Akali

Hold just outside Charm line and use Q mark pressure before spending R. Commit only after Charm is missed or forced into Twilight Shroud, then chain Shadow Dance charges so Ahri cannot reset the spacing for Orb of Deception's return hit.

Later Finished items make the side lane playable for Akali if Ahri's Charm is down, but Ahri contributes safer pick and poke in teamfights. Flank from fog, wait for Spirit Rush charges to be used defensively, and do not start the fight by dashing through her whole team.

• •Do not R in a straight line when Charm is ready.
• •Twilight Shroud breaks Fox-Fire targeting if you can delay its lock-on.
• •If Ahri uses Spirit Rush forward, she has fewer dashes to escape your second and third R.
• •Stand off the return path of Orb of Deception after you proc Q.

BuyBanshee's Veil2,750g (875g to combine)Health450Magic Resist55Intangibility: Grants a Spell Shield that blocks the next enemy ability. This Shield refreshes after no damage is taken from enemy champions for 25 seconds.Shadow Mending: Grants 9 Health Regen per 5 for up to 10 seconds after taking damage from an enemy champion or when the Spell Shield breaks.RecipeMercury's Treads1,200g (475g to combine)Magic Resist25Enhanced Movement: 45 Move SpeedTenacity: Reduces the duration of Stuns, Slows, Taunts, Fears, Silences, Blinds, and Immobilizes by 35%.RecipeQuicksilver Sash1,550g (830g to combine)Magic Resist45Active: 90s Removes all debuffs.Recipe

Do not open with your last gap closer while Headbutt is available; Q first and make him choose between backing up or using W early. Once Headbutt or Pulverize is down, re-enter with R, fight inside Twilight Shroud, and disengage immediately when Unbreakable Will starts.

Later Alistar rarely gives Akali a clean side-lane duel and becomes much better as a teamfight peel support. Kill his carries instead; if he ults, stop hitting him and use him only as a Shadow Dance bridge when it is safe.

• •Mark him before Unbreakable Will if possible, but do not spend the proc into the damage reduction.
• •If he Headbutts you away without Pulverize, you can often R back before he escapes.
• •Twilight Shroud is best used after his knockup, not before he can push you out of it.

Stand behind minions or angle sideways so Bandage Toss is not a free opener. If he misses Q, take a short Q-R-auto-E trade and leave before Despair wins the long fight; never commit through his ultimate unless you can kill before the stun matters.

Later Amumu outvalues Akali in grouped fights because his ultimate decides clumps, while Akali is better at cleaning up after it is spent. In side lane he is hard to burst but not very threatening if you refuse the long Despair duel.

• •Do not sit in Twilight Shroud while Despair is running if you are not actively winning the trade.
• •His passive lowers your MR, so repeated autos before his spell rotation make his damage less harmless than it looks.
• •Keep a Shadow Dance charge for after Bandage Toss, not only for engaging.

BuySpirit Visage2,750g (500g to combine)Health400Magic Resist55Health Regen4 / 5sCooldown Reduction20%Lifeforce: Increases self-healing, Health Regen, Lifesteal, and Spell Vamp effects by 20%.RecipeMercury's Treads1,200g (475g to combine)Magic Resist25Enhanced Movement: 45 Move SpeedTenacity: Reduces the duration of Stuns, Slows, Taunts, Fears, Silences, Blinds, and Immobilizes by 35%.RecipeBanshee's Veil2,750g (875g to combine)Health450Magic Resist55Intangibility: Grants a Spell Shield that blocks the next enemy ability. This Shield refreshes after no damage is taken from enemy champions for 25 seconds.Shadow Mending: Grants 9 Health Regen per 5 for up to 10 seconds after taking damage from an enemy champion or when the Spell Shield breaks.Recipe

Do not Shadow Dance directly through Flash Frost's travel line; bait Q at mid range, then R after it passes or detonates. Save a charge for after Crystallize because Anivia wants to wall your exit, drop Glacial Storm under you, and force you to fight through egg timer.

Later Anivia controls grouped terrain much better than Akali, while Akali can threaten her in side lane only if Flash Frost is down and Rebirth is unavailable. In teamfights, enter late from a side angle and avoid being the first body trapped by wall plus storm.

