Counters for Akali
Champion guide
Reviewed for patch 7.3d
Champions against Akali
Favorable matchup
Lissandra vs Akali
Reviewed for patch 7.3d
Akali comes in with Shuriken Flip or Perfect Execution and hides in Twilight Shroud. Lissandra doesn't need to aim at her: Ring of Frost roots nearby enemies, and Frozen Tomb on herself makes her untargetable and invulnerable when the second part of the ultimate arrives.
Why Lissandra works against Akali
01
Ring of Frost comes from you
Ring of Frost freezes and roots nearby enemies. If Akali drops her Twilight Shroud next to you, you don't need to see her: the ring comes out from your position. Use it once she's already in, not before.
02
Frozen Tomb for the execute
The second cast of Perfect Execution executes the enemies it hits and deals more damage the less health they have. Frozen Tomb on yourself makes you untargetable and invulnerable and heals you: cast it right before that second hit and it deals you no damage.
03
Ice Shard for the lane
Ice Shard damages, slows and passes through the first target. Use it to poke Akali in the early levels; 7.3d gives her more base armor, but your damage is magic and that armor doesn't reduce it.
When to attack
From level 3, with Ring of Frost, punish every time Akali walks up to hit the wave. After level 5, the duel revolves around Frozen Tomb: while you have it, she has to think twice before going in.
How to play Lissandra
- 1Poke with Ice Shard when Akali goes to last-hit and stay out of Five Point Strike range.
- 2If she casts Shuriken Flip and comes back at you, let her arrive and then release Ring of Frost.
- 3After level 5, keep Frozen Tomb for the second cast of Perfect Execution, or use it on her if your jungler is nearby.
- 4If Akali goes in with her ultimate while the ring is on cooldown, get out toward your tower with Glacial Path.
Mistakes to avoid
- Spending Ring of Frost on the wave: it's your answer to her engage, and without it Akali can fight inside the shroud.
- Casting Frozen Tomb on yourself as soon as her ultimate starts: the first hit doesn't execute, and you have nothing left for the second.
Playing Akali against Lissandra
On Akali, don't dive Lissandra while she has Ring of Frost: bait it with Five Point Strike from range or wait for her to spend it. If she uses Frozen Tomb on herself, don't waste the second hit on the ice: if you still have time to recast, wait for her to come out; if not, back off.
Favorable matchup
Galio vs Akali
Reviewed for patch 7.3d
Almost all of Akali's damage is magic, and Galio is built for that. Shield of Durand reduces magic damage while he charges it and taunts nearby enemies on release; Hero's Entrance lets him reach another lane when Akali leaves to hunt for a kill.
Why Galio works against Akali
01
Shield of Durand against her burst
While you charge Shield of Durand, you take much less magic damage; when you release it, you damage and taunt nearby enemy champions. Akali has to get close for her combo, and if the taunt catches her inside her Twilight Shroud, she has to attack you and that reveals her.
02
A passive shield for trades
Every so often, when he takes damage, Galio gains a shield against magic damage. Akali's short trades with Five Point Strike hit that shield before they reach your health.
03
Hero's Entrance when she roams
Hero's Entrance marks an ally's position, gives a magic shield to allies in the area and, shortly after, Galio lands and knocks up enemies. If Akali leaves the lane to go after someone, you get there in time to protect your ally.
When to attack
In lane, Galio's goal is to make Akali's burst useless rather than to kill her. Clear with Winds of War and, from level 5, watch the minimap to answer every roam. The armor Akali gains in 7.3d does nothing against your damage, which is magic.
How to play Galio
- 1Clear the wave with Winds of War from range so Akali has to walk up if she wants to pressure.
- 2When she comes in, charge Shield of Durand and release it with her next to you; follow with Justice Punch if she stays close.
- 3If she disappears from the map, check the side lanes and get Hero's Entrance ready on the ally she's heading for.
- 4In teamfights, land where Akali is: the knock-up and the magic shield protect your allies from her engage.
Mistakes to avoid
- Releasing Shield of Durand right after you start charging it: the taunt is shorter the less you charge it.
- Casting Hero's Entrance on an ally before Akali commits: she can wait for you to land and pick someone else.
Playing Akali against Galio
If you're on Akali, don't spend your combo into a Galio who is charging Shield of Durand: wait for him to release it and go in afterward. Push the wave when he uses Hero's Entrance, because it leaves his lane empty, and look for kills in the lanes farthest from him.
Execution matters
Syndra vs Akali
Reviewed for patch 7.3d
Syndra punishes Akali the moment she gets close: Scatter the Weak knocks back enemies and Dark Spheres, and the knocked-back spheres stun whoever they hit. Miss the stun or spend it early, and Akali has a free path for her combo.
Why Syndra works against Akali
01
Scatter the Weak doesn't need a target
Scatter the Weak sends out a cone that knocks back enemies and Dark Spheres, and the knocked-back spheres stun whoever they pass through. It's a cone: if Akali hides in her Twilight Shroud right in front of you, you can hit her without seeing her.
02
Unleashed Power to finish
Unleashed Power launches your spheres at a champion. While Akali is invisible you can't select her, so save it for when she leaves the shroud or is stunned.
03
Spheres to win the wave
Dark Sphere and Force of Will deal damage from range, and Force of Will slows. They let you push the wave without letting Akali last-hit comfortably in the early levels, exactly where 7.3d helps her with more base armor and attack speed per level.
When to attack
Play the lane with Scatter the Weak available and a sphere close to you. If you've just used it, back off: until it's back, Akali's engage has no answer.
How to play Syndra
- 1Poke with Dark Sphere and Force of Will while Akali last-hits, without walking into her Five Point Strike.
- 2Always keep a sphere between her and you so Scatter the Weak can send it into Akali.
- 3When she comes in with Shuriken Flip or Perfect Execution, cast the cone at her and finish with Unleashed Power.
- 4If your jungler comes, let them know the stun is ready so the gank starts with it.
Mistakes to avoid
- Using Scatter the Weak to clear the wave with Akali in range: you lose your best answer to her engage.
- Standing in the middle of the lane with no sphere nearby: the cone knocks back, but without a sphere it doesn't stun.
Playing Akali against Syndra
For Akali, the key against Syndra is making her spend the cone before you commit. Fake with Shuriken Flip, drop the shroud outside her range and wait for Scatter the Weak before going in. If she stuns you, the shroud won't save you: back off if you can and return when it's on cooldown.