Let's Start with the basics. Lorewise, Kassadin was a seeker of forbidden knowledge who was forced by a group of douchebags to look into the Void (a place of hideous creation...stuff). It turned him into a monster of great power, however, he was able to control the abominations that went in. He now protects Valoran from the Void, more specifically, from people like Kog Maw, Cho Gath, Malzahar etc.

Gamewise, Kassadin is a melee, AP caster, carry, assasin, and Rrrrrriftwalkin champion.

Kassadin is a unique champion. He is a melee caster, much like Fizz, only better...much better. However, unlike Fizz, he has a very weak laning phase until he hits level 6. Here are some pros and cons about his laning phase.

Pros:

- Can use his W to deal extra damage to minions
- Replenishes a percentage of mana on each basic attack
- Has a damaging silence (good for negating harassment)
- Strong when farming underneath tower
- Gains attack speed from magic resist

Cons:

- Easily harassed, being a melee champion in mid lane, makes it difficult to farm and to avoid damage
- Very quishy, low natural armor
- Low health
- Relies on basic attack for farming
- Very mana consuming
- Easily ganked at low levels

But this is just the beginning...

Kassadin's kit is ALOT of fun. Silencing, slowing, and teleporting are just the most perfect tools for a burst caster. Here's a rundown of Kassadin's abilities.

Null Sphere
This is your standard target lock nuke. Early game, unless you have monstrous AP, it doesn't deal any significant damage. The plus side though, is the fact it silences. At rank 5, I'm quite sure it silences for a good 2.5 - 3 seconds, which is incredible for crippling a single target in a 1v1. Your primary source of ranged damage, max this first.

Nether Blade
Your best ability in terms of farming. Basically, it passively allows you to replenish mana on each basic attack, amazing early game advantage. Activating it will give your basic attacks extra magic damage. Pretty sweet. Take a point at level 2, and max it last.

Force Pulse
Now, I won't lie, Kassadin definately bears some sort of resemblance to Darth Vader. The whole breathing heavily through a space mask, big cape, armor etc. But it's this ability that takes the cake. It's called Force Pulse, and it's a weird one. After 4 spells are cast in Kassadin's area, he can use this ability. It's a giant, area of effect, slowing, cone. Yep. Insane damage, coupled with awesome slowing potential makes it the perfect chasing spell. Max this one second.

Riftwalk
Ok. This is the one. My one, favourite champion ultimate in the entire of League of Legends. Riftwalk. How cool does it sound? I'll tell you. ****ing amazing. This ability is by far the most amazing ultimate ever created by Riot. Sure, early game you have problems, but just when they thought it was all fun and games...not anymore. This is the ability that makes your opponent cry in the corner, weep in fear, beg for utter mercy!! What does it do? Basically, it's a 7 second flash. Coupled with all 3 ranks, and Ionian Boots of Lucidity, a 2 - 3 second flash. This is what makes Kassadin...Kassadin. The Void WALKER. Kassadin is so mobility heavy, after taking a tower, or even getting a kill, you can go wherever you want, whenever. Use it to roam, and escape near-death situations. On each consecutive time it is used in succession, it stacks in damage, but also mana usage. But overall, your most dominant ability, use it at your own peril.

Kassadin's kit includes a few strong combos that you can use to drop that Teemo's health bar to zero in 0.5 seconds. Your standard one is your R then E. Riftwalk right to their location and have your E ready to cast in the way they are going to run. If you can land both abilities, it should deal some smooth damage, no matter what your AP is. Another, is the full spell combo.

Ult + E + Q + W + Basic Attacks + Ignite.

Ok, so here's how it works. You ult right on top of them...because you can. Then, instantly slow them with your E as fast as you can, but make sure you can land it. Then, silence them with your Q. During the time you activate these abilities, your opponent will not have had enough time to react to your assasination, that you can silence them, rendering them useless for the duration of the combo. Activate your W to get that extra attack damage, and whale at them with attacks with the help of Ignite. If this doesn't kill them, you're doing something wrong. That's how powerful this combo really is.

Counters

Never thought this was possible, but yes, even Kassadin has counters. Mainly AD bruisers, assassins and ranged burst casters. Being an assassin himself, Kassadin has tonns of burst damage when it comes to mid - late game, however he is weak against one, this one guy...

Yup. The one douchebag nobody plays because, well, he looks like Ezio from Assassin's Creed, and no one likes that. It's quite simple. He has a silence, high burst and attack damage, tankiness, and invisibility. There's not much else that renders Kassadin useless like Talon does.


THIS...IS...SPAR - Shut the f**k up! You counters Kassadin, that makes you a douchebag like the rest of them. But in all seriousness, Pantheon is one of Kassadin's biggest counters. The ranged attack spears, the stuns, an aoe and a devastating ultimate really hurt on Kassadin's part. Keep your distance from this guy.

http://www.championselect.net/images/CS_Champ_Icons/mordekaiser.png

Hue hue hue. Yep, an unlikely counter champion but strong nonthenless. Mordekaiser relies on his health for abilties, making Kassadin magic damage useless, he is also tanky, has tonns of early game harassment damage, and an ultimate that can't be Riftwalked away from. Mordekaiser is a very killable, but dangerous combatant.


The last counter on Kassadin's list. This little turd is Kassadin's second biggest counter. With ridiculous damage, a slow, knockup, damage over time and an ability that makes him un-frickin-targetable, makes him Kassadin's arch nemesis. Late game you both can kill eachother, but it's Kassadin's early game that affects his overall play. Stay wary, and ward.

Kassadin himself, counters the majority of the other AP casters out there, with his incredible mid - late game potential, magic resist advantages, mobility, and silencing.



On a final note, I recommend you buy Kassadin straight away after reading this guide (I doubt you did, but I have alot of time to waste). He is one of the most viable AP carries in the game today, and brings a tough game behind him. In the hands of a master, Kassadin is, without a doubt, the best champion, in the League of Legends.

"If you look upon the Void, you can't put it behind you. If you look upon Kassadin, he is probably already there. - Unkown.