pros- high HIGH damage after level 6
very hard to gank
easy to heal back to full health with combined spell vamp and lifesteal
expert ganker
cons- squishy until you get a giants belt/frozen mallet
weak early game

This guide is mostly intended for blind picks just to have fun. Yes I believe with all my heart hybrid kassadin is viable but I also believe he does not fit into the meta as hybrid (and that's if he doesn't get banned in every ranked). I would mostly recommend you use this build as a duo top lane thing. When I use this build, I'm up top with a friend just chillin' until about level 6 when I begin roaming. I STRONGLY recommend you do NOT mid with this build simply because this build is hybrid and leans towards ad quite heavily and that can be hard depending on who you mid against (this is a reason why it does not fit into the meta).

The runes are mainly built for damage the reason for this is you NEED the damage your passive grants you the decreased magic damage as a defensive stat so the armor seals should do you well enough for early game armor. The masterys are really up for discussion I personally say the way I have them is EXTREMELY effective for most hybrids I do this for jax, kat, mord, etc. and do very well. The summoner spells are pretty much 2 choices both involving ignite you can do ignite, heal, or ignite flash. I say you need ignite because for one it's an amazing spell and for two early game with the talent point in the mastery's you use and you ad and ap increase even more only going to fuel your hybrid damage. I personally prefer heal as a safety button and good heal baits but flash is so good for escaping as kassadin (dat double flash bro).

Your early levels are going to be very weak, until kassadin gets his ulti normally he is a pretty weak champ so for these levels I play defensively harrasing with my Q and last hitting when I can. Once you get your ulti you can pretty much be the lane bully knowing that you can get away from almost anything at this point ,in the words of a very skilled kassadin player far better then myself, your ulti is a skillshot treat it like one try not to go above 2 stacks because that will oom you QUICKLY and dont use it willy nilly as an escape. normally for lane harrass past level 6 I'll jump (R) on them Q>E>W and auto attack them until they're either out of range or killing me. Remember your W scales with ap and you're also hitting for your AD damage so that is by itself LOTS of damage (do NOT under estimate your auto attacks). After level 6 if my lane partner is a good solo lane I tend to become a roamer ganking lanes making peoples butt hurt and just plain getting fed. if your lane partner is not strong enough as a champ or as a player to cover the lane by themself then staying in your lane isn't a bad option if you farm well. another thing people tend to forget is that items do have active the hextech gunblades active is VERY good. I tend to move it to the first slot in my inv so if I'm chasing hit 1 and click the person their slowed take the damage and I close the gap without using mana of my ulti.

In a team fight kassadin ,if played correctly, will be a priority target so you want to be the last one in and the first one out if you're being focused. R into all of them>E (aiming to hit as many as possible)>Q and W to focus down priority targets. as an ap shut down I would go for their ap carry. When the fight is over no dobut 1 or 2 will be getting away, since kassadin picks off fleeing targets like fish in a barrel now's your chance catch them with your ulti slow them with your E take 'em down with a Q>E>autoattacks if they start to make a distance use your hextech or (if it's up a 2nd time) your E.

1. play defensively before level 6 remember your damage is low

2. your ulti is a skillshot treat it like one

3. remember your auto attacks scale with ad and AP with your W USE THEM

4. remember yor hextechs people
side note: you only have the tier 1 boots until you finish your first phantom dancer at that point sell them