Standard — frontline
Standard build maximizing damage output. Use on neutral matchups or when ahead.
14,450 total costBuilds — official CN server data (patch 7.2)
Vs AD comps
Resistance build geared against physical damage (AD) compositions.
14,500 total cost +50g
Vs AP comps
Resistance build geared against magic damage (AP) compositions.
14,450 total cost
Recommended bootsPlated Steelcaps
Recommended runes: Grasp of the Undying
Situational adaptations
ThornmailAgainst healing (Soraka, Aatrox, lifesteal…)
Mantle of the Twelfth HourAgainst AD burst (assassins, Zed, Rengar…)
Gargoyle StoneplateAgainst AP burst (Syndra, Fizz, Evelynn…)
Core build — historical analysis (patch 7.0e)
Foundational item core, without recent situational additions — kept as a base for understanding the kit. For the up-to-date build, see the section above.
This build prioritizes survival, crowd control and punctual burst. Iceborn Gauntlet provides CC and CDR, Thornmail reflects AD damage and applies anti-heal, and Warmog's Armor makes K'Santé extremely hard to finish — perfectly fitting his warden tank engage role.
Recommended Build
Starter
Ruby Crystal
Iceborn Gauntlet
Slows enemies after each spell and grants CDR, ideal for an engage tank who spams abilities
Thornmail
Tanks AD carries and reflects damage back with anti-heal
Warmog's Armor
Pure HP scaling to hold in teamfights, out-of-combat HP reset between engages
Boots & enchant
Plated Steelcaps
Alternative vs AP / CC
Mercurys Treads
Mercurys Treads
Skill order
›
›
1468
271011
3121415
5913
Runes
Grasp Of The Undying
Perfect for a melee tank, grants life and resistance each exchange, fitting K'Santé's engage nature.
Perseverance
Defensive staying power that stretches your fights — the longer you hold the frontline, the better timed your All Out.
Second Wind
Very useful to recover health after a tight exchange with a carry or poker in top lane.
Situational Items
vs AD/Crit
Amaranth's Twinguard
›
Randuin's Omen
Amaranth's Twinguard
Randuin's Omen
vs AP
Mercury's Treads
›
Spirit Visage
Mercury's Treads
Spirit Visage
Build timing
First control-tank item
His first real tank-control item gives him the threshold he needs to survive the first phase of a fight before deciding whether to stay as a guardian or go All Out. With a tool like Iceborn Gauntlet, he controls trade exits better, sticks to targets more reliably, and punishes positioning errors more cleanly. This spike is not only about tanking: it makes his decisions steadier and his entries less forced.