Matchup

High burstHeavy AP damageDive threatSplit push

You are stronger late game — farm safe and avoid early trades.

Build vs Akali

Build adapted to this matchup

Starting items

Doran's Blade
Health Potion

Core build

Kraken Slayer
1DPS
Fiendhunter Bolts
2DPS
Infinity Edge
3DPS

Standard

Berserker's Greaves
4AS
Lord Dominik's Regards
5vs Tank

Summoner spells

421100%

Anti AD

Plated Steelcaps
4vs AD
Guardian Angel
5vs AD

Anti Heal

Mortal Reminder
6vs Hybride

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Anti Tank

Lord Dominik's Regards
5vs Tank

DPS

Immortal Shieldbow
DPS
Hexoptics C44
DPS
Bloodthirster
DPS
50.0% WR2 games
PrecisionPrecision
Lethal TempoLethal Tempo
TriumphTriumph
Legend: BloodlineLegend: Bloodline
Cut DownCut Down
InspirationInspiration
Triple TonicTriple Tonic
Cash BackCash Back
Attack SpeedAdaptive ForceHealth

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Early (0-15)
Mid (15-30)
Late (30+)
YunaraYunara
AkaliAkali
Passive
Neutral
Aggressive

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