Champion Guide

Akshan Guide

By LoLSuggest

Mid

Akshan is a mid-lane marksman-assassin who wins through short, aggressive trades and roams. Dirty Fighting makes his double-shot autos proc bonus damage on the third hit and shields him when he fights near enemies, Heroic Swing turns walls into gap closers, and Comeuppance executes low targets. Killing the champion who took down an ally revives that ally, so every pick he lands can swing a skirmish.

Recommended Setup

Our recommended Akshan build

Our recommended runes, summoner spells and items. Compare build win rates on the stats page.

Items

Starting Items

Core Items

Situational Items

Start Doran's Blade and a Health Potion; a first back around 1300 gold buys a B. F. Sword. The core is The Collector, Gluttonous Greaves, Infinity Edge and Lord Dominik's Regards. Stormrazor is an alternative opener that is easy to use, and the Statikk Shiv line suits games where you need wave clear. Finish with Rapid Firecannon for range, Immortal Shieldbow or Guardian Angel when you get focused, and Kraken Slayer against tanks. Swap boots for Plated Steelcaps or Mercury's Treads into heavy damage or crowd control. Run Press the Attack with Presence of Mind, Legend: Alacrity and Coup de Grace, plus Bone Plating and Overgrowth; Cut Down replaces Coup de Grace against tanky lanes. Take Flash with Ignite, or Teleport for a safer lane. Max Q, then E, then W.

Runes

Primary Tree

Secondary Tree

Summoner Spells

Skill Max Order

Strengths

One of the strongest level 1-3 trading patterns in mid lane thanks to double autos and the Dirty Fighting shield.
Heroic Swing gives him roams and surprise angles from fog of war that few marksmen have.
Comeuppance and his revive passive let him turn lost skirmishes into wins.

Weaknesses

Point-and-click crowd control (Lissandra, Malzahar, Pantheon) interrupts his swing and all-in.
Burst mages such as Syndra or LeBlanc can kill him before the shield matters.
Terrain makers like Anivia or Taliyah block or punish Heroic Swing.

Laning Phase

Take Avengerang first and hit the enemy with its return path while you farm; every target it hits extends its range. From level 2 the trade auto, auto, Avengerang procs Dirty Fighting quickly, and casting Q or W before the enemy hits back gives you a shield. Heroic Swing threatens a level 2 all-in if they misstep. Keep the wave near your tower until you know where the enemy jungler is, then shove a big wave under their tower before you swing into river for a roam.

Mid & Late Game

After laning, roam with Heroic Swing to set up picks with your jungler and turn kills into dragons and towers. In teamfights stay at maximum range and auto the closest safe target; only swing in when you can secure a kill or have a way out. Use Comeuppance as an execute on low targets, and remember that killing the champion who took down an ally revives that ally.

Key Tips

Cast Avengerang or Going Rogue just before the enemy trades back so Dirty Fighting's shield absorbs the damage.
Auto, Avengerang, auto procs the three-hit passive quickly in short trades.
Swing from fog of war: an unseen Heroic Swing is much harder to react to.
Push the wave into the enemy tower before you leave lane so roams cost you little farm.

Matchups

Matchups and synergies

Our picks for difficult opponents, favorable lanes and strong allies. Compare matchup win rates on the stats page.