User blog comment:Leyrann/Riven Rework - Yes she may be able to use one/@comment-6000413-20150202180111/@comment-4834593-20150202191249

I suppose it feels complicated because of the exact numbers here, but they're not intended to be in the game like that, instead it's supposed to be "you gain Ki from using abilities or attacking champions, and a whole lot more of it when doing both at the same tme, and you lose it when not doing that", a bit like Gnar has no exact numbers (afaik).

Ki indeed has no effect in the early game, but neither does shyvana's fury.

Tbh I don't see how it overlaps with the passive. It's part of the ultimate.

Ult activation not at level 1 was a pretty conscious decision, because I think that would simply grant her too much early game power. You should be able to counterpick her by picking a strong poke mage like Cass or Liss so that you're really ahead by the time she even reaches level 6, and if she can already get her Ki stacked before that you might just be in for trouble if she closes the gap just once. It would be a huge buff to her early game.