• •Breaking egg is not a win if Glacial Storm and enemy collapse keep you trapped beside it.
• •Twilight Shroud can buy time against Frostbite follow-up, but it does not remove storm damage.
• •Keep track of Rebirth before choosing between killing Anivia and leaving.

BuyBanshee's Veil2,750g (875g to combine)Health450Magic Resist55Intangibility: Grants a Spell Shield that blocks the next enemy ability. This Shield refreshes after no damage is taken from enemy champions for 25 seconds.Shadow Mending: Grants 9 Health Regen per 5 for up to 10 seconds after taking damage from an enemy champion or when the Spell Shield breaks.RecipeMercury's Treads1,200g (475g to combine)Magic Resist25Enhanced Movement: 45 Move SpeedTenacity: Reduces the duration of Stuns, Slows, Taunts, Fears, Silences, Blinds, and Immobilizes by 35%.RecipeQuicksilver Sash1,550g (830g to combine)Magic Resist45Active: 90s Removes all debuffs.Recipe

Watch Annie's stun count and do not enter when Pyromania is ready unless you are forcing a defensive cast into shroud. Poke with Q when she uses spells on minions, then commit only after stun is spent or when you can kill through one rotation immediately.

Later Annie is more dangerous in teamfights because Flash-Tibbers style engage can decide the fight before Akali reaches a carry. In side lane Akali can kill her if stun is down, but finished Annie punishes every face-check and direct dash.

• •Do not trust Twilight Shroud against a ready Tibbers stun; the area hit still catches you.
• •If Annie uses Molten Shield before you enter, factor in the extra resistances and return damage on autos.
• •Her attack range lets her hold stun without using spells, so minion count alone does not make the trade safe.

BuyBanshee's Veil2,750g (875g to combine)Health450Magic Resist55Intangibility: Grants a Spell Shield that blocks the next enemy ability. This Shield refreshes after no damage is taken from enemy champions for 25 seconds.Shadow Mending: Grants 9 Health Regen per 5 for up to 10 seconds after taking damage from an enemy champion or when the Spell Shield breaks.RecipeMercury's Treads1,200g (475g to combine)Magic Resist25Enhanced Movement: 45 Move SpeedTenacity: Reduces the duration of Stuns, Slows, Taunts, Fears, Silences, Blinds, and Immobilizes by 35%.RecipeHexdrinker1,350g (550g to combine)Attack Damage25Magic Resist25Lifeline: Upon taking magic damage that would reduce Health below 30%, grants a Shield that absorbs 250 magic damage for 5 seconds (90 second cooldown).Recipe

Approach from fog or through minions so Volley and autos do not soften you before the engage. Bait or sidestep Arrow, then R onto her and keep a charge for when she Flashes or walks out of Twilight Shroud.

Later Akali dominates the isolated side-lane duel, while Ashe is stronger when protected by frontliners and using Arrow to start fights. In teamfights, avoid the front-to-back lane and flank after Arrow is shown or aimed elsewhere.

• •Do not chase in a straight line at max range; that is the easiest Arrow angle.
• •Twilight Shroud breaks her auto rhythm, but Volley can still tag your last position.
• •If Frost Shot is already on you, use R to close instantly instead of walking through the slow.

BuyNinja Tabi1,000g (375g to combine)Armor25Ninja Footwork: Blocks 10% of the damage from Basic Attacks.Enhanced Movement: 45 Move SpeedRecipeGuardian Angel2,750g (1,310g to combine)Armor50Magic Resist40Guardian's Intervention: Upon taking lethal damage, restores 30% of maximum Health and Mana after 4 seconds of stasis (5 minute cooldown).Recipe

Fight around minions and do not stand at the shroud edge where Grab is obvious. If he misses Q, punish hard with Q-R-auto-E, but hold enough damage for after Mana Barrier appears rather than blowing everything into the shield.

Later Blitzcrank matters more as a pick champion than a side-lane duelist, and Akali should usually hunt the target he is protecting instead. In a pure duel she can win if she avoids Grab, but grouped fights punish visible, direct engages.

