Akali destroys, effortlessly

SorasMemories·Nov 9, 2014·37 votes·4,119 views

Honestly, I'm really exhausted with champions that don't have skill shots, but simply target everything. They seem to require no real effort, but mere button mashing.

I find that every single game, Akali absolutely destroys her enemy team. Her spell vamp is ridiculous so she seems to be, basically, invincible. I see Akali going out and 1v3'ing AND triple killing. She destroys someone in a matter of seconds... It requires at least 3 people to take her down. Honestly, I can't be the only one thinking something is wrong here.

I know people always complain on the forums about champions; but, I see this happening again and again and again....

96 Comments

Der LindwurmNov 9, 201420 votes

The best way to deal with those "point and click/roll your face on the keyboard" champions is play them yourself. You'll discover there are a lot of situations where just diving in and pressing buttons won't do much besides get you killed. You'll also learn how they work.

I pretty easily survived countless Kat (for example) attacks in Hexakill simply because I've played her a lot myself and know what she can and can't do.

SkiasNov 10, 20142 votes

that's a crappy solution. I don't want to be forced to play a watered-down boring champion because the other guy can auto target me to death. It invalidates the greater part of the roster.

Der LindwurmNov 10, 20143 votes

that's a crappy solution. I don't want to be forced to play a watered-down boring champion because the other guy can auto target me to death. It invalidates the greater part of the roster.

Well, here's the kicker: AFTER you've spent some time playing that "boring" champion, go back to playing your own favorites. Now that you know a lot more about what your former nemesis actually can and can't do and under what circumstances, you'll find you're far better prepared to deal with what seemed like point-and-lick insta-death before.

SkiasNov 10, 20141 votes

There is so little to understand about her. Yes, I've played her a bunch of times. The single layer of complication she has is her stealth, everything else is spam + click. By playing her, you just understand that: Shes going to explode you, she is never going to miss.

ZaganJusticeNov 11, 20142 votes

she loses hard to silence and snares, though, so maybe try using something that can do one or both (lookin at you, 'raka)

SkypmeysterNov 10, 201416 votes

First of all, I have been playing this game for 4 years now and I know when a champion positions itself within the direct line of the nerf bat and Akali (Rammus too) is one of those champions. Have no fear fellow poster, whether deserved or not, Akali WILL be nerfed in some way within the next few months 100% guaranteed. To the discussion ->

Despite all the (very) good evidence put forth by your fellow posters, most of which I agree with, Akali is truly a problem champion right now. The reason she has a 60% ban rate is not because she is so overbearingly overpowered, I don't think she is. The reason is because the perception of playing against her right now is severely biased towards negativity. Getting behind against an Akali, whether through a misplay in lane (everyone makes them) or through a well executed jungle gank, establishes a feeling of hopelessness (The same could be said of old zed). Once behind it literally doesn't matter how safe you play, because if you want to lane at all for the rest of the game, she can get to you and she will kill you. Once ahead her immense pressure is toxic to the rest of your team, where even extremely mobile champs like Lucian, Nidalee or Lee Sin if caught alone can be chased down and killed. While there is some counterplay (vision), it has to be executed perfectly by at least 2 members of the team (many more if Akali is very fed) and the very lack of cohesive team unity in solo queue is part of what allows Akali to run rampant in so many games and what makes her feel like such a dominant unstoppable force.

On the other hand, If Akali gets behind (There are some EXCELLENT lane counters to her see above) she can be practically useless which establishes a certain difficulty on riot's end in how to balance her, or make her "Less Toxic."

RoyaiChaosNov 10, 20142 votes

Honestly I feel like this for new Zed sometimes too. Fizz as well. I fed him one kill and after that all he had to do was press r and I died. I literally couldn't farm without dying because he could dive so easily. But it's still better than before.

ThatAutofillSuppNov 10, 20142 votes

get hourglass… zed is easily countered when he has his massive burst from R removed

RoyaiChaosNov 11, 20142 votes

Hard to do when you can't farm.

Rew711Nov 10, 20142 votes

or, we buff shen

DrukyulNov 9, 201415 votes

35 min game and zero people on your team got the oracle trinket.

