Akali, The Fist of Shadow.
That's my first Akali Guide on Mobafire, of course there are lots of guides about that fascinating champion, but I wanna try it on my own.

Akali is a Melee AP-Burstdamage Assassin,that can on the one handside deal significant Damage to a single enemy target and on the other handside confuse the enemy team during teamfight in combination with suddenly dealing hard damage to a chosen target.

The following Guide is supposed to give you a view inside the gameplay possibilities and the basic gameplay structures of Akali.

As a legend for my guide pls notice the following shortenings:
AP->Ability Power
AD->Attack Damage
CC->Crowd Control
DMG->Damage
TF->Teamfight
Ulti->Ultimate Spell

The Story of Akali, The Fist of Shadow:

There exists an ancient order originating in the Ionian Isles dedicated to the preservation of balance. Order, chaos, light, darkness -- all things must exist in perfect harmony for such is the way of the universe. This order is known as the Kinkou and it employs a triumvirate of shadow warriors to uphold its causes in the world. Akali is one of these shadow warriors, entrusted with the sacred duty of Pruning the Tree - eliminating those who threaten the equilibrium of Valoran.

A prodigal martial artist, Akali began training with her mother as soon as she could make a fist. Her mother's discipline was relentless and unforgiving, but predicated on the fundamental principle: ''We do that which must be done.'' When the Kinkou inducted her into the order at the age of fourteen, she could slice a dangling chain with a chop of her hand. There was no question - she would succeed her mother as the Fist of Shadow. She has had to do much in this role which others might find morally questionable, but to her it is in service of her mother's inviolable doctrine. She now works with her fellows Shen and Kennen to enforce the balance of Valoran. This hallowed pursuit has unsurprisingly led the triumvirate to the Fields of Justice.

Akali's Abilities:

1. Twin Disciplines (Passive):
Upon obtaining 20 Ability Power, Akali's basic attacks deal 8% bonus magic damage, increasing by 1% for every 6 Ability Power gained thereafter.

Upon obtaining 10 Bonus Attack Damage, Akali gains 8% Spell Vamp, increasing by an additional 1% for every 6 Bonus Attack Damage gained thereafter.

2. Mark of the Assassin (Q-Spell):
Akali spins her kama at a target enemy to deal magic damage and mark the target for 6 seconds. Akali's melee attacks against a marked target will trigger and consume the mark to cause additional damage and restore Energy.

3. Twilight Shroud (W-Spell):
Akali throws down a cover of smoke. While inside the area, Akali gains Armor and Magic Resist and becomes stealthed. Attacking or using abilities will briefly reveal her. Enemies inside the smoke have their Movement Speed reduced.

4. Crescent Slash (E-Spell):
Akali flourishes her kamas, dealing damage based on her Attack Damage and Ability Power.

5. Shadow Dance (Ultimate-Spell):
Akali moves through shadows to quickly strike her target, dealing damage and consuming an Essence of Shadow charge. Akali recharges Essence of Shadow charges both periodically and upon kills and assists, max 3 stacks.

My choice of Runes:
- Magic Penetration Quintessences (3)
- Magic Resist Glyphs (9)
- Cooldown Reduction Seals (9)
- Magic Penetration Marks (9)

I choose Magic Penetration Quintessences as my Main-Runes because there is nothing more important than Penetration Runes in LoL!
Firstly they give you a great % of Damage-increase for their cheapness, secondly there are lots of Items in the game that can increase your AP, but only a few which can increase your Magic Penetration.
So my Magic Pen.-Marks choice is also explained because Marks give the biggest amount of Penetration from the little Runes.

For more durability in Laning i choose Magic Resist Glyphs, so enemy's ability-harass is not that successful.

Last I choose Cooldown Reduction Seals ,because your Cooldowns are slightly higher than them from other AP-Assasins because you got no Mana, but Energy.

I choose these Masteries (22/6/2) for securing a balanced durability and DMG-Output during Laning.
The AP and Spell Vamp Masteries are very helpful for Akali as well as the Cooldown Reducton and Magic Penetration Mastery of course.

I don't choose the standard 21/0/9 Masteries because I prefer durability in Earlygame,so I pick 6 points on the Defense Tree, and the Rest 2 points to decrease Teleport casting time and Flash Cooldown.

My Choice of Items:
Doran's Blade
Boots of Swiftness
Hextech Revolver
Rylai's Crystal Scepter
Rabadon's Deathcap
Hextech Gunblade
Lich Bane
Abyssal Scepter

I open up the game with a Doran's Blade, for having Earlygame durability, AD for farming Minions, AD for activating Akali's Passive additionally to this a little Lifesteal by autoattacking.

