Matchup

High burstHeavy AP damageDive threatSplit push

Build vs Akali

Build adapted to this matchup

Starting items

Health Potion
x2

Core build

Tear of the Goddess
1
Locket of the Iron Solari
2HP
Fimbulwinter
3Survival

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Solstice Sleigh
5HP

Anti AD

Plated Steelcaps
4vs AD
Knight's Vow
5vs AD

Anti Heal

Thornmail
6vs Hybride

Anti AP

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC
Bandlepipes
5vs Hybride
Force of Nature
vs AP

Other options

Solstice Sleigh
HP
Ardent Censer
Moonstone Renewer
HP

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Early (0-15)
Mid (15-30)
Late (30+)
TaricTaric
AkaliAkali
Passive
Favorable
Favorable

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 against Akali

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

1

Her W (Shroud) has a long cooldown (20s) — once she uses it, engage because she has no protection left.

2

AoE abilities and untargeted CC (skillshots) are effective in her shroud since they don't require vision.

3

Akali is very weak before level 6 and before her first item — punish her in lane with poke.

4

She's vulnerable between her two R charges — if she uses R1 to engage, she has to wait before R2.

Source: op.gg + LTL Engine · Patch 16.9.1 · May 9, 2026