Kassadin

Hold just outside Charm range and use Null Sphere to trade when she walks up for Orb of Deception. Do not Riftwalk straight at her while Charm is available; bait it sideways, then jump in during its cooldown and silence before she can Spirit Rush freely.

Later Finished builds favor Kassadin in side lane if Ahri cannot tag Charm first, while Ahri is steadier in grouped pick setups. In teamfights, flank after she spends Charm or Spirit Rush charges instead of being the first target she sees.

• •Riftwalk diagonally, not directly through the Orb of Deception return path.
• •Null Sphere can interrupt her burst window before Fox-Fire and Spirit Rush unload fully.
• •If she uses Spirit Rush defensively once, count the remaining dashes before committing another Riftwalk.

BuyBanshee's Veil2,750g (875g to combine)Health450Magic Resist55Intangibility: Grants a Spell Shield that blocks the next enemy ability. This Shield refreshes after no damage is taken from enemy champions for 25 seconds.Shadow Mending: Grants 9 Health Regen per 5 for up to 10 seconds after taking damage from an enemy champion or when the Spell Shield breaks.RecipeMercury's Treads1,200g (475g to combine)Magic Resist25Enhanced Movement: 45 Move SpeedTenacity: Reduces the duration of Stuns, Slows, Taunts, Fears, Silences, Blinds, and Immobilizes by 35%.RecipeAbyssal Scepter2,560g (980g to combine)Ability Power70Magic Resist45Aura - Despair: Reduces the Magic Resist of nearby enemies by 20Recipe

Trade with Null Sphere before she marks you, then back out so she cannot consume Mark of the Assassin for free. Commit after Twilight Shroud is placed poorly or expires; if she still has Shroud, save Riftwalk to leave its edge rather than chasing into it.

Later Kassadin has better map mobility and can choose side-lane fights, but Akali can still win if she gets repeated ult resets in a messy skirmish. In teamfights, silence her before she enters Shroud or peel away once she drops it.

• •Do not stand in Twilight Shroud waiting for Force Pulse charges; leave and make her re-engage.
• •Silencing Akali before she consumes Mark cuts a large part of her burst.
• •Riftwalk over terrain after her first Shadow Dance so she has to spend another charge just to follow.

BuyBanshee's Veil2,750g (875g to combine)Health450Magic Resist55Intangibility: Grants a Spell Shield that blocks the next enemy ability. This Shield refreshes after no damage is taken from enemy champions for 25 seconds.Shadow Mending: Grants 9 Health Regen per 5 for up to 10 seconds after taking damage from an enemy champion or when the Spell Shield breaks.RecipeAbyssal Scepter2,560g (980g to combine)Ability Power70Magic Resist45Aura - Despair: Reduces the Magic Resist of nearby enemies by 20RecipeGuardian Angel2,750g (1,310g to combine)Armor50Magic Resist40Guardian's Intervention: Upon taking lethal damage, restores 30% of maximum Health and Mana after 4 seconds of stasis (5 minute cooldown).Recipe

Stay outside melee range and poke with Null Sphere until he uses Headbutt or Pulverize for space. If Unbreakable Will is active, stop spending burst and use Riftwalk only to reposition; re-enter after the damage reduction ends.

Later Alistar is not a side-lane duelist against Kassadin, but he is much more useful at starting and peeling grouped fights. Kassadin should ignore him unless he is blocking access to carries, then wait out Unbreakable Will and jump past him.

• •Do not Riftwalk into point-blank Pulverize unless you are finishing him.
• •Headbutt can ruin your chase by knocking you away from the real target.
• •Unbreakable Will removes your silence's follow-up value, so do not full combo into it.

Fight at the edge of Bandage Toss range and sidestep before using Riftwalk aggressively. If he misses Bandage Toss, silence and burst him, then leave before Despair and Tantrum grind the trade into his favor.

Later Kassadin wins isolated side-lane control if Amumu cannot start with Bandage Toss, but Amumu's teamfight engage is far more reliable. In grouped fights, hold Riftwalk until Curse is used or enter from a flank outside its first cast radius.

• •Never stack Riftwalk mana costs while standing in Despair.
• •A missed Bandage Toss is your clearest all-in window.
• •If he still has Curse, keep one Riftwalk for after the stun ends.

