Akshan in League of Legends: History, Gameplay, Runes, Items for the New Champion

On July 22, 2021 Akshan appeared in League of Legends — a hero who is impossible to miss. He immediately sticks in your memory: a charismatic, daring, freedom-loving Guardian of Light, who seems to have come from the pages of an adventure novel. He has the spirit of D’Artagnan — a noble seeker of justice, only with a magical artifact and the ability to shoot without missing. This is not just a new champion: this is the image of a living hero who looks at the world with a slight smile and is ready to stand up for those who are dear to him at any moment.

Akshan became the first long-range assassin in the history of League of Legends, created specifically for playing on the solo lane. And this is felt in every detail. His gameplay is dynamic and exciting: he flies on a rope, shoots enemies from a safe distance and always keeps opponents on edge. Playing him means feeling like a hero who can turn the tide of battle at any moment.

But perhaps the most touching feature of Akshan is his devotion to the team. He knows how to not only effectively destroy enemies, but also bring fallen allies back to life. Imagine: just a battle was lost, and a second later half of your team is back in action – all thanks to this charismatic shooter. Such moments charge with a special emotion: as if you yourself become part of the story of a real hero.

Akshan in League of Legends: a combination of marksman and assassin

Before we get lost in Akshan’s bottomless eyes for the finale, let’s remember where he came from. Initially, the team wanted to create an assassin hero with a touch of roguery – stealthy, cunning, capable of turning the life of any Lux main into a living nightmare.

The main quality of a good assassin is to strike first and do it in such a way that the enemy does not have time to respond. In games, this is usually solved in different ways: invulnerability like Akali’s Shroud, control like Pyke’s stun, or invisibility like Talon’s ultimate. All of these champions are mobile, they attack from the shadows and disappear just as quickly. So when it came to creating a “rogue”, stealth seemed like an obvious solution. But this is precisely the problem – such a mechanic already existed. The question arose: how can Akshan stand out from the crowd?

The answer was found not in theoretical reasoning, but in observing how the players themselves change the meta.

“We’ve seen marksmen in the mid lane for a long time, and it always feels out of place,” says lead game designer Jeevun “Jag” Sidhu. “They just lack key tools: control, ways to close in on a target, or ways to deal burst damage. So we decided to combine two archetypes — marksman and assassin — and send a new champion to the mid lane in that form.”

For assassins and marksmen in League of Legends, it is important to take the right positioning. Assassins should come from the back and eliminate vulnerable carries, and not waste energy on the front line, picking off tanks with their “toy knives.” Marksmen themselves act as these carries – strong, but fragile heroes with a huge target on their chest. One wrong move – and the road to the fountain is guaranteed. Akshan combines the features of both classes, so the creators decided to give him more freedom and control in choosing his position. So he turned into a hero with an active, fast style of play, like a free bird in a storm.

“I wanted to add elements of South Asian culture to Akshan’s image, because I grew up in this atmosphere. As a child, my mother often watched Indian films. Bollywood is famous for its drama and spectacular fight scenes, where spectacle comes first,” says Jag. “The coolest thing in League is the signature movements of the champions. I try to make each character move in their own way. When we first started working on Akshan, writer David Interlocutioner Slagle and I experimented with ropes: traps, tripwires… In the end, they didn’t make it to release, but the iconic grappling hook appeared.” It was also important for the developers to develop the character’s personality more deeply. Who is Akshan really? Why does he hide in the shadows and use cunning techniques, but at the same time is not afraid to go into open combat? And what led him to this path?

Akshan’s story in League of Legends

When it comes to assassins, cartoonish images immediately pop into our heads: dark “heroes” like xXaD3ptSuMraKaXx, flirtatious succubi, creepy clowns, or annoying fish tricksters. But Akshan is completely different. He doesn’t hide in the shadows — he rushes into battle on a rope, dramatically and swiftly, like a movie hero.

“When we started developing Akshan’s gameplay, it became clear: he’s a charming rogue,” says designer Glenn “Riot Twin Enso” Anderson. “And how do these characters behave? They fly in through a window, land gracefully, and deal with the bad guys with a smile. That’s the image we wanted to convey!”

