Vel'Koz vs Akali

Vel'Koz
vs
43.9%

over 41 games

Akali

Hard matchup

Heavy AP damageHigh burstDive threatStrong engage

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

Build vs Akali

Build adapted to this matchup

Recommended items for Vel'Koz: Luden's Echo, Shadowflame, Zhonya's Hourglass, Sorcerer's Shoes, Blackfire Torch, Rabadon's Deathcap, Horizon Focus, Dark Seal.

Starting items

Doran's Ring
Health Potion
x2

Core build

Luden's Echo
1
Shadowflame
2
Zhonya's Hourglass
3

Standard

Sorcerer's Shoes
4Magic pen
Blackfire Torch
5

Summoner spells

FlashBarrier48%
FlashTeleport33%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Blackfire Torch
Rabadon's Deathcap
Horizon Focus
Dark Seal
Oblivion Orb
Mejai's Soulstealer
Stormsurge
Banshee's Veil
Liandry's Torment
Void Staff
20.0% WR5 games
SorcerySorcery
Arcane CometArcane Comet
Manaflow BandManaflow Band
TranscendenceTranscendence
ScorchScorch
PrecisionPrecision
Cut DownCut Down
Legend: HasteLegend: Haste
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 Vel'Koz

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. Three spells for the burst

    Hit the same target with three spells: at three stacks, Organic Deconstruction (passive) bursts and deals true damage to them.

  2. Poke and farm with your rift

    Stay back and poke with Void Rift (W): its two charges let you kill minions while stacking your passive on your opponent.

  3. Split your plasma to hit at an angle

    Recast Plasma Fission (Q) to split it: the two bolts fly off at 90 degrees, which lets you hit a target hiding behind their minions.

  4. Start your ray after a knock-up

    Cast Life Form Disintegration Ray (R) after the Tectonic Disruption (E) knock-up: your target can't escape, and the ray deals true damage to targets of Organic Deconstruction (passive).

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