Kassadin vs Vladimir
Skill matchup
You are stronger late game. Farm safe and avoid early trades.
Build vs Vladimir
Build adapted to this matchup
Recommended items for Kassadin: Tear of the Goddess, Rod of Ages, Seraph's Embrace, Sorcerer's Shoes, Malignance, Dark Seal, Zhonya's Hourglass, Rabadon's Deathcap.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Vladimir's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
Every 30 points of bonus Health gives Vladimir 1 Ability Power and every 1 point of Ability Power gives Vladimir 1.6 bonus Health (does not stack with itself).
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 9s | 28s | 13s | – |
| 6 | 6.8s | 28s | 13s | 2m |
| 9 | 4.6s | 25s | 13s | 2m |
| 11 | 4.6s | 22s | 13s | 2m |
| 16 | 4.6s | 16s | 9s | 2m |
| 18 | 4.6s | 16s | 5s | 2m |
Playing as Kassadin
Tips to maximize your impact
- Trade with Q against mages
Against a mage, take your trades with Null Sphere (Q): it gives you a magic damage shield for 1.5 seconds and interrupts channels.
- Restore mana with your W
Restore mana with Nether Blade (W): your next auto restores part of your missing mana, more on a champion.
- Farm while you wait for Riftwalk
Farm safely early on: your power comes from ranks in Riftwalk (R), whose cooldown drops from 5 to 2 seconds.
- Watch your mana when chaining R
Chain Riftwalk (R) in teamfights while watching your mana: each quick recast adds damage, but doubles its mana cost.
Playing against Vladimir
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Force his Sanguine Pool early
Force him to use Sanguine Pool (W) early in the fight, when it costs him the most health: he can't become untargetable again for 28 to 16 seconds.
- Back off from his empowered Transfusion
Back off after his first two Transfusion (Q) casts: the next one is empowered, hits harder and heals him based on his missing health.
- Play hard before his items
Get ahead early: Vladimir mostly shines later, once he has his items, since Crimson Pact (passive) turns his ability power into health and his bonus health into ability power.
- Kill him before his Hemoplague pops
During Hemoplague (R), focus him if you can kill him before the blast, otherwise back off: you take increased damage until then, and the blast heals him per champion hit.
- Cut his healing
If you have Grievous Wounds, apply it to him: Transfusion (Q), Sanguine Pool (W) and Hemoplague (R) all heal him.
Other Kassadin matchups
Patch 16.21.1