Table of Contents

I. II. III. IV. V. VI. VII. VIII. IX. X. XI. XII. XIII. XIV. XV. XVI. XVII. XVIII. XIX. XX.

Introduction Lore Overview Summoner Spells Abilities Masteries Runes Item Build Item Choice Explanation Optional Items Gameplay Champion Spotlight Battle Plan Securing Kills Principles FAQ Riot Tips Conclusion Change Log Coming Soon

I. Introduction

Hello and welcome to my guide for Katarina, the Katastrophic Kitty Kat. I am relatively new to MOBAFire and this is my third build so all constructive feedback is appreciated. Also if you disagree with something please leave a comment before rating. :) Also, If you are going to -1 then if you could leave a comment as to why you are doing it, it would be appreciated. The whole reason behind this guide was to be as helpful as possible so please help me achieve that goal.

It seems that MOBAFire is not showing statistics properly. When I play Katarina I usually have much higher stats. :|

I know some of you may be getting tired of the layout of my guides but I believe that consistency is key. If you have seen my other guides you may already know your way around my guides so it will be simpler. Anyway, it's the information that counts and I think that the information in this guide is bound to make you "LEGENDARY"!

Now, to Katarina, the Katastrophic Kitty Kat. Katarina is a very interesting champion to play. Firstly, she does not have any mana and so she will be referred to as a "Cooldown Champion". The beauty behind cooldown champions is that you are able to use what you want and the only thing that can possibly get in your way is the cooldown. Katarina has recently been buffed and is now more deadly than ever. This buff may have given a definitive edge to the Ability Power Katarina because Bouncing Blade in now affected by Ability Power. In this guide I will try my best to teach you how to play Katarina, the Katastrophic Kitty Kat.



I am aware that after the patch Full Hybrid seems to be the way to go but I still prefer a High AP Katarina. The reasons as to why will be explained within this guide. Also, if I get any requests to do a Full Hybrid guide I will. :)

II. Lore

As a militaristic state, it would perhaps come as no surprise that the primary responsibilities of Noxian women are raising strong children and providing succor for husbands who walk the path of soldiery. There are some, however, for whom nurture is not nature, and Katarina is just such a creature. Born the daughter of the feared Noxian General Du Couteau, the girl was always more interested in her father's knives than in the dresses, jewelry, and other trifles that her sisters spent so much time fussing over. A childhood dispute soon unveiled her uncanny knack for bloodshed, and her father, ever the opportunist, happily fostered her killer instincts. After training under the tutelage of the finest assassins the mighty city-state had to offer, Katarina first cut her teeth performing assassinations in the Ionian War. There, her ruthless mastery of the knife and dagger combined with her sadistic temperament to earn her the title Sinister Blade, a moniker that would follow her for the remainder of her career. She is most famous, however, for her exploits in the campaigns against Demacia, especially those surrounding her engagements with the nation's champion, Garen; a rivalry which began when she recovered the remains of Sion from a vanguard under his protection.

With the demand for warfare somewhat arrested by the tenuous peace settling over Valoran, Katarina sought the allure of violence in its last remaining haven: The League of Legends. Some might say it was an inevitability that Katarina's chosen path would draw her to become a champion of the League, continuing to enforce the will of Noxus and bring prestige of war to her noble family. There, she continues to perform her bloody work - esteemed and reviled, feared and adored.

III. Overview

Basic Statistics

Damage 53 Health 395 Mana 0 Move Speed 325 Armor 14.75 Magic Resist 30 Health Regen 1.39 Mana Regen 0

(+3.2 / per level) (+83 / per level) (+0 / per level) (+0 / per level) (+4 / per level) (+1.25 / per level) (+0.11 / per level) (+0 / per level)

Pros

+ Amazing Burst if played AP.
+ Shunpo is a 600 - 800 damage nuke late game.
+ Killer Instincts and Shunpo will greatly reduce damage taken.
+ Death Lotus is capable of annihilating the enemy team.
+ A very in - > out type of champion.
+ Voracity will be a great tool for your in - > out playstyle.
+ A great assassin.
+ Pulchritudinous ;)
+ Kitty Cat Skin is epic. :D (Oh my god... she has a tail!!!)


