Introduction to Kaien (Fire Vagabond)
Fire Vagabond (Kai’en)
Defense ★★★
Summoners War Kaien, the Fire Vagabond, is a natural 3-star Defense-type monster. He can be obtained through Unknown Scrolls, Mystical Scrolls, Mystical Summons, Social Summons, and Secret Dungeons. While not among the most celebrated Vagabonds, Kaien serves a specific niche and is sometimes built for his unique utility, especially after Second Awakening.
Once awakened, he becomes Kai’en and gains a leader skill that boosts the HP of ally monsters in Dungeons by 18%. Awakening requires 5 Mid Fire Essences, 10 Low Fire Essences, 10 Mid Magic Essences, and 15 Low Magic Essences. His base awakened stats at level 40 are approximately 10,210 HP, 515 ATK, 616 DEF, and 98 SPD.
Essence of Fire (Mid)
Essence of Magic (Mid)
Essence of Fire (Low)
Essence of Magic (Low)
Kai’en becomes more impactful after undergoing Second Awakening, which is unlocked by completing his Secret Dungeon and training him in the Second Awakening dungeon. His 2A version gains improved stats—11,040 HP, 549 ATK, 747 DEF, 98 SPD, 15% CRI Rate, 50% CRI Dmg, 0% Resistance, and 15% Accuracy—and enhanced skills. His second skill provides a small amount of healing based on damage dealt, but the primary enhancement lies in his third skill.
His third skill, Cry of Challenge, is an area-of-effect provoke that targets all enemies. Before 2A, it has an 80% activation chance; after 2A, it becomes a 100% chance provoke and is no longer considered an attack. This allows Kai’en to provoke units that would otherwise avoid debuffs due to elemental disadvantages, glancing hits, or passives. Additionally, after Second Awakening, this skill grants three turns of immunity, making him more durable and disruptive on the battlefield.
Though often compared to his Light-element counterpart Darion, Kai’en has a distinct role. Darion provides team-wide passive damage reduction and has higher base HP, but Kai’en offers more direct crowd control and self-sustain. His ability to provoke non-attacking and water units, combined with his immunity and tank stats, makes him a useful option for players lacking other provoke-based tanks or seeking a disruptive frontline unit. When built properly, Kai’en can become a resilient and frustrating opponent, especially in niche PvE and specific PvP setups.
Skills and Skill-Up
KAI’EN SKILLS
Leader Skill
Slash Rocks
Slash Waves
Cry of ChallengeIncreases the HP of ally monsters in the Dungeons by 18%.
Swings a giant sword to deal damage and decrease the target’s Defense for 2 turns with a 40% chance. This attack will deal more damage according to your MAX HP.
Multiplier: {ATK} + 0.18*{MAX HP}Attacks an enemy with a sword 2 times. Each attack has a 50% chance to decrease the target’s Attack Power for 2 turns. This attack will deal more damage according to your MAX HP. (Reusable in 4 turns)
Multiplier: {ATK} + 0.12*{MAX HP} x2Increases your Defense for 3 turns and taunts all enemies with a 80% chance. (Reusable in 5 turns)Damage +10%
Harmful Effect Rate +10%
Harmful Effect Rate +10%
Damage +10%
Harmful Effect Rate +10%
Harmful Effect Rate +10%
Damage +10%
Harmful Effect Rate +20%Harmful Effect Rate +10%
Damage +10%
Harmful Effect Rate +10%
Damage +10%
Cooltime Turn -1
Kaien, the Fire Vagabond, features a set of skills that evolve significantly after Second Awakening, making him more effective as a tank and crowd control unit. His pre-awakening and post-Second Awakening skill sets reflect this progression, with his provoke and defense utility becoming more reliable and impactful.
Before awakening, Kaien’s skill set includes a leader skill that increases the HP of ally monsters in Dungeons by 18%. His first skill, Slash Rocks, is a single-target attack that decreases the enemy’s Defense for two turns with a 40% chance and deals bonus damage based on his max HP. The damage formula is {ATK} + 0.18 × {MAX HP}, and it requires eight skill-ups in total—three for increased damage and five for increased effect rate.
His second skill, Slash Waves, attacks an enemy twice, each hit with a 30% chance to reduce Attack Power for two turns, scaling with max HP. Its multiplier is ({ATK} + 0.12 × {MAX HP}) × 2. It requires five skill-ups—two for effect rate, two for damage, and one to reduce its cooldown to three turns. His third skill, Cry of Challenge, increases his Defense for three turns and provokes all enemies with an 80% chance. It has a cooldown of five turns (three after skill-ups) and requires four skill-ups—two for effect rate and two to reduce the cooldown.
