Sion vs Akali

51.9%

over 520 games

Skill matchup

Heavy AP damageHigh burstDive threatSplit push

Build vs Akali

Build adapted to this matchup

Starting items

—

Core build

1—

2—

3—

Standard

4vs Slow

5—

Summoner spells

88%

Other options

—

66.7% WR45 games

Resolve

Grasp of the Undying

Demolish

Conditioning

Overgrowth

Inspiration

Cash Back

Approach Velocity

Strength by game phase

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 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

Tips to maximize your impact

Last-hit everything for max health
Last-hit minions and monsters for Soul Furnace (W): each kill permanently gives you max health, more on champions, large minions and large monsters.
Slow before your Smash
Slow your target with Roar of the Slayer (E) before charging Decimating Smash (Q): they're less likely to get out of the area.
Charge your Smash for at least 1 second
Charge Decimating Smash (Q) for at least 1 second: below that, the hit only slows, and beyond it, the knock-up and stun last longer the more you charge.
Keep hitting after you die
After you die, hit the nearest champion: during Glory in Death (passive), your autos are much faster, heal you and deal damage based on their max health.
Engage or roam from far away
Cast Unstoppable Onslaught (R) from far away to engage or roam: unstoppable for 8 seconds, you stun longer and hit harder after a long charge.

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.

Patch 16.21.1