Is Cassiopea (In her current state) A good/viable pick?

Civil Dawn·Dec 15, 2014·6 votes·1,644 views

I main support, but I'm practicing and trying/learning new champs and builds for me to bring into the lane. I usually like range AP casters like etc etc or even ... I love playing mages, they are so fun! And I want to know if Cassiopea is a good idea for me to learn and take into Ranked. She's been tinkered with a lot recently, and I never see her in games, so I'm really in the dark as to whether she's good or not. By good I don't mean cancer-op like Zed. I mean viable. Like Orianna. And if she is a good pick, why don't I see her in normal OR ranked games?

If you recommend for me to try her, maybe post an item build that would make the most sense for her? Thanks in advance c:

(And yes I'm going to try people like Vel'koz and Xerath after I get the IP to purchase them)

30 Comments

5G8Nri0B54Dec 15, 20146 votes

This has literally nothing to do with my sentiments towards Cassiopeia atm, but...go for Orianna. She's probably one of the best AP mid atm and her new skin is bitchin.

As for Cass. What you see Cass as now...will HOPEFULLY...be a completely different Cass a patch or two later. But if you like Cass as she is, well there's nothing I can do to stop you, go right ahead.

SaevumDec 15, 20143 votes

Listen to Ginga.

Don't buy current Cassiopeia, there are more viable picks. Dont waste ip, for her or in buying the runes, not worth it.

There a better things/picks in the shop. Viable ones i mean.

Neo CyrusDec 16, 20141 votes

She's plenty "viable" now as she is. That patch made a massive difference. The people who have a beef with her now just don't like the style which is understandable. But Cass isn't an auto-loss anymore like she used to be.

Kowe The EwokDec 15, 20145 votes

Meh, you can do well with her. But her gameplay has become incredibly dull since Q, W and R are useless without your E.

Yea, you can do well and possibly even carry. But you'll have mroe fun if you choose another champion.

P.S: Soraka is possibly the most similiar champion to her when you're used to supports

No Life ReturnsDec 15, 20144 votes

she isnt a bad pick but the problem is you have to be really good at her or you will end up dealing 0 dmg in a teamfight.

Penguin EclipseDec 15, 20144 votes

Cass can do really well. And she can completely suck. Lately the later has been the most common from my experience.

Quite honestly if you don't know how to play her currently, I wouldn't try to learn until her rework is complete. As she is now, her kit is rather... wonky? Way too much power in her E and not enough distributed throughout the rest of her kit. Her W is practically worthless. She has severe mana issues that wall her into certain builds. She is also a very late-game champion at the moment. To the extent that the game is very likely to end or be close to it before her passive reaches 500 stacks.

Xerath is a lot of fun in my opinion. I would learn him before Cass. Orianna as well.

Civil DawnDec 15, 20141 votes

[{quoted}](name=Penguin Eclipse,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=HbYrRZrJ,comment-id=0003,timestamp=2014-12-15T16:12:49.772+0000) Cass can do really well. And she can completely suck. Lately the later has been the most common from my experience.

Quite honestly if you don't know how to play her currently, I wouldn't try to learn until her rework is complete. As she is now, her kit is rather... wonky? Way too much power in her E and not enough distributed throughout the rest of her kit. Her W is practically worthless. She has severe mana issues that wall her into certain builds. She is also a very late-game champion at the moment. To the extent that the game is very likely to end or be close to it before her passive reaches 500 stacks.

Xerath is a lot of fun in my opinion. I would learn him before Cass. Orianna as well.

Thank you for the advice :) I think I'm going to buy Orianna next since shes got a skin incoming so if I like her I can get a skin! I've played her before, I didn't suck, but I wasn't skillful enough yet to call her one of my mids. I think with some practice I can be good at her :) Do you have a particular guide you'd recommend?

Skia AsteriDec 15, 20142 votes

[{quoted}](name=Penguin Eclipse,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=HbYrRZrJ,comment-id=0003,timestamp=2014-12-15T16:12:49.772+0000) She is also a very late-game champion at the moment. To the extent that the game is very likely to end or be close to it before her passive reaches 500 stacks.