• •Mana Barrier makes low-health Blitzcrank much tankier than the health bar suggests.
• •Power Fist can interrupt your follow-through after Shadow Dance, so expect the knockup after you land.
• •Use shroud after Grab is down; using it before gives him a fixed area to fish.

BuyQuicksilver Sash1,550g (830g to combine)Magic Resist45Active: 90s Removes all debuffs.RecipeMercury's Treads1,200g (475g to combine)Magic Resist25Enhanced Movement: 45 Move SpeedTenacity: Reduces the duration of Stuns, Slows, Taunts, Fears, Silences, Blinds, and Immobilizes by 35%.Recipe

Do not dash in after being tagged by Conflagration unless Sear is unavailable. Bait Pillar of Flame at the edge of its range, then enter from an angle, use shroud to deny follow-up targeting, and finish before Pyroclasm gets multiple clean bounces.

Later Brand's teamfight damage is much better if Akali dives into clustered targets, while Akali wins isolated picks when his stun is down. Split or flank to make Pyroclasm bounce poorly and force him to cast defensively.

• •Avoid fighting beside minions when Pyroclasm is ready; extra bounce targets punish you.
• •If Blaze is on you, assume Sear is lethal crowd control, not just poke.
• •Twilight Shroud can stall Conflagration targeting, but Pillar still hits the area.

BuyBanshee's Veil2,750g (875g to combine)Health450Magic Resist55Intangibility: Grants a Spell Shield that blocks the next enemy ability. This Shield refreshes after no damage is taken from enemy champions for 25 seconds.Shadow Mending: Grants 9 Health Regen per 5 for up to 10 seconds after taking damage from an enemy champion or when the Spell Shield breaks.RecipeMercury's Treads1,200g (475g to combine)Magic Resist25Enhanced Movement: 45 Move SpeedTenacity: Reduces the duration of Stuns, Slows, Taunts, Fears, Silences, Blinds, and Immobilizes by 35%.RecipeHexdrinker1,350g (550g to combine)Attack Damage25Magic Resist25Lifeline: Upon taking magic damage that would reduce Health below 30%, grants a Shield that absorbs 250 magic damage for 5 seconds (90 second cooldown).Recipe

Stay off predictable last-hit lines so Rupture is not free, and never dash in while Feral Scream is ready unless you are taking a very short trade. Proc Q, back out before Feast range becomes lethal, and re-enter only after silence or knockup is down.

Later Cho'Gath becomes a stronger side-lane wall and front-to-back teamfight body, while Akali's job shifts to bypassing him. Do not spend full combo into his health stack unless his carries are already dead or Feast is unavailable.

• •His passive sustain means tiny poke trades do not stick unless you can deny farm afterward.
• •Do not shroud inside his model; Feral Scream and Rupture still cover the area.
• •Track Feast execute range before taking a low-health spell-vamp duel.

BuySpirit Visage2,750g (500g to combine)Health400Magic Resist55Health Regen4 / 5sCooldown Reduction20%Lifeforce: Increases self-healing, Health Regen, Lifesteal, and Spell Vamp effects by 20%.RecipeBanshee's Veil2,750g (875g to combine)Health450Magic Resist55Intangibility: Grants a Spell Shield that blocks the next enemy ability. This Shield refreshes after no damage is taken from enemy champions for 25 seconds.Shadow Mending: Grants 9 Health Regen per 5 for up to 10 seconds after taking damage from an enemy champion or when the Spell Shield breaks.RecipeMercury's Treads1,200g (475g to combine)Magic Resist25Enhanced Movement: 45 Move SpeedTenacity: Reduces the duration of Stuns, Slows, Taunts, Fears, Silences, Blinds, and Immobilizes by 35%.Recipe

Mark him before committing and angle your first R so Corki has to Valkyrie defensively, not over you. Once Valkyrie is down, follow with a second Shadow Dance and fight from shroud to deny clean autos and Missile Barrage aim.

Later Akali wins the isolated duel if she has charges, but Corki's poke and sustained mixed damage are better in protected teamfights. Flank from the side and wait for Valkyrie or frontline peel to be used before spending all dashes.

