Akshan is a highly mobile marksman-assassin hybrid who excels at poking enemies, dodging skill shots with his mobility, and reviving fallen allies with his passive. His ability to swing around terrain with Heroic Swing (E) and reset kills with his passive, Going Rogue, makes him a dangerous champion in both lane and team fights. However, despite his strengths, Akshan struggles against champions who can lock him down, out-sustain his poke, or punish his aggressive playstyle.
To counter Akshan effectively, you need champions that can either absorb his damage, stop his movement, or burst him down before he can escape. Whether you’re playing mid lane, top lane, or jungle, choosing the right counter can make it much harder for Akshan to snowball and take over the game.
In this article, we’ll go over the 10 best champions to counter Akshan, explaining why they work well against him and how to shut him down before he becomes a threat.
Malzahar is a great counter to Akshan because his Void Shift (Passive) absorbs Akshan’s poke, making it difficult for him to win trades in lane. Since Akshan relies on chipping away at enemies with his ranged attacks, Malzahar can easily negate his harass and farm safely.
Additionally, Malzahar’s Nether Grasp (R) is a point-and-click suppression, which completely locks down Akshan and prevents him from using Heroic Swing (E) to escape. Since Akshan is squishy and relies on mobility, Malzahar can force him into an extended fight where he has no way out. Meanwhile, Malefic Visions (E) and Void Swarm (W) allow Malzahar to push waves quickly, preventing Akshan from roaming and abusing his revive passive.
The key to beating Akshan as Malzahar is to play safely early, use Void Shift to absorb poke, and wait for level 6 to punish his aggressive playstyle. Building Liandry’s Anguish for burn damage or Zhonya’s Hourglass for survivability makes Malzahar even stronger in this matchup. With his suppression, anti-poke tools, and strong wave clear, Malzahar is a solid pick to shut down Akshan in the mid lane.
Xerath is a strong counter to Akshan because his long-range poke, high burst damage, and ability to zone Akshan off farm make it difficult for him to play aggressively. Akshan relies on trading with his auto attacks and short-range abilities, but Xerath’s Arcanopulse (Q) and Eye of Destruction (W) allow him to poke Akshan from a safe distance, making it hard for Akshan to trade back.
Additionally, Xerath’s Shocking Orb (E) provides a long-range stun, preventing Akshan from engaging or escaping with Heroic Swing (E). If Akshan tries to go for an all-in, Xerath can easily kite back while dealing massive damage. His Rite of the Arcane (R) also makes it easy to finish off Akshan from a distance, denying him the chance to reset fights with his revive passive.
The key to beating Akshan as Xerath is to position safely, poke him down before he can engage, and punish his aggressive swings with crowd control. Building Luden’s Tempest for extra burst or Shadowflame to penetrate his defenses makes him even stronger. With superior range, high burst, and strong CC, Xerath is a great pick to counter Akshan in the mid lane.
Syndra is a strong counter to Akshan because her long-range poke, high burst damage, and reliable crowd control make it difficult for Akshan to trade effectively. Akshan relies on short skirmishes and mobility, but Syndra’s Scatter the Weak (E) stuns him, preventing him from using Heroic Swing (E) to reposition or escape.
Additionally, Dark Sphere (Q) and Force of Will (W) allow Syndra to poke Akshan from a safe distance, making it difficult for him to engage without taking significant damage first. Once Syndra reaches level 6, Unleashed Power (R) can instantly delete Akshan, denying him the chance to use his passive revive mechanic.
The key to beating Akshan as Syndra is to stay at max range, poke him down, and use Scatter the Weak to prevent his aggressive engages. Building Luden’s Tempest for extra burst or Everfrost for additional CC makes her even stronger in this matchup. With high burst, strong CC, and superior range, Syndra is a solid pick to counter Akshan in the mid lane.
Cassiopeia is a strong counter to Akshan because her consistent damage, crowd control, and ability to punish dashes make it difficult for him to play aggressively. Akshan relies on quick trades and using Heroic Swing (E) to reposition, but Cassiopeia’s Miasma (W) completely grounds him, preventing him from dashing or escaping fights.
