Akali
Mid Lane Assassin
The Rogue Assassin — Energy-based melee AP with stealth, mobility, and execution burst
VS
Viktor
Mid Lane Control Mage
Scaling control mage with laser poke and zone
Matchup Dynamics
How This Matchup Works
Farm with Q – Five Point Strike and trade only after Viktor Siphon Power (~9s) or Death Ray (~13s) is used. Use W – Twilight Shroud to deny target selection vs picks; pivot at level 6 when R – Perfect Execution grants one-rotation kill threat and roam pressure.
Early Game (1-5)
Viktor Favored - Punish after Viktor Siphon Power (~9s) or Death Ray (~13s); last-hit with Q at 325 range; hold wave 6–8 minions near your tower at 3:00; ward pixel brush 2:30 and raptors 3:30.
Mid Game (6-11)
Skill Matchup - Complete Hextech Rocketbelt by ~12:00; fish E – Shuriken Flip after Viktor engage tool is down; hover Herald 8–10 and roam on shove with W cooldown (~20s) ready.
Late Game (12+)
Skill Matchup - Flank 5–10s before objective; force pick with R – Perfect Execution; avoid front-to-back vs Viktor; play fog at river/jungle entrances and collapse after key cooldowns.
Key Interactions
- Shroud vs Viktor engage: Cast W – Twilight Shroud as Viktor starts Death Ray (~13s); deny vision and step out, re-enter with E2 after cooldown falls.
- E tag timing: Throw E1 – Shuriken Flip as Viktor uses Siphon Power (~9s) on wave; hit during animation to guarantee mark; follow with E2 to stick.
- Q energy rule: Maintain ≥80 energy before trading; weave Q > passive ring auto; disengage for ~1.5–3s to regen, then re-enter.
- Perfect Execution finish: Use R1 to cross space or dodge CC; hold R2 until target ≤35–45% HP or after key summoner/defensive used; exit with W or E2 return.
Akali
Strengths
- Q – Five Point Strike last-hits at 325 range; safe chip on cooldowns
- W – Twilight Shroud drops vision; disengage or re-engage mid skirmish
- E – Shuriken Flip tag enables commit with E2 then R chain
- High pick pressure from flanks post-6
Weaknesses
- Energy gated in extended trades; needs windows
- No hard CC; relies on E tag to stick
- Vulnerable to reveals/true sight inside W and tower vision
Viktor
Strengths
- Death Ray or main CC punishes short range
- Item spikes favor ranged poke or resets
- Wave control can set up roams or dives
Weaknesses
- Cooldown reliant; windows after key ability usage
- Struggles to target Akali inside shroud without vision
- Susceptible to flanks and E>R pick angles on rotations
Power Curve Comparison EXPERIMENTAL
Power Curve Visualization
Win Conditions
Akali's Win Condition
- Freeze 5–6 minions at 3:30–4:30; trade after Viktor Siphon Power used; tag E then take Q+passive and back to deny HP
- Buy Sorcerer's Shoes/defensive boots by 6:00; shove → ward pixel/raptors; roam when W is up
- Crash mid wave then move 15–20s pre-objective; flank carry with R chain and reset vision
Viktor's Win Condition
- Fight on cannon waves; use Death Ray or CC to start with jungle present; convert HP lead to plates
- Force extended trades on first mythic; bait W then re-engage on cooldown
- Push and move to side; draw Akali to lane while team starts objective
Laning Phase Guide
| Level/Phase | Akali | Viktor |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Start Q – Five Point Strike (or W if level-1 brush cheese); last-hit only; trade after Viktor Siphon Power (~9s) used on minions; hold wave 6–8 near tower; ward pixel 2:30; all-in only with Ignite + HP>60% | Start Siphon Power; shove for level 2 first; ward opposite pixel 2:30; crash 2nd/3rd wave for cheater recall; avoid trading when Akali has 80+ energy |
