Cassiopeia vs Akali
Skill matchup
Build vs Akali
Build adapted to this matchup
Recommended items for Cassiopeia: Tear of the Goddess, Rod of Ages, Seraph's Embrace, Boots of Swiftness, Rylai's Crystal Scepter, Liandry's Torment, Zhonya's Hourglass, Dark Seal.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Akali's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
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
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 1.5s | 20s | 16s | – |
| 6 | 1.5s | 20s | 16s | 2m |
| 9 | 1.5s | 19s | 16s | 2m |
| 11 | 1.5s | 18s | 16s | 1m30 |
| 16 | 1.5s | 16s | 13s | 1m |
| 18 | 1.5s | 16s | 10s | 1m |
Playing as Cassiopeia
Tips to maximize your impact
- Poison, then bite
Land Noxious Blast (Q), then chain Twin Fang (E) while the poison lasts: the poisoned target takes extra damage, and you heal.
- Kite with your speed
Hit a champion with Noxious Blast (Q) to kite: the spell gives you move speed, and Serpentine Grace (passive) makes every speed bonus more effective.
- Ground those who dive you
Place Miasma (W) on those trying to jump on you: inside the clouds, enemies are slowed and can't use movement abilities.
- Turn to face your pursuers
Cast Petrifying Gaze (R) toward those chasing you, after a Flash if needed: those facing you are stunned, the others only slowed.
Playing against Akali
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Trade after her smoke
Take a trade once Twilight Shroud (W) is used: she can't vanish again until its 20 to 16 second cooldown is over.
- Play hard before she hits 6
Play hard before she hits level 6: without Perfect Execution (R), her only spell to get back on you is Shuriken Flip (E), on a 16 to 10 second cooldown.
- Fire into her smoke
If you have AoE spells or skillshots, throw them into the Twilight Shroud (W) smoke: they hit her even while she's invisible, whereas targeted spells can't be cast on her.
- Punish her when she's low on energy
Take a trade when she has just cast Five Point Strike (Q) several times: each cast costs 110 to 70 energy depending on rank, from a base pool of 200.
- Hit her between her two dashes
Hit her right after the first dash of Perfect Execution (R): she has to wait a moment before she can cast the second.
Other Cassiopeia matchups
Patch 16.21.1