LeBlanc vs Akali
Skill matchup
Build vs Akali
Build adapted to this matchup
Recommended items for LeBlanc: Luden's Echo, Shadowflame, Rabadon's Deathcap, Sorcerer's Shoes, Stormsurge, Dark Seal, Zhonya's Hourglass, Mejai's Soulstealer.
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 LeBlanc
Tips to maximize your impact
- Pop your sigil with a spell
After Sigil of Malice (Q), hit the target with another ability: the sigil only detonates on a spell, not on an auto.
- Distortion in, then come back
Take your trades with Distortion (W): within 4 seconds, recast it to return to where you started.
- Keep your target chained
After Ethereal Chains (E), keep the target chained for 1.5 seconds: they're then rooted and take extra damage, giving you time to land your burst.
- Look for isolated targets
In the mid game, look for isolated targets rather than head-on teamfights: your burst focuses one target, and Distortion (W) then takes you back out.
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 LeBlanc matchups
Patch 16.21.1