BuyBanshee's Veil2,750g (875g to combine)Health450Magic Resist55Intangibility: Grants a Spell Shield that blocks the next enemy ability. This Shield refreshes after no damage is taken from enemy champions for 25 seconds.Shadow Mending: Grants 9 Health Regen per 5 for up to 10 seconds after taking damage from an enemy champion or when the Spell Shield breaks.RecipeMercury's Treads1,200g (475g to combine)Magic Resist25Enhanced Movement: 45 Move SpeedTenacity: Reduces the duration of Stuns, Slows, Taunts, Fears, Silences, Blinds, and Immobilizes by 35%.RecipeSpirit Visage2,750g (500g to combine)Health400Magic Resist55Health Regen4 / 5sCooldown Reduction20%Lifeforce: Increases self-healing, Health Regen, Lifesteal, and Spell Vamp effects by 20%.Recipe

Stay off the direct line of Flash Frost and pressure with Null Sphere when she uses Q on the wave. Commit only after Flash Frost is down and keep Riftwalk available to cross Crystallize; if Rebirth is ready, do not spend every cooldown just to create the egg unless you can finish it safely.

Later Anivia controls grouped terrain and waveclear better, while Kassadin can threaten side lanes if he avoids being walled into Glacial Storm. In teamfights, attack from angles that force her to choose between stunning you or controlling your front line.

• •Riftwalk can cross Crystallize, so do not panic-cast it before the wall appears.
• •Silencing Anivia before Glacial Storm limits her ability to turn the ground into a no-go zone.
• •Track Rebirth; killing bird form without cooldowns left often loses the duel.

BuyBanshee's Veil2,750g (875g to combine)Health450Magic Resist55Intangibility: Grants a Spell Shield that blocks the next enemy ability. This Shield refreshes after no damage is taken from enemy champions for 25 seconds.Shadow Mending: Grants 9 Health Regen per 5 for up to 10 seconds after taking damage from an enemy champion or when the Spell Shield breaks.RecipeMercury's Treads1,200g (475g to combine)Magic Resist25Enhanced Movement: 45 Move SpeedTenacity: Reduces the duration of Stuns, Slows, Taunts, Fears, Silences, Blinds, and Immobilizes by 35%.RecipeAbyssal Scepter2,560g (980g to combine)Ability Power70Magic Resist45Aura - Despair: Reduces the Magic Resist of nearby enemies by 20Recipe

Watch her stun counter and refuse the duel when Pyromania is ready. Poke with Null Sphere to break her setup, then commit only after she spends stun on a minion, shield setup, or another target; Riftwalk out immediately after your burst because Tibbers keeps dealing damage.

Later Kassadin can outmaneuver Annie in side lanes once he has enough cooldowns and mana, but Annie remains deadly in grouped flash-stun fights. Enter fights late, after Tibbers or the stun charge is used, and do not be the first champion in her range.

• •Count Pyromania stacks before every Riftwalk forward.
• •Null Sphere silence is strongest before she reaches four stacks, not after Tibbers is already cast.
• •Do not fight inside Tibbers damage after your combo lands.

BuyBanshee's Veil2,750g (875g to combine)Health450Magic Resist55Intangibility: Grants a Spell Shield that blocks the next enemy ability. This Shield refreshes after no damage is taken from enemy champions for 25 seconds.Shadow Mending: Grants 9 Health Regen per 5 for up to 10 seconds after taking damage from an enemy champion or when the Spell Shield breaks.RecipeMercury's Treads1,200g (475g to combine)Magic Resist25Enhanced Movement: 45 Move SpeedTenacity: Reduces the duration of Stuns, Slows, Taunts, Fears, Silences, Blinds, and Immobilizes by 35%.RecipeAbyssal Scepter2,560g (980g to combine)Ability Power70Magic Resist45Aura - Despair: Reduces the Magic Resist of nearby enemies by 20Recipe

Approach from fog or over terrain so she has less time to line up Enchanted Crystal Arrow. If arrow is down or dodged, Riftwalk onto her, silence immediately, and keep enough mana for a second jump when Frost Shot slows you.

Later Kassadin beats Ashe in side lane unless he eats a long-range arrow under bad conditions, while Ashe brings more reliable teamfight initiation. In grouped fights, do not front-to-back into Volley and Frost Shot; flank onto her after arrow is fired.

• •Riftwalk after Volley, not before, so she cannot slow you for free while you approach.
• •A point-blank arrow is still enough to lose the duel if you spent your escape jump.
• •Use terrain jumps to deny her long chase pattern with Frost Shot.

