There are many character archetypes represented in League of Legends: fighter, mage, healer, marksman, tank. While many champions are categorized by a role, often organized by their abilities and position they play within a team, there are a few that spring to players' minds as definitive examples due to the way they embody the design in aesthetic and playstyle.
Akali, a talented ninja trained to uphold balance but dedicated to aggressively defending her people, is one of the quintessential assassins on the Rift. Wielding kama, kunai, smoke bombs, and brutal acrobatics, she darts in and out of vision while striking her enemies. As a champion known for making jaw-dropping plays in-game, Akali has been an easy mark for the cosplay community.
All In A Day's Work
Relaxing in the verdant foliage, @miciaglo brings to life Akali in a way that emphasizes her utilitarian use of weapons and devices. While her lightweight attire affords her the freedom to move with the deftness of a shadow, the tools she uses for her assassinations are showcased with clarity.
The kama, a sickle-like weapon, sits within easy reach, ready to spring into action at a moment's notice. Already in hand, one of Akali's many kunai threatens any would-be assailants with a cold casualness. Equally ready are Akali's iconic smoke bombs—a piece of her repertoire that shields her from enemy vision while she either makes an escape or plots her next fatal attack.
A Sneaky Assassin
No stranger to the devastating dive potential of a capable assassin such as Akali, professional League of Legends player and streamer Zach Scuderi, better known as @Sneaky, showcases his cosplay prowess with his rendition of the Rogue Assassin. Electing to portray the K/DA variation of the champion, this Akali is ready to take the stage and assault listeners with her swift rhymes and critical punchlines.
The standout piece of the ensemble is Akali's neon-colored-toothy mask, which took the internet by storm after she debuted it in the viral music video "POP/STARS."
The Right Tools For The Job
While assassins and ninjas aren't often associated with acts of brute force, Akali's in-game style is one of aggression and oppression. Although she can utilize her mobility and smokescreen to retreat or avoid ganks, it's far more common for these abilities to be used to terrorize lane opponents and secure kills.
Cosplayer @kinpatsucosplay presents the assassin's trade tools for all to see, impressing both their incredibly accurate rendition of Akali and the deadliness of her weapons on fans and foes alike. Judging from the size of her kunai and kama, it would seem Akali doesn't sacrifice raw power for her acrobatic agility.
A Ninja With Attitude
Stepping into the shoes of K/DA's prolific rapper, @shirogane_sama's cosplay commands the attitude and charisma that has made Akali not only an in-game favorite but also a musical sensation.
While the style of her outfit is picture-perfect, the pose and body language bring the rhyming assassin to life in a way that speaks to the power of cosplay as an art form. The backdrop is used to emphasize two key aspects of Akali's character, too, her sharp lyrics and the bold fashion of her delivery.
A Combatant From The Past
As League of Legends is more than 10 years old, the game periodically reinvents old champions and updates both their look and playstyle in an effort to infuse them with a more modern design. In 2018, Akali received this update and began her ascent to League stardom.
Before her rework, Akali's design seemed to take heavy inspiration from Mortal Kombat and didn't possess the same level of personality as her current iteration. Despite this, @misa72600 injects the original version of Akali with a look of cold defiance as she wields dual kamas in a blur of blades and motion.
Otherworldly Bars
Although a group comprising four popular champions with their own unique styles and personalities, Akali's performance in K/DA's hit song and video "POP/STARS" was show-stealing. Rapping with frenetic energy and splattered with a neon-graffiti drip, Akali's lyrical and visual attack won the hearts of millions.
Cosplayer @Shinku_真紅 brings the iconic look from the screen to reality, adopting the mesmerizing visage and lurid colors in a stunning rendition of K/DA Akali. The assassin-turned-rapper looks to be in the middle of a murderous performance as she gesticulates menacingly and gazes directly into the viewer.
A Purveyor Of Shadows And Song
While K/DA might be League's most popular musical group, it surprisingly isn't their only one. The ensemble "True Damage" performed at the 2019 World Championship in Paris, France. From a lore perspective, the same Akali that is a member of K/DA moonlights in this group, too, as a side-project.
Embracing the more hip-hop-focused sound and style, @stellachuuuuu cosplays True Damage Akali, eschewing a mic for her traditional kama and kunai, as she stands ready for battle before a futuristic cityscape. Rather than playing to the performance aspect of Akali, @stellachuuuuu presents the cold killer players are likely to encounter on the Rift.
A Project To Die For
Set in a sci-fi environment where machines and cyborgs clash in a battle against corporations for freedom, League's PROJECT skins reimagine champions with a futuristic flourish. Exploring this representation of Akali, @dee.queng dons the tech-imbued garb of a cybernetic assassin.
With her face completely obscured behind the impersonal shield of her helmet, the sense of Akali's mechanical precision is elevated to new levels. The juxtaposition of a ninja fantasy with state-of-the-art technology is further exhibited as her weapons, traditional and simplistic to their core, are reskinned to fit her dystopian environment.
A Dragon With No Master
@vkryp's cosplay not only exudes the poise and grace of the Rogue Assassin but also features her trademark dragon tattoo. Posed dynamically, ready to throw as many kunai as it takes, Akali's back showcases the mythic dragon that is prominently displayed in the champion's artwork.
Not only does @vkryp replicate Akali's appearance, but she also expresses the attitude and recalcitrant nature of the character. Initially serving under Shen, Akali left the Kinkou in order to carry out assassinations against the enemies of her precious land, Ionia.
Heads Will Roll
League of Legends often takes the opportunity to reference or pay homage to other franchises with the many skin lines it develops, and its "Head Hunter" theme is no different. Taking on the stylistic flair of Predator, Head Hunter Akali is on a mission to track down worthy prey to slay, after which she will display her kills as trophies.
@yukigodbless's take on the champion emphasizes hallmark characteristics of Predators, specifically the hairstyle, design of her large kamas, and the facial covering that looks as if it came straight from a Predator's mask. Posed in a wooded environment, the look in this Akali's eyes suggests that she has grown bored of her expedition and will soon finish off her target.