• •Do not stand in Gatling Gun for a full channel before your burst starts.
• •Phosphorus Bomb can reveal the shroud area, so move after he casts it.
• •If Corki Valkyries over a wall, your saved Shadow Dance charge is the difference between a kill and a failed chase.

BuyBanshee's Veil2,750g (875g to combine)Health450Magic Resist55Intangibility: Grants a Spell Shield that blocks the next enemy ability. This Shield refreshes after no damage is taken from enemy champions for 25 seconds.Shadow Mending: Grants 9 Health Regen per 5 for up to 10 seconds after taking damage from an enemy champion or when the Spell Shield breaks.RecipeGuardian Angel2,750g (1,310g to combine)Armor50Magic Resist40Guardian's Intervention: Upon taking lethal damage, restores 30% of maximum Health and Mana after 4 seconds of stasis (5 minute cooldown).Recipe

Dodge Infected Cleaver before committing; getting slowed lets him kite you through Burning Agony while his health returns. Take repeated Q procs only when he cannot freely cleaver you, and disengage during Sadism unless you have healing reduction or a guaranteed kill.

Later Mundo usually controls the side lane once tank items are finished, while Akali is far better at killing his backline than trying to burn through him. In teamfights, ignore him unless he is already low or Sadism has been forced.

• •Do not confuse low Mundo health with kill range when Sadism is ready.
• •Twilight Shroud is useful to drop cleaver aim, but Burning Agony still punishes staying close.
• •Short trades matter only if you can stop his regeneration afterward.

BuyExecutioner's Calling1,900g (700g to combine)Attack Damage25Critical Strike Chance20%Rending Strike: Basic Attacks inflict Grievous Wounds on enemy champions for 1.5 seconds On-Hit. (Grievous Wounds reduces incoming healing and regeneration effects by 50%.)RecipeSpirit Visage2,750g (500g to combine)Health400Magic Resist55Health Regen4 / 5sCooldown Reduction20%Lifeforce: Increases self-healing, Health Regen, Lifesteal, and Spell Vamp effects by 20%.RecipeRylai's Crystal Scepter2,900g (605g to combine)Ability Power80Health500Frost Crystal: Dealing spell damage Slows the target's Move Speed by 35% for 1.5 seconds (15% for multi-target and damage-over-time spells).Recipe

Do not let Evelynn choose the first hit for free; stand near minions or vision and save Twilight Shroud for after Ravage. If she opens with ultimate early, wait out the shield inside shroud, then re-engage with Q mark and Shadow Dance when her slow has faded.

Later Both can threaten side-lane kills, but Evelynn's stealth makes her better at starting picks while Akali is better once a target is locked in a visible fight. Group with vision and use shroud to buy time when Evelynn appears first.

• •Pink vision and ward coverage matter more here than raw duel stats.
• •If Evelynn uses Dark Frenzy speed to leave, do not spend every R charge before her ultimate shield expires.
• •Twilight Shroud denies some follow-up autos but not Hate Spike lines through the area.

BuySightstone800g (325g to combine)Health180Ward Refresh: Holds 3 charges and refills upon visiting the shop.Active: Consumes a charge to place an invisible ward that reveals the surrounding area for 3 minutes (maximum 2 wards placed from this item at once).RecipeQuicksilver Sash1,550g (830g to combine)Magic Resist45Active: 90s Removes all debuffs.RecipeBanshee's Veil2,750g (875g to combine)Health450Magic Resist55Intangibility: Grants a Spell Shield that blocks the next enemy ability. This Shield refreshes after no damage is taken from enemy champions for 25 seconds.Shadow Mending: Grants 9 Health Regen per 5 for up to 10 seconds after taking damage from an enemy champion or when the Spell Shield breaks.Recipe

Walk up with Q pressure and hold R until Ezreal either uses Arcane Shift or is close enough that one dash forces it. After he shifts, follow with Shadow Dance, shroud between Mystic Shot casts, and keep moving sideways so he cannot stack passive safely.

Later Akali wins the side-lane duel when she has charges, while Ezreal is safer in grouped poke fights. Flank instead of running through Mystic Shot lanes, and force Arcane Shift before using Gunblade-style slows or final R charges.