Akshan, however, doesn’t brag about his successes like, say, Ezreal. He won’t loudly trumpet his exploits to impress. Everything happens quietly and stylishly: he did the job, winked, and left. This character completely reflects his nature: he does not recognize authorities and is not going to live by the rules. Even if we are talking about the ancient and respected order of the Guardians of Light.

But pain is hidden under the ease and smile. Fate did not spare Akshan: his life from childhood was full of trials and losses. He was born in one of the cities of Shurima and grew up as a street urchin, never putting up with injustice. Akshan stood up against the powers that be if he saw their abuses, and one day it almost cost him his life: he was brutally beaten and left to die.

A woman named Shadia saved the boy. She brought him back to life with the help of a weapon of incredible power. Since then, she became his mentor, taught the art of the Guardian of Light and taught him to direct energy where it can truly change the world for the better.

They traveled together through the vast deserts of Shurima, searching for ancient Guardian artifacts. You know, in case Viego suddenly rose and a final battle between light and darkness ensued. It would seem like a normal thing for the heroes of this world. But everything ended in an instant – Shadia was killed. Akshan, without thinking, grabbed the weapon that had once saved his life, and threw aside all the warnings of his mentor about the impending Doom. Now he had only one goal – revenge.

“We spent a long time looking for a fine line between a hero and an avenger,” says lead writer John “JohnODyin” O’Brien. – Sometimes the slightest edits were enough, and Akshan turned into a ruthless embodiment of evil. You definitely wouldn’t worry about such a character. But in the end, we found a happy medium: he has strong principles and strong motivation. This is what prevents him from becoming the one he is hunting.”

When forming Akshan’s personality, the authors had to maintain a balance between the thirst for retribution and the desire for justice. After all, if he steps too far in one direction, the consequences will be catastrophic…

Akshan vs Viego: History, Differences, and Meaning in League of Legends

Akshan and Viego are like reflections in a broken mirror. Each of them has their own tragedy: they lost loved ones and now live only for the chance to return the lost. But the path they have chosen is radically different.

Viego is a crown prince accustomed to unconditional power and perceives his beloved as property. His grief turned into mania, and his pride turned into a catastrophe for the entire world: thousands of lives were destroyed only because he allowed selfishness to control his actions.

Akshan is the opposite. A street orphan whose desire for justice turned into cruel punishment, but did not break his spirit. His path is the path of a warrior ready to stand up for the weak and become a true Guardian of Light. While Viego shatters the illusory nature of the world, Akshan wants to save it with all his might.

When talking about marksmen in solo lanes, many players immediately wince. Jag honestly admits: he always hated seeing them both in the mid and top lanes. The reason is simple – such a champion either dominates from the early levels, turning into an unstoppable winning machine, or quickly deflates and becomes a heavy burden for the team. Unlike mages, marksmen lack control, and they reach their peak strength much later. As a result, it often turns out that a solo marksman is a disaster, not a help. But with Akshan, the developers decided to break this pattern. Jag emphasizes: he likes to create champions that remind players that team play is fun and beneficial for everyone. Akshan perfectly reflects this idea.

The main feature of the hero is his unique approach to hunting. But who does he choose as victims? Everything is crystal clear here: villains, murderers, real scoundrels become targets. At the same time, his hunt is not for personal gain – Akshan’s success is directly related to the team. Calling for an assassination earns him a reward that shows his dedication to his allies. And this reward is special: he can bring fallen comrades back into battle.

Akshan Concept 09

“The key to Akshan’s power is the weapon he created himself,” Riot Earp shares. “I combined a hook, a boomerang, and a pistol into it, but I did it carefully so as not to overload the image and not turn him into a hero with a bunch of random gadgets. All the modifications emphasize the significance of the weapon and make it a natural extension of Akshan’s character.”

In League of Legends, the resurrection mechanic has always been considered one of the most difficult to implement. And this is not surprising: such an effect is so strong that it “eats up” a significant part of the overall balance of the champion. Therefore, if a hero gets control, mobility or other powerful tools, the developers are forced to weaken his other skills. In the case of Akshan, the price for the ability to bring allies back to life is obvious – his combat power was cut.

Akshan can only deal explosive damage. Unlike classic marksmen, he cannot consistently penetrate enemies from the first to the last line. He does not have a slowdown or control, which assassins are famous for. But his unique ability to revive fallen comrades completely outweighs these disadvantages. And, you must admit, it’s hard not to smile when a charismatic hero with a charming smile bursts in at a critical moment!

