Current Patch 9.18

Nerfs
Higher CD, Less Unnecessary AP Damage Before 11
Weaker Against TP Match-Ups or Channels
Still Very Viable
Cosmic is High Priority.


Previous Patch Analysis Prediction:

Akali will still be pretty effective, but the practice tool might be an essential asset, instead of the usual grind, now that players will no longer have the ultimate or the microstun every two minutes. The additional 40 second wait, will make cooldown and movement speed runes & items viable, such as: Ultimate Hunter, Cosmic, Transendence, Zhonya's, Banchee's Veil, Spirit's Visige, Maw of Maltorious, Ionian Boots of Lucidity.

Empire vs Rebels (MS or CD) These are currently the best adaptions to beat the nerfs in the patch ahead.

You'll still be able to execute combos that you would have before when you'll have relied on your microstun, but depending on the enemy champion flash might need to be used more often. If you were already using flash, then nimbus cloud might work as an alternative, but we'll just have to continute to make adaptations for the better of our champions. Since Q isn't going to be nerfed next patch, I would highly recommend bringing Doran's Ring while her AOE speed clear is still viable. Build an early Dark Seal if you're ahead.

Over 2k Ranked Games on New Akali!

First of all, even though just about any assassin can get fed thanks to the enemy opponent being low elo, and not knowing how to fight assassin's, the same goes the other way around. You'll only get consistently fed every game if you know how to play your assassin. Though, you need to be careful just because you get fed, doesn't mean you'll win the game. Since Akali is a hybrid champion, she can also play like a bruiser, which can be an advantage and a disadvantage for the player, playing on one style isn't the way to go as you need to use her in the most efficient and trickily as possible to unlock her full potential. This also means that she can win in a fight against the best duelists in the game such as champions like Fiora, Jax, and the infamous Riven.

1. Basics
a. Alternative Champions & Counter Picks
2. Mechanics
a. Bruiser
b. Assassin
3. Phases
a. Early Game
b. Splitting
c. Laning Phase





Comfortable Rune Page Against AP Champs



Safe Healing Runes




Against Tank Counters such as Galio, Renekton, etc



Mainly Used for Poking the Enemy Champion



Basics

First of All, let's talk about Akali as a whole. She's a burst assassin with options in her kit to poke and trade being an All-Star in terms of viability for any composition. You can always have what seems like horrendous garbage spreading through champion select after champion select that gets into your games; though she has a lot more chance to shine than say simple mages or other assassins duo to the fact that she can build AD/AP or even a tank route.

a. Thought that's where we get into alternative picks, since she's not always viable in every team composition, and dodging every game she gets picked/banned isn't the best idea if you only have one account, also just on any other champion, but due to the big swing in pick/ban rates, I suggest a back up champion.

Alternative Champions or Legends that I use include: Katarina, Zed, and Qiyana as they all have the mobility, burst, and mechanical outplays that I'm interested in. Other's include Talon, Irelia, Ekko, Kennen or Fizz. If you can manage to become very good at playing Leblanc, I recommend you play her since she is one of Akali's greatest counter. An easier counter would have to be Kennen as his CC can be a pain in the rear. Sylas is a great pick even though the community might say he's a terrible in the current patch. If you're playing an off role, I would suggest playing champions like Lee Sin, Alister, if you know she's in the top lane pick someone like Tahm Kench. Also in the Top Lane, some good champions to pick up are Poppy, Fiora, Gnar, and Camille.

Look at any well known NA Akali One Trick, wait no, anybody playing Akali in general, they'll make major mistakes either by overestimating themselves or just misplaying the situation, because they are expecting to play perfectly in any situation. Playing Akali is not just mechanical outplay, but knowing what might happen if you make a single mistake. This is why Akali can be considered a hard champion, and why high elo players make the champion look broken, whereas in low elo you generally look and see a pile of trash. When you're playing Akali, make sure to think a few steps ahead, sort of like in chess.

Alternative Akali Items:

Healing + AD

Healing + MR + MS

Healing + MR + CD + HP + HP Regen

Grevious Wounds + Armor + HP

Armor + CD (Lich Bane/Rylai Alternative)

MR + AD + CD + Spellvamp

AP + CD + AS (Also Lich Bane Alternative)

AS + Penetration (Objective Slasher)

HP + AD + Tenacity (Good Combo with Mercury Treads as well as Legend:Tenacity



All too often do I see players, including myself lose a fight or a skirmish because they can't navigate the shroud. You'll not just need to know your champion, but the whole enemy composition. How they'll move, as well as how their spells will effect the way you play the game. That also blends with my next topic, you'll want to prioritize when you want to play like an assassin or bruiser.

Depending on your style of play, you can start the game Electrocute or Conqueror. A keystone that combines both of these traits of burst and trade would be Comet. Fleet is a good rune when you've mastered Akali or have just started. Adaption is a big part of winning and losing as Akali, as you'll have to decide between bettering your strengths based on your current runes, covering the weaknesses of your team, or countering the enemy team.

Mechanics

You can use your E in various ways, make sure to get creative with your combos. Since they haven't removed the ability to E on shroud it's highly recommended to predict sticky situations. It's very similar to Katarina's Shunpo and Blink, placing a dagger and using your E to get back to your previous location. I see many players of making the mistake not to use their R as an engage,even Faker does this though it's not necessarily a bad thing, unless you're constantly missing out on plays that could have given you an advantage.