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Keep minions or terrain between you and Rocket Grab, then punish when he misses it. If he holds hook, poke with Null Sphere and use Riftwalk sideways rather than straight at him; once Power Fist is down, he has little threat left.

Later Blitzcrank still matters more as a pick support than a side-lane opponent, and Kassadin should not waste time dueling him unless he is isolated. In teamfights, wait for Rocket Grab to miss or hit someone else, then jump past him to the carries.

• •Do not Riftwalk in a straight line from max hook range.
• •Mana Barrier can make the last hit misleading, so keep one cooldown for after it appears.
• •Static Field's silence can interrupt your escape if you dive too deep.

BuyMercury's Treads1,200g (475g to combine)Magic Resist25Enhanced Movement: 45 Move SpeedTenacity: Reduces the duration of Stuns, Slows, Taunts, Fears, Silences, Blinds, and Immobilizes by 35%.RecipeBanshee's Veil2,750g (875g to combine)Health450Magic Resist55Intangibility: Grants a Spell Shield that blocks the next enemy ability. This Shield refreshes after no damage is taken from enemy champions for 25 seconds.Shadow Mending: Grants 9 Health Regen per 5 for up to 10 seconds after taking damage from an enemy champion or when the Spell Shield breaks.Recipe

Do not Riftwalk in after being tagged by Conflagration or Pillar of Flame because Sear becomes the fight-ending spell. Bait Sear first, then jump in with Null Sphere and Force Pulse; leave before Pyroclasm gets repeated bounces in a minion wave or tight space.

Later Kassadin wins isolated catches if Brand misses Sear, while Brand's grouped area damage is much more punishing. Flank him from outside the minion wave so Pyroclasm cannot bounce efficiently between nearby targets.

• •Being affected by Blaze changes Sear from poke into a stun threat.
• •Avoid dueling Brand in a packed minion wave after level 6.
• •Null Sphere before Pyroclasm can prevent the instant return combo.

BuyBanshee's Veil2,750g (875g to combine)Health450Magic Resist55Intangibility: Grants a Spell Shield that blocks the next enemy ability. This Shield refreshes after no damage is taken from enemy champions for 25 seconds.Shadow Mending: Grants 9 Health Regen per 5 for up to 10 seconds after taking damage from an enemy champion or when the Spell Shield breaks.RecipeMercury's Treads1,200g (475g to combine)Magic Resist25Enhanced Movement: 45 Move SpeedTenacity: Reduces the duration of Stuns, Slows, Taunts, Fears, Silences, Blinds, and Immobilizes by 35%.RecipeAbyssal Scepter2,560g (980g to combine)Ability Power70Magic Resist45Aura - Despair: Reduces the Magic Resist of nearby enemies by 20Recipe

Play at the edge of Rupture range and only take short trades when Feral Scream cannot immediately answer. Do not all-in a high-health Cho'Gath unless Feast is unavailable; use Riftwalk to dodge Rupture, not just to start damage.

Later Cho'Gath usually wins the durable side-lane duel if he can force repeated trades, while Kassadin is better at bypassing him in teamfights. Your job late is to jump around Cho'Gath, not through his silence cone, and threaten softer targets.

• •If you Riftwalk into Feral Scream, you often cannot Riftwalk out before Feast range matters.
• •Rupture is easier to dodge if you move sideways before casting Riftwalk.
• •Do not measure the all-in by his visible health alone; Feast changes the execute line.

BuyBanshee's Veil2,750g (875g to combine)Health450Magic Resist55Intangibility: Grants a Spell Shield that blocks the next enemy ability. This Shield refreshes after no damage is taken from enemy champions for 25 seconds.Shadow Mending: Grants 9 Health Regen per 5 for up to 10 seconds after taking damage from an enemy champion or when the Spell Shield breaks.RecipeMercury's Treads1,200g (475g to combine)Magic Resist25Enhanced Movement: 45 Move SpeedTenacity: Reduces the duration of Stuns, Slows, Taunts, Fears, Silences, Blinds, and Immobilizes by 35%.RecipeSpirit Visage2,750g (500g to combine)Health400Magic Resist55Health Regen4 / 5sCooldown Reduction20%Lifeforce: Increases self-healing, Health Regen, Lifesteal, and Spell Vamp effects by 20%.Recipe

Pressure with Null Sphere and wait for Corki to use Valkyrie defensively or for wave control. Riftwalk onto him only when you can land silence before he creates distance; if he Valkyries, cut across the trail instead of walking through it.