Akshan is at his strongest when his team is facing a near-hopeless situation, like when Viego has just completed a quad and the enemy is about to crush the rest of your team. It is at these moments that Akshan will be the hero he was meant to be.

“The resurrection mechanic perfectly highlights Akshan’s character and reflects his personal growth,” notes JohnODyin. “At first, he took up arms despite Shadia’s prohibition because he didn’t want to live by the rules of the Guardians of Light. But when he faced the consequences of his decisions, he realized that true strength does not come from revenge, but from honoring her memory and turning away from the path of destruction.”

Akshan in League of Legends: Analysis of the hero’s passive and abilities

No Rules Fight (passive skill)

Akshan fights cunningly and boldly: every third hit he lands — be it an auto attack or using a skill — pierces the enemy with additional physical damage. If the opponent’s champion is at hand, the Guardian will also acquire a shield that can withstand a couple of hits and give him a chance to continue the fight.

After each regular auto attack, Akshan fires an additional shot — it is weaker than the main one, but sometimes it is he who decides the outcome of the fight. The player himself chooses: to finish off the enemy with a second volley or cancel it to get a short-term increase in movement speed. This mechanic opens up room for tactics: you can quickly change position, get out of harm’s way, or start kiting the enemy. If the first attack kills the target, the second shot automatically goes to the nearest enemy.

Riot Games once again played with the mechanics of passive skills through “rings” and stacks, but in the case of Akshan, the designers went further and added an element of choice. The player decides for himself whether to take damage until the last or to win back due to mobility. The shield that appears when the champion attacks makes the hero especially dangerous in duels: he is able to survive a couple of auto attacks and ultimately emerge victorious.

It is important to remember: the bonus movement speed after canceling the second shot depends on your attack speed. With the runes “Hail of Blades” or “Deadly Tempo”, Akshan literally begins to rush around the map, turning the chase into a hunt for survival for the enemy.

Avenger’s Boomerang (Q) 

Akshan’s main ability, which sets the rhythm of the entire game. The hero launches a boomerang, dealing physical damage and revealing all enemies in its path. With each hit, the flight range increases, which means that the more targets the projectile hits, the further it will fly. It is important to remember: damage occurs not only when thrown, but also when returning, which allows you to attack the enemy twice.

The mechanics make the skill the main tool for pressure on the lane. To maximize its potential, you need to anticipate the enemy’s movement and try to hook him with both the first and return strike. An additional bonus is that the ability applies stacks for each hit, dramatically increasing the explosive damage to a single target.

Advice to players: study how the flight radius changes after hitting an enemy. The extended range allows you to safely distribute damage from a distance, simultaneously putting pressure on enemies and effectively pushing minions on the lane.

“Dangerous Play” (W) is Akshan’s skill, which is divided into passive and active parts.

• Passive part: Any enemy who kills an ally of Akshan next to him gets the status of a scoundrel. If Akshan himself destroys such an enemy, he gets bonus gold, and all the allies that he sent to spectator mode are instantly revived right at the base! At the same time, the rest of the enemies lose their status as scoundrels.

Just think: League of Legends has a champion who can bring allies back to life! He can change the vector of the winning course of the game and adds an element of chaos to matches with his participation. However, there are nuances. It is the team that a specific enemy managed to kill that is revived. For example, it is strategically advantageous to first remove Renekton, who made a quadrakill – then all the fallen comrades will immediately return to the ranks. But if you execute Lux, who only quickly removed the support, then only he will be resurrected.

• Active part: Akshan activates camouflage, becoming invisible for a short time. If he is near landscape elements – near walls or in bushes – the effect lasts indefinitely. During this period, he sees traces leading to the villains. While Akshan is chasing them, he gains acceleration and accelerated mana regeneration.

The special ability opens up great opportunities for ganks and surprise attacks. It is worth turning on camouflage when entering the enemy line or hunting for single targets on the map. The main condition is to stay close to the walls to remain invisible as long as possible. Then you can sneak up on enemy carries and strike at the most unexpected moment. The traces will indicate the exact direction of the enemy’s movement, and the additional mana will allow Akshan to use abilities without the risk of remaining “dry”.

