League Classic matchup
Ahri vs Kassadin
The lane, from both sides
Ahri’s side
- Weak against Kassadinfrom the AP Assassin build (Mid)
Kassadin is the only champion that out-mobiles Ahri, beating her once he can
RiftwalkRiftwalkRActive: Kassadin blinks toward the target location, dealing magic damage to all nearby enemies upon arrival. He then gains a stack of Riftwalk for 8 seconds, refreshing on subsequent casts and stacking up to 10 times. Riftwalk: For each stack, Riftwalk deals 60 bonus magic damage at an increased 100 mana cost. in and out of range.
Kassadin’s side
- Strong against Ahrifrom the AP Assassin build (Mid)
Kassadin is the only champion that out-mobiles Ahri in mid lane, beating her mobility mirror once
RiftwalkRiftwalkRActive: Kassadin blinks toward the target location, dealing magic damage to all nearby enemies upon arrival. He then gains a stack of Riftwalk for 8 seconds, refreshing on subsequent casts and stacking up to 10 times. Riftwalk: For each stack, Riftwalk deals 60 bonus magic damage at an increased 100 mana cost. is online.
The lane in detail
AhriKassadinKassadin only has to survive the early lane
Spirit Rush is one 10 second window every 120. Riftwalk is a button every 7.
A second RiftwalkRiftwalkRActive: Kassadin blinks toward the target location, dealing magic damage to all nearby enemies upon arrival. He then gains a stack of Riftwalk for 8 seconds, refreshing on subsequent casts and stacking up to 10 times. Riftwalk: For each stack, Riftwalk deals 60 bonus magic damage at an increased 100 mana cost. inside 8 seconds costs 200 mana, a third 300. Ahri's recasts are already paid for inside the first 100, and there are only two of them.
Who has the lane, level by level
1–511–18- 1–5Ahri: A 550 attack range against 125
- 6–10Even: Blink stacks consume the early mana pool
- 11–18Kassadin: Riftwalk drops to a six-second cooldown
- 3Nether BladeLevel 3: Nether Blade attacks restore 24 mana against champions; its active costs 25
- 6Spirit RushLevel 6: Three dashes within ten seconds; the first rank has a 120-second base cooldown
- 6RiftwalkLevel 6: 100 mana as well, and it returns in 7 seconds
- 9Orb of DeceptionLevel 9: 280 across two passes now, and 90 mana every time she wants them
- 11RiftwalkLevel 11: 6 seconds between blinks now, and 70 damage before any stack
The numbers, head to head
AhriKassadinWhere the lane starts, level 1
511 · 21.2He is 71 health and 2.7 armor ahead, and she is the one who can use 550.
The escape, both at rank 1
RiftwalkRiftwalkRActive: Kassadin blinks toward the target location, dealing magic damage to all nearby enemies upon arrival. He then gains a stack of Riftwalk for 8 seconds, refreshing on subsequent casts and stacking up to 10 times. Riftwalk: For each stack, Riftwalk deals 60 bonus magic damage at an increased 100 mana cost. returns much sooner, but recasting before its stacks expire raises the mana cost.
Casting it a second time
Every stack adds 60 damage and another 100 to the bill.
One second each, at rank 1
He clicks a target. She throws a skillshot the wave is allowed to eat.
Nine levels in, both at rank 5
Two passes she has to aim, against one click that also blanks 
Spirit RushSpirit RushRActive: Ahri dashes to the target location and then fires 3 essence bolts at nearby enemies, prioritizing champions, dealing magic damage. Spirit Rush can be recast up to 2 more times within 10 seconds. Recast: Ahri mimics the first cast's effects..
Reach, from above
Ahri
Kassadin
Rings are ranges in game units, both radars on one scale. Abilities wear their icon, the basic attack wears the champion’s own face; the dashed ring wearing the opponent’s face is their longest reach.
The item race
Ahri
3100gRod of Ages is his first big buy, and a percentage of maximum health scales with it instead of against it.
1100gKassadin adds 1.25 magic resist every level, so the flat 15 is the part of her poke that keeps up.
2560gEvery ability he casts is magic damage, and 45 magic resist is the stat that shortens all four at once.
2750gThe Spell Shield takes Null Sphere, then refreshes after 25 seconds without champion damage.
Kassadin
1200gRiftwalk costs 100 a cast before any stack, and Contemplation refills 200 mana on every level up.
2800gThe mana half is what pays for a second blink inside the same 8 seconds.
- 1100g
Nether Blade only pays at 125 units, and boots are the way in that does not cost 100 mana.
2700gEvery blink after the first costs another 100, and Insight turns the bar he needs anyway into ability power.