If you are not very close to 500 stacks by 30 minutes, you are doing something horribly wrong or you were afk.

This oppinion is based on reaching 450 stacks a ~30:00 yesterday while lagging out ever 3 minutes.

XonraDec 15, 20141 votes

[{quoted}](name=Skia Asteri,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=HbYrRZrJ,comment-id=00030001,timestamp=2014-12-15T16:56:56.550+0000) If you are not very close to 500 stacks by 30 minutes, you are doing something horribly wrong or you were afk.

This oppinion is based on reaching 450 stacks a ~30:00 yesterday while lagging out ever 3 minutes.

Playing her since the newest patch I am usually at my second tier of stacks no longer than 13 minutes, so getting to 500 is pretty easy.

When it is one on one in mid you can pretty easily harass them with your W at the VERY least just to get your stacks, not even including the extra stacks from your Q and the passive stacks you get. When the jungler starts showing up that is even more stacks, any fights? Even more. It is VERY easy to get stacks.

Unfortunately the stacks aren't what make or break her, but that is another discussion entirely. Getting stacks is pretty easy now.

ChortleDec 15, 20144 votes

She is sitting on a 55% win rate after 4.21, but she will probably continue to be tinkered with. Chances are the champion she is when you pick her up, will not be the champion you have in the next few patches.

She has been changing A LOT recently. As she currently stands, she is (imo) a fun champion that excels in duels and functions similarly to an ADC.

Pick her up and try her. Only real way you will be able to tell if you enjoy her.

Builds: Cassiopeia

Core item 3020 item 3027 item 3116 item 3157

Against AP Burst Against champs like Akali Fizz Leblanc rush item 3001

Against AD Burst Against champs like Zed Talon rush item 3157

Other Useful Items - item 3089 is nice, but her current passive allows you to benefit from less AP especially early so this item is more like a cherry on top if you can afford to sacrifice some survivability late.

- item 3135 if you are facing enemies that are stacking MR.

- item 3040 is also a great item on Cass since she can easily stack an early item 3070 , but I have been finding item 3027 to be more beneficial overall. Personal preference I would say.

-When facing a team that has the ability to burst you in 1-2 abilities or an extremely deadly cc ability, item 3102 works nicely for added survivability.

item 3259 , item 3257 , or item 3255 are great options on her. Furor enchantment is proc'd on Twin fang casts allowing your Q's and E's on champion hit to speed you up.

Civil DawnDec 15, 20143 votes

{quoted} She is sitting on a 55% win rate after 4.21, but she will probably continue to be tinkered with. Chances are the champion she is when you pick her up, will not be the champion you have in the next few patches.

She has been changing A LOT recently. As she currently stands, she is (imo) a fun champion that excels in duels and functions similarly to an ADC.

Pick her up and try her. Only real way you will be able to tell if you enjoy her.

Builds:

Core

Against AP Burst Against champs like rush

Against AD Burst Against champs like rush

Other Useful Items - is nice, but her current passive allows you to benefit from less AP especially early so this item is more like a cherry on top if you can afford to sacrifice some survivability late.

- if you are facing enemies that are stacking MR.

- is also a great item on Cass since she can easily stack an early , but I have been finding to be more beneficial overall. Personal preference I would say.

-When facing a team that has the ability to burst you in 1-2 abilities or an extremely deadly cc ability, works nicely for added survivability.

, , or are great options on her. Furor enchantment is proc'd on Twin fang casts allowing your Q's and E's on champion hit to speed you up.

Thank you for taking the time to write that. After the changes to her are 100% over, I think I will pick her up. She sounds fun :)

ChortleDec 15, 20142 votes

If you're thinking about getting Orianna, I highly suggest it!! :D she is my favorite out of all of them haha. Cass is up there too though.

The new Ori skin will be nice too

yellowbricksDec 15, 20144 votes

Most champs buy an item and get their power.

Cass not only needs items, but you have to play an arbitrary stack game to actually be worth more than a caster minion. Why double your effort? Stay far away.