• •Do not chase directly behind minions; Mystic Shot cooldown refunds extend his kite.
• •If he uses Arcane Shift aggressively, punish immediately because his escape is gone.
• •Trueshot Barrage's channel is a free engage window if you are in range.

BuyGuardian Angel2,750g (1,310g to combine)Armor50Magic Resist40Guardian's Intervention: Upon taking lethal damage, restores 30% of maximum Health and Mana after 4 seconds of stasis (5 minute cooldown).RecipeNinja Tabi1,000g (375g to combine)Armor25Ninja Footwork: Blocks 10% of the damage from Basic Attacks.Enhanced Movement: 45 Move SpeedRecipe

Do not start the duel inside Crowstorm or after Dark Wind has silenced you. Bait Terrify at the edge of range, then commit after it is down; if he starts Drain, break range with shroud movement or burst him before the heal overtakes your damage.

Later Fiddlesticks is much stronger around fogged teamfight entrances, while Akali is better in clean isolated fights where Crowstorm is not pre-channeled. Ward flanks, wait for fear or ultimate to hit someone else, then dive his backline rather than standing in the storm.

• •A hidden Crowstorm channel turns a winning duel into a losing one.
• •Dark Wind silence can stop the second half of your combo, especially near minions for bounces.
• •If Drain starts while you are feared, you usually need to reset instead of continuing blindly.

BuyMercury's Treads1,200g (475g to combine)Magic Resist25Enhanced Movement: 45 Move SpeedTenacity: Reduces the duration of Stuns, Slows, Taunts, Fears, Silences, Blinds, and Immobilizes by 35%.RecipeQuicksilver Sash1,550g (830g to combine)Magic Resist45Active: 90s Removes all debuffs.RecipeBanshee's Veil2,750g (875g to combine)Health450Magic Resist55Intangibility: Grants a Spell Shield that blocks the next enemy ability. This Shield refreshes after no damage is taken from enemy champions for 25 seconds.Shadow Mending: Grants 9 Health Regen per 5 for up to 10 seconds after taking damage from an enemy champion or when the Spell Shield breaks.Recipe

Do not let repeated Parrrley hits decide the fight before you engage; use shroud to deny follow-up autos after his pistol trade. Commit when Remove Scurvy is down or when he has used it for healing, then stay close enough that he cannot kite through Cannon Barrage for free.

Later Gangplank scales into stronger global teamfight pressure, while Akali remains better at forcing the direct kill if she reaches him with charges. In side lane, respect his crit burst and ultimate slow, but punish him hard when W is unavailable.

• •Remove Scurvy does not cleanse your damage, but the heal can move him out of execute range.
• •Do not chase through the center of Cannon Barrage if you can R to a better target or minion angle.
• •His passive poison keeps Perseverance-style resets impossible for you, so judge your health honestly.

BuyNinja Tabi1,000g (375g to combine)Armor25Ninja Footwork: Blocks 10% of the damage from Basic Attacks.Enhanced Movement: 45 Move SpeedRecipeGuardian Angel2,750g (1,310g to combine)Armor50Magic Resist40Guardian's Intervention: Upon taking lethal damage, restores 30% of maximum Health and Mana after 4 seconds of stasis (5 minute cooldown).Recipe

Do not dash into Garen while Q is active; back off, let the move speed and silence threat expire, then take a short mark proc trade. Use Twilight Shroud after silence ends to break his target access, and leave before Demacian Justice becomes lethal.

Later Garen is still favored in the side lane if he can force straight melee trades, while Akali has more backline threat in teamfights. Avoid spending your combo on him unless his silence and ultimate are down; use him as a distraction and kill carries instead.

• •Twilight Shroud does not stop Judgment damage if you sit beside him.
• •His passive rewards disengages unless you keep tagging him, but over-chasing gives him the silence trade he wants.
• •Track Demacian Justice range; spell vamp does not help after the execute lands.

