How to Play N.O.V.A. Akali
A stage-by-stage plan for N.O.V.A. Akali: opener, when to level and roll for Akali, and where to position the board.
- Tier
- A
- Top 4 rate
- 76.2%
- Avg place
- 3.06
- 1st place
- 15.7%
- Playstyle
- 2-cost reroll
- Games
- 100
How to level and roll with N.O.V.A. Akali
2-cost rerollN.O.V.A. Akali is a reroll comp: slow roll at level 6 from stage 3-2, keeping 50+ gold and rolling only the excess until Akali and Jax reach 3 stars. At level 6, each shop slot has a 40% chance to be a 2-cost.
| Stage | Level | Action | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-1 | 4 | Level | Level to 4 and play your strongest pairs; slam an early item if it saves HP. |
| 2-5 | 5 | Level | Level to 5 and keep building interest toward 50 gold. |
| 3-2 | 6 | Slow roll | Stay at level 6: roll only the gold above 50 each round until Akali and Jax hit 3 stars. |
| 3-5 | 6 | Slow roll | Stay at level 6: roll only the gold above 50 each round until Akali and Jax hit 3 stars. |
| 4-1 | 7 | Level | Once your 3-stars are done, level up and add the units that complete your traits. |
| 4-5 | 8 | Level | Level to 8 for 4-cost upgrades and a stronger frontline. |
| 5-1 | 8 | Roll down | Roll for the last upgrades and finish the board around Akali. |
N.O.V.A. Akali early game and opener
Boards that lead into N.O.V.A. Akali at levels 4 to 7, taken from MetaBot Desktop round data — play the one closest to your shops.
2 games · 86% rounds won · 75% of units carry into the final comp
2 games · 100% rounds won · 60% of units carry into the final comp
1 games · 100% rounds won · 86% of units carry into the final compRolling odds for N.O.V.A. Akali
Your 3-star targets are Akali and Jax. Level 6 gives the best shop odds for them — use the calculator to see how much gold a 3-star costs.
Rolldown calculator: Akali
Pre-set to this comp's roll level. Change copies owned, copies other players hold and your gold.
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N.O.V.A. Akali positioning
A starting board for N.O.V.A. Akali. Drag units to adjust it, switch to the anti-assassin layout when the lobby has divers, and copy the Team Planner code into the TFT client.
- Corner Kindred on the back line and put Morgana in front of it.
- Split Kindred and Caitlyn across the back line so a single area spell can't hit both.
- Morgana, Maokai, and Urgot hold the front line — put the tankiest one opposite the enemy carry.
- Against assassins, step your carries up one row and leave Aatrox and Jax in the back corners as bait.
Positioning board
Drag a unit onto another hex to move it — dropping on a unit swaps them.
When to play N.O.V.A. Akali
Strengths
- Average place better than 93% of comps of the same board size
- Wins the lobby often (15.7% first places)
- Big power spike once Akali and Jax hit 3 stars
- Two damage threats (Akali and Kindred) make itemizing flexible
Weaknesses
- Falls off hard if someone else is rerolling Akali and Jax
Strategic Tips
Economy
Reach 50 gold, then slow roll at level 6 with only the excess until Akali and Jax are 3-starred.
Itemization
Build Deathblade, Hextech Gunblade, and Striker's Flail on Akali.
When to pivot
Scout at 2-1 and 3-2: if two or more players hold your core units, or you haven't found any by 3-2, move into one of the comps on the Similar Comps tab instead of forcing N.O.V.A. Akali.
Get the Winning Edge
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How to play N.O.V.A. Akali – FAQ (TFT Set 17)
How do you play N.O.V.A. Akali?
N.O.V.A. Akali is a reroll comp: slow roll at level 6 from stage 3-2, keeping 50+ gold and rolling only the excess until Akali and Jax reach 3 stars. Corner Kindred on the back line and put Morgana in front of it. Build Deathblade, Hextech Gunblade, and Striker's Flail on Akali.
When should I roll down for N.O.V.A. Akali?
N.O.V.A. Akali doesn't do one big roll down. Slow roll at level 6 from stage 3-2, rolling only the gold above 50 until Akali and Jax are 3-starred.
What level do you roll for Akali?
Slow roll for Akali at level 6, where its cost tier shows up most often in the shop. At level 6, each shop slot has a 40% chance to be a 2-cost.
Is N.O.V.A. Akali a reroll comp?
Yes. N.O.V.A. Akali wants Akali and Jax at 3 stars, so slow roll at level 6 with gold above 50 until you hit them.
How do you position N.O.V.A. Akali?
Corner Kindred on the back line and put Morgana in front of it. Split Kindred and Caitlyn across the back line so a single area spell can't hit both. Morgana, Maokai, and Urgot hold the front line — put the tankiest one opposite the enemy carry. Against assassins, step your carries up one row and leave Aatrox and Jax in the back corners as bait.
What is the best opener for N.O.V.A. Akali?
The most common level 4 board that turns into N.O.V.A. Akali is Aatrox, Maokai, Rhaast, and Urgot (2 games tracked).