Akaya Guide in MLBB: Best Build, Emblems, and Counters

Akai is a tank in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang who specializes in controlling enemies and protecting allies. Thanks to his high survivability and powerful ultimate, he can disrupt the enemy team’s formation, push back dangerous heroes, and create favorable conditions for battles. In this guide, we’ll break down Akai’s abilities, the best items and emblems, and explain how to play him effectively and which heroes to watch out for.

Akai is a tank-class hero who most often acts as a roamer, assisting allies in various areas of the map. He can also be used in the jungle, where he can quickly move between monster camps and control key objectives. The character’s main objective is to absorb damage, protect the team, and prevent enemies from moving freely during battles.

The hero can be purchased in the in-game store for 32,000 Battle Points or 599 Diamonds. Sometimes, Akai can also be tried for free during temporary hero rotations or obtained as part of special events if he is included in the list of rewards.

Akaya’s main strength is his powerful area-of-effect crowd control. His ultimate ability allows him to knock enemies back, pin them against walls, and prevent them from using certain abilities. In addition, thanks to his passive ability, the hero regularly gains a shield that helps him withstand prolonged battles. He is particularly useful against teams that rely on proper positioning.

However, Akaya’s effectiveness depends heavily on the timing of his attacks. Mishandling his ultimate can not only save an enemy but also knock them away from allies, preventing a follow-up kill. Furthermore, the hero is vulnerable to stuns and certain types of crowd control that can interrupt his spin.

Akai has four abilities. They allow him to gain shields, slow and knock up enemies, and knock them back during his ultimate. When used correctly, Akai can control multiple enemies at once and protect his most vulnerable allies.

Each time Akai uses an ability, he gains a shield that lasts four seconds; its strength depends on his maximum health. Additionally, his abilities apply marks to affected enemies, causing his next basic attack to deal bonus physical damage. This passive is particularly useful in prolonged battles, allowing the tank to withstand more damage. However, shields do not stack; instead, they are refreshed after abilities are used.

Akai dashes in the selected direction, dealing physical damage to enemies in his path. If he hits an enemy hero, he knocks them up for 0.5 seconds and gains the ability to perform an additional roll. “Headbutt” is useful for initiating fights, chasing enemies, and quickly closing the distance. The ability is also available during his ultimate, allowing him to adjust his movement direction.

Akai slams into the ground, dealing physical damage to nearby enemies and slowing them by 45% for two seconds. This ability helps keep enemies close to you, prevents them from retreating, and makes it easier to land hits with your first ability. Additionally, thanks to its area-of-effect damage, it’s useful for clearing minions or jungle monsters.

Akai begins spinning for four seconds, continuously dealing physical damage and knocking back surrounding enemies. Upon activation, the ability removes negative effects, and while active, grants immunity to slow effects and gradually increases movement speed. “Power Spin” allows you to pin enemies against walls, push assassins away from allies, and disrupt the opposing team’s formation. However, the ultimate can be interrupted by stuns and transformations, so it’s important to consider enemy abilities before using it.

At level 1, learn “Headbutt” to quickly close the distance with enemies and knock them up. At level 2, unlock “Body Slam” for a slow and additional damage. Then prioritize upgrading your first ability to use dashes and crowd control more frequently. Level up your second ability next, and upgrade your ultimate at available levels.

Akaya’s Main Combos:

The key is to plan the direction of your ultimate in advance. If you knock the enemy toward their base, you might accidentally help them avoid being killed.

Akaya needs a large health pool, physical and magical defense, and cooldown reduction. The core build focuses on survivability and frequent use of the ultimate, though individual items can be swapped out depending on the enemy team composition.

For standard play as a roamer, the following six items are recommended:

This build provides Akaya with high survivability and allows him to use crowd control more frequently. However, you should prioritize buying the “Ancient Cuirass” primarily to counter physical damage from abilities. If the main threats come from mages, it’s better to replace it with a suitable defensive item.

