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Akali

Akali

Mid Lane Skirmisher

VS
Jayce

Jayce

Mid Lane Assassin

Matchup Dynamics

How This Matchup Works

Akali aims for short, cooldown-based trades while Jayce prefers extended fights or control. Play around item spikes and jungle presence.

Early Game (1-5)

Akali Favored - Early short trades and regen advantage.

Mid Game (6-11)

Skill Matchup - Item parity and jungle pressure decide.

Late Game (12+)

Jayce Favored - Extended fights or scaling favor opponent.

Key Interactions

  • Cooldown Trading: Trade when opponent core cooldown is down.
  • Wave Control: Fight on your wave; avoid big enemy waves.
  • Vision & Flanks: Ward and track junglers before committing.
  • Item Spikes: Respect first-item completions.

Akali

Strengths

  • Short-burst trades
  • Sustain via passive/kit
  • One-item spike
  • Reliable execute/pick

Weaknesses

  • Limited engage
  • Kiteable without tools
  • Weaker in extended fights

Jayce

Strengths

  • Solid skirmisher
  • Objective presence

Weaknesses

  • Cooldown reliant
  • Kiteable without mobility

Power Curve Comparison EXPERIMENTAL

Power Curve Visualization

Win Conditions

Akali's Win Condition

  • Trade on your cooldowns
  • Fight on item and ult timers

Jayce's Win Condition

  • Force your win condition
  • Leverage terrain and wave states

Laning Phase Guide

Level/Phase Akali Jayce
Level 1 Akali: Start Q/primary trade tool; last-hit and chip safely. Jayce: Farm and poke; avoid losing too much HP.
Level 2 Akali: Unlock second spell; look for short trade on last-hits. Jayce: Match level; punish oversteps.
Level 3 Akali: Full basic combo; trade after enemy key cooldown. Jayce: Track junglers; counter-trade on misplays.
Level 4-5 Akali: Slow push, ward, avoid extended fights if disadvantaged. Jayce: Trim waves; deny cheater recalls.
Level 6 Akali: Only all-in if opponent chipped; respect their ultimate. Jayce: Use ultimate advantage windows.
Level 7-8 Akali: Use first-item spike timers. Jayce: Shadow jungler and play for plates/objectives.
Level 9 Akali: First max online; pressure short trades. Jayce: Keep wave near tower; avoid isolation.

Power Spikes

Level Spikes

Akali Jayce
Level Description Level Description
5 Minor Q rank increases poke and wave control 3 Minor Full basic combo online
6 Major Perfect Execution unlocks kill pressure 6 Major Ultimate unlock all-in
9 Critical Q max + item spike enable one-shots

Item Spikes

Akali Jayce
Item Description Item Description
Zhonya's Hourglass (3000g) Stasis vs burst mid-laners Plated Steelcaps (1100g) Armor vs AD
Mercury's Treads (1100g) Tenacity vs CC mids Sterak's Gage (3100g) All-in shield

Best Build for Akali

Starting Items

Doran's Shield + Health Potion

Core Items

Sorcerer's Shoes → Zhonya's Hourglass → Shadowflame

Runes

Primary: Conqueror or Fleet, Triumph, Alacrity, Last Stand

Secondary: Second Wind, Unflinching

Summoner Spells

Flash + Teleport

Priority Build Path

1
Zhonya's Hourglass

Stasis vs burst; teamfight survivability

2
Shadowflame

Flat pen to punch through shields

3
Rabadon's Deathcap

AP spike for one-shots

4
Void Staff

Penetration vs MR stacks

Situational Adjustments

  • Mercury's Treads: Heavy CC
  • Morellonomicon: Need anti-heal

Key Patterns

Lethal Combos

Akali Full Combo (Level 6+):

Standard engage → core damage → finisher

All-in when enemy key cooldown down
Jayce Escape/Counter Combo:

Counter/escape sequence

Use mobility/defensives to break all-in

Trading Combos

Akali Short Trade:

Poke → short trade → disengage

Favor brief trades on your cooldowns
Jayce Quick Trade:

Quick punish then disengage

Trade around cooldown advantage

Lethal Thresholds

  • Akali Kill Range: Kill when opponent <~40% HP or after key cooldowns
  • Jayce Kill Range: Kill when A overextends or blows mobility
  • Critical Levels: 3 (full kits), 6 (ults), 9/11/13 (max/rank-ups)

Level by Level Game Plan

Level Primary Goal Lane Position Trading Opportunities Kill Windows Setup Opportunities
1 Establish early presence Hold wave just outside tower Short poke on last-hits Low unless big misplay Track XP for level 2
2 Secure level advantage Maintain prio or even wave Brief trades on cooldowns Medium if enemy mispositions Ward river/tri
3 Full combo access Thin wave before crash After enemy key spell Medium—jungler helps Crash 3rd wave for base
4-5 Pre-6 advantage Slow push then reset Chip, avoid extended duels Low-Med on errors Control vision
6 Ultimate power spike Fight on your terms Only commit on chip or cooldown gaps High if windows align Objective timers
7-8 Item completion window Side control with vision Punish after dashes/CC used Medium-High with item spike Reset on good wave
9+ Transition to mid game Freeze near tower if behind Short bursts, avoid long fights Medium on summ timers Prep rotations
Mid Game (11-16) Teamfight presence Side lane w/TP or hover mid Skirmish on timers Pick isolated targets Vision on objectives
Late Game (16+) Teamfight execution Front-to-back or flank Engage/disengage wisely Execute low-HP targets Baron/Elder control

First Back Goals

Ideal Back (1100-1400g)

  • Phage (1100g)
  • Control Ward (75g)

After successful trade or wave crash

Standard Back (700-900g)

  • Ruby Crystal (400g)
  • Boots (300g)

Normal farming back

Teamfight Tips

Aspect Akali Jayce
Primary Role Skirmish bruiser/executor Skirmish bruiser/duelist
Target Priority Backline carries
Fed skirmishers		 Immobile carries
Frontliners out of position
Objective Control Zone space, finish low HP Force fights on spike timers
Positioning Flank or peel; avoid chokes Approach from fog; angle engages
Other Tips Track summoners and flashes
Fight on item/ult timers		 Punish cooldown gaps
Force extended trades if favored