Akai is an A+ Tier Tank as of Season 14. He is hard to master unless you really are a high skilled player or has experience in using the similar skill sets with Akai.
Passive: Tai Chi
Every time a spell is cast, Akai gains a shield that absorbs up to 6% of his health point, lasting 2 seconds, can only take effect every 2.5 seconds.
Very useful passive to absorb some damage every 2.5 seconds. This gives you shield that can be used to absorb one turret attack. That is why he is good in diving solo enemy tower defender and escape dangerous situations. The more health point you have the more shield will be generated.
1st Skill: Thousand Pounder
CD: 11 seconds Mana cost: 70
Jump into the target area, dealing 300/350/400/450/500/550 (+%) magic damage to enemies and slowing them for 2 seconds after landing. Targets marked (using 2nd skill) will be stunned for 1 second.
Before nerf, this is an OP skill. They reduced the AoE so that most of the times, you can only stun/slow one hero or even missed if you are not a good Akai User.
This is your blink skill. Use it aggressively to slow/stun targets. Use it defensively by jumping over walls to escape.
Why is this OP before?
Enemies caught pushing turrets will be slowed/stunned thus they can be targeted by allied turret or heroes.
Prevent escapes or delaying enemy movement
Gives enough time for Akai to reposition and pinned the enemies onto obstacles. Either suppressed or just knockback CC is very helpful.
And lastly, the damage of this skill is just a bit lower with Grock's First Skill. (After the nerf on Patch 1.4.28)
2nd Skill: Blender
CD 8.5 seconds Mana cost: 70
Fires a frog-shaped shock wave at the enemy, shock wave will explode on contact with the enemy or once it reaches maximum range, dealing 50/380/410/440/470/500 (+%) physical damage, marking enemies for 5 seconds; basic attacks on marked targets will be enhanced by an extra 5% of Akai’s maximum health as physical damage.
Gives a decent amount of damage and gives you a chance to stun targets.
The use of this skill defines the difference between a good Akai User or not.
Good Akai Users will use this to trigger passive , synergize with skill combo, and harassing enemies.
Not so good Akai User will simply spam the 2nd + 1st Skill Combo without thinking that he can't secure a kill SOLO because the target can escape and back up will come to kill you.
It was mentioned that this gives a decent amount of damage but is not high enough to kill a hero with 100 to 50% HP.
Ultimate Skill: Wind Dance
CD: 40 seconds Mana cost: 120
Spins like a tornado for 3.5 seconds and starts hitting targets. Each collision will knock back the target and deal 180/360/540 (+%) magic damage, (damage decays against same target). After casting, removes all CC effects present on self, during the duration Akai will be impervious to all CC and have increased movement speed by 30 points.
This is what makes Akai very annoying. This skill can destroy the enemy formation and cancel enemy ultimates such as Gord’s ultimate, Odette’s ultimate, Lolita’s ultimate and etc.
Defensively, you can use this ultimate to disengage or escape as this will boost your movement speed and it will make you immune to Crowd Control skills.
Preparation
Recommended Battle Spells
Petrify: To keep your enemies stunned so that your teammates can have more time to deal damage or reposition yourself for a successful ult skill
Flicker: Can be used to blink towards the backline and quickly use your ultimate skill to push enemies to your team mates.
Arrival: To back up in teamfights immediately. Other info can be found on our official Arrival Guide including tricks.
Recommended Emblem Sets for Akai
Tank Emblem
Cursed Helmet: A very useful item that will increase your magical resistance and health point. But the best thing this item can offer is its passive. The passive of this item will deal 1.5% of the enemy’s max health point as magic damage every second to nearby enemies. So if you managed to pin someone in the wall, they will receive extra damage.
Antique Cuirass: This item increases your health points, health points regeneration, and physical defense. The passive of this armor will reduce the enemy’s attack power by 6% for 2 seconds. This effect can be stacked up to 3 times. The best physical defense items in terms of HP and defense stats.
Athena’s Shield: Every 30 seconds, you will get an absorbing shield that will keep growing as the match goes on maxing out at 1150 health points. This shield goes in great combo with your passive and other items like Oracle.
Oracle: Has a synergy with Athena's Shield and even Sky Guardian Helmet. This is recommended too because it enhances your passive.
Blade Armor: Increases your physical defense by 90. The passive of this item is good against Kimmy and Claude.
Sky Guardian Helmet: This item will increase a lot of health points (1550) and it will boost your health point regeneration by 100. Depending on whether you kill an enemy or make an assist, your health regeneration rate will increase to a maximum of 3.5%. Has a good synergy with Oracle.
Example of Set Build:
Tips and Tricks
Some Heroes that Akai counters
Updated for S14 As of December 1, 2019 #MLTLG_Akai_Guide
- You need proper positioning to get the suppressed effect of his ult.
- You need proper aiming to secure a stun from 2nd + 1st skill
- You need experience to play him well.
Passive: Tai Chi
Every time a spell is cast, Akai gains a shield that absorbs up to 6% of his health point, lasting 2 seconds, can only take effect every 2.5 seconds.
Very useful passive to absorb some damage every 2.5 seconds. This gives you shield that can be used to absorb one turret attack. That is why he is good in diving solo enemy tower defender and escape dangerous situations. The more health point you have the more shield will be generated.
1st Skill: Thousand Pounder
CD: 11 seconds Mana cost: 70
Jump into the target area, dealing 300/350/400/450/500/550 (+%) magic damage to enemies and slowing them for 2 seconds after landing. Targets marked (using 2nd skill) will be stunned for 1 second.
