Mid Matchup

Kassadin vs Malzahar

Patch: 15.15 (25.15)
League: Platinum+
Kassadin

Kassadin

the Void Walker
Mid
Kassadin Mid Overall Win Rate
49.51%

Matchup Win Rate

48.1%
Kassadin vs Malzahar Wins
51.9%
Malzahar vs Kassadin Wins
Malzahar

Malzahar

the Prophet of the Void
Mid
Malzahar Mid Overall Win Rate
51.32%

Kassadin vs Malzahar - Mid Matchup Guide Patch 15.15 (25.15)

Kassadin Mid vs Malzahar Mid - Who is stronger?

Kassadin Mid has trouble against Malzahar (48.1% win rate) based on 641 games. This is a tough matchup for Kassadin players.

View detailed statistics below: items, runes, and counter builds for Kassadin Mid vs Malzahar Mid in patch 15.15 (25.15), including win rates and pick rates. With proper study, this can improve your chances of victory up to 71.1% in this matchup.

Statistical Matchup Analysis

With 2.2% popularity, Kassadin constantly encounters meta-dominant Malzahar (6.7%, 5th place out of 58 Mid champions). Understanding how to play against this popular champion becomes essential for consistent Kassadin performance in the current patch. Every edge matters: In this tough matchup, the proven Electrocute + Sudden Impact combination (52.7% win rate) plus optimal itemization Rod of Ages, Malignance, Archangel's Staff, and Sorcerer's Shoes boosts your chances from 48.1% to 71.1% - potentially game-changing.

Survive and scale: Kassadin faces both matchup (48.08%) and farming disadvantages (7.02 vs 8.28/min). With a 1.26 CS/min deficit, prioritize safe farming and jungle assistance. Outclassed across the board: Malzahar leads in both matchup win rate (51.9%) and damage (847 vs 823/min). Kassadin must seek alternative win conditions through macro play and team coordination. Strong individual performance: Kassadin maintains better KDA (2.40, 21st place vs 44th for Malzahar), but loses the matchup overall. High KDA without wins suggests difficulty translating individual advantages into victory conditions.

Kassadin vs Malzahar - Mid Stats Comparison

Kassadin Mid
Kassadin Mid
Versus
Malzahar Mid
Malzahar Mid
BTierA+
48.1%Matchup Winrate51.9%
49.51%Role Winrate51.32%
#43Winrate Rank#20
2.2%Pickrate6.7%
2.4Average KDA2.1
419Gold per Minute440
7.02CS/Min8.28
0.24Wards per Minute0.35
823Damage per Minute847

How to Beat Malzahar as Kassadin (Mid)

Despite the slight difference in effectiveness, in the Kassadin versus Malzahar matchup in the mid lane, neither champion has an overwhelming advantage. The winner is determined by player skill and understanding the intricacies of the confrontation. Studying this guide will improve your chances of success.

The magic damage that Kassadin deals remains relevant in the late game. Look for opportunities to initiate or counter-initiate. Meanwhile, Malzahar deals primarily magic damage (95.87%), additional magic resistance may be required.

Consider the farming superiority demonstrated by Malzahar, ranking 3rd (versus 19th for Kassadin) in farming efficiency among champions in this role. This means the opponent can build gold advantages more quickly. Meanwhile, their lower KDA (2.1 versus 2.4) suggests they are less effective in team fights.

Key aspects of the Kassadin Mid versus Malzahar Mid matchup

In this difficult confrontation, it is critically important for the Kassadin player to avoid attempts to force trades and all-ins with the Malzahar player, as the matchup requires a patient and calculated approach. Extended trades without clear tactical advantage often lead to unfavorable consequences, and ignoring opportunities to receive team support can be a fatal mistake for game progression.

Kassadin vs Malzahar: Mid Lane Summoner Spells

Most Popular

Flash
Flash Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
Teleport
Teleport After a brief channel, become untargetable and travel to an allied unit. Upgrades into Unleashed Teleport, which significantly increases travel speed.
47.1% Win Rate93.0% Pick Rate

Highest Win Rate

Flash
Flash Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
Teleport
Teleport After a brief channel, become untargetable and travel to an allied unit. Upgrades into Unleashed Teleport, which significantly increases travel speed.
47.1% Win Rate93.0% Pick Rate

Kassadin vs Malzahar: Mid Lane Runes

Most Frequent Runes

Primary Path
Domination
Electrocute
Electrocute Hitting a champion with 3 separate attacks or abilities within 3s deals bonus adaptive damage.

Damage: 70 - 240 (+0.1 bonus AD, +0.05 AP) damage.
Cooldown: 20s

'We called them the Thunderlords, for to speak of their lightning was to invite disaster.'

