Akshan
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Excellent (8.5/10)
Epic Relics
High Investment Required
Akshan is widely regarded as one of the strongest Shuriman champions, offering immense flexibility, infinite combo potential, and powerful burst-speed interaction. While his base deck is often criticized for lacking synergy or power, his Constellation upgrades—specifically the Burst speed Grappling Hook—transform him into a top-tier powerhouse capable of clearing the hardest content. Some players find his optimal playstyle repetitive or 'boring' due to long, solitaire-like turns, but his efficacy is undeniable.
The Infinite Duelist
Essential for scaling. Akshan generates frequent created cards (Time and Dedication, Grappling Hook from GGC/Echoing, etc.), triggering Augment and Fated rapidly. The Overwhelm and Challenger keywords allow him to close games efficiently.
Considered Best-in-Slot. It creates a 0-cost spell every round to trigger Fated/Augment, accelerates his level-up condition by targeting allies, and grants useful keywords.
Provides consistency in drawing Akshan (who is the engine of the deck) and reduces the cost of Grappling Hook to 1 (or 0 with other discounts), facilitating infinite loops.
Strategy
This build focuses on making Akshan a self-sustaining engine. The combination of Fated/Augment with constant created card generation allows him to grow massive very quickly. Echoing Spirit ensures you find him and can spam his champion spell to clear the enemy board while progressing your landmarks.
Tomb Infinite
Summons a Stormcarved Spire. When this landmark completes, it summons a second Akshan. Due to Akshan's Star Powers doubling landmark completion effects, this can lead to multiple Akshans on board.
Once you reach 6 mana (accelerated by Akshan's 6-star power stealing mana gems), this doubles all your spells, allowing for near-infinite loops of Sentinel's Hoard rewards.- Provides the necessary fuel (created cards) to advance landmarks and trigger Flow/Fated effects.
Strategy
A more setup-oriented build that abuses landmark countdowns to duplicate Akshan. Once the engine is online with Chemtech Duplicator, you can cycle through your deck, restore health/mana, and buff your board indefinitely.
F2P Control
Ensures you have a steady supply of Grappling Hook to trigger Akshan's landmark advancement and control the board.
Provides the mana necessary to cast the fleeting champion spell and other generated cards every round.
Provides immediate board control upon summoning Akshan, helping stabilize early.
Strategy
A solid budget option for players without Epic relics. Focus on controlling the board with Grappling Hook and Stalker's Blade while slowly accumulating value through Warlord's Palace rewards.
Other Relic Options
Akshan's signature relic. It provides Challenger and helps advance or summon Warlord's Palace. While thematic and decent, it is often considered outclassed by Chosen by the Stars or Perfect Hex Core.
A viable alternative for mana generation, especially if you are spamming Grappling Hook.
Effective for doubling the stat buffs from Time and Dedication and other buffs, though generally considered overkill compared to straight mana or draw.
While Akshan has a signature relic (Scoundrel's Hunter), community consensus often rates generic power relics like Chosen by the Stars and Perfect Hex Core higher due to the sheer stat efficiency and combo potential they offer.
Constellation
Akshan's Constellation is highly valued, particularly for specific nodes that fundamentally change his gameplay speed. While his base deck upgrades are viewed as lackluster, the power spikes from his 4th star and specific star nodes (like Burst Speed Grappling Hook) are massive.
Going Rogue
When an allied landmark counts down, gives allies +1|+0 this round.
Sentinel Business
+1 Starting Mana. Game Start: Summon a Warlord's Palace.
Going Rogue II
Your Countdown completion effects activate twice. When an allied landmark counts down, give allies +1|+0 this round.
The Craftsman's Favor
Round Start: Create a Fleeting Time and Dedication in hand.Review
Grants a 1-cost Time and Dedication at Round Start. While strong for triggering Fated and advancing landmarks, players frequently criticize it for costing 1 mana, unfavorably comparing it to Ornn's 0-cost equivalent. However, it remains a consistent enabler for his kit.
Manaflow
Game Start: Get a mana gem.Review
Standard +1 Starting Mana. Highly effective for smoothing out his curve, allowing Akshan (2 mana) and a 1-cost protection spell or relic effect to be played immediately.
Absolution
When an allied Warlord's Palace is destroyed, steal a mana gem. When an allied Warlord's Hoard is destroyed, revive the strongest dead non-Ephemeral ally.Review
Steals an enemy Mana Gem when a Warlord's Palace or Hoard is destroyed. This is a potent control tool against high-mana encounters (like Lissandra or Aurelion Sol), effectively ramping you while denying the opponent. It also offers a revive mechanic for the strongest ally. While powerful, many consider it a 'win-more' feature, as Akshan often stabilizes and wins before the mana steal becomes the deciding factor.
Gameplay Tips
Mulligan Hard for Akshan
Akshan is the absolute engine of the deck. Without him on the board, the deck lacks significant threat or synergy. Prioritize finding him and items/relics that draw champions (like Echoing Spirit) to ensure consistency.
Prioritize the Burst Speed Node
Within Akshan's Constellation, there is a specific upgrade node that changes his Champion Spell, Grappling Hook, to Burst speed. This is widely considered the most critical upgrade, arguably more important than some star powers, as it removes interaction windows for the opponent and allows for safe, instant removal.
Maximize Landmark Triggers
Akshan's 1-star and 3-star powers revolve around advancing and doubling the effects of Warlord's Palace and Warlord's Hoard. Use self-targeting spells (like Time and Dedication, Grappling Hook, or Perfect Hex Core upgrades) efficiently to cycle these landmarks rapidly. The 'Predict and Draw' option is usually the best default choice to keep your hand fueled, but the 'Spellshield + Stats' option is vital for protecting Akshan against removal-heavy encounters.
Manage Board Space
Akshan can generate a lot of units (Sandstone Chargers) and landmarks. Be mindful of your board space to ensure you don't obliterate key units or prevent your Warlord's Hoard from spawning. If playing the Frozen Tomb build, this becomes even more critical.