Akali, the Rogue Assassin
Overview:
Since the Akali VGU already solved her original kit's core issues, this redesign is meant to push what works while further refining her theme and niche.
I'll be taking the preparation elements of my initial redesign and the new tools and playstyle of the VGU to make Akali even more of a crafty assassin, bringing a satchel full of ninja tools to waylay and subdue her unsuspecting foes.
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These changes don't stray far from Akali's current play-patterns, leaning into her preference for weaving in and out of enemy attack range and line of sight. These techniques are now tied to something more concrete, however, with the grappling-and-cutting nature of her kama replacing her old Innate's magic circle, and her satchel of ninja tools giving her more reasons to frequently slip into the shadows.
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With most of Akali's abilities remaining relatively unchanged in both form and function, her Ult has received some more noticeable changes that help push her identity towards a focus on ninja tools, and a prolonged assassination pattern that involves frequently finding ways to escape enemy vision.
All values in blue are meant to give a general idea of the ability's properties, and are subject to change.
Class: Assassin
Recommended Positions: Solo Midlane
Complexity: Medium
Innate: Wayward Discipline
After remaining unseen by enemies for 1.75 seconds, Akali will reach into her satchel for an Advanced Ninja Tool, preparing to empower the next ability she uses and gaining
25% + (5 per 100 AP)% bonus movement speed that decays over 2 seconds after she is spotted by an enemy champion.
While preparing, Akali swings her kama, granting her next basic attack 275 bonus range and dealing 39 to 180 (based on level) + (75% bonus AD) physical damage to her target if she moves more than 500 units away from them within 4 seconds.
Q: Pinning Strike
Akali throws a kunai in the target direction after a 0.35 second delay, dealing 25/50/75/100/125 + (85% bonus AD) physical damage to enemies hit.
When using Advanced Ninja Tools, Akali will instead instantly throw a flurry of kunais in the target direction, which slows enemies hit near its maximum range by 40% + (5 per 100 AP)% for 1 second.
At rank 5, Pinning Strike deals 25% bonus damage to minions and monsters.
Range: 500 (range), 380-500 (sweet spot), 10° (initial angle), 35° (Advanced angle)
Targeting Type: Skill Shot, Cone
Cooldown: 1.5
Cost: 100/95/90/85/80 energy
W: Twilight Shroud
Akali channels for 1.25 seconds before restoring 80 energy and throwing a smoke bomb at the target location, creating a circular shroud that expands over the next 5 seconds into a ring, and lasts for 5 + (1 per 100 AP) seconds. The shroud does not permeate terrain. If a section of the shroud is marked by Assassin's Mark, it will linger for the mark's duration.
While within the shroud, Akali is invisible, and her basic attacks and abilities will break the invisibility for 1 to 0.6 (based on minutes) seconds.
When using Advanced Ninja Tools, Akali will immediately grab a smoke bomb from her satchel, creating the shroud without channeling and preparing Wayward Discipline instantly.
Range: 250 (target range), 350 (initial effect radius), 1175 (maximum effect radius)
Targeting Type: Skill Shot - Placement
Cooldown: 20
Cost: None
E: Assassin's Mark
Akali flips 350 units away from the target direction and throws a shuriken towards it, stopping with the first enemy hit and dealing 50/85/120/155/190 + (45% total AD) physical damage. Upon hitting an enemy or reaching its destination, the shuriken will mark the ground below it for 3 seconds. While the mark persists, Akali can re-activate Assassin's Mark to dash to the mark's location, dealing the same damage to the nearest enemy.
When using Advanced Ninja Tools, Akali will instead throw a threaded hook that embeds itself in the target for 3 + (1.25 per 100 AP) seconds, granting vision of them and allowing her to dash directly to them with Assassin's Mark's re-activation for the duration.
Range: 650 (range), 250 (re-activation damage range)
Targeting Type: Skill Shot - Line
Cooldown: 16/14.5/13/11.5/10
Cost: 30 energy
R: Explosive Execution
Akali dashes in the target direction, leaving behind a handmade bomb that explodes after
1.25 seconds, stunning nearby enemies for 1 + (0.35 per 100 AP) seconds.
Within the next 10 seconds, Akali can re-activate Explosive Execution to dash in the target direction again, slapping an explosive tag on the first enemy champion in her path. During this time, whenever Wayward Discipline activates, Explosive Execution can be re-activated again, up to 2 additional times.
After 10 seconds or once Explosive Execution has been re-activated 3 times, Akali will detonate the tags, dealing 75/145/215 + (30% bonus AD) physical damage per tag to all affected enemies, increased by 0% to 200% (based on the target's health).
Range: 675
Targeting Type: Skill Shot - Line
Cooldown: 120/90/60
Cost: None