Additionally, Noxious Blast (Q) and Twin Fang (E) allow Cassiopeia to outtrade Akshan in extended fights, especially since she has sustain from healing off Twin Fang. If Akshan tries to go for an all-in, Petrifying Gaze (R) can stun him, making it easy to burst him down before he gets a chance to reset or escape.
The key to beating Akshan as Cassiopeia is to use Miasma to stop his movement, zone him off with your poison, and punish him in extended trades. Building Liandry’s Anguish for burn damage or Everfrost for extra CC makes her even harder for Akshan to deal with. With anti-dash abilities, strong poke, and sustain, Cassiopeia is one of the best champions to counter Akshan in the mid lane.
Lux is a strong counter to Akshan because her long-range poke, crowd control, and burst damage make it difficult for him to play aggressively. Akshan relies on quick trades and mobility, but Lux’s Light Binding (Q) roots him, preventing him from using Heroic Swing (E) to reposition or escape.
Additionally, Lucent Singularity (E) allows Lux to poke and zone Akshan from a safe distance, making it harder for him to engage. Since Akshan is squishy, a full combo from Lux, especially after level 6 with Final Spark (R), can one-shot him before he gets the chance to reset or fight back.
The key to beating Akshan as Lux is to play at max range, poke him constantly, and punish his engages with Light Binding. Building Luden’s Tempest for extra burst or Shadowflame to penetrate his shields makes her even deadlier in this matchup. With long-range damage, strong CC, and high burst potential, Lux is a solid pick to shut down Akshan in the mid lane.
Anivia is a strong counter to Akshan because her crowd control, zoning abilities, and high burst damage make it difficult for him to engage or escape. Akshan relies on Heroic Swing (E) to move around fights, but Anivia’s Crystallize (W) can block his swing mid-air, completely stopping his mobility and leaving him vulnerable.
Additionally, Flash Frost (Q) stuns Akshan if he tries to engage, and Frostbite (E) deals double damage if he’s already slowed by Glacial Storm (R), making trades heavily favor Anivia. Since Akshan has no sustain, Anivia’s consistent poke and wave clear force him to take bad fights or lose lane pressure.
The key to beating Akshan as Anivia is to position well, use your wall to block his mobility, and punish him when he missteps with your stun and burst combo. Building Everfrost for extra CC or Liandry’s Anguish for burn damage makes her even stronger in this matchup. With powerful zoning tools, strong burst, and CC to shut down his movement, Anivia is a great pick to counter Akshan in the mid lane.
Pantheon is a strong counter to Akshan because his aggressive early-game, point-and-click stun, and burst damage make it difficult for Akshan to trade effectively. Akshan relies on poking from range and using Heroic Swing (E) to reposition, but Pantheon’s Aegis Assault (E) blocks incoming damage, nullifying Akshan’s trades and preventing him from winning skirmishes.
Additionally, Shield Vault (W) is a targeted stun, meaning Akshan cannot dodge it with his mobility, making it easy for Pantheon to lock him down and unleash his full combo. Since Pantheon excels in short trades, he can repeatedly force Akshan into bad fights where he has no way to escape. At level 6, Grand Starfall (R) gives Pantheon the ability to roam, pressuring Akshan and limiting his impact on the game.
The key to beating Akshan as Pantheon is to play aggressively early, use Shield Vault to stop his mobility, and take advantage of your superior dueling power. Building Eclipse for sustain or Black Cleaver for armor shred makes him even stronger. With strong early-game damage, point-and-click CC, and durability, Pantheon is one of the best champions to counter Akshan in both mid and top lane.
Qiyana is a strong counter to Akshan because her high burst damage, crowd control, and mobility allow her to punish his aggressive playstyle and delete him before he can react. Akshan relies on Heroic Swing (E) to reposition and escape, but Qiyana’s Supreme Display of Talent (R) can knock him into walls, stunning him and preventing him from swinging away.
