Kassadin · Mid
Kassadin Guide
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This guide is assembled by the site from match data and the game's own information — nobody wrote it by hand. Official and community guides appear alongside it when they exist.
Overview
Kassadin belongs to Riot's Assassin and Mage classes and is played mainly as Mid (100% of the public matches we measured). It fights in melee range and uses mana. In this guide you play it as Mid: your job is to win the central lane, roam to the side lanes and control the river. The kit brings mobility with Riftwalk. Its ultimate is Riftwalk. Riot rates it 3/10 in attack, 8/10 in magic, 5/10 in defense and 8/10 in difficulty.
Strengths
- High magic damage: Riot rates it 8/10 in magic.
- Mobility: Riftwalk lets you reposition, engage or escape.
- Sustain from Null Sphere.
- Riftwalk hits several enemies: a strong team fight tool.
Weaknesses
- Melee range: ranged opponents can poke it in lane.
- Mana-hungry early: spamming abilities leaves you empty before the fight.
- Hard to master: Riot rates its difficulty 8/10.
Build cheat sheet
Pick the build that fits what you want to do this game.
- Standard buildBalancedRecommendedThe default path: Cryptbloom, Archangel's Staff and Blackfire Torch give the ability power, magic penetration and ability haste this class relies on. Pick it when you have no reason to adapt. Built from Riot's item tags and the champion's class; Riot publishes no build statistics.
- Burst buildOffensiveAdvancedAll-in on damage: Shadowflame, Void Staff and Bloodletter's Curse stack ability power, magic penetration and health. Choose it when you're ahead or the enemy team is fragile — it gives up safety for kill pressure.
- Defensive buildDefensiveSituationalKeeps enough damage while adding armor, ability power and magic resist through Zhonya's Hourglass, Banshee's Veil and Dusk and Dawn. Choose it against dive, assassins or a lane you can't win.
Builds
Standard build
When to use it
The default path: Cryptbloom, Archangel's Staff and Blackfire Torch give the ability power, magic penetration and ability haste this class relies on. Pick it when you have no reason to adapt. Built from Riot's item tags and the champion's class; Riot publishes no build statistics.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
1100%- MidMain100% of matches
Starting items
Core items
- 1Cryptbloom
- 2Archangel's Staff
- 3Blackfire Torch
Boots
Situational
Runes
Primary· Sorcery
Secondary· Inspiration
Shards
Summoner spells
Flash
Ignite
Burst build
When to use it
All-in on damage: Shadowflame, Void Staff and Bloodletter's Curse stack ability power, magic penetration and health. Choose it when you're ahead or the enemy team is fragile — it gives up safety for kill pressure.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
1100%- MidMain100% of matches
Starting items
Core items
- 1Shadowflame
- 2Void Staff
- 3Bloodletter's Curse
Boots
Situational
Runes
Primary· Domination
Secondary· Sorcery
Shards
Summoner spells
- Flash
- Ignite
Defensive build
When to use it
Keeps enough damage while adding armor, ability power and magic resist through Zhonya's Hourglass, Banshee's Veil and Dusk and Dawn. Choose it against dive, assassins or a lane you can't win.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
1100%- MidMain100% of matches
Starting items
Core items
- 1Zhonya's Hourglass
- 2Banshee's Veil
- 3Dusk and Dawn
Boots
Situational
Runes
Primary· Sorcery
Secondary· Resolve
Shards
Summoner spells
- Flash
Teleport
Abilities
Void StonePassiveKassadin takes reduced magic damage and ignores unit collision.
QNull Sphere9/8.5/8/7.5/7s60/65/70/75/80 mpKassadin fires an orb of void energy at a target, dealing damage and interrupting channels. The excess energy forms around himself, granting a temporary shield that absorbs magic damage.- Cooldown
- 9·8.5·8·7.5·7
- Cost
- 60·65·70·75·80
- Range
- 650
WNether Blade7s1 mpPassive: Kassadin's basic attacks deal bonus magic damage. Active: Kassadin's next basic attack deals significant bonus magic damage and restores Mana.- Cooldown
- 7
- Cost
- 1
- Range
- 1
EForce Pulse21/20/19/18/17s60/65/70/75/80 mpKassadin draws energy from spells cast in his vicinity. Upon charging up, Kassadin can use Force Pulse to damage and slow enemies in a cone in front of him.- Cooldown
- 21·20·19·18·17
- Cost
- 60·65·70·75·80
- Range
- 400
RRiftwalkUltimate5/3.5/2s40 mpKassadin teleports to a nearby location dealing damage to nearby enemy units. Multiple Riftwalks in a short period of time cost additional Mana but also deal additional damage.- Cooldown
- 5·3.5·2
- Cost
- 40
- Range
- 500
Strategy
1Early game
Mid is the shortest lane: trades are fast and the enemy jungler is always close. Push the wave when you can, so you are first to the river when a skirmish starts. Trade when the enemy uses an ability on the wave: that's the moment they can't answer.
- Early items: Blighting Jewel and Fiendish Codex.
2Mid game
With Cryptbloom, your job is to move: push mid, then help side lanes and dragons and towers. The first team to arrive usually wins the fight. Your spikes are level 6, when Riftwalk comes online, and each completed item: Cryptbloom first, then Archangel's Staff.
- Core items: Cryptbloom, Archangel's Staff and Blackfire Torch.
3Late game
Late, one mistake decides the game: never walk into fog alone and let your tanks show first.
- Late items: Zhonya's Hourglass and Banshee's Veil.
4Team fights
Use Riftwalk where it changes the fight, not where it's safe, and keep your distance until the enemy uses their engage.
5Playing against Kassadin
Riot's own advice for facing this champion:
- Kassadin deals mostly magic damage. If he's doing well consider buying magic resist items like Mercury's Treads and Banshee's Veil.
- Each time Kassadin consecutively uses Riftwalk, he pays more and more mana. Keep this in mind as you chase him.
- It takes 6 spell casts for Kassadin's slow, Force Pulse, to become castable. If he levels up that ability, judiciously use your own skills while laning against him.
Tips
- Kassadin has multiple item paths; he can go caster via Mana and Ability Power or anti-caster with Cooldown Reduction and Magic Resist.
- Kassadin's ultimate has many uses and is on a shorter cooldown than most, use it often.
- Try to get the Ancient Golem buff to counteract Riftwalk's increasing Mana cost.
- Cryptbloom is your first real spike: after buying it, look for a play on a side lane.
- Before you roam, push the wave: you lose less and the enemy has to choose between following or farming.
- Your level 6 with Riftwalk is a big spike: look for the first kill right when you hit it.
Matchups
Strong against
Kassadin starts with 646 health and 21 armour against Taliyah's 550 and 18: the early trades are already won on paper.
Riftwalk lets Kassadin reach Aurelion Sol, who has no escape in the kit.
Riftwalk lets Kassadin reach Hwei, who has no escape in the kit.
Weak against
Gravity Field (stun) lets Viktor pin Kassadin down before Riftwalk gets them out.
Shield of Durand (taunt) lets Galio pin Kassadin down before Riftwalk gets them out.
Ring of Frost (root) lets Lissandra pin Kassadin down before Riftwalk gets them out.
Changelog
- Guide created for patch 16.19.1.
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