An "actual" discussion on Akali?
I've brought this topic up before, but lets see if the forum community can have a decent and respectful discussion without the "lel you just suck l2p" spams.
The Discussion is why you think Akali is either OP or UP (Under powered), and what may suggest to "fix" her kit. Atm, I really wouldn't mind a re work. Even though I think she's terribly worthless right now and needs buffs in various area's, many people still think she's extremely OP, so a re work to hopefully appease both sides at least somewhat would be fine with me.
The thing we need to remember as we discuss the situation is to keep things in perspective. Saying "Well I've gone 100-0 with akali so she's OP" isn't an argument. As you probably played against very bad players, or people who had no clue what to do against her. Which seems to be many people. So for this discussion we'll consider every "match up" or situation as both teams, or individuals having equal or close to equal skill level and knowledge of each others champs.
Despite Akali's nerfs awhile ago, people still consider her completely OP, or broken, or bad to play against. I never did. Even with her "buff" which made her Q proc off of her E. To me, that was a much needed buff to make her viable in lane in top against the new "cinderhulk" tank meta, making her quite a unique and different match up than the wet noodle fights. She could still get rekt by a tanky top who knew what they were doing. I personally did not consider this as "OP", since it did not regen back the much needed Energy, and she could still quickly see her energy die off in team fights if improperly used.
Her biggest issue is something no other champion needs to worry about, and that is 1 item which can be obtained by any champion or even all the champions on the other team and obtained various different ways, even free of charge. Vision Ward.
Her Shroud, which is her only saving grace in team fights has been "changed". Though I consider it a nerf due to the fact Akali was already very susceptible to anyone who knew to get 1 vision ward and make her day a joke. It no longer gives defense, but increases speed. It makes sense for an Assassin, but... The Vision ward problem..
Shaco, Eve, Rengar, Twitch, all of these champions and others who can use stealth can move around the map. Akali to stay invisible, has to stay in her shroud and has a pretty substantial cool down before she cloaks after attacking. (I'm not saying she should always be stealthed or anything). However, that alone already makes it quite obvious where she is in most cases, and already gives a vast amount of champions an easy way to counter her. Even champions that are not supposed too like Gragas, can just throw a barrel in and lawls as she flies out of her only safety net. This coupled with the Vision Ward piercing her veil makes it virtually worthless unless used only to speed up your movements. AKali needs defense, or some form of ratio's that allows her to be viable in a fight which she doesn't hence the Shroud... Would work, but.. Vision Ward.
Many other complaints are about her burst, well.. she's an assassin, what assassin doesn't get high burst when they get a few kills and easy to steam roll?
So puttin gthat argument aside for obvious reasons lets move on.
Many complaints about her dash. While yes it can reset on a kill and assist, there are only 3 max, and the range isn't anything insane either..
Zed for instance can use his shadow at I believe a further, or just as long range, and jump back to his original position etc, while having better stat ratio's. This allows him to pick off targets from afar and safely.
Shaco can stealth, move anywhere while doing so, create a double, and gets huge burst damage from his passive. While many people complain about Akali's passive giving boosts to dmg and lifesteal, etc. She doesn't get continious lifesteal like Shaco can or not nearly as high output when used properly, and his passive also allows for a much higher burst of life than Akali's Q + auto. The fact he can create a double, mislead, and stealth away and over walls without needing an enemy or minion on the other side also makes the arguments against akali seem like childs play.
Nidalee, much further jump range. Though while her on the hunt needs to be procced through a skillshot or lucky trap placement. It allows her to chase infininetly unlike Akali, while also being able to output far greater damage burst in her infinate rotation if you switch between your forms during a fight. ALso making the arguments against akali seem like childs play.
The main beef I have with Akali, is the fact that her only true form of survivability in a team fight is so easily rendered null and void, and the fact that one of her skills can be completely rendered null and void and worthless towards her kit giving her a massive disadvantage right out of the gate at level 1 no other champion has to endure or deal with.
The only other time I remember a situation like this is when Darius was released. It used to be you could hour glass just before his ult, and it would stop it, while also forcing it to go on full cd.
They quickly decided that wasn't good to have an item that can render your ability worthless and made the animation and cast time of the ult so quick it's extremely hard (or maybe impossible?) now to hit that window, and even if you do, it now only sets his ult on a few second cd instead.
So why allow one of her abilities to be completely null and void, something which is vital to keeping her a viable component to the team?
Those are my points, arguments, and insight into Akali.
Discuss yours, or mine :)
