Akali is a A tier Mid Lane champion in League of Legends Patch 16.5 with a 49.3% win rate in Emerald+ ranked games, according to OP.GG data. The optimal Akali build starts with Long Sword and Refillable Potion, with core items being Youmuu's Ghostblade, Opportunity, Serylda's Grudge and Boots of Lucidity. For runes, run Electrocute from Domination with Precision as the secondary tree. Skill priority is Q > E > W. Akali is best played with Flash and Ignite as summoner spells. The most challenging matchup in Mid Lane is Diana (S+ tier, 53.4% win rate).
Source: OP.GG Emerald+ ranked data, Patch 16.5 · Last updated: March 2026 · Meridian Zero Analytics
Best Build — Patch 16.5
Start
Long SwordRefillable Potion
Core
Youmuu's GhostbladeOpportunitySerylda's Grudge
Boots
Boots of Lucidity
Spells
FlashIgnite
Priority
Q > E > W
Expert Tips
- E in shroud before using Q; the empowered auto from Q activates while invisible.
- Never engage without both R casts available unless the target is isolated and below 40% HP.
- Play aggressive at level 3 and 6. Your kill threat spikes dramatically at both levels.
Mid Lane Matchups — Difficulty by Opponent
| Opponent | Tier | Difficulty | |
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S+ | Hard | Analyze → |
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S+ | Hard | Analyze → |
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S+ | Hard | Analyze → |
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S | Hard | Analyze → |
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S | Hard | Analyze → |
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S | Hard | Analyze → |
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S | Hard | Analyze → |
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S | Hard | Analyze → |
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S | Hard | Analyze → |
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S | Hard | Analyze → |
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S | Hard | Analyze → |
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S | Hard | Analyze → |
Runes — Patch 16.5
KeystoneElectrocute
Primary TreeDomination
Slot 1Sudden Impact
Slot 2Eyeball Collection
Slot 3Treasure Hunter
Secondary TreePrecision
Secondary 1Triumph
Secondary 2Legend: Haste