After Second Awakening, Kaien retains his Dungeon HP leader skill but gains improved multipliers and utility. His first skill, Slash Rocks, now uses a multiplier of 1.3 × {ATK} + 0.21 × {MAX HP}, with two skill-ups available that increase damage by 5% and 15%, respectively. His second skill, Slash Waves, receives a notable buff, hitting twice with a 70% chance to apply Attack Break and healing him for 20% of the damage dealt.
SECOND AWAKENING SKILLS
Leader Skill
(Awakened)
Slash Rocks
(Awakened)
Slash Waves
(Awakened)
Cry of ChallengeIncrease the HP of ally monsters in the Dungeons by 18%
Swings a giant sword to deal damage and decrease the target’s Defense for 2 turns. This attack will deal more damage according to your MAX HP.
Multiplier: 1.3*{ATK} + 0.21*{MAX HP}Attacks the enemy with a sword 2 times to decrease the target’s Attack Power for 2 turns with a 70% chance each and recovers your HP by 20% of the damage dealt. This attack will deal more damage according to your MAX HP. (Reusable in 3 turns).
Multiplier: 1.2*{ATK} + 0.14*{MAX HP} x2*{MAX HP} x2Provokes all enemies for 1 turn. Increases your Defense for 3 turns and gains Immunity for 3 turns. (Reusable in 3 turns).Damage +5%
Damage +15%Damage +5%
Damage +15%
Its new multiplier is (1.2 × {ATK} + 0.14 × {MAX HP}) × 2, with two skill-ups increasing damage. The third skill, Cry of Challenge, transforms into a full utility tool: it provokes all enemies for one turn, increases his Defense for three turns, and grants him three turns of immunity. Its cooldown is three turns, and it has one skill-up that increases the provoke effect rate by 20%.
When developing Kaien, skill-up priority should be placed on Cry of Challenge due to its vital role in team protection and crowd control. The immunity and provoke combo make it his most impactful ability. After that, Slash Rocks can be prioritized for its reliable Defense break, followed by Slash Waves for its minor healing and Attack Break debuff.
Devilmons should be avoided when skilling Kaien. Instead, use duplicate Vagabonds for skill-ups. Before Second Awakening, he requires 17 skill-ups in total, which can be fully achieved using other 3-star Vagabonds. After Second Awakening, only four additional skill-ups are needed, primarily to enhance his third skill. The key enhancement from his Second Awakening lies in the immunity added to his third skill, significantly increasing his survivability and ability to control the battlefield. While the healing from his second skill exists, it remains minor and is not central to his role.
Stats and Role
Grade★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★LevelMinLv. 25MinLv. 30MinLv. 35MinLv. 40NormalHP19653540283548153855654052358895ATK116209168285228387310527DEF116209168285228387310527AwakenedHP225040653240552044257500600010215ATK114205164279223379304516DEF136244196333266452362615Second AwakeningHP243043803510597047708115649511040ATK121218175297238404323549DEF165297237404323549439747Kaien, the Fire Vagabond, is a Defense-type monster in Summoners War with a role centered around tanking and crowd control. His base stats before awakening, at max level (6 stars), are 8,895 HP, 527 ATK, 527 DEF, and 97 SPD, with standard crit and resistance values of 15% CRI Rate, 50% CRI Dmg, 15% Resistance, and 0% Accuracy. Upon awakening into Kai’en, his speed increases to 98 and his stats improve to approximately 10,215 HP, 516 ATK, and 615 DEF. His awakening bonus grants him a leader skill that increases the HP of ally monsters in Dungeons by 18%.
After Second Awakening, Kai’en’s stats further increase to 11,040 HP, 549 ATK, and 747 DEF, while maintaining 98 SPD. His Accuracy rises to 15%, but Resistance drops to 0%, which reflects a shift toward an offensive utility debuffer and provoke tank rather than a resistance-based one.
Kaien’s skillset supports a disruptive frontline role. His first skill, Slash Rocks, deals bonus damage based on max HP and has a chance to apply Defense Break for two turns. His second skill, Slash Waves, hits twice with a chance to apply Attack Break and, after Second Awakening, restores a small amount of HP based on damage dealt. The healing effect is present but minimal, contributing only marginally to his sustainability.
