Akali, the Rogue Assassin from League of Legends, possesses three distinct dashes within her ability kit. These dashes are crucial for her high-mobility playstyle, allowing her to engage, disengage, and reposition effectively in combat.
Understanding Akali's Mobility
Akali's kit is designed around swift movements and burst damage, making her a challenging champion to pin down. Her dashes are central to her ability to weave through fights, target high-priority enemies, and escape dangerous situations. While there can be creative uses of her abilities that feel like additional dashes, fundamentally, three specific casts provide the dash mechanics.
Breakdown of Akali's Dashes
Akali's three primary dashes are derived from two of her core abilities: Shuriken Flip (E) and Perfect Execution (R).
Here's a detailed look at each:
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Shuriken Flip (E) - Second Cast:
- When Akali casts Shuriken Flip (E), she throws a shuriken and dashes backward. If the shuriken hits an enemy or a smoke screen, she can reactivate the ability to dash forward to the marked target, consuming the mark. This second cast is a direct, targeted dash. While the initial E cast moves her backward, it's the second cast that functions as an offensive or repositioning dash towards a target.
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Perfect Execution (R) - First Cast:
- Akali's ultimate, Perfect Execution (R), has two distinct casts, both of which are powerful dashes. The first cast allows Akali to dash through an enemy champion, dealing magic damage and briefly stunning them. This dash is typically used for initial engagement or to close gaps quickly.
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Perfect Execution (R) - Second Cast:
- The second cast of Perfect Execution (R) is an unstoppable dash that can be used after a short cooldown following the first cast. This dash covers a significant distance and deals execution damage based on the target's missing health, making it ideal for finishing off low-health enemies.
The Nuance of Mobility
It's sometimes debated whether Akali has "more" dashes due to the versatility of her Shuriken Flip (E). For instance, players can skillfully use the first cast of E to dash backward for propulsion, potentially giving the impression of an additional forward dash if it sets up a subsequent move. However, the core dashing mechanism of E is its second cast which propels Akali to a target. Therefore, despite such creative maneuvers, Akali's kit definitively contains three distinct dashing abilities: the second cast of Shuriken Flip (E), and both the first and second casts of Perfect Execution (R).
These abilities provide Akali with unparalleled agility, allowing her to dictate the pace of skirmishes and execute her targets with precision. Mastering these dashes is key to playing Akali effectively.
