Whether you’re a new player learning the basics or a veteran looking to refine your mechanics, understanding how kiting works can give you a massive edge on Summoner’s Rift.
If you’ve spent any time watching high-ELO streamers, pro matches, or in-depth League of Legends guides, you’ve likely heard the term “kiting.” It’s often used to describe skilled ADC play or clever outplays in teamfights—but what exactly is kiting in League of Legends, and why is it so important?
What Is Kiting?
Kiting is the practice of dealing damage while moving away from your target, usually in a way that prevents the enemy from retaliating effectively. The term originated from the idea of “pulling” enemies behind you—like a kite on a string—without letting them catch up.
In League of Legends (LoL), kiting involves auto-attacking, then instantly moving, then repeating this cycle with perfect timing to maximize damage output while maintaining distance. It’s especially crucial for ranged champions who are vulnerable to melee threats.
Why Kiting Matters in League
Kiting separates good players from great ones. Here’s why it’s a core mechanic:
- Avoids damage while dealing damage: By moving after every attack, you minimize the time you’re standing still—making it harder for enemies to land skillshots or close the gap.
- Maximizes DPS (Damage Per Second): Good kiting keeps your attacks flowing without wasting time standing still unnecessarily.
- Outplays and 1v1s: Kiting can win duels, escape from ganks, or even turn a losing fight when executed perfectly.
Champions that benefit heavily from kiting include ADC mains (like Kai’Sa, Jinx, or Vayne), bruisers (like Aatrox or Fiora), and junglers who kite camps efficiently (like Graves or Kindred).
How to Kite: The Basics
Kiting relies on a rhythm of attack → move → attack → move. The most common techniques include:
- Attack-Move Click (A + Left Click)This is the foundation of kiting for many players. Press your assigned Attack Move key (commonly “A”), then left-click near your target or directly on them (depending on your settings). This tells your champion to attack the nearest target in that direction or the specific target clicked—then you move immediately after the shot fires.In settings: Turn on Attack Move on Cursor for better control over where your champion targets.Tip: Set a comfortable hotkey for Player Attack Move (usually “A” or a side mouse button). You can change this hotkey in: Settings → Hotkeys → Player Movement → Player Attack Move (or Player Attack Move Click).
- Orb Walking: A more advanced form of kiting, orb walking involves manually clicking to attack and then clicking to move between every auto attack. Timing is key—you must wait for the attack animation to fire before clicking to move. Advanced players often use this method for precise control over spacing and timing, particularly when needing to make small positional adjustments.
- Animation Cancelling: Every attack has a brief animation sequence. Skilled players learn to cancel the “ending” portion of this animation by issuing a movement command immediately after the damage is dealt (or the projectile is fired), saving fractions of a second that add up quickly in sustained fights.
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Kiting vs. Stutter-Stepping: What’s the Difference?
The terms are often used interchangeably, but technically:
- Kiting focuses on keeping distance from the enemy while attacking (moving away).
- Stutter-stepping is the mechanical execution of clicking between each attack and movement command—useful even when not running away (e.g., chasing a fleeing enemy while attacking).
When Should You Kite?
- During trades in lane: Keep moving between attacks to avoid counter-damage and reposition.
- In teamfights: Maintain optimal spacing as a priority target (like an ADC) to survive assassins or divers while continuing to deal damage.
- When chasing or escaping: Kite to deal damage to a fleeing enemy or deter a chaser while repositioning yourself.
- While jungling: Efficient junglers kite camps between attacks to take less damage and optimize clear speed.
Kiting Tools and Settings
To kite effectively, consider adjusting these settings:
- Attack Move on Cursor: Turning this on makes your attack-move command target the closest enemy near your cursor rather than the closest enemy near your character, preventing misclicks and improving targeting accuracy in crowded situations.
- Attack Move Click keybind: Make sure it’s comfortable and easily accessible for rapid input.
- Mouse sensitivity: Finding the right sensitivity can help improve accuracy when clicking quickly between targets and movement commands.
Some players also configure their settings to use attack move on left-click (by remapping primary click) for faster response time—especially popular among experienced ADC mains, though this requires careful setup.
Pro Players and Kiting: High-Level Examples
Watch any pro ADC like Ruler, Gumayusi, or Berserker, and you’ll see kiting in action constantly. They reposition flawlessly while weaving in damage, surviving dives, and turning the tide of battles through superior movement.
Even melee champs like Fiora or Riven utilize kiting principles between abilities, showcasing how movement and timing go hand-in-hand at the top level of play.
Final Thoughts: Kiting Is a Skill Worth Mastering
Kiting is one of the most rewarding mechanics to learn in League of Legends. It enhances your survivability, damage output, and mechanical mastery—especially if you play ADC or any ranged champion. Like any skill, it takes time and dedicated practice to time your attacks and movement perfectly, but the payoff is massive.
Next time you load into Summoner’s Rift, don’t just auto-attack and stand still. Practice kiting—and watch your gameplay level up.
Written by:
Christian