Laning as Kled: when to trade and when to wait
Wave management and trading windows for Kled, built from its real range, resource and ability costs.
What your range lets you do
At 125 attack range Kled has to walk into damage to deal it, so every trade begins with a decision about whether you can afford the walk.
Kled uses Courage rather than mana, so "back when you are out of mana" does not apply — track the bar itself.
The costs that decide how often you can contest
Skaarl, the Cowardly Lizard
Kled rides his trusty steed, Skaarl, who takes damage for him. When Skaarl's health depletes, Kled dismounts. While dismounted, Kled's abilities change and he deals less damage to champions. Kled can restore Skaarl's courage by fighting enemies. At maximum courage, Kled remounts with a portion of Skaarl's health.
Bear Trap on a Rope
Kled throws a bear trap that damages and hooks an enemy champion. If shackled for a short duration, the target takes additional physical damage and is yanked toward Kled. When dismounted, this ability is replaced by Pocket Pistol, a ranged gun blast that knocks back Kled and restores courage.
Violent Tendencies
Kled gains massive attack speed for four attacks. The fourth attack deals more damage.
Jousting
Kled dashes, dealing physical damage and gaining a short burst of speed. Kled can cast this ability again to dash back through his initial target, dealing the same damage.
Chaaaaaaaarge!!!
Kled and Skaarl charge to a location, leaving a speed-granting trail behind them and gaining a shield. Skaarl locks onto and rams the first enemy champion encountered.
The wave decides the trade
Trades are won by the wave before they are won by the champion. Standing in the larger minion wave means taking chip damage for every second the exchange lasts.
Kled wants to trade repeatedly, survive the return damage, and win the third exchange rather than the first, so the good window is the one where the wave is not helping them and your key cooldown is up.
Recall timing
Backing on a shoved wave is free. Backing on a wave crashing into your own tower costs you the next two minutes. It is the most transferable habit in the game and the one that moves a smurf's MMR fastest.
Riot's own notes on playing Kled
These are the designers' words, not ours — the tips shipped in the client for Kled.
- Kled generates some courage by killing minions, but gets much more from fighting Champions.
- The last hit of Violent Tendencies deals more damage than the first three - make sure you hit it!
- Chaaaaaaaarge!!! can be cast at a great range. Try and predict where the enemy team will be by the time you reach them.
What the stat line does between level 1 and 18
| Stat | Level 1 | Level 18 |
|---|---|---|
| Health | 410 | 1838 |
| Attack damage | 65 | 65 |
| Armour | 35 | 123.4 |
| Magic resist | 28 | 62.9 |
Movement speed 345 and attack range 125 do not grow with levels — they are the two numbers that stay true all game.
Full Kled page — abilities, stats and every skin →