In the fast-paced world of League of Legends, success often comes down to mechanics—those precise, repeatable actions that separate good players from great ones. Among these, few are as essential—and as misunderstood—as kiting. It’s a term every player has heard, but what does it actually mean, and how can you master it?
What Is Kiting?
Kiting refers to the technique of attacking while moving, keeping a safe distance from your target while consistently dealing damage. It’s a crucial skill for ranged champions, especially marksmen (ADCs), who rely on positioning and damage-per-second to stay effective without getting caught.
The term originates from the idea of “flying a kite”—you’re attached to the enemy by your damage, but you never let them catch you.
Why Kiting Matters
Kiting allows you to:
- Maximize DPS while dodging skillshots or keeping out of melee range.
- Outplay melee champions who rely on gap-closing abilities.
- Maintain ideal positioning in team fights.
- Chase or escape enemies while still dealing damage.
Whether you’re an ADC in the late game or a mage trying to stay alive, kiting can be the difference between victory and defeat.
The Basic Mechanics
At its core, kiting involves a simple rhythm:
- Attack
- Move
- Repeat
In gameplay terms, this is often achieved through the attack-move command, usually bound to the “A” key or a custom hotkey. Here’s how it works:
- Right-click an enemy to attack.
- Immediately right-click elsewhere to move.
- Repeat this action in sync with your champion’s attack speed and animation.
This prevents you from standing still after attacking and ensures you’re always repositioning—away from danger or toward your next target.
Animation Cancelling: The Secret Sauce
Each champion has an attack animation. Waiting for the full animation to finish before moving wastes precious time. Animation cancelling allows you to move immediately after the attack “lands” but before the full animation finishes. Done correctly, this makes your movements smoother and your kiting more efficient.
Learning this timing is champion-specific. Some, like Lucian or Vayne, have quicker animations and feel more responsive. Others require more precise timing.
Advanced Kiting Techniques
Once you’ve nailed the basics, you can explore:
- Orb walking: A high-level version of kiting, emphasizing perfect timing of attack-move cycles.
- Attack move click settings: Customize your controls to make kiting more intuitive.
- Kiting into fog of war: Especially important for jungle duels or dragon fights.
- Kiting backwards vs. forwards: Retreating safely or chasing down fleeing enemies while maintaining pressure.
Champions That Rely on Kiting
Some champions essentially require kiting to be effective:
- ADC mains like Kai’Sa, Jinx, Aphelios
- Melee champions like Udyr or Master Yi benefit from learning how to “kite while chasing”
- Ranged top laners like Teemo or Kennen who need to hit and run
Good kiting can let a low-health Jinx solo-kill a bruiser, or let a Varus kite two assassins to safety while dishing out damage.
Practice Makes Precision
Kiting isn’t something you master in one game. It takes practice—preferably in training mode first, then gradually under real-game pressure. Focus on learning your champion’s attack timing, and always be conscious of your positioning. Over time, it will become muscle memory.
Final Thoughts
Kiting may sound simple, but at high levels, it’s an art form. It’s about timing, movement, and mental awareness, all executed under pressure. Whether you’re an aspiring ADC main or just want to outplay your opponents more consistently, learning how to kite is one of the most valuable mechanical skills in League of Legends—and it just might be the key to your next clutch win.
Written by:
Christian