Weird Picks #96: Full AP Kai'Sa Mid

Here's a build I went up against recently in a normal game...while it still doesn't seem very good by any means, our Janna did get one shot by a W, which in my book, gives it a purpose...

Some players remember fondly (or not so fondly) the days where a Nidalee could throw spears from max range and hit you for the entirety of your health bar. If you're looking to get back to the good ol' days, AP Kai'Sa mid might help you relive some of them. With her 3000 range Void Seeker, she has the ability to snipe enemy champions from INSANE distances. Check out how to build her below

Archive post, March 2018. The burst window worked out below comes from a stat League retired. The post takes 45% cooldown, halves a 7.7 second figure with it and lands on a hit every four seconds, and all of that is percentage cooldown reduction, which Riot replaced with ability haste in the 2021 preseason. Haste doesn't convert one for one, so read the four seconds as history rather than as a number to build toward. The premise, a Kai'Sa who leans on ability power in the mid lane, is the part still worth arguing about.

Weird Pick #96

Full AP Kai'Sa Mid

March 2018

Introduction

Here's a build I went up against recently in a normal game...while it still doesn't seem very good by any means, our Janna did get one shot by a W, which in my book, gives it a purpose...

Some players remember fondly (or not so fondly) the days where a Nidalee could throw spears from max range and hit you for the entirety of your health bar. If you're looking to get back to the good ol' days, AP Kai'Sa mid might help you relive some of them. With her 3000 range Void Seeker, she has the ability to snipe enemy champions from INSANE distances. Check out how to build her below!

How to Play

Abilities

W, Q, W, E then prioritize R > W > Q > E

Summoner Spells

Flash + Ignite

Starting Items

Dark Seal + Health Potions

Core Items

Luden's Echo

Sorcerer's Shoes

Lich Bane

Rabadon's Deathcap

Void Staff

Zhonya's Hourglass

Rune Setup

How It Works

Void Seeker Sniping

Kai'Sa's Void Seeker [W] has 3000 range, DOUBLE the range of Nidalee's spear, and sports a 65% AP ratio. It also has the added benefit of refunding 50% of its cooldown against enemy champions after you upgrade it, which at max rank and 45% cooldown means 7.7 seconds / 2 = a massive burst every 4 seconds.

Instant Execution

While she needs to be ahead to execute, her kit works very well as an assassin since both her passive and her Icathian Rain [Q] have built-in executions. If you manage to land a W and the enemy champion is alone, Kai'Sa can quickly end them via her ultimate -> Q -> auto attack combo.

Unexpected Massive Damage

As a champion who's relatively new and almost entirely played as a marksman or jungler, few players will be ready for the amount of damage that Kai'Sa dishes from her long-range Void Seeker. Most marksmen rarely build magic resist and supports also tend to rush Ardent Censer in the current meta. This makes for easy targets.

Potential Pitfalls

Slow, Predictable Projectile

While Nidalee spears can sometimes be difficult to spot out depending on the angle, Kai'Sa's Void Seeker is fat and comes at you from long range, allowing you plenty of time to dodge.

Low Ratios
At 65%, it's not exactly a huge ratio when it comes to long-range cheese snipes. Heck, even Lucian's W has a 90% AP ratio, although the range is less than a third as long.

Easily abused laning phase
During laning phase, Kai'Sa can be easily abused simply because her early game cooldowns are very high. She may do better against melee champions, but needs to focus on roaming. However, her waveclear is also somewhat weak, making it difficult for her to get lane priority.

Conclusions

Overall, the level of cheese this strategy pulls out is commendable and getting hit a few times a game by her W is enough to send you crying home. However, I don't see it becoming an LCS pick anytime soon.

Suggested Tier: Low Tier 3

What do you think about Full AP Kai'Sa Mid? Comment below!

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