SorasMemoriesNov 10, 20142 votes

Next time I face off against her, I will try out that trinket. Not sure how it will save us, but I'll try it.

COWMANOFCOWSNov 10, 20145 votes

It removes her only escape.

GavranNov 10, 20143 votes

Upgraded sweeper is wonderful against Akali, and really nice to have against a lot of stealth champions.

But it won't save you if you don't have CC/the people on your team with CC aren't holding it ready for her. And I think that's the main problem. "If you don't CC me I'll kill you really fast but if you do CC me I'll die before it ends" isn't really good gameplay.

SalidfingersNov 10, 20149 votes

This is what i see when people complain about akali

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsSlAvfG4do&src_vid=KeLy3kKPDdQ

GrimspeakeNov 10, 20147 votes

I love when people don't know how to deal with akali when its so simple to do in the first place.

cshakesNov 10, 20143 votes

For those of you who haven't figured out yet:

Bring some CC
Buy a pink ward so she can't use her shroud to juke

Akali is squishy. Pick something that can CC her (and preferrably, ask a team-mate to do so, too) and then carry a pink or an Oracle's Lens around. Alternatively, ask your AP support to build a Twin Shadows. This works against all stealth champions. For counterpicking, try a ranged lane bully with some CC so you can omnomnom her before she's 6. (Think Syndra.) Ask for a jungle gank, she has no escapes before 6. If you want to be really safe, ask for your support to bring exhaust. If you really, really, really hate assassins, Zilean, Janna and Lulu are three big fat middle fingers to any assassin.

BhareNov 9, 20146 votes

Akali is pretty upsetting to play against people who will throw pinks down into her stealth cloud thing.

NielarkenNov 10, 20142 votes

yes pinks work well vs akali but your solution cant be buy a pink ward because that means you will have to buy a pink ward for every fight thats 100 gold for every time you want to even think about fighting her thats a problem

ZaganJusticeNov 11, 20142 votes

spending 100 gold on a pink isn't much of a detriment considering you are now fighting a 3 skill champ instead of a 4 skill one

KeevalroyNov 11, 20142 votes

What elo are you in? People know what wards are in your games?? Are...are you from heaven?

DregenNov 9, 20145 votes

Try to keep things in perspective. She needs to be extremely fed to do what you're talking about, and even then spending 100 gold completely counters her. Everyone seems invincible when they're fed.

WeihGuyNov 10, 20144 votes

She does have counters, but the issue is that it's mostly black and white. You either counter her or you don't. If you don't have a champion that specifically counters her, there is no outplaying her at all if you happen to fight her 1v1 or even 1v2 since her damage and sustain is nearly guaranteed, very high (her ult does 50% more damage than most) and she's just incredibly hard to peel with 3 800 range gap closers.

They need to rework her kit so that she is more flexible in her match ups, not so worthless pre 6 or if the enemy buys a stealth reveal and not so obnoxious to fight against mid to late game. Maybe reduce the range and damage of the ultimate, but give her Q a longer time window so that she can actually get the second part of the damage early game. Maybe give her the ability to dash to her smoke screen at the cost of 1 essence would be interesting concept so that she isn't just an all in face roll or nothing champion.

Raja ChachkiNov 10, 20141 votes

Um...her ult literally does 100-200 damage....how is that stronger than a different ult...?

WeihGuyNov 11, 20141 votes

3 times 250 + 50% AP = 750 + 150% AP magic damage of unavoidable damage mixed with single target spell vamp and a 800 range gap closer.

Let's compare that to other ults Ahri 450 + 90% AP Fizz 450 + 100% AP Zyra 350 + 70% AP Nautilus 450 + 80% AP Orianna 300 + 70%.

Keep in mind that the damage is unavoidable since it's single target with a dash. Although this does put her in a bad spot in a team fight, the issues is that she requires everyone that doesn't specifically counter her to be babysat the rest of the game. And if you don't have a champion that can counter her, there is absolutely no way to even remotly outplay her or escape. It's just bad gameplay and no fun.

LinkttpFeb 24, 20151 votes

If we are taking into account the amount of time this damage is dealt over, and NO it's not unavoidable, It has lower damage ratios than Cass's Q. And Cass get move speed and stacks every time she uses it every few Seconds. Man Such, op much op. nerf low damage ability.