His most impactful ability is his third skill, Cry of Challenge, which is a team-wide provoke. Before Second Awakening, it has an 80% chance to provoke all enemies and boosts his Defense for three turns. After Second Awakening, it becomes a non-damaging skill that provokes all enemies for one turn and grants him three turns of Defense up and Immunity. This immunity effect is critical to his post-2A utility, allowing him to maintain provoke pressure without being easily controlled or debuffed himself.
Kaien’s primary function is as a tank that disrupts enemy teams through provoke and defense buffs. His provoke-based control style makes him effective against teams that rely on skills that can be interrupted or redirected. The Defense and HP stats, paired with provoke and immunity, make him durable and hard to ignore in sustained fights. His Defense scaling also synergizes well with rune builds focused on survivability.
While often compared to Darion, who offers passive damage reduction, Kaien brings a more direct form of crowd control through his provoke and immunity synergy. His role diverges by focusing on control and self-sustain rather than team-wide protection. These differences allow him to perform well in situations where redirecting enemy attacks is crucial, such as PvE content like the Tower of Ascension or specific Arena Defense strategies.
Overall, Kaien is a solid provoke tank with utility in both PvP and PvE, particularly after Second Awakening when his skillset gains full utility through improved provoke reliability and immunity. His value increases in teams that benefit from layered defense, turn manipulation, or disruption through control debuffs.
Rune Recommendations
Build4-Set(s)2-Set(s)Stat PrioritiesEarly GameN/A EnergyGuardHp, DefLate Game Violent
Rage Blade
Revenge
Guard
EndureHp, CR, CD
Kaien, the Fire Vagabond, benefits from rune builds that enhance his tankiness, provoke reliability, and ability to disrupt enemies through consistent turn cycling. His main utility revolves around crowd control via provoke, supported by high durability and debuff application, particularly after Second Awakening. Rune choices for Kaien vary depending on game progression, with builds shifting focus from basic survivability to turn efficiency and layered utility as players advance.
In the early game, Kaien can be effectively runed with sets such as Energy x3 or Energy x2 + Focus, using slot 2/4/6 stats of HP%/HP%/HP% or HP%/HP%/Acc%. These sets help maximize his survivability and ensure that his provoke and debuff abilities land reliably. Substats should prioritize HP%, Defense%, and Accuracy%. Focus sets are especially useful during this stage to compensate for the lack of Accuracy in early rune substats.
As players reach mid-game, Kaien benefits from faster builds like Swift + Focus, using Spd/HP%/Acc% on slots 2/4/6. This configuration improves his turn cycling and debuff consistency. With a base speed of 98, using a Speed rune in slot 2 allows him to provoke and disrupt more frequently, especially when runed with enough Accuracy to support his provoke-based control. Substats should still favor HP%, Accuracy%, and some Defense% to retain his tank identity.
In the late game and post-Second Awakening, Violent-based builds become the standard for Kaien. Violent + Revenge or Violent + Will sets are widely favored. These builds typically use HP%/HP%/HP% or Spd/HP%/HP% on slots 2/4/6. Violent grants more frequent turns, increasing the uptime of his third skill, Cry of Challenge, while Revenge offers counterattack potential that may trigger provoke effects through his first skill’s defense break. Will runes are also highly synergistic after 2A, as they provide opening turn immunity to complement the immunity granted by his third skill, ensuring Kaien can perform his role even in the presence of heavy control or debuff teams.
For more specialized or offensive tank builds, some players opt for HP%/Crit Dmg%/HP% to capitalize on his decent scaling from max HP, although this setup is less common and more situational. Accuracy should ideally reach at least 55–85%, depending on content and opponent resistance levels. This can be achieved either through a Focus set or heavy Accuracy in substats, particularly if slot 6 is reserved for HP%.
Overall, Kaien’s rune setup should always focus on high survivability through HP% and Defense%, paired with enough Accuracy to ensure provoke consistency. Speed is a valuable stat in any build to ensure quicker access to his provoke and defense buff. As the game progresses, transitioning from basic Energy builds to more advanced Violent/Will or Violent/Revenge sets allows Kaien to shine as a durable and disruptive frontline unit, particularly after Second Awakening when his skill synergy and immunity mechanics fully come into play.