Additionally, Qiyana’s Terrashape (W) grants her enhanced mobility, making it easy to dodge Akshan’s skill shots and quickly close the gap. Since Akshan is squishy and relies on extended fights, Qiyana can quickly all-in him, burst him down, and disengage before he can retaliate. Even before level 6, Qiyana’s Edge of Ixtal (Q) combined with her stealth from the Grass element allows her to poke and outtrade him.
The key to beating Akshan as Qiyana is to wait for him to misstep, use her mobility to dodge his abilities, and burst him down before he can react. Building Eclipse for sustain or Prowler’s Claw for extra burst makes her even harder for Akshan to deal with. With fast engages, high burst potential, and strong CC, Qiyana is one of the best assassins to shut down Akshan in the mid lane.
Vex is one of the best counters to Akshan because her passive ability punishes dashes, her crowd control stops his engages, and her burst damage allows her to win trades easily. Akshan relies on Heroic Swing (E) to reposition and chase kills, but Vex’s Doom ‘n Gloom (Passive) automatically fears him whenever he dashes, completely shutting down his mobility and forcing him into bad fights.
Additionally, Mistral Bolt (Q) gives her strong poke, allowing her to chip away at Akshan from a safe distance and control the lane. If Akshan tries to swing in aggressively, Vex can instantly stop him with Personal Space (W) for a shield and a fear, making it nearly impossible for him to win trades. Once she hits level 6, Shadow Surge (R) gives her the ability to follow up on Akshan even if he tries to escape, ensuring she can finish him off.
The key to beating Akshan as Vex is to play reactively, use her passive to punish his mobility, and shut him down before he can start snowballing. Building Luden’s Tempest for burst or Everfrost for additional CC makes her even stronger in this matchup. With anti-dash mechanics, strong CC, and high burst damage, Vex is one of the best champions to shut down Akshan in the mid lane.
Neeko is the best counter to Akshan because her strong crowd control, deceptive playstyle, and high burst damage make it incredibly difficult for him to play aggressively. Akshan relies on dashing with Heroic Swing (E) to reposition and escape, but Neeko’s Tangle-Barbs (E) roots him, preventing him from swinging away and setting him up for an easy follow-up combo.
Additionally, Shapesplitter (W) allows Neeko to deceive Akshan, making it hard for him to predict her movements or land his skill shots. If Akshan tries to engage, Neeko’s Pop Blossom (R) provides a massive AoE stun, completely locking him down and making him an easy target for her team. Since Akshan is squishy and relies on quick engages, Neeko can burst him down before he gets a chance to reset with his passive.
The key to beating Akshan as Neeko is to use her root to stop his mobility, play around her clone to dodge skill shots, and force all-ins where she can stun him with her ultimate. Building Everfrost for extra CC or Shadowflame for magic penetration makes her even stronger in this matchup. With high burst damage, multiple CC abilities, and deceptive playmaking, Neeko is the best champion to counter Akshan in the mid lane.
Akshan is a slippery marksman-assassin hybrid who thrives on mobility, poke, and quick resets, but he struggles against champions who can lock him down, outpoke him, or punish his aggressive playstyle. Neeko, Vex, and Qiyana are some of the best counters, as they can shut down his movement and burst him before he can escape. Mages like Anivia, Lux, and Xerath can outrange and poke him down, making it difficult for him to engage safely, while duelists like Pantheon and Cassiopeia can outdamage him in extended fights.
The key to shutting down Akshan is to stop his mobility, deny his roaming potential, and punish him when he tries to swing into fights. If he falls behind early, he struggles to make an impact, making it crucial to apply pressure and force bad trades. By picking one of these 10 counters, you can effectively neutralize Akshan and prevent him from taking over the game.
Posted On: February 17th, 2025
💬 Need help?
Our 1v9 support team is available 24/7 to help you with any questions or issues you may have.
support@1v9.gg
Loading...
1v9.gg is not endorsed or affiliated by any game developers or publishers.
2025 1v9, All Rights Reserved, Created By NightDev