COWMANOFCOWSNov 10, 20144 votes

See, what you dont seem t8 get, is that she is food before lvl six, invite your jungler and feast!

SkiasNov 10, 20141 votes

She's really not. She has a stealth with a large movement speed steroid.

Raja ChachkiNov 10, 20141 votes

"large" lol She really is

BudupopsNov 10, 20144 votes

not as bad as fizz

AloneInTheCrowdNov 10, 20143 votes

Honestly, I'm really exhausted with champions that don't have skill shots, but simply target everything. They seem to require no real effort, but mere button mashing.

I find that every single game, Akali absolutely destroys her enemy team. Her spell vamp is ridiculous so she seems to be, basically, invincible. I see Akali going out and 1v3'ing AND triple killing. She destroys someone in a matter of seconds... It requires at least 3 people to take her down. Honestly, I can't be the only one thinking something is wrong here.

I know people always complain on the forums about champions; but, I see this happening again and again and again....

Irelia " You were saying ? "

JungHai0Nov 10, 20144 votes

Honestly, I'm really exhausted with champions that don't have skill shots, but simply target everything. They seem to require no real effort, but mere button mashing.

I find that every single game, Akali absolutely destroys her enemy team. Her spell vamp is ridiculous so she seems to be, basically, invincible. I see Akali going out and 1v3'ing AND triple killing. She destroys someone in a matter of seconds... It requires at least 3 people to take her down. Honestly, I can't be the only one thinking something is wrong here.

I know people always complain on the forums about champions; but, I see this happening again and again and again....

Ryze "Just wanted to poke my head in and say hi."

MoonshadeNov 10, 20143 votes

want to make an Akali MISERABLE in lane? Roll a Mordekaiser against her, I was stuck as an Akali vs Morde mid, could do NOTHING to him at all without my jungler, plus they had an Alister support so in team fights I would dive and take down their ADC, wouldn't matter because they had bruiser carries. That Morde did ludicrous damage because even though he only got 1 kill on me in lane, he got every CS. He even got a Pentakill after he ghosted our Janna...

MattAkhavanNov 10, 20143 votes

She is beaten by almost any champion in lane. it's the rest of the teams job to build mr and buy pinks.

Uf7Xbbg3gYNov 10, 20142 votes

Fiddlesticks,fear and drain goes thru her invisibility shes free heal for me but i also asked also to implement ARAM items that grant brief vision,like the eye and the bow,to counter her

DrakoUnRamaNov 10, 20142 votes

ok while I do find akali annoying i didn't see any reason for her to be nerfed however if they're going to start with the nerf hammer on kat then I agree akali definitely needs a nerf honestly I see more reason to nerf akali than kat she channels and if stunned she's screwed akali can ult in aoe and if she needs throw down her shroud and usually get away yes a pink ward AND cc can counter her but you need both atleast with kat you only need cc and she's done... just my 2 cents if they're going to nerf one the other definitely needs it as well

Chaotic ReksNov 10, 20142 votes

meanwhile at top lane Ryze

AuryielNov 10, 20141 votes

How to make Akali easier to balance Remove her spell vamp so she can be harassed in lane Make her ulti a skillshot Buff her damage from her passive to compensate

COWMANOFCOWSNov 10, 20142 votes

Nah man just take exhaust and camp her lane...

SkiasNov 10, 20141 votes

Because that is fun.

JustMyBassCannonNov 10, 20142 votes

Make her ulti a skillshot

Hello, more-problematic-than-Kassadin.

AuryielNov 10, 20141 votes

Make her ulti a skillshot

Hello, more-problematic-than-Kassadin.

Akali throws a ninja-thingie If it hits an enemy unit, she dashes to it, dealing magic damage.

Yes, I totally see how that's comparable to Kassadin (???)

JustMyBassCannonNov 10, 20141 votes

Her "ninja-thingie", actually known as a Kama, is not her ultimate. It's her Q.

Her ultimate is her dash.

So, thank you for proving you have not even bothered to learn a damn thing about Akali.

