Akali vs Malzahar TOP Matchup Guide | LaneStomp

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Akali vs Malzahar

Updated Jun 4, 2026

Overview

Akali is a high agency assassin who must leverage (W) to create safe windows for extended trades and all-ins against Malzahar's control mage style.
Focus on denying Malzahar's ability to keep the wave permanently pushed to avoid giving him map presence and scaling time.

Trading pattern

Start trades with (Q) poke into passive autos, then commit with (W) or (E) when Malzahar is vulnerable.
Respect Malzahar's passive spell shield and silence (Q); avoid trading when these are up.
Punish Malzahar if he steps out of your (W) shroud or waits it out, as he can counterattack hard then.

Danger windows

Akali is vulnerable when (W) is down; avoid trades or all-ins without shroud protection.
(R) suppression at level 6 is a lethal threat; do not engage without (R) ready or external crowd control.
Be cautious of Malzahar's silence (Q) disrupting your engage; avoid trading when it is off cooldown and ready to punish.

Early game

Use level 1-3 to pressure Malzahar by punishing his predictable push pattern and weak early waveclear.
After level 3, unlock (Q)-(W)-(E) combo to trade aggressively when (W) is available and Malzahar is exposed.
Avoid extended trades without (W) as Malzahar can punish Akali when her shroud is down.

Power spikes

Level 3 unlocks Akali's full combo with (Q)-(W)-(E); use this to force trades when cooldowns and spacing favor you.
Level 6 (R) gives Akali strong all-in and escape options; track availability and use it for picks or defensive resets.
Respect Malzahar's level 6 (R) suppression lockdown; hold key defensive tools and avoid forced fights during this window.

Win conditions

Use (W) to create safe zones for extended trades and all-ins, denying Malzahar's push and scaling.
Exploit Malzahar's predictable lane pattern and weak early waveclear by pressuring and forcing him under tower.
Reach level 6 and first item power spikes to increase kill threat, then snowball by securing side-lane picks or flanks.