Before nerf, this is an OP skill. They reduced the AoE so that most of the times, you can only stun/slow one hero or even missed if you are not a good Akai User.
This is your blink skill. Use it aggressively to slow/stun targets. Use it defensively by jumping over walls to escape.
Why is this OP before?
Enemies caught pushing turrets will be slowed/stunned thus they can be targeted by allied turret or heroes.
Prevent escapes or delaying enemy movement
Gives enough time for Akai to reposition and pinned the enemies onto obstacles. Either suppressed or just knockback CC is very helpful.
And lastly, the damage of this skill is just a bit lower with Grock's First Skill. (After the nerf on Patch 1.4.28)
2nd Skill: Blender
CD 8.5 seconds Mana cost: 70
Fires a frog-shaped shock wave at the enemy, shock wave will explode on contact with the enemy or once it reaches maximum range, dealing 50/380/410/440/470/500 (+%) physical damage, marking enemies for 5 seconds; basic attacks on marked targets will be enhanced by an extra 5% of Akai’s maximum health as physical damage.
Gives a decent amount of damage and gives you a chance to stun targets.
The use of this skill defines the difference between a good Akai User or not.
Good Akai Users will use this to trigger passive , synergize with skill combo, and harassing enemies.
Not so good Akai User will simply spam the 2nd + 1st Skill Combo without thinking that he can't secure a kill SOLO because the target can escape and back up will come to kill you.
It was mentioned that this gives a decent amount of damage but is not high enough to kill a hero with 100 to 50% HP.
Ultimate Skill: Wind Dance
CD: 40 seconds Mana cost: 120
Spins like a tornado for 3.5 seconds and starts hitting targets. Each collision will knock back the target and deal 180/360/540 (+%) magic damage, (damage decays against same target). After casting, removes all CC effects present on self, during the duration Akai will be impervious to all CC and have increased movement speed by 30 points.
This is what makes Akai very annoying. This skill can destroy the enemy formation and cancel enemy ultimates such as Gord’s ultimate, Odette’s ultimate, Lolita’s ultimate and etc.
Defensively, you can use this ultimate to disengage or escape as this will boost your movement speed and it will make you immune to Crowd Control skills.
Preparation
Recommended Battle Spells
Petrify: To keep your enemies stunned so that your teammates can have more time to deal damage or reposition yourself for a successful ult skill
Flicker: Can be used to blink towards the backline and quickly use your ultimate skill to push enemies to your team mates.
Arrival: To back up in teamfights immediately. Other info can be found on our official Arrival Guide including tricks.
Recommended Emblem Sets for Akai
Tank Emblem
- Tenacity Talent
- 3 pts for HP and CDR
- Pull Yourself Together Talent
- 3 pts for CDR and Hybrid Regen
- Rapid Boots: For max movement speed
- Warrior/Tough Boots: Depends on situation
Cursed Helmet: A very useful item that will increase your magical resistance and health point. But the best thing this item can offer is its passive. The passive of this item will deal 1.5% of the enemy’s max health point as magic damage every second to nearby enemies. So if you managed to pin someone in the wall, they will receive extra damage.
Antique Cuirass: This item increases your health points, health points regeneration, and physical defense. The passive of this armor will reduce the enemy’s attack power by 6% for 2 seconds. This effect can be stacked up to 3 times. The best physical defense items in terms of HP and defense stats.
Athena’s Shield: Every 30 seconds, you will get an absorbing shield that will keep growing as the match goes on maxing out at 1150 health points. This shield goes in great combo with your passive and other items like Oracle.
Oracle: Has a synergy with Athena's Shield and even Sky Guardian Helmet. This is recommended too because it enhances your passive.
Blade Armor: Increases your physical defense by 90. The passive of this item is good against Kimmy and Claude.
Sky Guardian Helmet: This item will increase a lot of health points (1550) and it will boost your health point regeneration by 100. Depending on whether you kill an enemy or make an assist, your health regeneration rate will increase to a maximum of 3.5%. Has a good synergy with Oracle.
Example of Set Build:
- Courage Mask
- Warrior Boots
- Athena's Shield
- Oracle
- Antique Cuirass
- Sky Guardian Helmet
Tips and Tricks
- When engaging towards a target, use your second skill first. Then land your first skill successfully for the stun. If ult is unavailable, you can use your basic attacks to help your carry hero to secure the kill.
- Sometimes, it is best to disengage unless you are sure that you can suppressed target into a wall with your ultimate skill.
- Always be with a damage hero.
- In case you want to dive into the enemy tower, be sure that you can at least take one enemy hero out of the tower range by using your ult skill.
- You can actually secure kills because of your 2nd plus 1st skill combo. The skill combo can stun a low HP target and finish them off with basic attacks.
- Take note that once you stunned a target, the mark will disappear. That is why 2nd skill + basic attacks is the best way to kill low HP heroes.
- Always try to stun and suppress the enemy main damage dealers
- You second skill missed? You still have a chance to stun a target.
If you are using Petrify as battle spell, use your first skill to jump on enemies and then stun them with Petrify. This will give you enough time to position yourself and to use your ultimate skill.
- If you are using Flicker as battle spell, use it to blink towards the backline and then push them towards your teammates using your ultimate skill.
Some Heroes that Akai counters
- Odette - Akai can use his ult to cancel Odette's ult.
- Fanny - she is always near the wall so use that to suppressed her easily with your ult.
- Diggie - his ult can make Akai's ult useless
- Nana - Very annoying actually. She can transform you using her 2nd skill.
- Grock - he can provide extra wall where Akai can suppress an enemy
Updated for S14 As of December 1, 2019 #MLTLG_Akai_Guide