Later Corki scales into strong grouped poke and sustained damage, while Kassadin has better flank and side-lane pick threat. In teamfights, avoid eating Missile Barrage on the way in and commit after Valkyrie is forced.

• •Do not chase down the full Valkyrie trail; jump across or disengage.
• •Silence before Gatling Gun ramps value and before Corki can cast Valkyrie.
• •His true-damage autos make pure magic durability less decisive than against mages.

BuyNinja Tabi1,000g (375g to combine)Armor25Ninja Footwork: Blocks 10% of the damage from Basic Attacks.Enhanced Movement: 45 Move SpeedRecipeZhonya's Hourglass3,260g (500g to combine)Ability Power120Armor50Active: 90s Champion becomes Invulnerable and Untargetable for 2.5 seconds, but is unable to move, attack, cast spells, or use items during this time.RecipeGuardian Angel2,750g (1,310g to combine)Armor50Magic Resist40Guardian's Intervention: Upon taking lethal damage, restores 30% of maximum Health and Mana after 4 seconds of stasis (5 minute cooldown).Recipe

Use Null Sphere and Force Pulse for short trades, then disengage before Burning Agony and cleavers stack too much health loss. Do not commit during Sadism unless he is already low enough to finish through the healing; bait the ultimate, leave, and re-enter after it fades.

Later Mundo wins the long side-lane duel unless Kassadin is far ahead or has anti-heal support from his build or team. In teamfights, Kassadin should ignore Mundo when possible and dive the back line while teammates handle his regeneration.

• •Riftwalk sideways after Infected Cleaver; a single slow can force multiple expensive jumps.
• •Silence does not stop Sadism once it is already active.
• •Morellonomicon matters only if your magic damage can apply it while he is below the threshold.

BuyMorellonomicon2,200g (435g to combine)Ability Power75Mana Regen12 / 5sCooldown Reduction20%Morello's Hatred: Dealing magic damage to enemy champions below 40% Health inflicts Grievous Wounds for 4 seconds. (Grievous Wounds reduces incoming healing and regeneration effects by 50%.)RecipeRylai's Crystal Scepter2,900g (605g to combine)Ability Power80Health500Frost Crystal: Dealing spell damage Slows the target's Move Speed by 35% for 1.5 seconds (15% for multi-target and damage-over-time spells).RecipeBoots of Swiftness1,000g (675g to combine)Enhanced Movement: 60 Move SpeedSlow Resist: Movement slowing effects are reduced by 25%.Recipe

Respect fog and keep enough health that her opener cannot force you to panic Riftwalk. Once she appears, silence immediately, then jump out of Agony's Embrace before returning with Force Pulse if she continues chasing.

Later Kassadin is stronger in side-lane duels and can punish Evelynn once she shows, but Evelynn creates more uncertainty before fights start. Buy vision when her picks matter and avoid spending Riftwalk stacks before you know where she is.

• •Do not start a low-health recall in places where Shadow Walk can reach you.
• •Null Sphere right after she reveals delays her full spell chain.
• •Riftwalk out of Agony's Embrace first, then decide whether to chase.

BuySightstone800g (325g to combine)Health180Ward Refresh: Holds 3 charges and refills upon visiting the shop.Active: Consumes a charge to place an invisible ward that reveals the surrounding area for 3 minutes (maximum 2 wards placed from this item at once).RecipeBanshee's Veil2,750g (875g to combine)Health450Magic Resist55Intangibility: Grants a Spell Shield that blocks the next enemy ability. This Shield refreshes after no damage is taken from enemy champions for 25 seconds.Shadow Mending: Grants 9 Health Regen per 5 for up to 10 seconds after taking damage from an enemy champion or when the Spell Shield breaks.RecipeTwin Shadows1,900g (735g to combine)Ability Power40Magic Resist40Move Speed6%Active: 120s Summons up to 2 invulnerable ghosts that seek out the two nearest enemy champions for 6 seconds. If a ghost reaches its target, it reveals the target and Slows their Move Speed by 40% for 2.5 seconds (120 second cooldown).Recipe

Do not open with maximum-cost Riftwalk unless Arcane Shift is already down. Walk or threaten into range, use Null Sphere to force his escape, then Riftwalk after him and burst during the cooldown.

