Pre-6 discipline — buy level 6 without bleeding

0:30–6:30 (or until level 6)

Farm safely and protect HP through level 6. Use Q for last-hit access or brief poke, then disengage before retaliation; into AD damage, Q is not a physical shield, so reserve extended W-auto trades for when the main physical tool is down, your jungler is counter-ganking, or your wave gives a decisive advantage. Against magic damage, use Q to secure the trade’s objective and exit rather than committing through its brief shield window, unless E, W, or R already creates lethal pressure. Use minion waves as short movement corridors only when area control is down; route around them if they become a trap. Charge E through nearby spells, crash before recalls, and avoid coin-flip objectives without priority.

Lane

Pre-6 trades: Q timing depends on the damage type

If the enemy uses their main trade tool (dash/stun/long CD) and your wave is even or pushing to you, step up: Q for the shielded hit, weave an auto with W passive, then back out before minion aggro stacks. Against AD damage, Q is not a physical-damage shield: use it for the last-hit or chip, then disengage before the return hit unless the main physical tool is down, your jungler is counter-ganking, or a large wave gives a decisive advantage. If your wave is pushed past river and the enemy jungler is unseen for ~20+ seconds, do not trade; thin the wave and ward first. If you win level-1 push, plan a wave-3 crash (first cannon) into recall; if wave-3 cannot crash, abandon the recall or you gift a freeze against you.

With Kassadin

• 0–6, buy Kassadin time. If you’re his jungler/support and the wave is near his tower, hover for counter-ganks rather than forcing 2v2s. Crash his wave before his recalls so he returns to a bounce instead of a freeze.
• Set up roam timers for him. Ping 10–15 s before you start river fights so he can shove, then collapse with Riftwalk — your engage draws peel so he can enter second.
• Fight in zones where spells are cast. His E charges off nearby casts from either team; short skirmishes with lots of abilities prime his cone slow for picks.
• Before objectives, sweep first and hold a flank ward. Kassadin from fog is lethal; from front door he’s kiteable. After he dives, turn with him immediately so Exhaust/Zhonya trades still convert.
• When ahead, play sides for him: hold mid as four while he pressures a lane on the far side of the next objective, then collapse to timers you set. When behind, peel and let him fish for picks rather than starting full 5v5s.