Akali Build Guide by xxelementz

Introduction

This is my third build. Akali is as versatile as Jax, allowing for many different skill paths, as both have skills that gain power from attack damage and ability power. With this build, even Jax will fall to your knees. BTW the ability power MOBA says that you'll get is WAY OFF. You'll have over 650 ability power by the time your build is complete. I've already received some comments. Thank you for that and I tweaked my build according to them.

Pros / Cons

Pros

click and drag ultimate, can be spammed
farms well
very short cooldowns
dual ability passive
queen of late game

freakin squishy early game
you have to kill steal to get the Akali snowball going
people will target you
her energy regeneration isn't enough to support her quick cooldowns

Runes

I give Akali a hybrid rune build to supplement her dual ability passive, giving her about 8% spell vamp early game and some extra magic damage on basic attacks. I get Greater Glyph of Ability Power and Greater Glyph of Attack Damage to boost her mastery and because there are no othergood glyphs that'll support her as strongly. Greater Mark of Magic Penetration is there to pick off the annoying enemies a lot faster. Besides, magic penetration is always good. The Greater Quintessence of Precision is another great choice for Akali. I didn't put it up because I couldn't find it in the Rune selection.

Skill Sequence

Mark of the Assassin is maxed first because it's her strongest spell. It allows for some nice health return with the spell vamp as well.

Twilight Shroud receives one point at level 2 because it allows you to check bushes without being attacked. It's great to juke people as well.

Crescent Slash is a GREAT farming tool when you're fed. It''ll wipe out the entire minion mob. It's her 3rd strongest spell, so I max it 2nd.

I shouldn't even explain why I level up Shadow Dance when I do.

Items

Customay with most Akali builds, I get Boots of Speed and some pots so you can chase down the enemy when you've used up all your Shadow Dance size. The pots follow as she's a bit squishy.

Hextech Revolver and Rylai's Crystal Scepter are standard with all good Akali's. The extra spell vamp keeps her in lane longer and you need the slow from Rylai's when you run out of Shadow Dance stacks. Boots of Swiftness are bought so it's easier to hunt down your prey.

Rabadon's Deathcap doesn't always go right after Rylai's for some because people get Lich Bane straight away. I think that Lich will be stronger AFTER some boosted ability power from this hat.

Lich Bane is like a gift from the gods because it gives you movement speed, heightened physical damage and magic resistance. It's the mage equivalent of Trinity Force. This item makes her extremely overpowered because her Mark of the Assassin is a hit twice ability. The kill first hits say 300 magic damage. The second hit will deal 300 magic damage, your attack damage PLUS bonus magic damage equal to your ability power. That one skill total will give you on a minimum of 900.

Hextech Gunblade is bought because of Akali's dual ability and attack damage. This+ runes+ baron= about 210 ad.

Zhonya's Hourglass I buy purely for the high ap and the armor. The stasis I end up forgetting to use or never have too. However, the passive is still nice.

Masteries

Because I got mainly attack runes, I balance them out with some ability power from the masteries. Late game, she WILL be a nuker, making Executioner a must.

I don't max out Havoc because I like the extra time for the short buffs. Also, 1% extra and 1.5% extra isn't much of a difference.

I can see why some people would put some mastery points into Defense so she won't die as easily. However, Akali is still squishy, however you build her. Because Akali is an assassin, her playing style is more hit and run. You move in, kill and move out of danger. Let someone else attack and repeat. The main reason I do 21/0/9 is because I REALLY wanted the extra buff time from Blue Golem or Elder Lizard. The buffs are so short, I wanna lengthen the amount of time I can use them.

Summoner Spells

I get and because I put a point in Summoner's Wrath . The two moves are a great tool to help take down a stronger opponent or ensure a kill. I find that Exhaust also levels the playing field when an enemy uses Surge.


Decent Alternatives

Teleport

Ghost

Fortify

Heal

Ranked Play

LOL. People think is op, making her a perma-ban. Ask your leader not to ban and make sure you're near the top for queue or that you can trade with someone. Akali can solo top or even do mid, but she plays best with a good support/tank. She needs a nice stun to start the damage going.

Early Game

You find that (not surprisingly) Akali is a pretty weak champion before level six. Without her ultimate, most people won't rush in blindly. Consequently, early game, you focus on farming and getting gold from minions.

If you are mid or have a great support, you should get most of the possible gold. With past experience, I discovered that acting submissive will make the enemy arrogant. Use that against them and make them tower dive. Hit them once, run away and let the tower hand you the kill. By now you should have Hextech Revolver and will last much longer in lane. Start ganking and mid game for Akali begins.

Mid Game

Mid Game Akali is basically a roamer. You hit different lanes while also pushing your original lane. By moving around randomly, it's harder for the enemy to stop you from pushing/ganking. Gank hard, maybe kill steal a few kills and you get Rabadon's Deathcap. Once you buy this item, you should have 4+ kills with a reasonably small amount of deaths.

Late Game

In my opinion, once you buy Lich Bane, late game for Akali starts. Getting this should guarantee you 5 more easy kills minimum. If you're super fed, you can go in w/o the tank, kill a squishy and troll face out. The enenmy will run away once they see her, or hide and last hit you for your bonus killing spree gold. Either way, Akali is a machine of mass destruction

Team Work

Let the tank initate. If you have a Galio, Malphite or Rammus, wait for another ally to jump in so they enemy doesn't notice you. The tanks specified make your life so much easier as they keep the enemy locked in place. Make sure your team focuses down the same target. As always, focus the annoying squishies or supports (i.e. , or .

Unique Skills

Twilight Shroud- its AoE effect is great to check for danger, juke an enenmy or simply hide

Shadow Dance- her click and drag style is great to make sure your desired target is hit

Mark of the Assassin- gives a nice energy return, since her max energy never increases

Summary

I've played Akali before, however, by the time I could by Lich Bane, we lost or won already. My latest game with her showed be how devastating she is. (The finished build, plus Baron gave her about 711 ability power). People call her overpowered for many reasons. Op is a useless term because anyone who's fed is overpowered. The base damage for all skills is relatively low. Akali starts to get REALLY STRONG after she's finished Rabadon's Deathcap and bought Needlessly Large Rod. Watch how "overpowered' she will get. Trust me, you'll love it.

Summary

I've played Akali before, however, by the time I could by Lich Bane, we lost or won already. My latest game with her showed be how devastating she is. (The finished build, plus Baron gave her about 711 ability power). People call her overpowered for many reasons. Op is a useless term because anyone who's fed is overpowered. The base damage for all skills is relatively low. Akali starts to get REALLY STRONG after she's finished Rabadon's Deathcap and bought Needlessly Large Rod. Watch how "overpowered' she will get. Trust me, you'll love it.