Team Compositions and Usage
Kaien, the Fire Vagabond, is a tank and provoke specialist whose value increases significantly after Second Awakening. His role centers around disrupting enemy teams through crowd control while soaking up damage with his high Defense and HP. His most impactful ability is his third skill, Cry of Challenge, which becomes a non-damaging area-of-effect provoke post-Second Awakening and also grants him three turns of Defense up and Immunity. This skill makes him especially effective in matchups where the enemy lacks buff removal, allowing him to maintain provoke uptime and protect his team.
In combat, Kaien functions as a control unit by redirecting enemy attacks to himself. His first skill, Slash Rocks, offers additional utility by applying Defense Break, setting up enemies for damage from allies. His second skill, Slash Waves, contributes further debuffing with Attack Power reduction and provides minor healing through life drain after Second Awakening. While the life drain effect is present, it remains minimal and is not a core part of his performance.
Kaien fits well into team compositions that require a frontline tank with crowd control. He can serve as a core unit in Guild Siege offense against defenses composed of damage-dealing and support monsters like Cacano, Vigor, and Triana. In these setups, Kaien’s provoke prevents dangerous skills from being used, while his immunity and Defense buff help him withstand hits. Pairing him with two sustain-oriented allies—such as healers or support debuffers—enhances his effectiveness. He also functions well in teams lacking high-end provoke units, acting as a budget alternative for players who do not yet have monsters like Tractor or Darion.
Kaien can be deployed in Arena Defense scenarios where resistance to cleave teams is needed. With his naturally high base Defense and provoke-based disruption, he can be used as a potential Lushen counter if built correctly, focusing on tankiness and durability to absorb AoE damage. For early- to mid-game players, Kaien can serve as a reliable tank in progression content, especially where crowd control can stall or prevent enemy skill usage.
He is also usable in PvE content such as certain dungeon stages and the Tower of Ascension, particularly where provoke and Defense Break can slow enemy waves and create safer conditions for your team. In these settings, his debuffs and provoke are especially helpful when combined with sustain or control-heavy compositions.
Kaien’s main drawback is his vulnerability to buff strippers. Enemies capable of removing buffs can significantly reduce his effectiveness by removing his immunity and Defense buff, exposing him to crowd control and debuffs. As such, Kaien performs best in matchups where enemy teams lack consistent strip mechanics.
Overall, Kaien is a strong utility tank with a unique provoke mechanic that grants team control and protection. He is a valuable addition to teams that require durability, crowd control, and setup through debuffs, especially in Guild Siege, Arena Defense, and PvE content. His strength lies in his ability to lock down multiple enemies with provoke while protecting himself with immunity, making him a viable and versatile option for players looking to expand their roster of control-oriented tanks.
Comparisons to Other Vagabonds
Kaien, the Fire Vagabond, is often compared to his Vagabond counterparts—Darion, Jubelle, Allen, and Roid—each bringing unique strengths and limitations to different areas of gameplay. While Kaien stands out for his area-of-effect provoke and self-buffing mechanics, his overall value can shift when placed side-by-side with the others, especially after Second Awakening.
Darion, the Light Vagabond, is frequently seen as superior due to his passive skill that reduces incoming damage to allies, giving him exceptional team-wide utility. He also has a higher base HP than Kaien, which contributes to his natural tankiness. However, unlike Kaien, Darion lacks an AOE provoke and does not provide the same level of crowd control. Kaien’s provoke targets all enemies and is especially useful in situations where forcing opponents to attack him disrupts enemy rotations or prevents critical skills. This difference gives Kaien a distinct advantage in matchups where provoke-based control is more valuable than passive mitigation.
Jubelle, the Dark Vagabond, is considered one of the strongest members of the Vagabond family. His passive greatly reduces the likelihood of receiving critical hits and grants him cooldown reduction when attacked, which is enhanced further after Second Awakening by granting an Attack Bar boost when struck by non-critical hits. This makes him highly consistent in taking turns and maintaining debuff pressure. His provoke, applied through his second skill, can be extended to last up to three turns, offering more sustained lockdown than Kaien’s single-turn provoke. While Kaien’s immunity and Defense buff give him immediate survivability and protection, Jubelle’s ability to cycle turns and provoke more frequently makes him a strong contender for top control-based tank.
