League of Legends S12: Akali Top Build Guide

From runes to items, gameplay tips amd more, we've put together a guide to help you master playing Akali in the toplane in League of Legends.

Be mindful that there are several ways to build and play a champion, and you'll need to be adaptable as the game and the enemy team progress.

That said, this guide is a good starting point to helping you get to grips with the champion and making an impact in your games.

Runes

Core Items

Hextech Rocketbelt

3200 Gold

Shadowflame

3000 Gold

Build

Hextech Rocketbelt is a key item for champions who want a gap closer, with burst assassins such as Akali a prime example.

Shadowflame is also a great choice, offering survivability alongside AP and magic penetration.

Other good items include Zhonya's Hourglass, Demonic Embrace and Morellonomicon.

Starting Item & Boots

Health Potion

50 Gold

Doran's Shield

450 Gold

Sorceror's Shoes

1100 Gold

Skill Order

While your choices may differ according to how the game progresses, the typical Akali skill priority is:

R > Q > E > W

Summoner Spells

These are the summoner spells most typically taken by Akali in this role. Naturally, this may change depending on match-ups.

Gameplay

Akali is weak in the early game, so you'll want to play cautiously against any ranged toplaners. Play around her mobility, and once you have a couple of items, her burst potential becomes incredibly strong. All in all, Akali is a mechanically challenging champion to play, but with a high reward. In teamfights, you'll want to try and dive on the squishy carries. 

• Level 1 - Take Q - Five-Point Strike, for waveclear and a slow.
• Level 2 - Take E - Shuriken Flip, for more damage, and both an engage and disengage tool in one.
• First Back - Work towards your Rocketbelt, or pick up boots if you have enough.

Tips & Tricks

• Shuriken Flip will send you backwards far enough so that you can activate your Assassin's Mark passive. You'll also be at maximum range for Five-Point Strike - use it, and you'll be able to leap back into the enemy and attack. This combo is tough to execute, but your bread-and-butter.
• The second activation of Shuriken Flip has no range limit. For example, if a marked enemy teleports, you can activate and follow.
• Five-Point Strike has two activations, the first dealing physical damage and the second magic damage, plus bonus magic damage based on missing health. As such, it's a great skill to use to finish off enemies.