Play it as Ahri
- 1Take the fight before six: his longest reach is
Null SphereNull SphereQActive: Kassadin fires an orb of void energy at the target enemy that deals magic damage and silences them. at 650, and she throws from 975. - 2Save
CharmCharmEActive: Ahri blows forth a kiss in the target direction that deals magic damage to the first enemy hit, charming and slowing them by 65% for a duration. Charmed enemies take 20% increased damage from Ahri for 6 seconds. for his RiftwalkRiftwalkRActive: Kassadin blinks toward the target location, dealing magic damage to all nearby enemies upon arrival. He then gains a stack of Riftwalk for 8 seconds, refreshing on subsequent casts and stacking up to 10 times. Riftwalk: For each stack, Riftwalk deals 60 bonus magic damage at an increased 100 mana cost. landing. While Null SphereNull SphereQActive: Kassadin fires an orb of void energy at the target enemy that deals magic damage and silences them. silences you, neither CharmCharmEActive: Ahri blows forth a kiss in the target direction that deals magic damage to the first enemy hit, charming and slowing them by 65% for a duration. Charmed enemies take 20% increased damage from Ahri for 6 seconds. nor Spirit RushSpirit RushRActive: Ahri dashes to the target location and then fires 3 essence bolts at nearby enemies, prioritizing champions, dealing magic damage. Spirit Rush can be recast up to 2 more times within 10 seconds. Recast: Ahri mimics the first cast's effects. can answer. - 3Consider Banshee's Veil when Null SphereNull SphereQActive: Kassadin fires an orb of void energy at the target enemy that deals magic damage and silences them. starts his combo; preserve the shield against his other spells.
Play it as Kassadin
- 1Recover mana with basic attacks when Ahri spends CharmCharmEActive: Ahri blows forth a kiss in the target direction that deals magic damage to the first enemy hit, charming and slowing them by 65% for a duration. Charmed enemies take 20% increased damage from Ahri for 6 seconds.;
Nether BladeNether BladeWPassive: Kassadin's basic attacks restore mana each hit. If the target is an enemy champion, the mana restored is tripled. Active: Kassadin empowers his basic attacks on-hit for 5 seconds to deal bonus magic damage. restores three times as much against champions. - 2Charge
Force PulseForce PulseEPassive: Each time Kassadin or a nearby champion casts an ability, Force Pulse gains a charge, up to 6 charges. At 6 charges, Kassadin can activate Force Pulse. Active: Kassadin consumes all charges and emits a pulse of void energy in a cone in the target direction that deals magic damage to enemies hit and slows them for 3 seconds. off her casts as well. Any nearby champion casting an ability adds one of the six. - 3Let the 8 seconds lapse before blinking again, because the stack window resets the price back to 100.
The catch
Void StoneVoid StonePassiveInnate: Kassadin gains bonus attack speed equal to 15% of magic damage taken. converts 15% of magic damage received into bonus attack speed. The outbound orb triggers it; Ahri's true-damage return does not. That is no damage-reduction effect. Kassadin still needs to reach her with basic attacks before Nether BladeNether BladeWPassive: Kassadin's basic attacks restore mana each hit. If the target is an enemy champion, the mana restored is tripled. Active: Kassadin empowers his basic attacks on-hit for 5 seconds to deal bonus magic damage. can turn the faster attacks into mana.
The kits at a glance
Ahri
Full abilities- Essence Theft
- Orb of Deception
- Fox-fire
- Charm
- Spirit Rush
Kassadin
Full abilities- Void Stone
- Null Sphere
- Nether Blade
- Force Pulse
- Riftwalk
Base stats, side by side
| Stat | Ahri | Kassadin |
|---|---|---|
| Health | 440 (+80) | 511 (+78) |
| HP regen | 0.9 (+0.09) | 1.49 (+0.1) |
| Mana | 280 (+50) | 275 (+45) |
| Attack damage | 53 (+3) | 56.2 (+3.9) |
| Armor | 18.5 (+3.5) | 21.2 (+3.2) |
| Magic resist | 30 | 31.25 (+1.25) |
| Attack speed | 0.668 (+2) | 0.64 (+3.7) |
| Move speed | 330 | 340 |
| Attack range | 550 | 125 |
Level-1 values with per-level growth in parentheses, read from the Classic client and re-checked against it on every update.
More matchups
Annie
Brand
Gragas
Heimerdinger
Karthus
Kennen
Kog'Maw
Lee Sin
Lux
Morgana
Anivia
Corki
Evelynn
Katarina
KayleThe full kits, builds and every other matchup: Ahri · Kassadin