Qiyana vs Akali

Qiyana
vs
Not enough games
Akali
Heavy AP damageHigh burstDive threatStrong engage

You are stronger late game. Farm safe and avoid early trades.

Build vs Akali

The champion's reference build, for lack of enough games in this matchup

Recommended items for Qiyana: Voltaic Cyclosword, Bastionbreaker, Edge of Night, Ionian Boots of Lucidity, Serylda's Grudge, Serpent's Fang, Guardian Angel, Youmuu's Ghostblade.

Starting items

Gustwalker Hatchling

Core build

Voltaic Cyclosword
1
Bastionbreaker
2
Edge of Night
3

Standard

Ionian Boots of Lucidity
4CDR
Serylda's Grudge
5

Summoner spells

FlashSmite100%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Serylda's Grudge
Serpent's Fang
Guardian Angel
Youmuu's Ghostblade
InspirationInspiration
First StrikeFirst Strike
Cash BackCash Back
Triple TonicTriple Tonic
Cosmic InsightCosmic Insight
DominationDomination
Treasure HunterTreasure Hunter
Sudden ImpactSudden Impact
Adaptive ForceAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

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 as Qiyana

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. Pick your element for the job

    Pick your Terrashape (W) element for the job: river for an Ice root, terrain for Rock's bonus damage on low-health targets, brush for Wild's invisibility.

  2. Two Elemental Wraths with Terrashape

    Cast Terrashape (W) right after Elemental Wrath (Q): the dash resets its cooldown, so you can recast it in the same combo.

  3. Slam them against a wall

    Cast Supreme Display of Talent (R) toward a wall near the enemies: the explosion runs along the whole edge of the obstacle, and any river or brush it crosses explodes too.

  4. Roam with the brush element

    Roam with Wild, the brush element: Elemental Wrath (Q) then leaves a trail that makes you invisible and speeds you up.

Playing against Akali

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

Patch 16.21.1