Electrocute

Hitting a champion with 3 separate attacks or abilities within 3s deals bonus adaptive da…

Sudden Impact
Sudden Impact Damaging basic attacks and abilities deal a bonus 20 - 80 True Damage based on level to enemy champions after using a dash, leap, blink, teleport, or when leaving stealth for 4s.

Cooldown: 10s

Sudden Impact

Damaging basic attacks and abilities deal a bonus 20 - 80 True Damage based on …

Grisly Mementos
Grisly Mementos Collect 1 memento on champion takedowns, up to 18 total.

Gain 6 Trinket Haste for each collected. In game modes where vision Trinkets do not exist, instead gain 3 Summoner Spell Haste.

Grisly Mementos

Collect 1 memento on champion takedowns, up to 18 total.Gain 6 Trinket Haste fo…

Ultimate Hunter
Ultimate Hunter Your ultimate gains 6 Ability Haste, plus an additional 5 Ability Haste per Bounty Hunter stack. Bounty Hunter stacks are earned the first time you get a takedown on each enemy champion.

Ultimate Hunter

Your ultimate gains 6 Ability Haste, plus an additional 5 Ability Haste per Bou…

Secondary Path
Precision
Presence of Mind
Presence of Mind Damaging an enemy champion restores 6-50 (80% for ranged) mana or 6 energy.

Takedowns restore 15% of your maximum mana or energy.

Cooldown for damage restoration: 8s

Presence of Mind

Damaging an enemy champion restores 6-50 (80% for ranged) mana or 6 energy.Take…

Last Stand
Last Stand Deal 5% - 11% increased damage to champions while you are below 60% health. Max damage gained at 30% health.

Last Stand

Deal 5% - 11% increased damage to champions while you are below 60% health. Max…

Adaptive
Adaptive Force
Adaptive Force Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

Adaptive Force

Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

Scaling Health
Scaling Health Increases health from 10 to 180 HP across levels 1-18

Scaling Health

Increases health from 10 to 180 HP across levels 1-18

Scaling Health
Scaling Health Increases health from 10 to 180 HP across levels 1-18

Scaling Health

Increases health from 10 to 180 HP across levels 1-18

44.8% Win Rate36.8% Pick Rate

Best Win Rate Runes

Primary Path
Domination
Electrocute
Electrocute Hitting a champion with 3 separate attacks or abilities within 3s deals bonus adaptive damage.

Damage: 70 - 240 (+0.1 bonus AD, +0.05 AP) damage.
Cooldown: 20s

'We called them the Thunderlords, for to speak of their lightning was to invite disaster.'

Electrocute

Hitting a champion with 3 separate attacks or abilities within 3s deals bonus adaptive da…

Sudden Impact
Sudden Impact Damaging basic attacks and abilities deal a bonus 20 - 80 True Damage based on level to enemy champions after using a dash, leap, blink, teleport, or when leaving stealth for 4s.

Cooldown: 10s

Sudden Impact

Damaging basic attacks and abilities deal a bonus 20 - 80 True Damage based on …

Grisly Mementos
Grisly Mementos Collect 1 memento on champion takedowns, up to 18 total.

Gain 6 Trinket Haste for each collected. In game modes where vision Trinkets do not exist, instead gain 3 Summoner Spell Haste.

Grisly Mementos

Collect 1 memento on champion takedowns, up to 18 total.Gain 6 Trinket Haste fo…

Ultimate Hunter
Ultimate Hunter Your ultimate gains 6 Ability Haste, plus an additional 5 Ability Haste per Bounty Hunter stack. Bounty Hunter stacks are earned the first time you get a takedown on each enemy champion.

Ultimate Hunter

Your ultimate gains 6 Ability Haste, plus an additional 5 Ability Haste per Bou…

Secondary Path
Resolve
Second Wind
Second Wind After taking damage from an enemy champion, heal for 4% of your missing health +3 over 10s.

Second Wind

After taking damage from an enemy champion, heal for 4% of your missing health …

Overgrowth
Overgrowth Absorb life essence from monsters or enemy minions that die near you, permanently gaining 3 maximum health for every 8.

When you've absorbed 120 monsters or enemy minions, gain an additional 3.5% maximum health.

