Matchup

High burstHeavy AP damageDive threatSplit push

Build vs Akali

Build adapted to this matchup

Starting items

Health Potion
x2

Core build

Zeke's Convergence
1Tank
Bandlepipes
2vs Hybride
Knight's Vow
3vs AD

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Locket of the Iron Solari
5HP

Summoner spells

41480%
3420%

Anti AD

Plated Steelcaps
4vs AD
Thornmail
5vs Hybride
Frozen Heart
vs AD
Randuin's Omen
vs AD

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Locket of the Iron Solari
HP
Celestial Opposition
HP
Protoplasm Harness
Survival
100.0% WR1 games
ResolveResolve
AftershockAftershock
Font of LifeFont of Life
Bone PlatingBone Plating
UnflinchingUnflinching
InspirationInspiration
Hextech FlashtraptionHextech Flashtraption
Cosmic InsightCosmic Insight
Ability HasteHealth ScalingHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Early (0-15)
Mid (15-30)
Late (30+)
AlistarAlistar
AkaliAkali
Passive
Favorable
Favorable

Akali's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Assassin's Mark (P)

Dealing spell damage to a champion creates a ring of energy around them. Exiting that ring empowers Akali's next Attack with bonus range and damage.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
31.5s20s16s
61.5s20s16s2m
91.5s19s16s2m
111.5s18s16s1m30
161.5s16s13s1m
181.5s16s10s1m

Playing against Akali

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

1

Her W (Shroud) has a long cooldown (20s) — once she uses it, engage because she has no protection left.

2

AoE abilities and untargeted CC (skillshots) are effective in her shroud since they don't require vision.

3

Akali is very weak before level 6 and before her first item — punish her in lane with poke.

4

She's vulnerable between her two R charges — if she uses R1 to engage, she has to wait before R2.

Source: op.gg + LTL Engine · Patch 16.9.1 · May 9, 2026