League of Legends (LoL) is a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game developed by Riot Games. Set in the fantastical world of Runeterra, it features a rich tapestry of lore and a diverse roster of champions, each with unique backstories and abilities. The game pits two teams of five players against each other, with the ultimate goal of destroying the opposing team's Nexus, a central structure located within their base.
Jax: The Grandmaster at Arms
Jax is a versatile champion known for his exceptional dueling abilities and scaling potential. Primarily played in the top lane, he excels in extended fights due to his strong auto-attack enhancements and mobility.
Role: Fighter/Duelist
Abilities:
Leap Strike (Q): Jax leaps to a target, dealing physical damage.
Empower (W): Jax's next attack deals bonus magic damage.
Counter-Strike (E): Jax dodges all incoming attacks for a short duration and then stuns nearby enemies.
Grandmaster's Might (R): Passively enhances every third attack to deal bonus magic damage and can be activated to grant bonus Armor and Magic Resist.
Akali: The Rogue Assassin
Role: Assassin
Abilities:
Five Point Strike (Q): Throws five kunai in a cone, dealing magic damage.
Twilight Shroud (W): Drops a smoke bomb, granting invisibility and movement speed.
Shuriken Flip (E): Flips backward and throws a shuriken, dealing damage.
Perfect Execution (R): A two-part dash that deals damage, the second part executes low-health enemies.
Skill Order: Max Q for poke and wave clear, E for mobility and burst, W last for utility.
Runes:
Primary (Domination): Electrocute (burst damage), Sudden Impact (bonus lethality and magic pen), Eyeball Collection (increased AP), Relentless Hunter (movement speed out of combat).
Secondary (Resolve): Second Wind (sustain in lane), Overgrowth (increased max health).
Gameplay Tips:
Early Game: Focus on farming and harassing with Q. Use W defensively to avoid ganks.
Mid Game: Look for picks and roam to other lanes. Use E and R to quickly eliminate squishy targets.
Late Game: In team fights, flank the enemy and target their carries. Utilize W for repositioning and escaping.
Malphite: The Shard of the Monolith
Role: Tank/Initiator
Abilities:
Seismic Shard (Q): Hurls a shard at an enemy, dealing damage and stealing movement speed.
Thunderclap (W): Passively increases Armor and enhances auto-attacks with AoE damage.
Ground Slam (E): Slams the ground, dealing damage and reducing enemy attack speed.
Unstoppable Force (R): Malphite dashes to a location, knocking up and damaging all enemies in the area.
Skill Order: Max Q for poke and mobility, E for damage and attack speed reduction, W last for tackiness.
Runes:
Primary (Resolve): Aftershock (bonus resistances and AoE damage), Font of Life (heal allies when CCing enemies), Conditioning (increased resistances), Overgrowth (increased max health).
Secondary (Sorcery): Manaflow Band (increased mana regen), Transcendence (cooldown reduction).
Gameplay Tips:
Early Game: Play safe, focus on farming with Q. Poke enemies when safe.
Mid Game: Look for opportunities to engage with R. Coordinate with your team for effective ganks.
Late Game: Be the primary initiator in team fights. Use R to catch multiple enemies and disrupt the backline.
Itemization
Akali
Core Items: Hextech Rocketbelt (gap closer and burst), Zhonya's Hourglass (survivability), Shadowflame (burst).
Situational Items: Morellonomicon (grievous wounds), Banshee’s Veil (spell shield), Void Staff (magic penetration).
Malphite
Core Items: Sunfire Aegis (tankiness and AoE damage), Thornmail (reflect damage and apply grievous wounds), Frozen Heart (mana and attack speed reduction).
Situational Items: Randuin's Omen (anti-crit), Force of Nature (magic resist), Gargoyle Stoneplate (bonus resistances).
Team Composition and Synergy
Strong Engage Composition:
Akali: Functions well in teams that can provide crowd control to allow her to dive and eliminate priority targets.
Malphite: Essential in teams that require a strong frontline and initiator. Pairs well with follow-up damage champions like Yasuo or Orianna. However, when some players choose to explore further and become familiar with heroes, some players will choose to buy lol accounts from a safe and reliable supplier.
Scaling Composition:
Akali: Can scale into a significant threat if she gets ahead, requiring careful farming and opportunistic kills.
Malphite: Provides consistent utility throughout the game, becoming unkillable with proper items and fulfilling a pivotal role in scaling compositions.
Individual Skill Composition:
Akali: Thrives in solo carry scenarios with her high mobility and burst potential.
Malphite: Provides a reliable and straightforward approach to team fights with his powerful initiation.
Conclusion: Why Malphite is Recommended
Strengths and Weaknesses:
Akali:
Strengths: High burst damage, excellent mobility, strong 1v1 potential.
Weaknesses: Squishy, reliant on cooldowns, susceptible to crowd control.
Malphite:
Strengths: Strong engagement, tanky, easy to execute in team fights.
Weaknesses: Limited damage, relies on ultimate for effectiveness, can be kited.