Later Kassadin has better side-lane kill pressure if he can flank from fog, while Ezreal contributes safer poke in grouped fights. In teamfights, approach from angles that make Arcane Shift defensive rather than letting him kite backward through his team.

• •Minions can block Mystic Shot while you wait for Arcane Shift.
• •Save one Riftwalk specifically for after Arcane Shift.
• •Silencing Ezreal before he shifts is often better than spending damage after he is already out.

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Stay outside Terrify range until you can enter with silence first. If Drain starts, use Null Sphere to stop it; never spend silence on poke and then fight while Drain and Terrify are both available.

Later Fiddlesticks is more dangerous in teamfights because Crowstorm can decide the fight before Kassadin reaches a carry. Kassadin should flank with vision control, interrupt Drain when dueling, and avoid jumping into a hidden Crowstorm channel.

• •Null Sphere cancels Drain, so hold it when the duel starts.
• •Mercury's Treads sharply reduce the fear window that gets you killed.
• •Do not chase into fog when Crowstorm is unaccounted for.

BuyMercury's Treads1,200g (475g to combine)Magic Resist25Enhanced Movement: 45 Move SpeedTenacity: Reduces the duration of Stuns, Slows, Taunts, Fears, Silences, Blinds, and Immobilizes by 35%.RecipeBanshee's Veil2,750g (875g to combine)Health450Magic Resist55Intangibility: Grants a Spell Shield that blocks the next enemy ability. This Shield refreshes after no damage is taken from enemy champions for 25 seconds.Shadow Mending: Grants 9 Health Regen per 5 for up to 10 seconds after taking damage from an enemy champion or when the Spell Shield breaks.RecipeQuicksilver Sash1,550g (830g to combine)Magic Resist45Active: 90s Removes all debuffs.Recipe

Take short trades after Parrrley is used on a minion or at max range, then back out before his autos and passive stack up. Try to force Remove Scurvy with partial damage before committing the full Riftwalk chain; if Cannon Barrage is dropped on you, jump out of the zone instead of fighting inside it.

Later Gangplank is a stronger sustained physical duelist if Kassadin cannot burst him, while Kassadin is better at reaching back-line targets in chaotic fights. In teamfights, do not spend your whole combo into Remove Scurvy unless it opens a carry kill afterward.

• •Remove Scurvy can undo the timing advantage from Null Sphere silence.
• •Do not stand in Cannon Barrage waiting for another Riftwalk stack.
• •Armor is more valuable here than magic resist because Parrrley and autos carry the duel.

BuyNinja Tabi1,000g (375g to combine)Armor25Ninja Footwork: Blocks 10% of the damage from Basic Attacks.Enhanced Movement: 45 Move SpeedRecipeSeeker's Armguard1,160g (125g to combine)Ability Power20Armor30Seeker's Insight: Killing a unit grants 0.5 bonus Armor and Ability Power. This bonus stacks up to 30 times.RecipeZhonya's Hourglass3,260g (500g to combine)Ability Power120Armor50Active: 90s Champion becomes Invulnerable and Untargetable for 2.5 seconds, but is unable to move, attack, cast spells, or use items during this time.Recipe

Hold just outside Decisive Strike range and tag him with Null Sphere when he walks up so Perseverance never gets free value. Do not Riftwalk into melee unless Decisive Strike is down and you have enough mana to hop back out after one rotation. If he saves Demacian Justice, disengage earlier than usual instead of trying to win at low health.

Later Garen is still the sturdier side-lane duelist if he can force extended melee, while Kassadin is much better at choosing backline fights. Split only with deep vision and use Riftwalk to avoid the silence-execute all-in, then look to flank his carries instead of killing him first.

• •A single Null Sphere tap resets Perseverance, so deny his regen before leaving lane.
• •Riftwalk after Decisive Strike lands is too late if Demacian Justice is ready.
• •Do not stack Riftwalk mana cost just to burn through Courage; wait it out.
• •If he uses Decisive Strike to farm or cleanse a slow, that is your real trade window.

BuyZhonya's Hourglass3,260g (500g to combine)Ability Power120Armor50Active: 90s Champion becomes Invulnerable and Untargetable for 2.5 seconds, but is unable to move, attack, cast spells, or use items during this time.RecipeGlacial Shroud1,350g (230g to combine)Armor45Mana300Coolheaded: 10% Cooldown ReductionRecipeChain Vest720gArmor40Basic item — no components.

