compare the problem before changing the plan

These choices are not selected from live scores. Use one only after you identify the stated match problem yourself.

Too much healing

Morellonomicon

Morellonomicon applies anti-heal. Buy it earlier only when healing is already deciding fights.

One spell stops me

Banshee's Veil

Banshee's spell shield can protect the first important cast against you.

They stack magic resist

Void Staff

Void Staff becomes valuable when the target has bought meaningful magic resistance.

Ability reference

Compare both kits

Ability reference Data Dragon 16.20.1

Cooldown (s) / Cost / Listed range (units) Data Dragon 16.20.1

Kai'Sa

  1. P
    Second Skin

    Kai'Sa's basic attacks stack Plasma, dealing increasing bonus magic damage. Allies' immobilizing effects help stack Plasma. Additionally, Kai'Sa's item purchases upgrade her basic spells to have more powerful properties.

  2. Q
    Icathian Rain

    Kai'Sa shoots a swarm of missiles that seek out nearby targets. Living Weapon: Icathian Rain is upgraded to shoot more missiles.

    Cooldown (s) 10/9/8/7/6 · Cost 55 · Listed range (units) 600
  3. W
    Void Seeker

    Kai'Sa shoots a long range missile, marking enemies with her passive. Living Weapon: Void Seeker is upgraded to apply more passive marks and reduce cooldown on champion hit.

    Cooldown (s) 20/18.5/17/15.5/14 · Cost 55/60/65/70/75 · Listed range (units) 3000
  4. E
    Supercharge

    Kai'Sa briefly increases her Move Speed, then increases her Attack Speed. Living Weapon: Supercharge is upgraded to briefly grant Invisibility.

    Cooldown (s) 16/14.5/13/11.5/10 · Cost 30
  5. R
    Killer Instinct

    Kai'Sa dashes near an enemy champion.

    Cooldown (s) 130/100/70 · Cost 100 · Listed range (units) 2000/2500/3000

Vex

  1. P
    Doom 'n Gloom

    Vex periodically becomes empowered, causing her next basic Ability to fear enemies and interrupt dashes. Whenever a nearby enemy dashes, Vex applies a mark that can be consumed for bonus damage that also reduces the cooldown of her empowered state.

  2. Q
    Mistral Bolt

    Launch a damaging missile that accelerates mid-flight.

    Cooldown (s) 8/7/6/5/4 · Cost 45/50/55/60/65 · Listed range (units) 1200
  3. W
    Personal Space

    Gain a shield and damage nearby enemies.

    Cooldown (s) 16/15/14/13/12 · Cost 75 · Listed range (units) 475
  4. E
    Looming Darkness

    Summon a damaging and slowing zone that applies Gloom to enemies.

    Cooldown (s) 12 · Cost 70/80/90/100/110 · Listed range (units) 800
  5. R
    Shadow Surge

    Fire a missile that marks an enemy champion. Recast to dash to them and deal damage.

    Cooldown (s) 140/120/100 · Cost 100 · Listed range (units) 2000/2500/3000

Adapt the plan

What to do when the game changes

Judge the whole lane or map state, not only personal kills. Choose the situation closest to the current game.

Even plan

Prioritise farm, spacing and coordination with Support

1
Lane

Match the opposing carry's income and trade when both lane partners can participate.

2
Map play

Finish the wave before rotating unless the fight is immediate and clearly reachable.

3
Fights

Stand behind allied control and build damage on reachable targets before stepping toward the back line.

Pings, movement and objectives

Kai'Sa Bot map plan

Protect income and coordinate with Support. Your movement should follow the wave, while your pings make target choice and danger clear before the fight begins.

Ahead

Carry the lead into the next safe fight

Ping
Use Target on the reachable opponent, Danger when Support or Jungle is too far away, and On My Way after the wave is secured.
Farm or rotate
Finish the wave, recall on the item timing and rotate with protection. Do not cross river alone to save a few seconds.
Objective
Attack from the safe side of the objective and keep damaging the nearest reachable threat. Preserving the shutdown matters more than chasing.
Even

Build the item timing and move together

Ping
Use Target to align with Support, Enemy Missing when either Bot opponent leaves and Danger if an engage begins outside your safe range.
Farm or rotate
Rotate after the wave or when the objective fight is immediate and reachable. Communicate if staying for the wave is the safer call.
Objective
Enter behind vision and allied control. Keep a route away from the enemy engage before starting sustained damage.
Behind

Shorten exposure and recover guaranteed gold

Ping
Use Retreat before Support or Jungle forces a fight you cannot damage, and Enemy Missing as soon as the winning Bot lane leaves.
Farm or rotate
Avoid being first into river. Move with Support after the safe wave, or trade an unsafe objective for protected farm.
Objective
Stand beside peel and attack whoever enters safe range. Do not cross enemy control to reach the opposing carry.
Objective setup

Four calls, in order

Pings create a shared plan; they do not replace checking waves, vision and who can move.

  1. 1
    Secure the wave

    Finish safe farm and communicate the recall or move before the objective setup begins.

  2. 2
    Enter protected

    Walk with Support or another ally and choose the side where enemy engage cannot reach you first.

  3. 3
    Set attack space

    Keep an exit route and identify the nearest target you can damage without crossing enemy control.

  4. 4
    Stay alive

    Continue useful damage without chasing away from the objective or donating a shutdown.

Later objectives: Repeat the same process around later major objectives: handle nearby income, communicate the route, enter through vision and agree on the fight before committing.

Keep preparing

Use the champion page or choose another opponent

The matchup page is a pre-game reference. It does not predict the result or alter its recommendation from changing live match data.

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