“Grapple Pistol” (E)

Akshan releases a hook that clings to the nearest wall or other part of the landscape. After that, the skill can be reactivated – the hero begins to swing and move in an arc, simultaneously pouring fire on nearby enemies. Each shot deals physical damage. At any point in the flight, Akshan can use the ability again to jump towards the cursor and make the finishing shot. Important: if the hero finishes off an enemy or gets an assist, the skill is instantly recharged.

This ability is a ticket to the future of Akshan’s victory. It is this that turns him into a mobile shooter who freely moves around the match and can attack from different positions. And resetting the cooldown after a kill or assist allows him to literally “fly” around the teamfight, constantly changing positions and creating chaos for opponents.

“Payback” (R)

Akshan takes aim at the enemy and begins to load his pistol, gradually accumulating bullets. After preparation or when the skill is pressed again, he fires a whole burst. Each bullet deals physical damage to the first enemy, minion or building in the way. The damage increases if the target has low health. At the same time, during the charge and shots, Akshan can move freely and even use the “Hook Pistol”.

The ultimate will be an advantage as a parameter for finishing off isolated enemies who are far from their team. But you need to use it wisely: it is quite easy to hide from a series of shots. Therefore, before activating, make sure that the enemy has no chance to hide behind a tower, minions or allies. In such a situation, the enemy will go to the tavern in a matter of seconds.

Akshan Mid Gameplay: Builds and Champion Tips

Before a player became a lead game designer for the team responsible for improving Summoner’s Rift, my job was related to creating champions. My last big project was Akshan, which we worked on together with Riot Twin Enso. It is important to remember: Akshan is first and foremost an assassin, not a classic marksman. His job is not to waste energy on long fights with tanks or frontline fighters, but to move around the map at lightning speed, come from behind and eliminate the most vulnerable opponents – mages and ADCs.

In the lane phase, the optimal trade for Akshan looks like this: we start with an auto attack and a passive, then immediately throw a boomerang and hit with an auto attack again. If you skillfully calculate the moment, and the boomerang hits the enemy on its return, you will get a double trigger of the passive ability. At the same time, the hero activates a shield already with the first throw, which makes the exchange of damage extremely profitable for Akshan.

The ideal scenario for the Guardian is to quickly push the lane with a boomerang and a series of auto attacks, and then look for an opportunity to gank. There is a huge scope for creativity here: you can support the jungler during an invasive, help capture the enemy jungle, or even catch a kill there. Thanks to camouflage and a hook, Akshan can suddenly appear out of nowhere and instantly catch the victim.

Akshan is a mid lane marksman assassin who must also apply pressure from the very beginning of the match, roaming to other lanes and engaging in short skirmishes.

• His ultimate gives him a chance to destroy enemies from a safe distance, and his special mechanic for resurrecting allies turns Akshan into a unique hero who can change the outcome of a battle. Thanks to his shield and the ability to choose the moment to attack, he remains a self-sufficient fighter, and his high burst damage makes him especially dangerous if he manages to gain an advantage. His ability to quickly move around the map, chasing down opponents and hunting down those who dare to harm his team completes the picture.
• But along with his strengths, Akshan also has noticeable weaknesses. In order to revive a fallen ally, he must defeat the enemy himself – often the most dangerous one on the enemy team. He is vulnerable to aggressive melee fighters who can intercept him while using the hook. Unlike classic marksmen, Akshan is unable to consistently deal damage, his attack range is lower, and in the late stages of the game he noticeably loses effectiveness. In team fights, his role is often unstable, because the lack of control and weak benefit when playing from a position of lag make him an unreliable ally.

Runes for Akshan

Akshan is a champion who reveals himself through attack speed and competent use of his passive. Therefore, when choosing runes, these parameters come to the fore. There are two options for the optimal page.

Through “Decisive Offensive” – ​​the best choice for focusing on a single target. This setup allows you to squeeze maximum damage out of duels and quickly remove key enemies, which fully corresponds to the role of an assassin.

Through “Hail of Blades” – an excellent alternative for those who like aggression on the line. This build opens up space for frequent trades and pressure on the opponent. Additionally, if you feel a lack of mana, you can replace “Triumph” with “Presence of Spirit” for comfortable farming and more frequent harass.