Overgrowth

Absorb life essence from monsters or enemy minions that die near you, permanent…

Adaptive
Adaptive Force
Adaptive Force Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

Adaptive Force

Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

Scaling Health
Scaling Health Increases health from 10 to 180 HP across levels 1-18

Scaling Health

Increases health from 10 to 180 HP across levels 1-18

Scaling Health
Scaling Health Increases health from 10 to 180 HP across levels 1-18

Scaling Health

Increases health from 10 to 180 HP across levels 1-18

52.7% Win Rate22.8% Pick Rate

Kassadin vs Malzahar: Mid Lane Item Builds

Most Popular Build

Starting Items
Stealth Ward
Stealth Ward (0 gold) Active (210 - 120s, max 2 charges)
Places an Invisible Stealth Ward that grants vision for 90-120 seconds.
Doran's Shield
Doran's Shield (450 gold) 110 Health
Enduring Focus
Restore 4 Health every 5 seconds.
After taking damage from a champion, restore Health over 8 seconds.
Helping Hand
Attacks deal 5 bonus physical damage to minions.
Health Potion
Health Potion (50 gold) Consume
Restores 120 Health over 15 seconds.
54.9% Win Rate35.7% Pick Rate
Popular Boots
Sorcerer's Shoes
Sorcerer's Shoes (1100 gold) 12 Magic Penetration
45 Move Speed

48.1% Win Rate58.3% Pick Rate
Mercury's Treads
Mercury's Treads (1250 gold) 20 Magic Resist
45 Move Speed
30% Tenacity

47.9% Win Rate21.6% Pick Rate
Ionian Boots of Lucidity
Ionian Boots of Lucidity (900 gold) 10 Ability Haste
45 Move Speed

Ionian Insight
Gain 10 Summoner Spell Haste.
59.0% Win Rate5.7% Pick Rate
Core Build
Blasting Wand
Blasting Wand (850 gold) 45 Ability Power
->
Rod of Ages
Rod of Ages (2600 gold) 50 Ability Power
400 Health
400 Mana

Timeless
This item gains 10 Health, 20 Mana and 3 Ability Power every 60 seconds up to 10 times. Upon reaching max stacks, gain a level.
Eternity
Taking damage from champions restores 10% of the damage as Mana.
Casting an ability heals for 25% of Mana spent.
Archangel's Staff
Archangel's Staff (2900 gold) 70 Ability Power
600 Mana
25 Ability Haste

Awe
Gain Ability Power equal to 1% bonus Mana.
Manaflow (8s, max 5 charges)
Landing Abilities grants 5 max Mana (doubled vs. champions).
Transforms into Seraph's Embrace at 360 max Mana.
Malignance
Malignance (2700 gold) 85 Ability Power
600 Mana
15 Ability Haste

Scorn
Gain 20 Ultimate Ability Haste.
Hatefog
Damaging a champion with your Ultimate burns the ground beneath them for 3s, dealing magic damage per second and reducing their Magic Resist.
50.6% Win Rate13.3% Pick Rate
Final Build
Rabadon's Deathcap
Rabadon's Deathcap (3600 gold) 130 Ability Power
Magical Opus
Increases your total Ability Power by 30%.
61.8% Win Rate31.8% Pick Rate

Best Win Rate Build

Starting Items
Stealth Ward
Stealth Ward (0 gold) Active (210 - 120s, max 2 charges)
Places an Invisible Stealth Ward that grants vision for 90-120 seconds.
Doran's Shield
Doran's Shield (450 gold) 110 Health
Enduring Focus
Restore 4 Health every 5 seconds.
After taking damage from a champion, restore Health over 8 seconds.
Helping Hand
Attacks deal 5 bonus physical damage to minions.
Health Potion
Health Potion (50 gold) Consume
Restores 120 Health over 15 seconds.
54.9% Win Rate35.7% Pick Rate
Highest Winrate Boots
Symbiotic Soles
Symbiotic Soles (900 gold) 40 Move Speed
Voidborn
Gain Empowered Recall.
Symbiosis
After traveling 150000 units of distance, transform into Synchronized Souls.
98.6% Win Rate0.6% Pick Rate
Ionian Boots of Lucidity
Ionian Boots of Lucidity (900 gold) 10 Ability Haste
45 Move Speed

Ionian Insight
Gain 10 Summoner Spell Haste.
59.0% Win Rate5.7% Pick Rate
Sorcerer's Shoes
Sorcerer's Shoes (1100 gold) 12 Magic Penetration
45 Move Speed

48.1% Win Rate58.3% Pick Rate
Core Build
Blasting Wand
Blasting Wand (850 gold) 45 Ability Power
->
Rod of Ages
Rod of Ages (2600 gold) 50 Ability Power
400 Health
400 Mana

Timeless
This item gains 10 Health, 20 Mana and 3 Ability Power every 60 seconds up to 10 times. Upon reaching max stacks, gain a level.
Eternity
Taking damage from champions restores 10% of the damage as Mana.
Casting an ability heals for 25% of Mana spent.
Malignance
Malignance (2700 gold) 85 Ability Power
600 Mana
15 Ability Haste

Scorn
Gain 20 Ultimate Ability Haste.
Hatefog
Damaging a champion with your Ultimate burns the ground beneath them for 3s, dealing magic damage per second and reducing their Magic Resist.
Archangel's Staff
Archangel's Staff (2900 gold) 70 Ability Power
600 Mana
25 Ability Haste