The Queen ViperDec 15, 20143 votes

Not a good pick nor viable. Too inconsistent... like a "fest or famine" champion if you will.

However if you want to try her, I would suggest you take her into Top lane instead, she cannot compete in Mid.

Wise SquirrelDec 15, 20142 votes

She's a viable ap carry, but odds are that you cannot use her effectively.

Cassiopeia requires familiarity with the AP mid role to do well, since you main support, odds are you can't use her and will immediately abandon her.

But if your willing to try out a lategame ap carry (Instead of instant gratification early burst), go for it.

If you want to use Cassiopeia, you would benefit a lot from a mana regen rune page, otherwise you will need to purchase it in the shop (And that will slow your AP gain).

My recommendation, try out some cheaper ap carries.

Civil DawnDec 15, 20141 votes

[{quoted}](name=Wise Squirrel,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=HbYrRZrJ,comment-id=0001,timestamp=2014-12-15T15:37:15.232+0000) She's a viable ap carry, but odds are that you cannot use her effectively.

Cassiopeia requires familiarity with the AP mid role to do well, since you main support, odds are you can't use her and will immediately abandon her.

But if your willing to try out a lategame ap carry (Instead of instant gratification early burst), go for it.

If you want to use Cassiopeia, you would benefit a lot from a mana regen rune page, otherwise you will need to purchase it in the shop (And that will slow your AP gain).

My recommendation, try out some cheaper ap carries.

I play mid all the time, and I do very well with it even when I'm countered. I don't agree with your first 2 sentences :( I only said I main support for clarification on that I'm trying new things in mid. I don't NEVER play mid. Champs I listed I'm extremely familiar and good at :P

I'll take your last sentence's advice though :)

XonraDec 15, 20142 votes

For a support, no she is not a good pick I wouldn't say, BUT I've seen other things I didn't think were good do good.

It also depends, in normals you could do fine with her, ranked, depends, but eh.

In mid, right now I'd say no altogether. She can catch people off guard simply because she hasn't been seen as much as popular picks but as far as viability I can't say she is. She can be bursted down really quick, her ult is only good even they are staring at you in which it is great, but the poison damage is usually not enough in a fight where your E is your only burst and sustained damage and is no where near other non-mobile mages like Syndra or Ori or even Karthus.

She has a place but it isn't in this current meta as she is still really short ranged and is outclassed by other mages that can fill her "role" much much better.

xJLx MCHammerDec 15, 20142 votes

She is good now, viable but definitely dangerous to pick when enemy has

Fizz Leblanc Zed Syndra

These champs just have a nice advantage over her and while you can beat them, it's normally decided on how good your opponent is not you. In other words, you can't do anything as Cass if there is a Fiz and Vi. Yes, you can survive lane but that's because that Vi and Fizz never decided to Ult you under tower. In a similar way, you can bully a LB/Fizz/Zed in lane but one gank or one minor mistake puts you so far behind, you wont recover because at that point they can always ult you and win trades.

If Zed or Fizz start to lose lane, one roam which they are made for can put them ahead again, but Cass has a harder time roaming.

She really does work well with item 3151 item 3048 item 3157 item 3259 item 3116 item 3135

Sticky BanditDec 15, 20142 votes

Cass is really strong right now. The reason she isn't picked as much is because of her high skill cap. Her Q is hard to hit, and hitting your E on a non poisoned enemy really screws her over big time. Rush a Tear, then pick up a revolver. Once you get 100 passive stacks, the sustain is real. Last hit with Q + E, it'll stack tear and give you all the mana back. You want to pick up a Rabadon's next (most of the time), then upgrade into Seraph's if your tear is fully stacked. Then upgrade WOTA (Will of the Ancients). Pick up the Void Staff next, then a defensive item. Remember that you're going to want to change your build depending on the enemy team composition and how you're doing, but this is a general good build.

chumblerDec 16, 20142 votes

No, pick an actually good champion. There was no intention of producing a decent champion with this trash rework. If there was, they wouldn't have done the rework at all.