Recommendation: Malphite is recommended for long-term play due to his straightforward gameplay, tackiness, and utility in team fights. His ability to initiate fights and soak damage makes him a consistent and valuable pick in various team compositions. While Akali can be incredibly rewarding and impactful, she requires a higher skill ceiling and precise execution, making Malphite a more reliable choice for most players.
Laning Against Jax with Akali and Malphite
Jax is a formidable opponent in the top lane, known for his dueling prowess and late-game scaling. Facing him requires careful strategy and adaptation at different stages of the game. Here's a detailed breakdown of how to handle Jax with Akali and Malphite, including their respective playstyles, learning strategies, and team fight techniques.
Akali vs. Jax
Early Game:
Laning Phase: Akali excels at poking and maintaining distance. Use Five Point Strike (Q) to harass Jax while staying out of his auto-attack range. Twilight Shroud (W) provides invisibility, helping you dodge his Counter-Strike (E) and avoid all-ins.
Positioning: Stay behind minions to minimize the risk of Jax's Leap Strike (Q) + Empower (W) combo. Use your shroud strategically to disengage and reposition.
Mid Game:
Objective Control: Akali’s mobility allows her to roam and assist in skirmishes. Coordinate with your team to secure objectives, using Shuriken Flip (E) and Perfect Execution (R) to quickly burst down high-priority targets like Jax before he can react.
Split Pushing: Akali can split push effectively if ahead. Use your mobility to pressure side lanes and force Jax to respond, then outmaneuver him with your shroud and dashes.
Late Game:
Team Fights: Focus on flanking and diving the enemy backline. In team fights, Jax will likely try to dive your carries, so use your mobility to either peel for them or quickly eliminate the enemy backline. Use Perfect Execution (R) for high burst damage and quick escapes.
Malphite vs. Jax
Early Game:
Laning Phase: Malphite’s Seismic Shard (Q) provides a poke and a speed steal, which is crucial for kiting Jax. Play defensively and focus on farming. Your Thunderclap (W) and Ground Slam (E) help with wave clearing and mitigating Jax’s damage.
Positioning: Stay back and use your Q to last hit and poke. Avoid prolonged trades as Jax's Counter-Strike (E) will outtrade you early on.
Mid Game:
Objective Control: Malphite’s Unstoppable Force (R) is a powerful engagement tool. Use it to initiate fights around objectives like Dragon and Rift Herald. Your tackiness allows you to soak damage while your team follows up.
Team Coordination: Communicate with your team to set up engagement. Your Q can slow Jax, making it easier for your team to collapse on him.
Late Game:
Team Fights: As the primary initiator, your goal is to land a multi-person Unstoppable Force (R). Focus on disrupting the enemy backline and creating chaos. Your tankiness and AoE damage reduction from Ground Slam (E) help mitigate Jax’s threat.
Team Fight Strategies
Akali:
Flanking: Use your mobility to approach from the sides or behind. This positioning allows you to bypass Jax and target the enemy carries.
Assassination: Your burst potential makes you a significant threat to squishy targets. Use E and R to quickly eliminate key enemies, then reposition with W to avoid retaliation.
Malphite:
Engage: Your primary role is to initiate fights. Look for opportunities to catch multiple enemies with your R, particularly focusing on locking down Jax and any high-damage dealers.
Peeling: If Jax dives your backline, use your E and Q to peel for your carries. Your CC can significantly reduce his effectiveness in team fights.
Practical Gameplay Tips for Malphite
Poke and Farm: Use Seismic Shard (Q) to safely farm and poke Jax. This ability helps you maintain distance and prevent him from engaging freely.
Itemization: Build items like Sunfire Aegis and Thornmail to enhance your tackiness and reflect damage to Jax. These items make you harder to kill and more disruptive in fights.
Timing Your Engage: Your ultimate, Unstoppable Force (R), is a game-changer. Time it well to catch multiple enemies and coordinate with your team for maximum impact.
Cooldown Management: Keep track of Jax’s abilities, especially his Counter-Strike (E). Engage when his E is on cooldown to maximize your effectiveness.
Conclusion
Strengths and Weaknesses:
Akali:
Strengths: High mobility, strong burst damage, excellent dueling potential.
Weaknesses: Squishy, reliant on cooldowns, vulnerable to crowd control.
Malphite:
Strengths: Strong engagement, tanky, straightforward gameplay.
Weaknesses: Limited damage, dependent on ultimate impact, can be kited.
Recommendation: Malphite is often the recommended choice for players looking for a reliable and impactful champion in team fights. His straightforward kit and tackiness provide consistent value throughout the game. While Akali offers high-skill expression and potential for outplays, Malphite’s ease of use and team utility make him a more stable pick for most players.
By understanding these champions' strengths, weaknesses, and roles within a team, players can make informed decisions on which champion to play and how to effectively counter enemies like Jax in League of Legends. Hopefully, these insights and strategies will help players improve their gameplay and enjoy their time on the Rift.