Kindred Counters
The best Kindred counters in League of Legends patch 26.1 are Udyr, Rammus, Nocturne, Warwick, Malphite. The best Kindred counter is Udyr, with Kindred having only a 25.93% win rate in this matchup. Secondary patch 26.1 Kindred counter choices are MasterYi, Vi, Zac, Briar, Trundle. Below are the top Kindred counters and matchups alongside their win rates.
Mark of the Kindred
Kindred can mark targets to Hunt. Successfully completing a Hunt permanently empowers Kindred's basic abilities. Every 4 hunts completed also increases Kindred's basic attack range.
Dance of Arrows
Kindred tumbles and shoots up to three arrows at nearby targets.
Cost:- 35
Cooldown:- 9
Range:- 340
Wolf's Frenzy
Wolf enrages and attacks enemies around him. Lamb passively gains stacks by moving and attacking. When fully charged, Lamb's next attack restores health.
Cost:- 40
Cooldown:- 18/
- 17/
- 16/
- 15/
- 14
Range:- 560
Mounting Dread
Lamb fires a carefully placed shot, slowing the target. If Lamb attacks the target two more times, her third attack instead directs Wolf to pounce on the enemy, savaging them for massive damage.
Cost:- 0
Cooldown:- 14/
- 13/
- 11/
- 10/
- 8
Range:- 500
Lamb's Respite
Lamb grants all living things inside a zone a respite from death. Until the effect ends, nothing can die. At the end, units are healed.
Cost:- 100
Cooldown:- 160/
- 140/
- 120
Range:- 500
- Marksman
These champions are Kindred's hardest counters in League of Legends patch 26.1. Udyr is Kindred's biggest counter with only a 25.93% win rate for Kindred. When facing these Kindred counter picks, focus on safe farming and waiting for jungle assistance. Avoid extended trades and play around your power spikes to survive difficult Kindred matchups.
Udyr
Rammus
Nocturne
Warwick
Malphite
Master Yi
Vi
Zac
Briar
Trundle
When facing Kindred in League of Legends, understanding Kindred's primary damage profile is essential for building effective counter strategies. Kindred deals primarily physical damage, which means prioritizing armor in your defensive itemization will significantly reduce Kindred's threat in fights. Top defensive items against Kindred include Plated Steelcaps, Frozen Heart, Randuin's Omen, and Thornmail. These items provide substantial armor stats that directly mitigate Kindred's damage output throughout all stages of the game.
From a champion selection perspective, the strongest Kindred counters are Udyr, Rammus, Nocturne, and Warwick. These champions either out-trade Kindred in lane, have abilities that negate Kindred's core mechanics, or scale better into team fights. Udyr in particular exploits Kindred's weaknesses by providing consistent pressure while being difficult to punish.
Beyond item builds and counter picks, successful counter play against Kindred involves understanding Kindred's power spikes and cooldown windows. Engage on Kindred when key abilities are on cooldown, and coordinate with your team to focus Kindred in team fights before Kindred can output maximum damage. Vision control is also crucial when playing against Kindred to avoid getting caught out of position. By combining proper defensive itemization with smart champion selection and strategic gameplay, you can effectively neutralize Kindred's impact and secure victory.
Understanding Kindred's power curve is essential for effective counter play. Here's when Kindred is most vulnerable throughout the game.
EARLYEarly Game (Levels 1-6)
Kindred is weak to all-ins before completing attack speed items. Zone from farm and punish aggressive positioning. Supports with hard engage excel against Kindred.
MIDMid Game (Levels 7-13)
Kindred spikes hard with 2-3 items. Dive and burst before Kindred can kite. Assassins and engage supports are effective.
LATELate Game (Levels 14-18)
Kindred reaches maximum DPS potential late. Focus Kindred immediately in fights or use zone control to deny positioning.
Use these actionable tips to gain an advantage when facing Kindred in lane or team fights.
- Pick Udyr or similar champions with kits that exploit Kindred's weaknesses
- Build Plated Steelcaps or Seeker's Armguard early to reduce Kindred's damage in lane
- Track Kindred's cooldowns and engage when key abilities are unavailable
- Ward Kindred's common roam paths and ping missing immediately
- Coordinate with your jungler to gank Kindred during vulnerable windows
- Close the gap quickly - Kindred is weaker in melee range
- Target Kindred in team fights to remove the primary damage threat
Kindred performs exceptionally well against these champions in patch 26.1. Zed is Kindred's best matchup with a 59.38% win rate. When playing Kindred into these favorable matchups, look for early aggression and lane dominance. Kindred can capitalize on these champions' weaknesses to snowball leads and carry games.
Zed
Graves
Lillia
Nunu & Willump
Kayn
Lee Sin
Elise
Jarvan IV
Dr. Mundo
Sylas
Kindred Counters - Frequently Asked Questions
Who counters Kindred?
The best Kindred counters are Udyr, Rammus, and Nocturne. These champions have favorable matchups against Kindred and can exploit Kindred's weaknesses effectively in League of Legends patch 26.1.
What is Kindred's hardest counter?
Udyr is Kindred's hardest counter with Kindred having only a 25.93% win rate in this matchup. Rammus (29.73% WR) and Nocturne (32.65% WR) are also strong Kindred counters.
Who does Kindred counter?
Kindred performs well against Zed, Graves, and Lillia. These are Kindred's best matchups where Kindred has favorable win rates and can dominate lane in patch 26.1.
How do I beat Kindred in lane?
To beat Kindred in lane, pick a counter champion like Udyr or Rammus. Focus on trading when Kindred's key abilities are on cooldown, and build armor items to reduce Kindred's damage output. Ward defensively and call for jungle assistance if Kindred gains an advantage.
What items counter Kindred?
The best items to counter Kindred are Plated Steelcaps, Frozen Heart, Randuin's Omen, and Thornmail. These items provide armor which directly reduces Kindred's damage. Consider building these items early if you're struggling against Kindred in lane.
When is Kindred weakest?
Kindred is typically weakest during specific power troughs between item spikes. Exploit windows when Kindred's ultimate or key abilities are on cooldown. Coordinate with your team to engage on Kindred before Kindred can set up fights on Kindred's own terms.
How do I play Kindred into counter matchups?
When playing Kindred into counters like Udyr, focus on safe farming, waiting for jungle assistance, and playing around power spikes. Avoid extended trades in unfavorable matchups and look for opportunities to scale into mid and late game.
What champions are similar to Kindred's counters?
If Udyr, Rammus, or Nocturne are banned or picked, look for champions with similar kits that can exploit Kindred's weaknesses. Champions with crowd control, burst damage, or sustained damage (depending on Kindred's vulnerabilities) can serve as alternative counters.