Comprehensive Champion Guide: Akali - Master The Rogue Assassin
Akali is a high-mobility assassin who excels at quick burst damage and outplaying opponents. Here's a comprehensive guide to mastering her abilities and playstyle.
Core Abilities Overview:
Passive - Assassin's Mark After hitting a champion with an ability, Akali creates a ring around them. Moving towards this ring grants movement speed, and crossing it empowers her next auto-attack with extended range and bonus damage.
Q - Five Point Strike
- Short-range skillshot dealing magic damage
- Low cooldown, energy-based
- Damage increases and energy cost decreases with each rank
- Max this ability first
W - Twilight Shroud
- Creates an expanding smoke ring
- Grants invisibility and movement speed
- Restores 100 energy
- Brief reveal when attacking from stealth
E - Shuriken Flip
- Similar to Caitlyn's E
- Backflips while throwing a shuriken
- Can reactivate to dash to marked targets
- Works at any distance, dealing significant damage
R - Perfect Execution
- First cast: Targeted dash dealing magic damage
- Second cast (after 2.5s): Free-direction dash
- Damage scales with target's missing health
Gameplay Tips:
- Trading Pattern:
- Initiate with W or E
- Q → collect passive at ring
- Auto-attack to trigger passive
- Repeat Q-passive combo
- Damage Optimization:
- Against squishies: Focus on quick burst combos
- Against tanks: Weave in more passive procs
- Use energy efficiently with W restoration
- Energy Management:
- Utilize W's energy restore
- Balance ability usage with passive procs
- Avoid wasting energy on unnecessary abilities
Recommended Build Path:
Starting Items:
- Doran's Ring
- Health Potions
Core Items:
- Hextech Rocketbelt
- Shadowflame
- Zhonya's Hourglass
Situational Items:
- Demonic Embrace (vs tanks)
- Void Staff (vs magic resist)
- Rabadon's Deathcap (when ahead)
Key Runes:
- Domination (Primary)
- Resolve (Secondary)
Focus on AP and Magic Penetration items since Ability Haste has limited value due to energy costs. Defensive items with AP help maintain aggressive playstyle while improving survivability.