Awe
Gain Ability Power equal to 1% bonus Mana.
Manaflow (8s, max 5 charges)
Landing Abilities grants 5 max Mana (doubled vs. champions).
Transforms into Seraph's Embrace at 360 max Mana.
71.1% Win Rate6.7% Pick Rate
Final Build
Bloodletter's Curse
Bloodletter's Curse (2900 gold) 60 Ability Power
350 Health
15 Ability Haste

Vile Decay
Dealing magic damage with abilities or passives to champions reduces their Magic Resist by 5% for 6 seconds, up to 30%.
100.0% Win Rate2.1% Pick Rate
Other Items
Zhonya's Hourglass
Zhonya's Hourglass (3250 gold) 105 Ability Power
50 Armor


Time Stop
Enter Stasis for 2.5 seconds.
55.7% Win Rate16.5% Pick Rate
Void Staff
Void Staff (3000 gold) 95 Ability Power
40% Magic Penetration

60.9% Win Rate13.3% Pick Rate
Frozen Heart
Frozen Heart (2500 gold) 75 Armor
400 Mana
20 Ability Haste

Winter's Caress
Reduce the Attack Speed of nearby champions by 20%.
75.3% Win Rate8.1% Pick Rate
Lich Bane
Lich Bane (3200 gold) 115 Ability Power
4% Move Speed
10 Ability Haste

Spellblade
After using an Ability, your next Attack deals bonus magic damageOn-Hit.
66.8% Win Rate6.2% Pick Rate
Banshee's Veil
Banshee's Veil (3000 gold) 105 Ability Power
40 Magic Resist

Annul
Grants a Spell Shield that blocks the next enemy Ability.
50.4% Win Rate4.1% Pick Rate
Mejai's Soulstealer
Mejai's Soulstealer (1500 gold) 20 Ability Power
100 Health

Glory
Takedowns grant Glory, up to 25. 10 Glory is lost on death.
Gain 5 Ability Power per Glory and 10% Move Speed at 10 or higher Glory.
74.2% Win Rate4.1% Pick Rate
Shadowflame
Shadowflame (3200 gold) 110 Ability Power
15 Magic Penetration

Cinderbloom
Magic and true damageCritically Strikes enemies below 40% Health, dealing 20% increased damage.
65.4% Win Rate3.1% Pick Rate

Kassadin vs Malzahar: Mid Lane Skill (abilities) Orders

Most Frequent Skill Order

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
Q
Q
Null Sphere Kassadin fires an orb of void energy at a target, dealing damage and interrupting channels. The excess energy forms around himself, granting a temporary shield that absorbs magic damage.
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
W
W
Nether Blade Passive: Kassadin's basic attacks deal bonus magic damage. Active: Kassadin's next basic attack deals significant bonus magic damage and restores Mana.
W
W
W
W
W
E
E
Force Pulse Kassadin draws energy from spells cast in his vicinity. Upon charging up, Kassadin can use Force Pulse to damage and slow enemies in a cone in front of him.
E
E
E
E
E
R
R
Riftwalk Kassadin teleports to a nearby location dealing damage to nearby enemy units. Multiple Riftwalks in a short period of time cost additional Mana but also deal additional damage.
R
R
R
Max Order: E > W > Q
46.3% Win Rate29.2% Pick Rate

Highest Win % Skill Order

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
R
Q
Null Sphere Kassadin fires an orb of void energy at a target, dealing damage and interrupting channels. The excess energy forms around himself, granting a temporary shield that absorbs magic damage.
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
R
W
Nether Blade Passive: Kassadin's basic attacks deal bonus magic damage. Active: Kassadin's next basic attack deals significant bonus magic damage and restores Mana.
W
W
W
W
W
R
E
Force Pulse Kassadin draws energy from spells cast in his vicinity. Upon charging up, Kassadin can use Force Pulse to damage and slow enemies in a cone in front of him.
E
E
E
E
E
R
R
Riftwalk Kassadin teleports to a nearby location dealing damage to nearby enemy units. Multiple Riftwalks in a short period of time cost additional Mana but also deal additional damage.
R
R
R
Max Order: E > W > Q
85.1% Win Rate2.3% Pick Rate

Kassadin tips:

  • Kassadin has multiple item paths; he can go caster via Mana and Ability Power or anti-caster with Cooldown Reduction and Magic Resist.
  • Kassadin's ultimate has many uses and is on a shorter cooldown than most, use it often.
  • Try to get the Ancient Golem buff to counteract Riftwalk's increasing Mana cost.

Playing Against Malzahar

  • When Malzahar hits a spell on enemies affected by Malefic Visions, the Visions are refreshed.
  • Avoid minion waves that have been affected by Malefic Visions. You never know when they may die and pass the Visions onto you.
  • Malzahar is especially dangerous when he has built up his Void Swarm.