Stand off-angle from minions so Barrel Roll cannot both push and harass you, then trade after Gragas spends Body Slam. Use Null Sphere before he finishes a full combo, not after the cask has already displaced you. Commit only when Explosive Cask is down or when you can Riftwalk behind him to avoid being knocked back into his barrel.

Later Kassadin outscales the isolated duel if he avoids displacement, but Gragas brings stronger instant disengage around grouped fights. In side lane, keep the wave moving and punish missed Body Slam; in teamfights, wait for Explosive Cask before jumping deep.

• •Void Stone makes his poke less decisive, so do not panic-Riftwalk from every Barrel Roll.
• •Body Slam can meet your Riftwalk landing if you jump predictably forward.
• •Silencing him during Drunken Rage or before Explosive Cask can break his burst rhythm.
• •Do not chase in a straight line through Barrel Roll slow.

BuyBanshee's Veil2,750g (875g to combine)Health450Magic Resist55Intangibility: Grants a Spell Shield that blocks the next enemy ability. This Shield refreshes after no damage is taken from enemy champions for 25 seconds.Shadow Mending: Grants 9 Health Regen per 5 for up to 10 seconds after taking damage from an enemy champion or when the Spell Shield breaks.RecipeSpirit Visage2,750g (500g to combine)Health400Magic Resist55Health Regen4 / 5sCooldown Reduction20%Lifeforce: Increases self-healing, Health Regen, Lifesteal, and Spell Vamp effects by 20%.RecipeTwin Shadows1,900g (735g to combine)Ability Power40Magic Resist40Move Speed6%Active: 120s Summons up to 2 invulnerable ghosts that seek out the two nearest enemy champions for 6 seconds. If a ghost reaches its target, it reveals the target and Slows their Move Speed by 40% for 2.5 seconds (120 second cooldown).Recipe

Do not duel him in a prepared turret nest; thin turrets with spells from the edge and force him to move first. Riftwalk diagonally rather than straight at him so grenade is harder to center. Once grenade is down, silence him and burst before he can kite back through rockets and turrets.

Later Kassadin wins open-map picks, while Heimerdinger is better at defending fixed ground and forcing you to enter bad zones. In side lane, rotate before his turrets anchor the wave; in teamfights, flank from outside the turret line and wait for grenade.

• •A turret nest changes the duel more than Heimerdinger's champion stats do.
• •Riftwalking onto him while grenade is available gives him the easiest stun of the matchup.
• •Hextech Micro-Rockets favor him when you are the closest target with no minions nearby.
• •Force him to leave his turrets before treating the fight as a real 1v1.

BuyBanshee's Veil2,750g (875g to combine)Health450Magic Resist55Intangibility: Grants a Spell Shield that blocks the next enemy ability. This Shield refreshes after no damage is taken from enemy champions for 25 seconds.Shadow Mending: Grants 9 Health Regen per 5 for up to 10 seconds after taking damage from an enemy champion or when the Spell Shield breaks.RecipeSpirit Visage2,750g (500g to combine)Health400Magic Resist55Health Regen4 / 5sCooldown Reduction20%Lifeforce: Increases self-healing, Health Regen, Lifesteal, and Spell Vamp effects by 20%.RecipeAbyssal Scepter2,560g (980g to combine)Ability Power70Magic Resist45Aura - Despair: Reduces the Magic Resist of nearby enemies by 20Recipe

Use short Riftwalks to make her spend Howling Gale or Monsoon defensively, then back off until you can re-enter. Silence her before the second part of the trade so she cannot chain shield, slow, and disengage cleanly. Do not chase forever through Zephyr movement; take the cooldown win and re-engage from fog or over terrain.

Later Kassadin dominates the side-lane duel, but Janna's value is stopping your assassination in teamfights. In grouped fights, bait Monsoon with a partial commit or flank from an angle where the knockback does not push you away from every target.

• •Do not spend your full burst into Eye Of The Storm if Monsoon is still up.
• •Null Sphere before her disengage sequence can deny the clean shield-and-run pattern.
• •Howling Gale is easiest for her when you Riftwalk in a straight line from vision.
• •She is a cooldown puzzle, not a damage race.

Keep enough range that Jarvan must show Demacian Standard before Dragon Strike can connect, then Riftwalk sideways rather than backward. If he uses Cataclysm first, leave the arena immediately and punish after his gap closers are gone. Never stand and trade through Martial Cadence plus armor shred unless you already forced the knockup.