AuryielNov 10, 20141 votes

Her "ninja-thingie", actually known as a Kama, is not her ultimate. It's her Q.

Her ultimate is her dash.

So, thank you for proving you have not even bothered to learn a damn thing about Akali.

Oh my goodness you are DENSE.

I was most certinly not refering to her Q or her weapons, I was showing how easily Akali's ultimate can be made into a non-targeted ability without actually being anything like Kassadin's Riftwalk. I just didn't bother to come up with some bs explanation as to what she is actually doing instead of just dashing.

I guess I should explain every little thing, Akali players are probably not used to thinking a lot.

JustMyBassCannonNov 11, 20142 votes

First, I'm not an Akali player. The only 'assassins' I even play are primarily mages, like Xerath.

Second, you need to be very careful how you say something, because the mechanical difference between "Turn her ultimate into a skill shot," and "Turn her ultimate into Lee Sin's Q" is exactly what just happen. The problem was not that I'm incapable of understanding, it is that you cannot tell the difference between what you meant and what you said.

Third,

I was most certinly not refering to her Q or her weapons,

if you were not referring to Akali's Q or her weapons, when saying

Akali throws a ninja-thingie

what in the fucking Kinkou is a "ninja-thingie" supposed to imply?

AuryielNov 11, 20141 votes

First, I'm not an Akali player. The only 'assassins' I even play are primarily mages, like Xerath.

Second, you need to be very careful how you say something, because the mechanical difference between "Turn her ultimate into a skill shot," and "Turn her ultimate into Lee Sin's Q" is exactly what just happen. The problem was not that I'm incapable of understanding, it is that you cannot tell the difference between what you meant and what you said.

Third,

I was most certinly not refering to her Q or her weapons,

if you were not referring to Akali's Q or her weapons, when saying

Akali throws a ninja-thingie

what in the fucking Kinkou is a "ninja-thingie" supposed to imply?

Like I said, I was making up a very quick description of what her new ulti would look like. She'd throw something, whatever it is idc and I didn't bother to make up something so I said ninja-thingie cuz she's a ninja. Is that really hard to understand? Jeez try to understand what someone else is saying before replying. Also, once again you prove you can't read by comparing what I propose to Lee Sin's Q. Lee chooses wether he wants to go in, did I ever say Akali's new ulti should have anything like that? Didn't think so.

JustMyBassCannonNov 12, 20142 votes

Like I said, I was making up a very quick description of what her new ulti would look like. She'd throw something, whatever it is idc and I didn't bother to make up something so I said ninja-thingie cuz she's a ninja. Is that really hard to understand? Jeez try to understand what someone else is saying before replying.

The first time, the way you said it was "Make her ulti a skill shot." That could have multiple interpretations. Perhaps you wanted her to have an ultimate that was like Corki's ultimate; firing a projectile with a low cooldown and an ammo counter. Perhaps you wanted her ultimate--the dash--to be a skill shot (aka a free-roam dash). Perhaps you wanted a projectile to guide her dash.

What I am saying, o dense one, is that you chose your words poorly. Because you did not choose to elucidate your intention, I decided to choose the worst of those options and mock you for your poor choices. I was vaguely aware that you could have meant making the dash part of her ultimate require a skill shot in order to dash. Unfortunately for you, I never give a fool the benefit of the doubt.

Also, once again you prove you can't read by comparing what I propose to Lee Sin's Q. Lee chooses whether he wants to go in, did I ever say Akali's new ulti should have anything like that? Didn't think so.

No, but the idea you want is functionally the same; in order for the dash to complete, a skill shot that stops at the first target needs to be landed.

And "like" does not carry synonymous meaning to "the same thing as" Lee Sin's Q. Functionally similar, with only the difference that you, because you want to pretend the similarity doesn't exist, decide Akali can't throw her skill shot and then back off. Despite it being, y'know, an ultimate, compared to Lee Sin's most basic skill.

But what can I possibly know? Besides that you're terrible at explaining things, and that your idea is still bad, I mean.

Raja ChachkiNov 10, 20141 votes

How to make Akali easier to balance Lessen her spell vamp so she can be harassed in lane Make her Q a skillshot Slightly buff her damage from her passive to compensate BB fixed it for ya