| Level 2 | Take E – Shuriken Flip; throw E1 as Viktor uses Death Ray (~13s) or to last-hit; connect Q+passive then exit; control ward raptors 3:30 | Take Death Ray; trade short; back off if tagged by E; track jungle pathing |
| Level 3 | Take W – Twilight Shroud; bait engage then W; Q twice inside shroud, exit on edge; freeze 4–6 minions; cheater recall if safe | Third ability online; fight on stacked wave; drop control ward to reveal shroud; respect E2 follow |
| Level 4-5 | Buy boots/components; keep trades ≤3s around W cooldown (~20s); deep ward 4:00; track Flash 300s; hover river on shove | Hold wave outside tower; call jungle for dive with wave; save mobility to dodge E1; ward raptors 4:00 |
| Level 6 | Unlock R – Perfect Execution; Q > E1 tag > R1 through target > E2 > Q > R2 if target ≤40%; shove then reset for item | Use Chaos Storm proactively or save disengage; step out of shroud; avoid Akali execute threshold |
| Level 7-8 | Complete Rocketbelt; push on vision; hover Herald 8–10:00; E>Rocketbelt>R1 picks on mid-rotation | Fight with mythic/components; punish W down; set up Herald with team |
| Level 9 | Max Q; shove→ward deep; rotate sides on crash; track Teleport 360s; only side with vision | Max primary trade spell; extend lane to punish roams; ward flanks |
Power Spikes
Level Spikes
| Akali | Viktor | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Level | Description | Level | Description |
| 3 | Minor W unlock enables safe trades and disengage post-CC | 3 | Major Full combo online; punish W cooldown |
| 6 | Major R execute chain opens pick windows on mid roam | 6 | Critical Chaos Storm adds pick or teamfight swing |
| 9 | Major Q max improves DPS and wave; one-rotation kills with E tag | 11 | Minor Rank 2 ultimate or upgrade raises damage pattern |
Item Spikes
| Akali | Viktor | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Item | Description | Item | Description |
| Sorcerer's Shoes (1100g) | Pen + MS improves roam and burst thresholds | Lost Chapter/Sheen component (1100g~) | Mana or on-hit spikes punish W down |
| Hextech Rocketbelt (3200g~) | Active dash helps land E tag and extend combo | Core mythic (3000–3300g) | First mythic powers poke or skirmish pattern |
| Zhonya's Hourglass (3100g) | Stasis dodges counter burst after R1 or inside W | Banshee's/Hexdrinker/Zhonya (2800–3100g) | Defensive tech vs Akali burst |
| Oblivion Orb (800g) | Apply Grievous Wounds vs sustain mids | ||
Best Build for Akali
Starting Items
Doran's Shield (400g) or Doran's Ring (400g) + Health Potion
Core Items
Hextech Rocketbelt (3200g~) → Sorcerer's Shoes (1100g) → Zhonya's Hourglass (3100g)
Runes
Primary: Electrocute, Sudden Impact, Eyeball Collection, Treasure Hunter
Secondary: Second Wind, Unflinching
Summoner Spells
Flash + Teleport (or Flash + Ignite to snowball)
Priority Build Path
1
Hextech Rocketbelt
Dash to secure E tag; active burst raises execute threshold
2
Sorcerer's Shoes
Magic pen and MS for flanks and Q/R thresholds
3
Zhonya's Hourglass
Stasis to drop aggro after R1 or inside shroud
4
Shadowflame
Pen vs shields; boosts one-rotation kills on squishies
Situational Adjustments
- Oblivion Orb: High sustain lanes (Vamp scepters, healing passives)
- Mercury's Treads: Heavy AP/CC; reduces lock down during engages
- Void Staff: Opp builds MR; maintain execute thresholds
Key Patterns
Lethal Combos
Akali Full Combo (Level 6+):
E1 – Shuriken Flip > Rocketbelt > R1 – Perfect Execution through target > E2 follow > Q + passive auto > R2 finish
Lethal at ~35–45% on carries; ensure Electrocute or Conqueror stacked
Viktor Escape/Counter Combo:
Death Ray or CC engage > primary damage (Siphon Power/Gravity Field) > R finish
