Akali is a high-mobility AP assassin. She has 4 dashes (E1, E2, R1, R2), a stealth shroud, and an execute ultimate. She's the flashiest mid laner in the game.
Abilities
Skills Overview
P
Assassin's Mark
Passive
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.
Assassin's Mark: abilities mark enemies. Auto-attacking a marked enemy deals bonus damage and restores energy. Always proc passive between abilities.
Q
Five Point Strike
AoE · Slow
Akali throws out five kunai, dealing damage based on her bonus Attack Damage and Ability Power and slowing.
CD: 1.5 · Cost: 110/100/90/80/70
Q throws kunai in a cone. Slows at max energy cost. Use for poke and waveclear.
W
Twilight Shroud
Stealth · Energy Restore
Akali drops a cover of smoke and briefly gains Move Speed. While inside the shroud, Akali becomes invisible and unable to be selected by enemy spells and attacks. Attacking or using abilities will briefly reveal her.
CD: 20/19/18/17/16 · Cost: 0
W drops a shroud that gives stealth and energy. You're invisible inside — enemies can't target you.
E
Shuriken Flip
Dash · Shuriken · Recast
Flip backward and fire a shuriken forward, dealing magic damage. The first enemy or smoke cloud hit is marked. Re-cast to dash to the marked target, dealing additional damage.
CD: 16/14.5/13/11.5/10 · Cost: 30
E1 throws a shuriken backward. E2 dashes to the shuriken's location. Use for gap-close or escape.
R
Perfect Execution
Dash · Execute
Akali leaps in a direction, damaging enemies she strikes. Re-cast: Akali dashes in a direction, executing all enemies she strikes.
CD: 120/90/60 · Cost: 0
R1 dashes to a target (small damage). R2 is the execute — massive damage to low-HP targets.
Skill Leveling Order — Max Q first, then E, then W · R at 6 / 11 / 16
| Level | Q | W | E | R | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Take Q | ||||
| 2 | Take W — shroud | ||||
| 3 | Take E — shuriken dash | ||||
| 4 | Level Q | ||||
| 5 | Level Q | ||||
| 6 | R — Perfect Execution | ||||
| 7 | Level Q | ||||
| 8 | Level E | ||||
| 9 | Q maxed ✓ | ||||
| 10 | Level E | ||||
| 11 | R rank 2 | ||||
| 12 | Level E | ||||
| 13 | Level E | ||||
| 14 | E maxed ✓ | ||||
| 15 | Level W | ||||
| 16 | R rank 3 | ||||
| 17 | Level W | ||||
| 18 | W maxed ✓ |
Itemization
Recommended Builds
Core Build
Hextech Rocketbelt
Dash + magic pen. 5th mobility tool.
2600g
Sorcerer's Shoes
Magic pen.
1100g
Zhonya's Hourglass
Stasis after R dive.
3250g
Rabadon's Deathcap
AP multiplier.
3600g
Situational
Void Staff
Magic pen vs MR.
2800g
Lich Bane
Passive proc burst.
3000g
Banshee's Veil
Spell shield.
2600g
Rocketbelt → Zhonya's → Deathcap. Dive → burst → Zhonya's → escape.
Runes
Domination Primary
Electrocute
Q + passive auto + E procs instantly.
Sudden Impact
Magic pen after E/R dash.
Eyeball Collection
Free AP.
Ultimate Hunter
Lower R cooldown.
Resolve Secondary
Bone Plating
Survive burst trades.
Overgrowth
Bonus HP.
Shards
Adaptive Force · Adaptive Force · Health
Gameplay
How to Play Akali
01
Early Game
Q Poke, Energy Management
- Q poke for CS and harass. Watch energy — Q costs a lot.
- Proc passive between abilities. Auto the marked enemy for bonus damage + energy.
- W shroud gives stealth + energy restore. Use to dodge key abilities.
- E1 backward → E2 forward is your gap-close. Or E1 forward → E2 to escape.
- Trade pattern: Q → passive auto → Q → passive auto. Energy efficient.
02
Mid Game
R1 Engage, W Shroud, R2 Execute
- R1 engage → Q → passive auto → W shroud → Q → passive auto → R2 execute.
- W inside enemy team = untargetable while dealing damage.
- E through walls for surprise flanks.
- R2 is an EXECUTE — deals more damage to low-HP targets. Save it for the kill.
- Roam with R1 gap-close. Push wave → R1 over wall → assassinate.
03
Late Game
Flanking Assassin
- Flank the backline. E through terrain → R1 onto carry → combo → R2 execute.
- W shroud in teamfights makes you impossible to target.
- R2 execute through multiple low-HP enemies for resets.
- Zhonya's after diving lets your team follow up while you're safe.
- You're an assassin — wait for cooldowns to be used, then dive.
Teamfighting
How to Teamfight as Akali
Akali flanks, dives the backline with R1, shrouds for stealth, and R2 executes.
1
Flank — E/R1 Engage
Gap close
01
E through terrain for surprise.
02
R1 onto the carry.
03
Q + passive auto for burst.
Don't R2 immediately. R2 is your EXECUTE — save it for when the target is low.
2
Shroud — W Stealth
Untargetable
01
W in the middle of enemies.
02
You're invisible — they can't target you.
03
Q + passive auto from shroud for damage.
3
Execute — R2 Finish
Kill confirm
01
R2 when target is below 30% HP.
02
R2 deals %missing HP — execute damage.
03
R2 can hit multiple enemies in a line.
R2 deals more damage the lower the target's HP. At 10% HP, R2 deals nearly double damage. Never R2 a full-HP target.
Tips & Tricks
Advanced Mechanics & Hidden Tech
Advanced mechanics for Akali.
Basic
Passive Proc
Always auto between abilities. Passive deals bonus damage and restores energy. Q → auto → Q → auto.
Intermediate
Energy Management
Q costs a lot of energy. Don't spam Q without proccing passive autos. W restores energy.
Advanced
E Through Walls
E1 shuriken passes through terrain. E2 dashes to it. Use for surprise flanks from fog of war.
Basic
R2 Execute
R2 deals more damage to lower HP targets. Save it for the killing blow.
Intermediate
W Shroud
W makes you invisible to enemies. Use it to dodge abilities, drop aggro, and buy time for cooldowns.
Advanced
Combo Order
R1 → Q → passive auto → W → Q → passive auto → E → passive auto → R2. Full energy-efficient combo.
Matchups
Counters & Matchups
Akali struggles against poke mages who harass before she can engage and champions with reveals. She excels against immobile mages she can dive.
Click any matchup to expand tips & how to play against them
Loses Against
Annie point-and-click stun prevents your combo. Can't dodge it.
Bait her stun with W shroud. All-in when stun is down.
Malz R suppresses through shroud. Can't dodge it.
Buy QSS or bait his R with W.
Turrets reveal you in shroud. Can't trade into 3 turrets.
Roam instead of fighting. You can't kill him in lane.
Wins Against
Veigar is immobile. You dash through his cage with E/R.
E through his cage. Assassinate him freely.
You dodge everything with W shroud and E dashes.
W her combo, then all-in. She has no escape.
TF is squishy and immobile. Free kill at 6.
R1 onto TF → full combo → dead.