Syndra vs Akali
Skill matchup
Build vs Akali
Build adapted to this matchup
Recommended items for Syndra: Luden's Echo, Shadowflame, Rabadon's Deathcap, Sorcerer's Shoes, Blackfire Torch, Zhonya's Hourglass, Stormsurge, 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 Syndra
Tips to maximize your impact
- Push a sphere to stun
Place Dark Sphere (Q) between you and your target, then cast Scatter the Weak (E): the sphere you push stuns the enemies it hits.
- Follow Force of Will with a sphere
After landing Force of Will (W), follow up right away with Dark Sphere (Q): the target is slowed and has a hard time dodging it.
- Poke with Dark Sphere
Poke with Dark Sphere (Q) from level 1: it has 800 range, its cooldown is only 7 seconds, and each rank of your ult lowers it further.
- Damage enemies to grow your spells
Hit enemies whenever you can: Transcendent (passive) gives you Splinters of Wrath for every level and every hit, and each threshold upgrades one of your spells.
- Set up spheres before your ult
Place several spheres before Unleashed Power (R): the ult launches the 3 orbiting you at your target, plus up to 4 more nearby.
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 Syndra matchups
Patch 16.21.1