Items for Akshan

The essence of the game for Akshan is formed on auto attacks and procs of his buffs. To unlock this potential, the build must accelerate damage from attacks and provide stability in protracted fights. In fact, the set of artifacts is not much different from the classic “shooter” build: items that speed up attack speed and enhance basic attacks are a must.

Skill leveling

The maximum priority should be given to Q, since it deals the main damage and helps maintain pressure on the line. The second to be leveled is E, which opens up mobility and the ability to finish off enemies. We take W only at level three, after which we leave it until the late game. And, of course, we always increase the ultimate at the first opportunity – it is key in finishing off enemies and changing the functions of all teamfights.

How strong is his resurrection mechanic?

Creating champions in League of Legends is always a good invitation to the arena. The main task of designers is not just to add a new hero to the game, but to give players a fresh gaming experience that will hook and surprise. The success of a champion is directly related to its demand: if the character does not arouse interest, no one will waste time studying the mechanics and searching for the optimal strategy.

The best champions are those whose capabilities are revealed by the community. When players themselves find unexpected combinations, come up with new builds and tactics – that’s when the hero becomes truly real. If the character is perfectly balanced solely by tests inside the studio, this often means that he has no depth and will quickly become boring. For me personally, the most interesting part of the job is to watch the reaction of players in the first days after the release: they are the ones who show the strengths and weaknesses of the champion, finding what even we do not always foresee.

Take Akshan and his unique resurrection mechanic, for example. No one can say exactly how strong it is in advance. In some cases, he makes an ally his own, who immediately dies again, and in others, he turns the tide of the match by killing the enemy after a quad kill and bringing the team back into the game. We only see the potential and set certain restrictions – for example, after the villain dies, all other opponents lose this status. But the final understanding of the balance comes only when we analyze statistics from live servers and see how the community applies this mechanic in practice.

Now you might be wondering, “Why take such a risk at all?” The answer is simple – each champion has to be special. Even if their mechanics don’t always sound as loud as, for example, the ability to bring allies back to life, the hero has to stand out and remain unique. We don’t want to release faceless copies of old characters with the same skills and the same type of builds. If we didn’t take risks, you would never see:

• a support champion with an ultimate that refreshes after a kill,
• a marksman who has to reload his weapon,
• a samurai who can erect a wall of wind and stop incoming projectiles.

In addition, League will evolve every time. And this is not only about new heroes or mechanics, but also about our approach to creating content. We are always experimenting: sometimes ideas work perfectly, and sometimes they fail. But in case of failure, we do not give up – we make changes, test again and achieve results. Another common question: “Why did Akshan get the ability to resurrect allies, and not some support? Wouldn’t it be more logical to make him a pure fighter?” We deliberately made Akshan a support hero. The story will be something new for everyone. The headstrong Guardian is a multifaceted character: he wandered alone all his life, but over time he felt a craving for people. Now he helps others, even if it harms himself.

League of Legends gameplay is not a one-size-fits-all affair — it’s not just the mechanics that matter, but the feel of the gameplay itself. Players constantly discuss how enjoyable it is to control a particular champion, as well as counter them. We’ve already talked about this above, and we’ll no doubt return to this topic again. But now let’s look at the question from a different angle: why is playing with Akshan also a special pleasure?

League of Legends is a team game, where victory is achieved only through joint efforts. And here comes the challenge: how to make a champion whose core is the ego of an assassin-marksman bring benefit to the whole team without breaking the usual balance? Akshan has managed to maintain his individuality, but at the same time, he always remains part of the team. Even if he goes deep into enemy territory in search of “scoundrels”, the team knows that he is doing it for the common good.

What makes Akshan different from other champions? He does not seek glory or personal frags – his hunt is aimed at supporting his allies. To paraphrase the words of Henry Ford: “If you asked assassins what they wanted, they would choose the ability to kill weak champions even faster.” But Akshan is different. He is unique in that he combines the lethality of an assassin and the altruism of a team player. Of course, not every player will love such a hero, but for many he will be a real discovery. After all, before Akshan, the League had not yet had a champion who so harmoniously combined the thirst for revenge and team spirit.

And that is why his appearance was really worth it.