Vex vs Akali
Favorable matchup
Build vs Akali
Build adapted to this matchup
Recommended items for Vex: Luden's Echo, Shadowflame, Zhonya's Hourglass, Sorcerer's Shoes, Stormsurge, Dark Seal, Rabadon's Deathcap, Blackfire Torch.
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 Vex
Tips to maximize your impact
- Save your empowered spell for a dash
When Doom 'n Gloom (passive) is ready, save Personal Space (W) for the enemy who jumps on you: the shockwave fears them and interrupts their dash, and you gain a shield.
- Make every dash cost them
When an enemy dashes near you, Doom 'n Gloom (passive) marks them: hit them with Mistral Bolt (Q) for bonus damage, and your empowerment comes back sooner.
- Ult in, then Personal Space
After the Shadow Surge (R) dash, follow up with Personal Space (W): the shield protects you on arrival, and the shockwave fears if Doom 'n Gloom (passive) is ready.
- Chain your ults
If the champion marked by Shadow Surge (R) dies shortly after being hit by it, its cooldown is reset for a moment: recast it right away at another target.
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.
Patch 16.21.1