Requires Akali W down or missed E tagTrading Combos
Akali Short Trade:
Q > step out for passive ring > auto > back; or E1 tag > Q > back
Keep trades ≤3s; only commit when enemy key cooldowns down
Viktor Quick Trade:
Siphon Power poke on wave > step out of shroud > re-engage when W (~20s) on cooldown
Drop control ward to reveal shroud edgeLethal Thresholds
- Akali Kill Range: R2 lethal at ~35–45% on squishies after Q+passive; vs tanks, wait for ≤25–30% with pen items
- Viktor Kill Range: 40–55% after CC chain + items; deny E tag and shroud to avoid execute
- Critical Levels: 3 (Akali W), 6 (R access), 9 (Q max), 11 (R2)
Level by Level Game Plan
| Level | Primary Goal | Lane Position | Trading Opportunities | Kill Windows | Setup Opportunities |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Secure CS and chip | Hold wave 6–8 from tower | Q after Viktor Siphon Power used; hit 2 Qs then back | Low; only with Ignite + HP lead | Ward pixel 2:30; Ahead: slow-push then cheater; Even: last-hit; Behind: thin wave and hug tower |
| 2 | Add E threat | Maintain freeze | E1 as Viktor Death Ray used; follow with Q+passive | Medium if E tag + Ignite | Control ward raptors 3:30; Ahead: zone; Even: short trades; Behind: save W for ganks |
| 3 | Use W to reset | Short lane near tower | Q>W>Q poke; E tag only with jungler nearby | Low unless E hits clean | Ping jungler; Ahead: plate chip; Even: freeze; Behind: call cover and keep warded |
| 4-5 | Boots timing | Short lane; avoid long chases | ≤3s windows around W | Low unless enemy misuses key CD | Buy boots/components; Ahead: deep ward; Even: match push; Behind: farm under tower |
| 6 | Play around R | Fight on vision | E1 tag > R1 through target > E2 > Q > R2 | High at ~40% on squishies | Shove then reset; Ahead: threaten dive; Even: trade HP; Behind: hold R to deter dive |
| 7-8 | Rocketbelt spike | Push on vision; hover Herald | E>Rocketbelt>R1 on rotation | Medium on picks | Secure Herald; Ahead: take plates; Even: contest vision; Behind: stack waves then roam |
| 9+ | Q max pressure | Side→group on timers | Pick-only with E tag | Medium if Flash down | Set vision nets; Ahead: pressure sides; Even: group; Behind: soak safely |
| Mid Game (11-16) | Flank and pick | Hover river entrances | Catch with E at choke | R2 execute on carries | Time dragons/herald; Ahead: start; Even: turn; Behind: trade objectives |
| Late Game (16+) | Backline assassination | Flank from fog | R1 in > Zhonya > exit with E2 | High on immobile carries | Baron/Elder turns with pinks and shroud |
First Back Goals
Ideal Back (1100–1400g)
- Hextech Alternator (1050g)
- Boots (300g)
- Control Ward (75g)
Crash 3rd/cannon wave ≈2:15–5:30; base on bounce to avoid losing plates
Standard Back (700–900g)
- Amplifying Tome (400g)
- Boots (300g)
Reset on slow-push when wave bounces back to you
Teamfight Tips
| Aspect | Akali | Viktor |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Role | Flank assassin/pick | Mage/assassin per kit |
| Target Priority | ADC/APC without Flash Enemy jungler on objectives Low-HP divers mid-fight |
Closest threat then backline per CC windows |
| Objective Control | Arrive early; ward flanks; pick then start Hold R2 for secure/escape |
Start when shroud down Turn on overextended flankers |
| Positioning | Fog flanks via pixel→raptors paths W zone to cut vision, then R chain |
Fight in open; drop control wards; peel or dive as comp allows |
| Other Tips | Buffer R1 during CC wind-ups; time W to dodge targeted casts Mark Flash timers and punish 300s windows |
Bait W with feint; re-engage with Death Ray Force fights on waves to limit Akali flanks |