A letter to the Riot Team from the Mid Lane.

sneezing slug··3 votes·984 views

http://lolwp.com/wp-content/uploads/Kassadin_Splash_4.jpg

With the mage update all 'n about, I was really, REALLY happy with almost every single change. Yet one little thing had me irked.

Where was Kassadin amidst all this?

Kassadin is probably one of the least played mid-laners out there, if not one of the least played champions in general. He's up there with Yorick, Swain and Xerath right now. Not very played.

With that, I really want to know a few questions, if you guys don't mind.

  1. Do you guys have any intentions on reforming Kassadin anytime within the near future, whether it be a few tweaks/buffs or an entire rework?

  2. Do you guys have any intentions at all on possibly touching on Kassadin's extreme low play-rate in League?

  3. Do you think Kassadin needs any changes at all? If not, why?

Of course I don't entirely expect these questions to be answered directly by Riot anytime soon, as there's always bigger fish to catch, I thought I'd at least throw these out to possibly spark some questions.

19 Comments

The Bearded Bard2 votes

I think kass is in a pretty good spot balance wise, but he's pretty niche. Think about it, you're not going to pick Kass into Zed, Lux, or any other AD/safe laner, and that's what's popular right now.

sneezing slug1 votes

[{quoted}](name=The Bearded Bard,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=x9Bywi0m,comment-id=0000,timestamp=2016-04-22T01:03:08.399+0000)

I think kass is in a pretty good spot balance wise, but he's pretty niche. Think about it, you're not going to pick Kass into Zed, Lux, or any other AD/safe laner, and that's what's popular right now.

Precisely! Even if he is fine balance wise, he still doesn't see play, which is a problem. He can't counter any popular mid-laners, or at least not at the leverage your average Azir, Malzahar, Karthus or Vel'Koz could do it at. He needs more leverage on the current field, or he's going to continue to be at where he's been for a long time: A back-room champion with an inch-thick layer of dust on him.

The Bearded Bard1 votes

Hmmm you're right. If I were to do anything to him, I'd add on a cripple effect (like cass's new W) on his Q or E, then possibly lower the second cooldown of his ult (the one that powers up his mana cost and damage) from 15 flat to 15/12/9 seconds.

Ravenhale2 votes

I wasn't aware Kassadin was classified as a mage.

sneezing slug1 votes

{quoted}

I wasn't aware Kassadin was classified as a mage.

Where do you play him? Top lane? Not too great for the tanky damage dealers, even with his silence he's outplayed.

His camp clear is horrible for jungle, and dont get me started on support.

ADC Kassadin is just laughable, and I don't think I need to explain why.

So I'll ask again, where the hell do you play him?

If you're critiquing the fact that he's an ASSASSIN Mage (emphasis on assassin, being his main role as opposed to Mage being his second)

The Bearded Bard2 votes

Mid lane does not mean mage.

sneezing slug1 votes

[{quoted}](name=The Bearded Bard,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=x9Bywi0m,comment-id=000200000000,timestamp=2016-04-22T01:52:53.356+0000)

Mid lane does not mean mage.

Also that.

Ravenhale1 votes

The Mid Year Mage Update was a target on Immobile Mages. Even the small touch ups on some of the other champions remained in the Immobile Mage category. Utility Mages like Lux and Karma were ignored.

Even if you wish to argue he is a mage, he is as mobile as Ahri (also ignored). He might get touched up in the rumored Assassin update.

Sightless661 votes

If you're critiquing the fact that he's an ASSASSIN Mage

Exactly. He's an assassin, and if he addressed in a class update, it will be in the assassin update.

z14GaKI7TO2 votes

My personal letter: Thanks for the 340 MS on Zyra and the more useful passive. Like, a genuine thank you for not ruining her. PLEASE stop touching Syndra and making her so noob friendly that it's actually painful.

PDE5 Inhib1 votes

That's an extremely short letter lol.

ModWulf Helhammer1 votes

It wasn't a mid lane update, it was an immobile Mage update, two categories that Kassadin doesn't fit into.

Also, he's pretty fine as he is now

sneezing slug1 votes

{quoted}

It wasn't a mid lane update, it was an immobile Mage update, two categories that Kassadin doesn't fit into.

Also, he's pretty fine as he is now

Immobile? Definitely. He's no immobile mage, now that's for sure. His ult makes sure of that.

But with his secondary role being a mage, and practically only viable in the Mid (unless you're off doing some wonky ass shit) I still felt the need to speak a few words.

Vendridil1 votes

You're missing the point. Yes, he is a mage. But this particular update was geared towards outdated immobile mages. Thus, not Kassadin.

Also you can't say he's balanced in one post and then ask for buffs...that would make him intentionally unbalanced... if he's got a popularity issue that's not really a concern. There's over 100 champions in this game, it's impossible for them all to have the same level of popularity even if every champion was equal.

They will eventually do stuff with Kassadin, but if you take a look at the Champion Update Schedule there's a whole lot of people to come first. He'll likely be touched up when they do a class update that he fits in.

sneezing slug1 votes

{quoted}

You're missing the point. Yes, he is a mage. But this particular update was geared towards outdated immobile mages. Thus, not Kassadin.

Also you can't say he's balanced in one post and then ask for buffs...that would make him intentionally unbalanced... if he's got a popularity issue that's not really a concern. There's over 100 champions in this game, it's impossible for them all to have the same level of popularity even if every champion was equal.

They will eventually do stuff with Kassadin, but if you take a look at the Champion Update Schedule there's a whole lot of people to come first. He'll likely be touched up when they do a class update that he fits in.

Yes and no. When I mean buffs, I mean small buffs in certain directions towards certain playstyles, such as the present mid meta.

Vendridil1 votes

The present mid meta is mostly assassins... Kassadin is an anti-mage. Working as intended.

Abyssphere1 votes

This just isn't really the update for Kassadin. If they do an assassin update next then I'm sure he'll show up there, but this update was about differentiating immobile mages from each other and Kassadin is neither immobile nor lacking in unique qualities.

sneezing slug1 votes

{quoted}

This just isn't really the update for Kassadin. If they do an assassin update next then I'm sure he'll show up there, but this update was about differentiating immobile mages from each other and Kassadin is neither immobile nor lacking in unique qualities.

I think I can agree to that, but I still believe that some form of tweak, large or small, needs to be done.

Sightless661 votes

They're not addressing assassin mages or high-utility mages in this update. It's primarily immobile mages. That's the target, and that's almost all of who they worked on. Kassadin is primarily a high-mobility assassin, so he's outside of the scope.

Regardless of whether or not he needs work (and Riot has said that they're not happy with his current state in the past), this isn't when he was going to receive it.

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