Talk:Kayle/@comment-7620198-20131025230539/@comment-5763148-20131109061647

Maxing Q isn't always optimal. It is the default method true cos it lets you take out targets quickly. But there are times when you need to rank E first instead. It's not just about counter pushing your lane, that's only one part of the reason. If you're laning against a ridiculously passive laner with no resources bar or extremely economical HP & MP management (Rengar, Garen, Nasus and many others), then you need to maximise E first and get items that help you maintain your MP like Doran's Ring.

Q drains MP extremely fast and this is more apparent the higher its rank. Focusing on E also has its advantages too. You can focus on getting AS gears in order to optimise your E's performance. Damage alone isn't gunna make you perform better if it has drawbacks you can't remove. If you're laning against opponents you clearly counter or you can beat via skill match up, Q is optimal. But against Champions and playstyles that focus on Attrition Fights, E is the better choice.