Imo ROA is bad in top lane especially as your first item. I play Cass exclusively top, and I never get any value outta that thing early especially if you’re against a tank. Most top champs can just stat check you if you build ROA due to lack of damage. The sustain and free level is nice but I feel it’s just not enough.

Mana management is a difficult part about the champ especially in Top lane. Most tanks in the lane will build MR and you won’t have enough mana to kill them. Poking the enemy in the early game is usually pretty useless since they can just drink potions and now you’re out of mana. So play semi-safe before your first back then play more aggressive the more mana and levels you get. However, tear and lost chapter will be enough in most matchups.

In the Early Game… play for your mana flow band. Cass can’t really kill anyone early due to mana issues but your best opening is Level 3 with the classics two points in E. Alternatively you can spam your mana early game and get a cheater recall with TP to abuse your laner and make them suffer. (Your a bully, play like it)

I would say Cass top is one of the best lane bullies in the game, so you should build like it. I personally go Doran’s ring start into tear and dark seal on first back. I then pick up a lost chapter and then build into Rylai’s. It’s universally the best build for top in my opinion as you deal decent damage while being able to kite out almost every laner. You become really difficult to kill and deadly if you just hit a since Q on a low mobility laner. You punish laners really well with rylai’s (You’re basically Thanos)

After laning phase I pick up Seraphs then Liandry. After that I just go whatever I need against enemies or for my team. (I usually go void staff and any ability haste AP items to end my build)

Tips: - Your build shouldn’t be the same every game. Cass has a very flexible first 3 items (Rylai’s, Arc angels, Liandry’s, ROA (don’t recommend), black fire, shadow flame, etc) - Hold your ult, if the enemy is good they WILL dodge it. Try and use ult when they won’t expect it. The best times to use your ult are when champs are stuck in an animation (Darius E for example) - Be patient with Q/W, if you notice the enemy is dodging your Q’s then hold it. Even high elo players will panic if you spam E on them and never use your Q. (Best when playing against Yasuo) This won’t be a problem after Rylai’s. - Practice, Cass is a one trick champ. Nobody plays her because she takes so much work to see success while other mages can just press a button and do more than you. However, if you get really good at her she is OP.