Akshan is a roaming AD mid laner. His W revive mechanic is game-changing — killing the enemy who killed your teammate brings them back. He plays like a mobile marksman in the mid lane.
Abilities
Skills Overview
P
Dirty Fighting
Passive
Every three hits from Akshan's Attacks and Abilities deals bonus damage and grants him a Shield if the target was a champion.When Akshan Attacks, he fires an additional Attack for reduced damage. If he cancels the additional Attack, he instead gains Move Speed.
Dirty Fighting: every other auto fires a second shot. Cancel the animation to double-hit faster.
Q
Avengerang
Skillshot · Boomerang
Akshan throws a boomerang that deals damage going out and coming back, extending its range each time it hits an enemy.
CD: 9/8/7/6/5 · Cost: 60/65/70/75/80
Q is a boomerang that extends when hitting a champion. Hits going out and coming back.
W
Going Rogue
Stealth · Revive · Trail
Akshan passively marks enemy champions as Scoundrels when they kill his ally champions. If Akshan kills a Scoundrel, he resurrects the allies they killed, gains bonus gold, and clears all marks.When activated, Akshan enters camouflage and gains Move Speed and Mana Regen while moving towards Scoundrels. Akshan loses the camouflage quickly while he is not in brush or near terrain.
CD: 18/14/10/6/2 · Cost: 40/30/20/10/0
W passive: enemies who kill your allies become Scoundrels. Killing the Scoundrel REVIVES your dead teammates. W active gives stealth near terrain.
E
Heroic Swing
Grapple · Dash · AoE
Akshan fires a grappling hook into terrain then swings around it, repeatedly firing at the nearest enemy while swinging. He can jump off early or gets knocked off when colliding with champions or terrain.
CD: 18/16.5/15/13.5/12 · Cost: 70
E grappling hook swings around terrain. You fire autos during the swing. Massive mobility tool.
R
Comeuppance
Channel · Lock-On · Execute
Akshan locks onto an enemy champion and starts storing bullets. When released, he fires all stored bullets, dealing damage based on missing health to the first champion, minion, or structure hit.
CD: 100/85/70 · Cost: 100
R locks onto a target and channels bullets. Can be blocked by allies standing in front.
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 E — grapple | ||||
| 3 | Take W — stealth/revive | ||||
| 4 | Level Q | ||||
| 5 | Level Q | ||||
| 6 | R — Comeuppance | ||||
| 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
Kraken Slayer
True damage with passive double-shot.
3100g
Berserker's Greaves
AS for double-shot procs.
1100g
Blade of the Ruined King
%HP on-hit. Double-shot procs it twice.
3200g
Wit's End
MR + on-hit magic damage.
3100g
Situational
Infinity Edge
Crit multiplier.
3400g
Guardian Angel
Revive.
3200g
Maw of Malmortius
Magic shield.
2800g
Kraken → BotRK → Wit's End. On-hit double-shot ADC-style mid laner.
Runes
Precision Primary
Press the Attack
Double-shot procs PtA in 2 attacks.
Presence of Mind
Mana sustain.
Legend: Alacrity
AS.
Coup de Grace
Execute.
Domination Secondary
Taste of Blood
Sustain.
Treasure Hunter
Gold.
Shards
Attack Speed · Adaptive Force · Health
Gameplay
How to Play Akshan
01
Early Game
Q Poke, Passive Double-Shot Trades
- Passive double-shot wins short trades. Auto → cancel → double hit.
- Q poke through the wave. It extends on champion hit.
- E grapple for gap-closing or escaping ganks.
- W stealth near terrain for safe roams.
- Push and roam — your W revive makes roaming extremely valuable.
02
Mid Game
Roam with E, Revive with W
- W revive: if an enemy kills your ally, they become a Scoundrel. Kill them = revive your ally.
- E grapple + autos during swing for insane burst.
- R channel for single-target execute. Enemies can bodyblock it.
- Roam to bot lane with W stealth. Kill the scoundrel, revive your dead support.
- Push mid with Q, then W stealth through terrain to gank.
03
Late Game
Revive Utility + DPS
- W revive can turn a lost fight into a won one. Kill the scoundrel = 2 allies revive.
- E grapple in teamfights for repositioning and damage.
- Play like an ADC from mid — auto-attack from distance.
- R to finish low targets. Only use when no one can bodyblock.
- Your revive mechanic alone makes you worth picking.
Teamfighting
How to Teamfight as Akshan
Akshan plays as a mobile DPS with revive utility. Kill the scoundrel to revive teammates.
1
Position — Flank with E
Mobility
01
E grapple from the side.
02
Auto during swing for AoE damage.
03
Land behind enemy backline.
E is your only escape. Don't swing into 5 enemies without a way out.
2
DPS — Double-Shot Autos
Sustained damage
01
Auto-attack with passive double-shot.
02
On-hit procs twice per double-shot.
03
Q for extra damage between autos.
3
Revive — Kill the Scoundrel
Game-changing
01
Prioritize killing the Scoundrel (enemy who killed your ally).
02
Scoundrel kill revives dead teammates at base.
03
4v5 becomes 5v5 instantly.
W revive is the most unique mechanic in the game. In late game, reviving your ADC after they die wins the fight.
Tips & Tricks
Advanced Mechanics & Hidden Tech
Advanced mechanics for Akshan.
Basic
Double-Shot
Every other auto fires a second shot. Cancel the animation for faster double-hits.
Intermediate
W Revive
Enemies who kill your allies become Scoundrels. Killing them revives your dead teammates at base.
Basic
E Grapple
E swings around terrain. You fire autos during the swing. Great for gap-closing and escaping.
Advanced
E Grapple Autos
You fire autos rapidly during E swing. Position to swing through enemies for massive damage.
Basic
R Bodyblock
R can be blocked by allies standing in front. Only R when the target is isolated.
Intermediate
Roaming
W stealth near terrain. Push mid → W stealth through river → gank. Your roam is stealthy and dangerous.
Matchups
Counters & Matchups
Akshan struggles against burst mages who kill him before he can proc double-shot. He excels against immobile mages he can roam against.
Click any matchup to expand tips & how to play against them
Loses Against
Syndra outranges and bursts you.
Dodge her Q. All-in with E grapple.
Viktor's burst and zone control overwhelm you.
Roam instead of fighting Viktor.
Anivia walls block your E grapple and she outranges you.
Roam. Don't fight Anivia in lane.
Wins Against
TF is squishy. You kill him easily with E grapple + autos.
E grapple → double-shot → dead.
Veigar is immobile. You dash through his cage with E.
E through cage. Kill him.
Kassadin is weak pre-6 and you bully him with autos.
Auto-attack constantly. He can't trade back pre-6.