The good news is that Akali, one of the longest-running S-tier champions in League of Legends: Wild Rift, has finally been nerfed. The bad news is that she’s also been buffed, and overall, it looks like she might actually be better now following Wild Rift patch 2.3.
Based on Riot Games’ patch notes, they explained that “Akali is frustratingly strong in the early game, but also a bit difficult to play”, for she is, after all, one of the few high skill cap champions in Wild Rift.
Adjustments to Akali on Wild Rift patch 2.3
Base Stats
- Base HP decreased from 650 to 570
- HP per Level increased from 115 to 125
- Total HP at level 15 increased from 2260 to 2320
- Armor reduced from 35 to 30
First ability – Five-Point Strike
- Energy increased from 95/90/85/80 to 130/110/90/70
Second ability – Twilight Shroud
- Restores 80 Energy
- Increases Total Energy by 80 when shroud is active
Third ability – Shuriken Flip
- Shuriken base damage decreased from 40/80/120/160 to 30/60/90/120
- Shuriken AD ratio decreased from 0.35 to 0.25
- Shuriken AP ratio decreased from 0.5 to 0.3
- Dash base damage increased from 40/80/120/160 to 70/120/170/220
- Dash AD ratio increased from 0.35 to 0.5
- Dash AP ratio increased from 0.5 to 0.8
Ultimate – Perfect Execution
- First Cast no longer Physical damage, but instead, Magic damage
- (New) First Cast AP ratio: 0.3
- Second Cast AP ratio decreased from 0.5 to 0.4
- Max AP ratio decreased from 1.5 to 1.2
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Explanation and analysis of Akali changes
There’s a lot to unpack here in Wild Rift patch 2.3. First off, Akali’s base HP was decreased, but HP per level increased, so by level 15, her total HP is higher than before.
However, her base armor took quite a hit, down from 35 to 30, which means matchups again Zed and Yasuo in mid, or Darius and Garen in the Baron lane will hit harder in the laning phase.
Her first ability, Five-Point Strike, was straight up nerfed, especially at level one, costing 35 energy more than before. You won’t be able to cast Five-Point Strike as many times as before, which reduces her early game damage and wave clear in Wild Rift patch 2.3.
Even though Twilight Shroud now restores 80 energy, Akali players aren’t realistically going to use it every time it is off cooldown just to replenish energy.
What’s interesting is that Wild Rift patch 2.3 buffed Shuriken Flip’s dash damage. It’s AP and AD ratio upon landing took a hit, but its dash base damage and ratios were increased significantly, heavily rewarding players for landing a Shuriken onto an enemy champion, and dashing onto them for the commit.
Similar to Riot’s approach to balancing Akali on League of Legends PC, they’ve lastly adjusted her ultimate’s first cast to be purely magic damage. As a result, tanks will find it even more valuable to purchase magic resist items against her.
Looking at these changes, Akali overall received a net buff in the late game. Players who are able to master her will be able to manage her energy cost, time and position Twilight Shroud and Shuriken Flip perfectly in team fights, and therefore be rewarded for scaling.
Click here to read the full Wild Rift patch 2.3 patch notes.
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