Later Jarvan remains better at starting teamfights and locking down teammates, while Kassadin is better at cleaning the backline after Jarvan commits. In side lane you can escape Cataclysm, but not repeated physical all-ins if you waste Riftwalk mana before the fight starts.

• •Cataclysm walls do not trap Riftwalk, but the damage and follow-up still matter.
• •His first basic attack with Martial Cadence is a large part of the trade; avoid giving it for free.
• •Silence after he flags but before follow-up abilities can buy a narrow disengage window.
• •Armor matters more here than magic resist.

BuyZhonya's Hourglass3,260g (500g to combine)Ability Power120Armor50Active: 90s Champion becomes Invulnerable and Untargetable for 2.5 seconds, but is unable to move, attack, cast spells, or use items during this time.RecipeGlacial Shroud1,350g (230g to combine)Armor45Mana300Coolheaded: 10% Cooldown ReductionRecipeChain Vest720gArmor40Basic item — no components.

Do not start with Riftwalk unless Leap Strike or Counter Strike is already committed. Poke with Null Sphere, wait for Counter Strike to expire, then take one burst trade and disengage before Grandmaster's Might attack speed stacks. If he holds Leap Strike, keep a second Riftwalk available rather than spending mana on repeated damage stacks.

Later Jax becomes the stronger side-lane duelist and tower threat, especially if he gets onto you with cooldowns ready. Kassadin should answer waves briefly, avoid isolated all-ins, and use teamfight mobility to kill targets Jax cannot peel for.

• •Riftwalk damage is area damage, so Counter Strike blunts more of your combo than it first appears.
• •Do not auto with Nether Blade into Counter Strike unless you are only baiting it.
• •If Jax Q follows your first blink, your second blink is the real escape.
• •His duel improves the longer both champions stand still.

BuyZhonya's Hourglass3,260g (500g to combine)Ability Power120Armor50Active: 90s Champion becomes Invulnerable and Untargetable for 2.5 seconds, but is unable to move, attack, cast spells, or use items during this time.RecipeFrozen Heart2,900g (550g to combine)Armor95Mana400Cooldown Reduction20%Aura - Frostbite: Reduces the Attack Speed of nearby enemies by 20%.RecipeRanduin's Omen3,125g (1,000g to combine)Health500Armor70Cold Steel: When hit by Basic Attacks, reduces the attacker's Attack Speed by 15% and Move Speed by 10% for 1 seconds.Active: 60s Slows nearby enemy units by 35% for seconds.Recipe

Keep moving between Lay Waste casts and Riftwalk only when you can land outside predictable Q chains. Silence him as you enter so he cannot immediately Wall of Pain or stack damage during Defile. After the kill, leave Death Defied range instead of standing in Defile for extra autos.

Later Kassadin wins the side-lane duel and can pick Karthus before channels matter, but Requiem still affects fights globally. Track his passive after takedowns and save enough health or stasis to survive the post-death spells.

• •Null Sphere can stop Requiem if you are close enough during the channel.
• •Void Stone is excellent here, but it does not make Death Defied harmless.
• •Riftwalk diagonally through Wall of Pain instead of walking along it slowed.
• •Do not finish him under low health unless you can immediately leave Defile.

BuyZhonya's Hourglass3,260g (500g to combine)Ability Power120Armor50Active: 90s Champion becomes Invulnerable and Untargetable for 2.5 seconds, but is unable to move, attack, cast spells, or use items during this time.RecipeBanshee's Veil2,750g (875g to combine)Health450Magic Resist55Intangibility: Grants a Spell Shield that blocks the next enemy ability. This Shield refreshes after no damage is taken from enemy champions for 25 seconds.Shadow Mending: Grants 9 Health Regen per 5 for up to 10 seconds after taking damage from an enemy champion or when the Spell Shield breaks.RecipeAbyssal Scepter2,560g (980g to combine)Ability Power70Magic Resist45Aura - Despair: Reduces the Magic Resist of nearby enemies by 20Recipe

Hold Null Sphere for Death Lotus unless you can kill her during the silence. Trade after she uses Shunpo aggressively, then Riftwalk to where she cannot instantly follow with another target. Do not fight beside low-health units or teammates where Voracity turns a duel into a reset chain.

