Mobile Legends Akai guide: Best build, skills, emblems & combos

Looking to dominate the jungle with one of the most disruptive tanks in Mobile Legends? Akai is a top-tier pick when it comes to tank junglers thanks to his strong mobility, reliable damage, and crowd control-heavy kit. What makes jungle Akai so dangerous is his ability to invade early, force enemies out of position, and completely shut down squishy or mobile heroes with his ultimate. His durability and gank pressure make him a constant threat throughout the game. If you’re ready to control the map and tilt team fights in your favor, this guide will show you how to build, play, and master jungle Akai like a pro.

Akai Skills Breakdown in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang

Passive – Tai Chi

Every time Akai casts a skill, he gains a shield based on his total HP and marks enemies he hits. His Basic Attacks then deal bonus damage based on his HP to marked targets.
• This passive is the core reason Akai can thrive as a jungler. It grants durability and bonus damage, letting him farm quickly and stay healthy.
• By consistently using abilities during clears or trades, you gain shields and extra DPS, helping you stay aggressive.
• Prioritize HP-based items to maximize both his shielding and bonus damage.

Skill 1 – Headbutt

Akai dashes in a direction, dealing damage and knocking up the first enemy hero hit. After hitting, he can roll in a chosen direction.
• This skill doubles as both a mobility and initiation tool. Use it to engage enemies, reposition in team fights, or move through walls when farming.
• You can also cast Headbutt during Heavy Spin to fine-tune your angle or chase down targets mid-ult.
• Ideal for ganking due to the brief knock-up and combo potential.

Skill 2 – Body Slam

Akai slams the ground, damaging and slowing enemies around him.
• This is your go-to for camp clearing, objective control, and team fight presence.
• The slow makes it easier to land combos and catch fleeing targets.
• Cast frequently to keep your shield up via Tai Chi and consistently mark enemies for extra Basic Attack damage.

Ultimate – Heavy Spin

Akai spins in place, knocking back enemies while becoming immune to slows and removing debuffs. The spin deals consistent damage and increases his movement speed over time.
• This is what separates Akai from most tank junglers. Use it to completely disrupt team fights, displace carries, and shove enemy junglers away from objectives.
• In contest scenarios like Lord or Turtle fights, Heavy Spin gives you control over the zone—even with a numbers disadvantage.
• Time it well to interrupt enemy formations, pin key targets against walls, or simply isolate priority threats.

Summary: Akai is all about calculated disruption. Play him with a focus on area control and enemy displacement. By using his passive for sustain and his ultimate for control, jungle Akai becomes one of the most effective tempo-setters and team fight enablers in Mobile Legends.

How To Play Jungle Akai In Mobile Legends

Best Battle Spell for Jungle Akai

When running Akai in the jungle, Retribution is a must-have. But the key lies in choosing the right blessing upgrade—and for Akai, Ice Retribution is hands down the best choice.

Ice Retribution allows you to steal a portion of the target’s movement speed for a few seconds based on your level. This effect perfectly complements Akai’s playstyle by giving him the edge in both chasing down elusive targets and disengaging when needed.

It’s especially effective against mobile heroes like marksmen or slippery mages. With Ice Retribution, you can stick to your targets during Heavy Spin, zone them off objectives more easily, and make sure they can’t escape your crowd control. Whether you’re ganking lanes or contesting jungle fights, this spell and blessing combo maximizes Akai’s impact throughout the match.

Best Emblem for Jungle Akai

The most effective emblem setup for jungle Akai focuses on boosting his durability, objective control, and area damage—making Tank Emblem the top choice. The ideal talent path includes Firmness, Seasoned Hunter, and Concussive Blast.

Start with Firmness in the first tier to gain additional Physical and Magic Defense, which is crucial in early skirmishes and ganks. This helps Akai absorb more damage and stay active on the map longer.

Next, take Seasoned Hunter for the second tier. This talent increases your damage against jungle objectives like the Turtle and Lord, allowing you to secure them faster and more reliably—key for a jungle tank who often zones during objectives.

Lastly, choose Concussive Blast as your core talent. This adds bonus AoE damage based on your max HP every few seconds after casting a skill. It’s great for both wave clearing and dishing out extra damage during fights, especially since Akai stays close to enemies while spinning or disrupting formations.

Best Build for Jungle Akai in Mobile Legends

To get the most out of Akai’s tanky jungle playstyle, focus on stacking HP and building strong resistances. This not only boosts your durability but also enhances your damage output thanks to Akai’s passive, Tai Chi, which scales with total HP.

Start with Tough Boots for early Magic Defense and crowd control resistance. Upgrade to Ice Retribution if you’re using the jungle blessing.

Rush Cursed Helmet next to help you clear jungle camps faster with its burn damage effect. It synergizes perfectly with Akai’s kit since you’re often in the middle of fights and objectives.

Then grab Guardian’s Helmet to massively boost your HP and enhance your passive damage. It also gives you great sustain when farming or roaming thanks to its regen when out of combat.

From here, build according to the enemy comp:
• Go for Antique Cuirass or Blade Armor if you’re up against heavy Physical Damage dealers.
• If the enemy has strong mages, Athena’s Shield or Radiant Armor are the best choices to soften their burst potential.

Finally, round out your build with Immortality. This is essential in late-game team fights, giving you a second chance when caught out or diving in deep with Heavy Spin.

Recommended Akai Jungle Build:
• Tough Boots (Ice Retribution)
• Cursed Helmet
• Guardian’s Helmet
• Antique Cuirass / Blade Armor
• Athena’s Shield / Radiant Armor
• Immortality

Tips and Easy Combos to Learn with Jungle Akai

To make the most of jungle Akai, start by maxing out Body Slam (Skill 2). This gives you the damage needed to clear camps quickly and helps activate your Tai Chi passive consistently. Pair it with Headbutt (Skill 1) to move between camps efficiently, reset your shield, and boost your early-game survivability.

Use Headbutt to cut through terrain and reposition—whether it’s to chase, escape, or rotate faster. The key to mastering Akai is constantly weaving in skill casts to stack shields and enhanced Basic Attacks through your passive.

Hit level four as early as possible so you’re ready to contest the first Turtle. During objective fights, don’t dive in recklessly—instead, watch for the enemy jungler’s position. If they step too close, activate Heavy Spin (Ultimate) and push them away to deny Retribution. This disrupts their contest and gives your team a huge advantage.

When the Turtle or Lord’s HP is low, time your Retribution for a secure last-hit after using Heavy Spin to zone the enemy away. Repeat this setup for every major objective to snowball the game and maintain control.

Mastering this combo—Headbutt + Body Slam + Heavy Spin + Retribution—is what turns Akai from a tank into a playmaking jungler.

Conclusion

Jungle Akai is one of the most disruptive and reliable picks in Mobile Legends, especially when played with the right build and strategy. His ability to clear camps quickly, zone out enemies during objective fights, and create space for his team with Heavy Spin makes him a top-tier tank jungler. With proper use of his skills, emblems, and itemization, Akai can dominate early skirmishes, secure key objectives, and completely shut down the enemy backline. Master his combos, control the map, and you’ll be a nightmare for any team that dares to challenge your jungle.