Akali vs Gwen
Skill matchup
You are stronger early. Look to snowball before your opponent scales.
Build vs Gwen
Build adapted to this matchup
Recommended items for Akali: Hextech Gunblade, Shadowflame, Zhonya's Hourglass, Sorcerer's Shoes, Dark Seal, Stormsurge, Rabadon's Deathcap, Void Staff.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Gwen's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
Gwen's attacks deal bonus magic damage based on the targets health. She heals for a portion of the damage dealt to champions by this effect.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 6.5s | 22s | 13s | – |
| 6 | 5s | 22s | 13s | 2m |
| 9 | 3.5s | 21s | 13s | 2m |
| 11 | 3.5s | 20s | 13s | 1m40 |
| 16 | 3.5s | 18s | 12s | 1m20 |
| 18 | 3.5s | 18s | 11s | 1m20 |
Playing as Akali
Tips to maximize your impact
- Leave the ring for your auto
After each spell that hits, step out of the Assassin's Mark (passive) ring: your next auto gains range and damage.
- Mark before you leap
Mark your target with Shuriken Flip (E) before leaping with Perfect Execution (R): recasting Shuriken Flip takes you back to them, even after your leap.
- Dive inside your smoke
Cast Twilight Shroud (W) to dive under the enemy tower: inside the smoke you are invisible and untargetable, but an auto or a spell reveals you briefly.
- Save your second dash to finish
Save the second dash of Perfect Execution (R) to finish: its damage grows with the target's missing health.
Playing against Gwen
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Enter her mist or wait
To hit her during Hallowed Mist (W), walk into the mist or wait for it to fade: from outside, you can't target her.
- Trade before her 4 autos
Take short trades before she lands 4 autos: each one adds a snip to Snip Snip! (Q).
- Get out of her needles' path
Step out of the Needlework (R) line: she can recast it twice within 6 seconds, with three then five needles.
- Send two to answer her split
Answer her split push with two players rather than alone: A Thousand Cuts (passive) heals her on every auto against a champion.
Other Akali matchups
Patch 16.21.1