BuyNinja Tabi1,000g (375g to combine)Armor25Ninja Footwork: Blocks 10% of the damage from Basic Attacks.Enhanced Movement: 45 Move SpeedRecipeZhonya's Hourglass3,260g (500g to combine)Ability Power120Armor50Active: 90s Champion becomes Invulnerable and Untargetable for 2.5 seconds, but is unable to move, attack, cast spells, or use items during this time.RecipeGuardian Angel2,750g (1,310g to combine)Armor50Magic Resist40Guardian's Intervention: Upon taking lethal damage, restores 30% of maximum Health and Mana after 4 seconds of stasis (5 minute cooldown).Recipe

Hold just outside Body Slam range and tag him with Mark of the Assassin before committing. If he uses Body Slam to farm or misses it, Shadow Dance in, proc Q, then use Twilight Shroud to dodge the return barrel timing. Do not spend all R charges before Explosive Cask, because he can knock you out and reset the fight.

Later Finished Gragas is harder to burst and better in grouped fights because Explosive Cask can peel you off carries. In side lane Akali can still threaten him after his E or R is down, but in teamfights she should flank after Gragas has used Cask or Body Slam.

• •Do not stand on a primed Barrel Roll while waiting in Twilight Shroud.
• •Mark him before his Happy Hour sustain drags out the trade.
• •Save one Shadow Dance charge to follow after Explosive Cask displacement.

BuyBanshee's Veil2,750g (875g to combine)Health450Magic Resist55Intangibility: Grants a Spell Shield that blocks the next enemy ability. This Shield refreshes after no damage is taken from enemy champions for 25 seconds.Shadow Mending: Grants 9 Health Regen per 5 for up to 10 seconds after taking damage from an enemy champion or when the Spell Shield breaks.RecipeMercury's Treads1,200g (475g to combine)Magic Resist25Enhanced Movement: 45 Move SpeedTenacity: Reduces the duration of Stuns, Slows, Taunts, Fears, Silences, Blinds, and Immobilizes by 35%.RecipeAbyssal Scepter2,560g (980g to combine)Ability Power70Magic Resist45Aura - Despair: Reduces the Magic Resist of nearby enemies by 20Recipe

Do not duel him inside a turret nest; clear or avoid the turrets first, then look for a flank angle rather than walking at him. Bait Grenade with a fake step or minion approach, then Shadow Dance after it misses and burst him before rockets and turret shots stack up. If Grenade is available and two turrets are firing, back out.

Later Heimerdinger still wins prepared zones, but Akali is better at finding him during rotations. In teamfights, do not dive through his setup first; enter after Grenade is used or when he is displaced from his turrets.

• •Twilight Shroud does not stop turrets from owning the area around you.
• •Kill isolated turrets before committing to Heimer himself.
• •His rockets hit nearby targets, so minion positioning can soften his poke pattern.

BuyMercury's Treads1,200g (475g to combine)Magic Resist25Enhanced Movement: 45 Move SpeedTenacity: Reduces the duration of Stuns, Slows, Taunts, Fears, Silences, Blinds, and Immobilizes by 35%.RecipeBanshee's Veil2,750g (875g to combine)Health450Magic Resist55Intangibility: Grants a Spell Shield that blocks the next enemy ability. This Shield refreshes after no damage is taken from enemy champions for 25 seconds.Shadow Mending: Grants 9 Health Regen per 5 for up to 10 seconds after taking damage from an enemy champion or when the Spell Shield breaks.RecipeAbyssal Scepter2,560g (980g to combine)Ability Power70Magic Resist45Aura - Despair: Reduces the Magic Resist of nearby enemies by 20Recipe

Open with Mark of the Assassin and walk forward until she spends Howling Gale or Zephyr before using R. Keep one Shadow Dance charge for after Monsoon or a tornado interrupt. If she shields and kites, wait out Eye Of The Storm rather than dumping burst into it.

Later Janna should not side-lane against Akali, but she is much more valuable in teamfights because she can peel your dive target. Akali should flank wide and wait for Monsoon or Howling Gale before committing to a carry.

• •Do not use all R charges before Monsoon.
• •Her shield can make your Q proc look weaker than expected, so delay burst when possible.
• •If Howling Gale is charging, approach from an angle instead of straight through it.