TheFrozenIslesDec 15, 20141 votes

She a all right pick but some of you caster you have listed are better if you what to do anything more then damage.

See as you play support. I say pick up Orianna as you can still support your team even if you play mid. That said who do you have for supports? As a few of them are just as good mid lane as support.

Civil DawnDec 15, 20141 votes

{quoted} She a all right pick but some of you caster you have listed are better if you what to do anything more then damage.

See as you play support. I say pick up Orianna as you can still support your team even if you play mid. That said who do you have for supports? As a few of them are just as good mid lane as support.

I play every support except Taric ad Zilean. But the only support I like to bring mid is Lulu (other than karma/zyra/annie/morg who are already meant to be mid)

TiowthyDec 16, 20141 votes

I personally enjoy cass, even through this whole debacle. She's definitely viable, but you need to be really good with her to succeed

KingsgraveDec 16, 20141 votes

She works really well in Top lane as well as Mid against most characters.

MattAkhavanDec 16, 20141 votes

yeah man cass is super fun and does a ton of dps. she has a pretty high skill cap as well so you can keep playing her and grow more effective as you rank up.

chriseritDec 16, 20141 votes

she is absolutely viable ... maybe a little too much strong but i don't think they will nerf her

here there are all games I played with her since the new patch. As you can see in every single game I am positive and carried my team ...I also did a pentakill with her (unofficial but still a penta). http://i.imgur.com/VYkejAs.png) http://i.imgur.com/8i2h43u.png)

so if you like her, run to buy her because she is absolutely strong if you master her.

the only reason you don't see her in games is because there are few people that like the rework

TIP: just play her top... is much much much more strong top than mid

WizzleboomDec 18, 20141 votes

She feels clunky and the passive is retarded.

His about some actual damage on q and w? Also her ultimate range is pretty short.

freeformlineDec 22, 20141 votes

Cassiopeia is one of my favorite champions, and I do quite well with her. She is a bit tricky at first, but can be very strong once you figure her out and learn how to build her in different situations, especially since the 4.21 patch. I generally play her pretty cautiously, since her lack of mobility makes it easy to kill her, but she can pretty easily melt most any targets if you catch them off their guard.

I mostly play her as a mid laner and a support (hello, fellow support main!). I always rush Tear and Rod of Ages, though I prioritize Frostfang and a Sightstone if I am supporting. Rabadon's Deathcap is pretty much essential for her late game build, so that's usually my fifth item. I rarely have cause to build boots other than Sorc Shoes with the Furor enchantment. Apart from the obvious Void Staff and Hourglass, I have also built Spirit Visage, Banshee's Veil, Will of the Ancients, Guardian Angel, and Rylai's Crystal Scepter as situational items. I have yet to try Liandry's Torment on Cassiopeia, but it may do well with her.

I play her pretty much the same in both bot and mid, spending the early game harassing with poison and an occasional Twin Fang to try to zone my opponents away from farm before seeking out fights in the mid and late game. In general, you should maintain good vision of your surroundings and avoid taking risks, as Cassiopeia is unforgiving if you make a mistake or get caught out. Don't be afraid to use your ult to save yourself, especially in the early game. Like any other late game damage dealer, your primary job is to stay alive, so do your best to avoid fights that you are not certain you will win.

I don't know if you would consider Cass viable at your level of play, but I have a rather positive win rate with her at my poor little unranked tier, where games tend to run a little long and any warding places you well ahead. I would recommend her if you like immobile mages (or Urgot), but be aware that she may be heavily changed in the future due to widespread dissatisfaction with her rework (which I largely share, though I did not play her before the rework went live).

Civil DawnDec 22, 20141 votes

At my level of play?.... I'm gold....

SmokingPuffinDec 22, 20141 votes

You can pick Cassiopeia right now and not hold your team back. She's pretty good. She's not the safest champion to pick, and you have to be willing to suffer through a weak early game in exchange for late game power.

I think spending the effort to learn Cassiopeia might not be the right play, because she's likely to change significantly in one of the next couple patches. That's probably also why you aren't seeing her picked much.