In the laning phase, as Akali you're able to use your Q to last hit; very obvious, but keynote is that, using it sparingly will prevent a lot more deaths. Combos W -> E -> Q or E -> Q if you don't know where the enemy jungler is will be imperative trading tools.

Splitting is much safer on Akali than most other champions, but it's also the most dangerous if you're using your moves to clear waves. Make sure that you know where the enemy champions are by warding, and constantly looking at the map.

Another part of playing Akali, or any other assassin to stay in the shadows. A good way to do this is to make sure you swap to Oracle Lens after you've bought your Hextech Revolver or Bilgewater Cutlass. If the enemies don't know where you're located, they have to play much safer, or they'll be open to punishments. If they approach the brush you're located in, slow the enemy targeted by using Q then follow up with an E in the opposite direction, unless you know they have flash down then E onto them.

Using your W correctly can mean the difference between getting hit by CC after CC, and making the biggest outplay of your life or getting a pentakill. There's really no key secret to better shroud play, because the only real way to improve is by playing and observing. But something to keep in mind is attack speed is so good for Akali even though nobody picks it up. I suggest bringing alacrity if the enemy team doesn't have a ton of CC, or if it can't be stopped by tenacity.





I think anyone who's trying to learn Akali should be withholding themselves from watching Akali community Montages mainly because they're generally inexperienced with the champion. There are a few people worth learning things from such as Faker, Yamikaze, PA, etc. Also, pro-players are good in general, since they generally make better plays than the average diamond player.

A key point to learning any champion is by playing both the passive and aggressive style. This is how you pull of what seems like the impossible, this is what helps you to blow the minds of your opponent.

Invades

Fleet is good for maintaining health and propelling yourself forward to the enemy. Also, you're generally going to want to bring Ravenous for this situation unless you're confident that you can cheese the enemies, if so then bring Absolute Focus, Scorch, Legend: AS and Coupe De Grae to maximize damage.

You'll want to refrain from invading the enemy team if it includes champions with Hooks/Crowd Control.

Farming Under Tower
Getting hard pushed under tower during the first to second wave is going to require you to take W immediately when you level up.

Combination Time!

P

Your passive is empowered everytime you damage an enemy. It doesn't stack.

Q

Though this isn't neccessarily a combo, but this is good for slowing the opponent in order to get away or engage after stepping out of the ring.

W

Your main source of for outplay potential as it allows you to trade while maintaining massive health advantage.

It's important to be aware that you're given a boost in movement speed, and since Akali's movement speed is already higher than most champs be sure to take advantage of this.

An important tip is to remember that shrouding in the river is the best spot for get aways because it's harder for the enemy to predict you since they can't see the shroud. This is a key tip for juking out the enemy when you're in a tight situation.

E

Allows you to get your passive right away.

E2 -> Q

This is just another way to slow the enemy while you're flying towards them. The majority of the time you're going to want to wait until after your kick the opponent in order to maximize damage.

R

Knowing your ultimate helps to throw out combos more efficiently as the microstun gives you the chance to stun the target, which usually leads to a kill.

Combo Openers

Q ->P-> AA

Your main tool for trading and engaging.

Q -> E1 -> E2 ->AA
Easy base combo, gets your electrocute off. Good for trading.

Gunblade -> Q -> Ignite

As Akali, this is one of your easiest combos. It will shred squishies and make the enemy tank/bruiser easier to kill.

Gunblade -> E

Gunblade already is helping you slow the enemy making it easier to hit your E, but if you're running sudden impact then this will simply lead into more burst combos.

Combo to Shroud Execution

E1 -> P -> E2 -> Q -> P ->AA -> W -> Q -> P -> AA

Similar to the Next combo, but without the ultimate, if the enemy is still alive, then wait it out in your shroud until you have enough energy for another Q. With the new nerfs though, unless you time your shroud well enough, your best bet is to fake out the enemy and retreat.

Way to Integrate Ultimate into Combination

E1 -> P -> E2 -> R1 -> P -> Q -> P -> AA -> R2

Common combo if you have ultimate hunter or catching out the enemy. If you're going to continue to Q -> AA because they're not low enough, make sure to W in the middle of the fight for energy restoration.

E2 -> R1 -> P -> E2 -> Q -> Gunblade -> R2

If you know your strength and power gap between your enemy laner this can be a great way to execute the enemy in their tower.

Flash Mechanics

W -> Flash

Engage or Retreat

Flash -> E or E-> Flash

The first one is easier, but if you can execute it, flash right after your E in order for the shuriken to start flying where you're located after the flash.

Q -> Flash or Flash -> Q

Just like the previous Combo it will always be easier to Flash before your ability but it's better to flash right afterwards in order to animation cancel. Think Riven or Lee Sin.

R -> Flash

Yes, ninja will be ninja. Flash immediately after R for a suprise microstun, in order to lead into your other combos.

If you like the guide, please make sure to give it a vote & comment as it helps me know what to improve on for the future of this guide. I'm going to be continuing to update this guide even as Akali gets nerfed in the future, so look forward to it. Good look in learning Akali, she's an absolute beast if you can play her to her maximum potential.