On recalling first time I buy Boots of Swiftness.
Why I buy these Boots and not Sorcerer's Shoes?
If you played Akali very often you'll see that the advantage of Speed is one of the greatest in game, if you once jumped on an enemy champion,it's unimportant if you have only one or two Essences of Shadow , the enemy champion will be unable to escape, you'll always be able to get him in an 1on1 and of course you win it!

As an alternative Choice of Boots, you can also buy Mercury's Treads , if your enemies are AP-DD's in Majority and you wish to be slightly more tanky.

I continue with a Hextech Revolver ,that's a great Item for Akali, because it supports her AP, and of course her strength on lane because the Spell Vamp is able to heal her during Laning.

After that I buy Rylai's Crystal Scepter, in my view thats the perfect item for Akali because it includes really everything she needs, AP, Health and very important the slow that grants a significant advantage if you want to kill a single target in a 1on1, or just want to slow in TF.

Now it's time for the epic DMG-Combo and the big secret of Akali's great DMG-Output, I continue buying Rabadon's Deathcap in combination with a Lich Bane. Thats a Combo which will grant you great Fun and neverending Akalipower during the game.

The Hextech Gunblade I bought in between is only and optional Item which can be left out until the end, because with Boots of Swiftness and Rylai's Crystal Scepter you already got enough speed advantage and DMG-Output.

Last I sell my Doran's Blade and buy an Abyssal Scepter for more durability in TF and of course for more AP and threatening DMG!

My Choice of Summoner Spells consists of
Flash and Ignite.

Why I choose these 2?
In my opinion, Akali definitely needs 2 Summoner Spells which are useful infight, because she is a melee fighter and now turret-defender!
Of course some of you could think that Exhaust would be an alternative to Flash or Ignite, but in my mind there is now chance to increase the opportunities both of them can give during TF.

Flash is a very useful Spell in combination with Twilight Shroud.
If you place Twilight Shroud besides a wall, you are able to flash over it without being seen, and all think you are still in it and your way is opened to escape.

For me Ignite is also very important, because it's often possible to towerdive verious champions with low amount of life, and every second you can leave turretrange earlier is better, so Ignite secures the kill.
Otherwise Ignite can be very useful if you play vs. a champion that has a heal on himself during fight, like AD-Carry with Lifesteal or champions like Dr. Mundo, Nasus or Swain.

Your Main DMG-Skill is Mark of the Assassin, because you can use it to harass with range or later to deal significant DMG with only one auto attack, so i max it out first to deal the biggest amount of DMG already early in the game.

I skill Twilight Shroud second,because its very usefull in 1on1's on toplane or to escape from early ganks, but i max it out last, because the amount of slow does not increase that strong and giving more skillpoints on DMG-Spells is of course better.

In Late Game your Main DMG-Combo is to use: Mark of the Assassin on a target, then use Shadow Dance to charge him and land a basic attack for bonus DMG by Mark of the Assassin and .
After that use Crescent Slash and land a basic attack again and begin this combination again for maximum DMG-Output.

Farming is an important aspect for every champion, so also for Akali, but she in general is a fighter so she hates farming minions on toplane and not having the chance to kill enemy champions.

But Akali can farm Minions very well by using her Crescent Slash and then focusing the big minion with Mark of the Assassin and a basic attack and then killing the rest of the wave with basic attacks.

Your position in TF's is very difficult to explain, Akali of course is a DD and now full tank, but charging a single enemy with your Shadow Dance directly makes you the focuspoint of TF, so it's very important that instant after you charged in the enemy team, you use your Twilight Shroud to not be focused dead and not being able to deal any further DMG.

As some general Tips:
-Blue Buff can be useful, but if you have got an AP-Caster with Mana don't take it
-Initiate Dragon or Baron Nashor, because you can easily tank with your Spell Vamp and great DMG-Output.
-Buying some wards as Akali cannot be wrong
- Akali isn't the best pusher, but trying is not forbidden

Pro's:
-High DMG-Output
-Great Mobility
-Minimal Chance to die when you are ganked
-noone can escape from you if you chase him!
-AD in Earlygame makes farming easier

Con's:
-No Tenacity is very dangerous in late TF's
-slightly squishy in lategame

29.01.2012: First publishing.




Have fun trying out my build and please comment and rate!