“Athena’s Shield” is useful against mages with high burst damage, such as Eidora or Aurora. It can be purchased instead of “Ancient Cuirass” if the enemy team relies primarily on magical abilities.

“Oracle” enhances shields gained and health regeneration, so it pairs well with the “Tai Chi” passive ability. This item can be used instead of “Immortality” if sustained survivability is more important than the ability to resurrect after death.

“Punishment Shoulder Guards” are especially useful against marksmen who deal most of their damage with frequent basic attacks. This item reduces the enemy’s attack speed and provides additional defense, helping Akai withstand pressure for longer.

Two emblem sets are suitable for Akaya: Tank and Support. The first option increases survivability and allows him to absorb damage more confidently, while the second helps him use his abilities more frequently and provide additional benefits to his allies.

The tank emblem increases maximum health, physical and magical defense, and health regeneration. This is a versatile option for Akaya, who is the first to engage in battle and takes the brunt of enemy attacks.

For standard gameplay, you can choose the following talents:

This build is best used when Akai needs to be on the front lines and initiate team fights on his own.

The Support Emblem increases movement speed and reduces ability cooldowns. It’s suitable for a more active playstyle, where Akai constantly moves around the map and helps allies eliminate enemies.

For this build, you can use the same talents, but you’ll need to replace Shockwave with Focus Mark—which increases damage dealt by allies to the target and helps you move faster.

The Support Emblem is useful if the team has enough tanky heroes and Akai needs to focus on crowd control and buffing teammates. For maximum survivability, it’s better to choose a tank build.

The best combat spell for Akaya is “Stun.” It deals magic damage to nearby enemies and briefly immobilizes them, allowing you to extend crowd control or set up your ultimate.

“Stun” is useful for an aggressive start to a fight. After dashing in with “Headbutt,” you can further delay the enemy to give your allies time to deal damage. The spell also helps protect an archer or mage from an approaching assassin.

Akai is most effective when he’s the first to set up opportunities for an attack or defend allies from approaching enemies. His main task is to control enemy movements, secure advantageous positions, and use his ultimate to help the team rather than save opponents.

Early in the game, escort an allied Jungler or assist a marksman in the gold lane. Use “Headbutt” to control enemies and “Body Slam” to slow them down during attacks. Once you’ve unlocked your ultimate, try to participate in battles for the Turtle and help your team capture key objectives. If you’re playing as a roamer, don’t linger too long on a single lane and don’t take gold from allies who need it to buy items.

By mid-game, Akai becomes significantly tankier thanks to defensive items. Move around with your team more often, check the bushes, and create opportunities for attacks. Use “Power Spin” to push dangerous enemies away from your allies or pin an enemy marksman against a wall. Before engaging in combat, assess your teammates’ positions: it’s important to direct enemies toward areas that benefit your team, rather than pushing them away from your main sources of damage.

Toward the end of the match, Akai should stay close to the team and protect the most vulnerable allies. It’s especially important to use your ultimate correctly near the Lord, in narrow passages, and when defending the base. Try to separate enemy marksmen and mages from their tanks or push back mobile assassins who are trying to reach your backline. Don’t initiate dangerous fights alone: even a tanky Akai can quickly fall to concentrated attacks from multiple enemies.

Despite his high survivability, Akai struggles against heroes capable of interrupting his ultimate or dealing sustained damage. Kayla and Franco are particularly dangerous, as suppressing them can stop “Power Spin.” Alice and Esmeralda can sustain prolonged fights, while Karrie quickly chips away at tanks’ health thanks to damage that scales with maximum health. Mobile assassins like Ling and Fanny can also pose a challenge if they manage to dodge the toss and flank Akaya.

Akai’s best allies are considered to be Natalia, Helkart, and Chang’e. The first two can quickly eliminate enemies that the tank has separated from their team, while Chang’e deals massive area-of-effect damage while Akai keeps enemies in an unfavorable position.