Avoid lining up with Demacian Standard once Dragon Strike is ready. Let him miss or spend the flag-drag, then mark him, dash in, proc Q, and use Twilight Shroud to break his follow-up autos. Inside Cataclysm, fight only if his knockup is down or you have enough charges to reposition after the walls drop.

Later Jarvan becomes harder to kill and has stronger teamfight initiation. Akali can pressure him in side lane if she avoids the full combo, but in grouped fights she should wait for Cataclysm to be used before diving backline.

• •Do not stand between Jarvan and his Standard.
• •Twilight Shroud is strongest after his passive auto, not before he has committed.
• •Cataclysm can trap you away from your next Shadow Dance target.

BuyNinja Tabi1,000g (375g to combine)Armor25Ninja Footwork: Blocks 10% of the damage from Basic Attacks.Enhanced Movement: 45 Move SpeedRecipeSeeker's Armguard1,160g (125g to combine)Ability Power20Armor30Seeker's Insight: Killing a unit grants 0.5 bonus Armor and Ability Power. This bonus stacks up to 30 times.RecipeZhonya's Hourglass3,260g (500g to combine)Ability Power120Armor50Active: 90s Champion becomes Invulnerable and Untargetable for 2.5 seconds, but is unable to move, attack, cast spells, or use items during this time.Recipe

Do not fight him while Counter Strike is active; mark him, step back into Twilight Shroud, and wait for the stun window to pass. Trade in short Q-proc bursts, then disengage before Grandmaster's Might attack speed stacks take over. Commit only when Counter Strike is down and you can kill before his next rotation.

Later Finished Jax usually owns the side lane if he can force long trades, while Akali has better backline access in chaotic fights. Avoid matching him in a pure split-push duel unless ahead; look to kill carries before Jax can peel or clean up.

• •Do not waste your Q proc into Counter Strike if you can wait it out.
• •Crescent Slash is also weakened during his defensive stance.
• •If he Leap Strikes onto you first, shroud immediately and deny the follow-up autos.

BuyNinja Tabi1,000g (375g to combine)Armor25Ninja Footwork: Blocks 10% of the damage from Basic Attacks.Enhanced Movement: 45 Move SpeedRecipeSeeker's Armguard1,160g (125g to combine)Ability Power20Armor30Seeker's Insight: Killing a unit grants 0.5 bonus Armor and Ability Power. This bonus stacks up to 30 times.RecipeZhonya's Hourglass3,260g (500g to combine)Ability Power120Armor50Active: 90s Champion becomes Invulnerable and Untargetable for 2.5 seconds, but is unable to move, attack, cast spells, or use items during this time.Recipe

Approach from outside minion waves so Lay Waste cannot freely hit you and the wave together. Dash in after he misses Q or places Wall of Pain poorly, burst, then use Twilight Shroud to force awkward Lay Waste guesses. Leave immediately after the kill if Death Defied is active; do not donate health to post-death Defile.

Later Akali wins the side-lane duel, but Karthus can still punish low-health exits with Requiem and contributes huge teamfight damage after dying. Kill him fast, then either Zhonya's his passive damage window or leave the area before helping the rest of the fight.

• •Do not stand still in Twilight Shroud; Karthus can still aim Lay Waste into it.
• •After killing him, count Death Defied as part of the fight.
• •Keep enough health to survive Requiem after disengaging.

BuyZhonya's Hourglass3,260g (500g to combine)Ability Power120Armor50Active: 90s Champion becomes Invulnerable and Untargetable for 2.5 seconds, but is unable to move, attack, cast spells, or use items during this time.RecipeBanshee's Veil2,750g (875g to combine)Health450Magic Resist55Intangibility: Grants a Spell Shield that blocks the next enemy ability. This Shield refreshes after no damage is taken from enemy champions for 25 seconds.Shadow Mending: Grants 9 Health Regen per 5 for up to 10 seconds after taking damage from an enemy champion or when the Spell Shield breaks.RecipeAbyssal Scepter2,560g (980g to combine)Ability Power70Magic Resist45Aura - Despair: Reduces the Magic Resist of nearby enemies by 20Recipe