Later Kassadin remains favored in the isolated duel, while both champions look for backline cleanup in teamfights. Your job is often to save silence for her ultimate, then use Riftwalk to clean up once her reset threat is gone.

• •Null Sphere is the clean answer to Death Lotus; do not waste it on poke when she can all-in.
• •If she Shunpos to you first, she has fewer ways to follow your exit.
• •Avoid dueling near a dying minion wave if Bouncing Blade bounce setup gives her free damage.
• •Her reset passive is mostly irrelevant in a true 1v1 until other champions enter.

BuyBanshee's Veil2,750g (875g to combine)Health450Magic Resist55Intangibility: Grants a Spell Shield that blocks the next enemy ability. This Shield refreshes after no damage is taken from enemy champions for 25 seconds.Shadow Mending: Grants 9 Health Regen per 5 for up to 10 seconds after taking damage from an enemy champion or when the Spell Shield breaks.RecipeAbyssal Scepter2,560g (980g to combine)Ability Power70Magic Resist45Aura - Despair: Reduces the Magic Resist of nearby enemies by 20Recipe

Stay outside Righteous Fury attack range until you are ready to force a cooldown, then use a light trade to bait Intervention rather than committing everything. Silence her before Reckoning or Divine Blessing if you can, then disengage until the invulnerability ends. Re-enter only if you have enough mana for both damage and escape because Kayle wins long ranged chase trades.

Later Kayle is the better straight side-lane duelist when Intervention is available, while Kassadin is better at choosing targets she cannot ult in time. In teamfights, force Intervention on someone else or wait it out before diving her carry line.

• •Do not full-combo into Intervention; make her cast it on a partial engage.
• •Righteous Fury turns the matchup from melee into ranged DPS, so short trades matter.
• •Reckoning's slow can force extra Riftwalk mana if you start too close.
• •If Intervention is down, the duel swings sharply toward Kassadin's burst.

BuyBanshee's Veil2,750g (875g to combine)Health450Magic Resist55Intangibility: Grants a Spell Shield that blocks the next enemy ability. This Shield refreshes after no damage is taken from enemy champions for 25 seconds.Shadow Mending: Grants 9 Health Regen per 5 for up to 10 seconds after taking damage from an enemy champion or when the Spell Shield breaks.RecipeSpirit Visage2,750g (500g to combine)Health400Magic Resist55Health Regen4 / 5sCooldown Reduction20%Lifeforce: Increases self-healing, Health Regen, Lifesteal, and Spell Vamp effects by 20%.RecipeZhonya's Hourglass3,260g (500g to combine)Ability Power120Armor50Active: 90s Champion becomes Invulnerable and Untargetable for 2.5 seconds, but is unable to move, attack, cast spells, or use items during this time.Recipe

Avoid taking free marks from Thundering Shuriken or Electrical Surge before you jump. Riftwalk in after Lightning Rush is used or when Kennen has no mark setup, then silence and leave before the third mark lands. If he casts Slicing Maelstrom, blink out immediately and re-enter after the storm ends.

Later Kassadin is stronger at side-lane picks if he controls mark stacks, while Kennen can decide grouped fights with a multi-man ultimate. In teamfights, do not be the first champion into Slicing Maelstrom; flank after it starts or after Zhonya-like stasis effects are forced.

• •Count your Mark of the Storm stacks before committing; two stacks means no greed.
• •Lightning Rush can dodge your follow-up path and set up the ultimate, so wait it out when possible.
• •Null Sphere silence is strongest before he can chain Electrical Surge into stun.
• •Void Stone helps, but crowd control is the real danger.

BuyBanshee's Veil2,750g (875g to combine)Health450Magic Resist55Intangibility: Grants a Spell Shield that blocks the next enemy ability. This Shield refreshes after no damage is taken from enemy champions for 25 seconds.Shadow Mending: Grants 9 Health Regen per 5 for up to 10 seconds after taking damage from an enemy champion or when the Spell Shield breaks.RecipeMercury's Treads1,200g (475g to combine)Magic Resist25Enhanced Movement: 45 Move SpeedTenacity: Reduces the duration of Stuns, Slows, Taunts, Fears, Silences, Blinds, and Immobilizes by 35%.RecipeZhonya's Hourglass3,260g (500g to combine)Ability Power120Armor50Active: 90s Champion becomes Invulnerable and Untargetable for 2.5 seconds, but is unable to move, attack, cast spells, or use items during this time.Recipe