First, thank you for the upvote and reading this guide, as well as for liking it. :) Okay for your question about using smite, recently there are gamers who uses smite on top lanes. THey are asking why? According to some articles which states that having smite on top lane has it's role bigger than expected. You'll confuse the enemy side which champion will jungle for a short period of time and they'll switch strategies as early as possible with a 50/50 probability. Next, it can be use to counter jungle if your jungler is on the other side of the map where you can freely visit enemy the enemy jungler and counter them delaying their progress and killing them in the process. High mobile/tanky champs should at least have this strategy late game since if the player's good to handle champs like this, having those summoner spells won't be a problem but it also should come with a practice. Not all strategy works. It depends on the player but it's where the challenge starts and the application of new strategy which others will adapt to making a new type of meta which can destroy meta based players.

Though in my opinion, smite should stay in the jungle as it's what the skill is intended to be used for. But gameplay changes, whether smite in lane or in the jungle, player's wit will have a big role later in the game. :)

thanks for the guide please answer the question soon in previous post

I love the guide. I use to use her for jg long ago and was told with what runes in had could jg with her. but previous seasons she kinda dropped off so... this guide is pretty much a god save towards jg akali for me.
question though anything for ap champs like fizz top and with how new meta and such anything on using smite via lane base since I just had a game where fizz took it for the burring health item.

I usually go for mid with Akali but ranged AP users get the most out of me. I'm not a good nor a great player and was about to dish my favorite assassin in mid-lane. I'm just mediocre player but this guide helped me a lot. I can now match different ap champions in the mid now. Thank you for this guide. :)

Ah yes yes the DFG sorry I forgot about that during my last update I was very busy with work but I'll update this on my off. Btw, thanks for reading and for the upvote. :)

REALLY GOOD GUIDE!!! BUT it needs a few updates i think. For example Deathfire Grasp is gone... it could be replaced by ludens echo.

Don't worry about it. I totally understand. :)

You are welcome :). Anyway, buying Akali after being nerf is totally worth your IP or RP. Katarina got a huge buff from before while Akali gets weaker and weaker as time passes though there are still ways on how to counter mid lane champs that's why I made this guide. Indeed Katarina can just use her range skill to damage you from afar 'til your health drops low and Ult you later on though it will still depend on how you play against her. Main difference between Kat and Aka is the early aggression and the CD of their skills but when both or either of them reaches lvl 6, it will be different though you can still par with her early game.

Just try different types of sets found in this guide to match up your preference against mid lane champs and even laning against Katarina. :)

Good descriptions of matchups and playstyle, I just have to disagree with the item choices here.

is akali still worth buying after the nerf ?
and what is main defrences betweens akali and katarina now ?
thanks for the guide

Oh there'll be many.. for the ladies in the near future.. :D

lol thanks for voting my friend.. Is she a bird or is it my bird flying towards my Akali sweetheart? :D joke guys..