Locke vs Akshan
Build vs Akshan
The champion's reference build, for lack of enough games in this matchup
Recommended items for Locke: Lich Bane, Shadowflame, Zhonya's Hourglass, Sorcerer's Shoes, Rabadon's Deathcap, Void Staff, Banshee's Veil, Stormsurge.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Akshan's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
Every three hits from Akshan's Attacks and Abilities deals bonus damage and grants him a Shield if the target was a champion.When Akshan Attacks, he fires an additional Attack for reduced damage. If he cancels the additional Attack, he instead gains Move Speed.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 9s | 18s | 18s | – |
| 6 | 7s | 18s | 18s | 1m40 |
| 9 | 5s | 14s | 18s | 1m40 |
| 11 | 5s | 10s | 18s | 1m25 |
| 16 | 5s | 2s | 15s | 1m10 |
| 18 | 5s | 2s | 12s | 1m10 |
Playing as Locke
Tips to maximize your impact
- Nails first, then Pursuit
Cast Ritual Nails (Q) before Ashen Pursuit (E): your hits consume the nails stuck in the target, and each extra nail adds damage.
- Finish them with autos
Finish off wounded targets with autos: Silver Stake (passive) adds magic damage that grows with their missing health.
- Activate W as the trade starts
Activate Soul Ignition (W) at the start of a trade: it costs you health, but at the end, you heal back part of the last damage taken, plus more based on your missing health.
- Save E for a kill or a gank
Save Ashen Pursuit (E) for a sure kill or to escape a gank: it's your only instant movement, it has a 10-second cooldown, and only a takedown resets it.
- Save Purgatory to finish
Save Purgatory (R) to finish: it seals marked enemies below a health threshold, and when you pick up the artifact, each sealed champion raises that threshold for good.
Playing against Akshan
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Cut his swing short
Step into the path of Heroic Swing (E) rather than turning your back: any contact with you ends the swing, and with it his repeated shots.
- Hide behind a minion
Put a minion between you and him when he charges Comeuppance (R): the bullets stop on the first champion, minion or structure hit.
- Watch out after a kill
After you kill one of his allies, keep your distance from Akshan: Going Rogue (W) marks you, and if he kills you, he revives the allies you killed.
Other Locke matchups
Patch 16.21.1