Akali vs Kog'Maw
You are stronger early. Look to snowball before your opponent scales.
Build vs Kog'Maw
The champion's reference build, for lack of enough games in this matchup
Recommended items for Akali: Hextech Gunblade, Shadowflame, Zhonya's Hourglass, Sorcerer's Shoes, Stormsurge, Dark Seal, Rabadon's Deathcap, Void Staff.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Kog'Maw's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
4 seconds after dying, Kogmaw explodes, dealing true damage to surrounding enemies.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 7s | 17s | 12s | – |
| 6 | 7s | 17s | 12s | 2s |
| 9 | 7s | 17s | 12s | 2s |
| 11 | 7s | 17s | 12s | 1.5s |
| 16 | 7s | 17s | 12s | 1s |
| 18 | 7s | 17s | 12s | 1s |
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 Kog'Maw
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Engage when his W ends
Engage when Bio-Arcane Barrage (W) ends: his attack range drops back to 500, and the spell has a 17-second cooldown.
- Punish his lack of mobility
If you can engage, go for him: with no dash or leap, Kog'Maw can only back off on foot, and Void Ooze (E) is his only slow.
- Leave his R range at low health
Below 40% health, get out of range of Living Artillery (R): each shot then deals its max damage to you, and it reaches very far.
- Move away when he dies
When he dies, move away from him: Icathian Surprise (passive) makes him explode 4 seconds later, dealing true damage to nearby enemies.
Other Akali matchups
Patch 16.21.1