Akali

Playstyle Profile

Akali is a flanker — eliminates priority targets by bypassing the frontline

Teamfight Role

Assassin Flanker

Power Spike

Mid game

Split Threat

None

Backline Access

Low

Akali's Strengths

• Deletes priority targets instantly — Akali removes the enemy carry before teamfights even begin

How to Play Akali

Champion-specific pre-match tips

Gameplay tips on Summoner's Rift

Lane Phase

Weave passive empowered auto-attacks between every Q cast to maximize your energy efficiency and damage output during early trades.

Lane Phase

Freeze the wave near your tower when your ultimate and Flash are on cooldown to protect yourself while your kill threat is lowest.

Lane Phase

Cast Q on your opponent and walk backward, then instantly cast W to use the movement speed burst to step back into range for a second Q.

Mid Game

Push side waves past the river midpoint, then immediately rotate toward your team to force a numbers advantage while an opponent catches the crash.

Mid Game

Cast E instantly during your first R dash animation to guarantee the projectile connects and accelerate your burst combo before the enemy can react.

Mid Game

Save your ultimate when major neutral objectives spawn within the next sixty seconds instead of burning it for a low-impact solo kill.

Late Game

Sweep flank angles before major objective fights and hide in fog of war until the enemy frontline commits, opening a clear path to the backline for your R.

Late Game

Buffer an auto-attack on your target and immediately Flash outside your passive ring to instantly acquire and strike with the empowered damage.

Late Game

Cancel the backward dash of your E by casting Flash simultaneously when catching priority targets, keeping you in immediate melee range for follow-up burst.

For matchup-tailored tips, download Baron Buff's AI Coach & Companion App.

Gameplay tips in Arena

• Mark with E before committing through shroud, then delay E2 until the target burns displacement. Save R2 for the execute or for crossing the ring back to safety.
• Build Shadowflame, Rabadon's Deathcap, Zhonya's Hourglass, and Duskblade of Draktharr. Prioritize penetration and one defensive reset so the second half of the combo actually lands.
• Prioritize Dashing, Earthwake, Outlaw's Grit, and Thread the Needle. Every dash should add damage or defenses while shroud buys time between casts.

Akali Build

This might not be your familiar build. We look at ranked games after each item was bought. If the player or team gained ground in gold, we rate that item higher.

Core

• Hextech Gunblade
• Sorcerer's Shoes (Boots)
• Shadowflame

Situational

• Mejai's Soulstealer
• Zhonya's Hourglass
• Rabadon's Deathcap
• Void Staff
• Morellonomicon

Akali Runes

The most popular rune page and summoner spells for Akali in ranked games over the last 30 days.

Domination + Resolve · 48.9% WR · 33,119 games

• Electrocute
• Sudden Impact
• Grisly Mementos
• Ultimate Hunter
• Second Wind
• Overgrowth
• Adaptive Force
• Adaptive Force
• Health Scaling

Summoner spells

Flash, Ignite

Akali Skill Order

The recommended skill order for Akali from ranked games over the last 90 days: the first three skill points, then the order to max abilities.

1. lvl 1: Q
2. lvl 2: W
3. lvl 3: E
4. max: Q
5. max: E
6. max: W

How to Counter Akali

Counter strategies and draft context

group tightly, build defensively, and provide reliable peel for carries

• Shut down by grouped teams — Akali needs isolated targets and falls apart when enemies stick together
• Tanks and bruisers that survive burst windows
• Champions with point-and-click crowd control
• Supports that shield or heal through burst

Akali's Weaknesses

Grouped compositions with strong vision leave Akali without isolated targets or flanking angles. Defensive items and grouping deny Akali the solo kills they look for.

Best Synergies with Akali

Team synergies and draft context

Engage tanks draw attention away from Akali, and enemy cooldowns spent on the frontline leave their carries exposed. Waveclear mids or ADCs hold lanes while you roam for picks. A second diver splits enemy focus in teamfights. Allies with hard crowd control make sure your burst lands.

Draft Context

• Stacks burst with no frontline — nobody absorbs damage while Akali waits for a flank window
• Stacks AP or AD with Akali — one-dimensional damage lets the enemy itemize a single resistance

Learning Curve

Based on 1.2M+ matches across all ranked elos, showing how Akali's win rate changes with mastery level

Akali has exceptional depth — there is always something new to learn, and getting started is comfortable. Results come quickly from the first few games.

Skill Cap

Very High

Cost of Learning

Low