Let's Discuss Akali

Akava·Mar 24, 2015·1 votes·941 views

So with the release of Akali's new skin, I feel this might be a good time to try talking about her current state in the game. So let's talk.

I'm my opinion, her last nerfs really killed her play and power. It was a huge reduction in power and there was no meaningful compensation. Akali already struggles in the early game since she isn't threatening until she can close the gap. She also struggles late game when team fights occur more often. This is due to several reasons such has Oracle Lens being present in every game and because she's a melee champion with no real escapes. With her current state, her mid game doesn't make up for those huge weakness.

I feel she's in need of major changes to be healthy but until then she needs something to keep her a float. Am I alone in thinking this?

14 Comments

9kPluzZMar 24, 20153 votes

She is definitely NOT weak now. I still go 25/5 constantly with her as I did before the Nerf. The only thing is akali's E ablity is the now most useless and boring ability in the game. It literally just does light damage in a circle. I would recommend that they rework her E completely into something fun. Also dont forget that hex tech was buffed, and that's basically a alkali buff. When Kat and zed get nerfed she might be the best assassin in the game

DreadlocksMar 24, 20151 votes

I think she's clunky without the QE but shes not really that weak.. the new item 3285 is pretty cool on her too.

AkavaMar 24, 20151 votes

Would you say she's strong? Average?

DreadlocksMar 24, 20151 votes

I think she is still very strong... I mean at higher elo I'm sure shes considered near shit.. But I'm only silver and she can still faceroll. Shes kinda like fizz/riven.. you just smash buttons and people die.

TeemoJenkinsMar 24, 20151 votes

In Bronze / Silver she's still commonly banned. If she isn't banned, I play her. She's still one of the highest damage assassins in the game, just not as oppressive.

DreadlocksMar 24, 20151 votes

One could say she got Talon 'd?

AkavaMar 24, 20151 votes

How do your games usually go if I may ask? Specifically early and late game.

PiantissimoMar 24, 20151 votes

well you got to change the way you play then, make it all about that mid game (trinity force), or get zhonyas and GA so you aren't a liability later on.

it's all about adapting, assassins have been toxic, annoying to verse and the go to solo carry champions in soloQ, every assassin has caused every other champion to become more mobile around them and their overbearing mid game, just face that their time is up and you have to change your playstyle and build or wait for those stars align games where there is no CC against you.

literally as long as there is a competent Moakai, every assassin that can't jump straight back out is going to suffer

AkavaMar 24, 20151 votes

Zhyona's and GA are pretty important parts of her build, I agree. Not too sure about a Triforce though, not a fan of the zeal part. Care to go into a bit of detail on why you recommend it?

As for assassins being toxic, I think that is simply mistuning. They shouldn't be able to blow someone up in one combo but they should be able to do significant damage while being able to duck in and out of combat. They're supposed to be squishy killers, right? If they could stay in and tank damage while dealing damage, they'd be bruisers.

9kPluzZMar 24, 20151 votes

{quoted}

Zhyona's and GA are pretty important parts of her build, I agree. Not too sure about a Triforce though, not a fan of the zeal part. Care to go into a bit of detail on why you recommend it?

As for assassins being toxic, I think that is simply mistuning. They shouldn't be able to blow someone up in one combo but they should be able to do significant damage while being able to duck in and out of combat. They're supposed to be squishy killers, right? If they could stay in and tank damage while dealing damage, they'd be bruisers.

ga is honestly a waste of a space on ap assassins. Zhonas should be all you need to stall out a fight. Especially with ludens echo out. Try Luden , Hex, zhonas, abyssal, and linch. Its a rly good build right now.

PiantissimoMar 24, 20151 votes

{quoted}

Zhyona's and GA are pretty important parts of her build, I agree. Not too sure about a Triforce though, not a fan of the zeal part. Care to go into a bit of detail on why you recommend it?

As for assassins being toxic, I think that is simply mistuning. They shouldn't be able to blow someone up in one combo but they should be able to do significant damage while being able to duck in and out of combat. They're supposed to be squishy killers, right? If they could stay in and tank damage while dealing damage, they'd be bruisers.

trinity force changes her into an alternate irelia is what i thought trading more gap closers for CC, it has an easier build path than luden's and it makes her faster at taking turrets it also makes her harder to build against.

it was more of whim than a recommendation, i mean you could do it, it's not a bad item on akali it is just a question of is it worth doing versus luden's and the standard build?

TeemoJenkinsMar 24, 20151 votes

Level 1-5 is the enemy mid laners opportunity to win their lane - if Akali gets 6 first she'll become too oppressive... just like LB.

Suicidal ZedMar 24, 20151 votes

Yes you are alone in thinking this. Why? Yes she's weak early game but after you hit 6 with a few items and the correct runes a full combo can just destroy enemy laner with ignite also. You just need to know how to play her. The only time I've went horribly bad with her is when I was laning vs a swain the harass was too strong I couldn't get cs but once I hit 6 i destroyed him completely but I was still behind in cs which caused me to lose my lane and tower. She's still super strong though.

AbyssphereMar 24, 20151 votes

I definitely think she's on the weak side but the worst part is how clunky they made her. I can understand why they nerfed her but why on Earth did they do that by making her E worthless? It doesn't even do noteworthy damage, you're better off saving the energy now.

They need to give her a new E. Even Cassiopeia's poisons don't feel as worthless as that does now.