Talk:Kassadin/@comment-26539937-20150906042517/@comment-35229418-20150906120307

Kassadin is not supposed to oneshot like the other assassins, at least not until late game. You start off as a champion that kills the enemy mage by tanking their damage while attacking them - basically, you kill them a bit slower but you're sure not to die. After level 6 you begin playing like any assassin, ganking bot and going in and out of fights. You can only really oneshot enemy carries after you completed your third item (fourth if counting boots).

He was nerfed because he was overpowered, so now he's not underpowered. He's fine with the right build - the problem is that everytime I've seen a Kassadin, their build was idiotic. They obviously fed.

Anyway, you didn't mention the role you want to play them in. Are you looking for a toplaner, a midlaner or a jungler?

About tank-assassins, Jarvan IV is probably the most representative of the niche.