Talk:Kassadin/@comment-88.186.19.90-20111222205104/@comment-98.247.70.84-20111223031110

I don't usually go AA on Kassadin, you tend to unleash all your spells within 3 or 4 seconds, and you can only gain mana if you use a spell every 4 seconds, as I'm sure you're well aware. For a champion like Karthus or Cassiopeia, absolutely go tear first. But for a champion like Kassadin, you want to build items like RoA. Why do you build Rod of Ages? Think, you get a certain amount of health, mana, an AP every minute, stacking up to 10 times. The sooner you get it, the sooner you max it, and then, mid game, you scale MUCH better than your opponent if you're up against an Annie or Karthus, and if you have enough health to survive their damage, you also have enough AP to deal some yourself.

Don't get Lich Bane for Kassadin until late game, finish your build with it, ABSOLUTELY DO NOT go for it first, because you won't have enough AP to rack up some real damage.

For Boots, you need to think accordingly, don't always go the same ones. If you're up against someone with any slow/stun/silence and you need something to reduce that, along with mgaic damage, go with Mercury's Treads. It will reduce the silence/slow/stun, and give you a bit of MR so you don't die in two seconds to an Annie combo.

Rabadon's is an OK item for Kassadin, but again, I round off my build with it, third or second to last. Yeah, +140 AP and 30% bonus AP is pretty good, but for 3600 gold? I usually get it as my 4th or 5th item, because by then I have some good AP to increase the bonus. As say, Veigar, I might rush Rabadon's, but as Kassadin? I wouldn't recommend it early game.

Only get Void Staff if your opponent is stacking heavy MR, because AP > MP.

The build I use is rush Rod of Ages, then build boots accordingly, afterwards I buy either a Rylai's or Morello's depending on my needs (if I need even more health, Rylai's, if I want to spam more, Morello's), then I get a defensive item so I'm not a glass cannon. It can basically be any item that can help you live longer whilst contributing to your damage output. Then I build Rabadon's, and after that I get Lich Bane.

My damage combo goes as follows: Riftwalk in, Null Sphere, Force Pulse, basic attack, walk away (or Riftwalk if it's off cooldown). I recommend smart-casting your abilities if your target is not clumped up by minions, which, on American keyboards, is by default bound to Shift + Ability hotkey. This will fire your skillshots in the direction of your cursor and target abilities onto the target your cursor is hovered over.

Hope I helped out.