Allen, the Water Vagabond, is generally considered less effective, especially in the later stages of the game. While he does have a damage reduction passive and a provoke skill, his provoke is single-target, and his Second Awakening did not offer major enhancements. Kaien outshines Allen through his AOE provoke and more versatile utility, including a dungeon HP lead that can aid team survivability in PvE content. Kaien’s combination of crowd control and buffing places him in a stronger position, particularly in content like Guild Siege and the Tower of Ascension.
Roid, the Wind Vagabond, brings a different kind of utility with his ability to reduce an enemy’s attack bar to zero and apply an irresistible taunt. While his damage is modest, this combination of control effects makes him suitable for specific scenarios, particularly in boss fights or PvP control teams. His Second Awakening improves his reliability and usability in Siege battles, allowing him to serve as a disruptor. However, his provoke is single-target and relies heavily on timing and targeting, whereas Kaien’s AOE provoke applies pressure to an entire enemy team, making Kaien a better fit for broader control and disruption roles.
In summary, Kaien is a niche but impactful unit who carves out a role as a durable, control-focused tank with team utility. His AOE provoke and self-immunity give him a distinct identity, especially after Second Awakening. While Darion and Jubelle are often considered superior due to their passives and broader applicability, Kaien remains a viable option for players looking for reliable provoke-based disruption. Among the elemental Vagabonds, Kaien offers a more balanced and control-oriented toolset than Allen and a more versatile provoke compared to Roid, making him a solid addition to teams needing a frontline disruptor.
Second Awakening Insights
Second Awakening significantly enhances Kai’en’s performance, refining his role as a durable tank and reliable crowd control unit. His third skill, Cry of Challenge, becomes notably stronger after Second Awakening. It now provokes all enemies for 1 turn, increases his Defense for 3 turns, and grants him Immunity for 3 turns. This combination of provoke and self-buff makes Kai’en highly effective at absorbing damage and drawing attacks away from allies. The skill’s cooldown is also reduced to 3 turns, improving uptime and consistency. Before Second Awakening, the provoke chance was only 80% and did not provide immunity.
His second skill, Slash Waves, also receives a meaningful upgrade. After Second Awakening, it attacks the enemy twice, each hit having a 70% chance to decrease Attack Power for 2 turns. Additionally, it heals Kai’en by 20% of the damage dealt. This life drain offers minor sustain, although it is not a core strength of the skill. Previously, the provoke chance was lower at 50%, and no healing component was present.
The first skill, Slash Rocks, maintains its Defense break effect but sees an improved damage multiplier, enhancing its utility in setting up kills or applying pressure over time. These skill changes complement the stat increases he receives from Second Awakening.
Stat-wise, Kai’en’s HP increases from 10,215 to 11,040, his ATK from 516 to 549, and his DEF from 615 to 747. His Speed remains at 98, but he gains an additional 15% Accuracy, which supports the reliability of his debuffs. These improvements solidify his durability and provoke consistency, especially important for a frontline disruptor.
With these changes, Kai’en becomes a much more effective tank in both PvP and PvE content. His immunity and Defense buff allow him to absorb and redirect damage effectively, especially in compositions where the enemy lacks buff removal. He shines in settings like Guild Siege, particularly against teams with units like Cacano and Vigor, where provoke can delay or deny key enemy skills.
Despite these enhancements, Kai’en remains a niche pick. His effectiveness is dependent on enemy team composition, and he loses significant value against teams with reliable buff strippers. However, in the right matchups, his upgraded skills and stat improvements make him a strong disruptive force.
Among the other Vagabonds, some Second Awakenings offer different strategic value. Jubelle, for example, gains strong reactive mechanics through his passive, enabling frequent turns and provoke chaining. Roid becomes more control-oriented with his improved attack bar manipulation and passive taunt capabilities. Darion and Allen receive more modest upgrades, with Darion’s changes being somewhat situational and Allen’s provoke reliability remaining questionable.
Post-Second Awakening, Kai’en benefits greatly from rune builds that enhance his survivability and provoke potential. A recommended build is Violent with Will, using Speed or HP in slot 2, and HP in slots 4 and 6. Will runes are especially helpful to protect him during the first turn before he can apply his buffs. Alternatives like Will with Double Revenge can also be effective, capitalizing on more provoke opportunities and punishing enemies that target him.
In summary, Kai’en’s Second Awakening transitions him into a more robust and dependable frontline tank with reliable crowd control. His upgraded third skill makes him especially effective in prolonged fights where maintaining buffs is possible. While he remains a specialized pick, his unique blend of provoke, buffing, and durability can be a valuable asset when used strategically.