Cons

- Very Squishy.
- Easy to counter.
- Death Lotus is channeled and is prone to interrupts.
- Likely to get targeted.
- Hated by many. :(


IV. Summoner Spells

For my summoner spells while using the exceptional champion, Katarina, I take two highly offensive spells. Exhaust and Ignite for the following reasons. Exhaust can be highly useful as it can be used to slow enemies within the range of your Death lotus (A role which will later be done by a Rylai's Crystal Scepter), it can be used to protect yourself from heavy enemy DPS and it can also be used to simply disable a target, rendering them useless and allowing you and your team to pick them off without a problem. As for Ignite, the reason why I take it is to help secure kills early in the game. Ignite can also be used in conjunction with Bouncing Blade to deal devastating damage to enemies who may already be within the range of their turret in a place where it will be dangerous to Shunpo to. Overall Ignite is a great spell as it suits Katarina's offensive nature and helps her get fed in the Early Game.

Some other choices of Summoner Spells could be:

Fortify is a spell that benefits the whole team. I have played against many teams who have had a player with fortify and I know how useful this spell is. If used correctly you can save your turrets even if you are alone after a team fight. I prefer to leave it to the tanks because I would rather have Exhaust and Ignite.

Flash is a great way to get away, personally I do not take Flash because Shunpo works much like it. Flash is a good choice if you want a little extra help during escape episodes.

Cleanse is a "Get out of jail *FREE*" card. You can have the entire enemy team fire disables at you to stop you from unleashing chaos, which is also known as the Death Lotus, and then watch you use Cleanse and Shunpo the hell away. Definitely a great spell but if their team does not have Crowd Control it may be a wasted Summoner Spell slot. I sometimes use Cleanse and I find it an amazing spell to have on a fragile champion like Katarina. With her, every little bit of added survivability helps and so Cleanse is a very, very handy spell to have on hard.

Ghost is another great spell that can be used both defensively and offensively. Ghost can be used to chase enemies (Although you shouldn't need to as you have Shunpo and with a Rylai's Crystal Scepter your abilities will slow them anyway) and run away from them. Personally i do not take Ghost because if you are running away you can simply Shunpo to a minion or a champion that is further up ahead. I do not like the idea of having Ghost on Katarina for these reasons but if you are going to use it, make sure you use it well. :)

Clairvoyance is a good spell as it gives your team map awareness and it can be used to scout for incoming ganks and can provide information about enemy junglers. It is a great spell that gives you a lot every minute but I do not like it on Katarina, let a tank take it because you would benefit much more from Exhaust and Ignite.

Teleport is a self explanatory spell. it allows you to... well... Teleport to an allied minion or ward. This spell provides for great mobility around the map. In my opinion it is a great spell but Katarina can benefit so much more from Exhaust and Ignite.


V. Abilities


After a kill or assist, Katarina gains 25 gold and her cooldowns are reduced by 15 seconds.

Hodayum! This is a very, very good passive. It takes off 15 seconds of your cooldowns for every kill and assist and you also gain a nice bonus of 25 extra gold. With this passive you are greatly enhanced. Think about it, you're fighting a 5 v 5, you send out a Bouncing Blades, use Preparation, Shunpo at their squishy and unleash a deadly Death Lotus. As your team mops up the enemy all your cooldowns are refreshed and you are ready for another encounter. Also, you could be in a 2 v 2 situation where the same theory applies. If after the battle someone comes in for a gank they will be in for a very, very nasty surprise. :) Possibly even a flurry of daggers from the lethal Death Lotus.

Cost: N/A.
Cooldown: N/A.


Katarina throws a dagger that bounces from enemy to enemy, dealing magic damage.
Katarina throws a dagger that hits up to 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 enemies, dealing 20 / 40 / 60 / 80 / 100 (+) magic damage. Each subsequent hit deals 10% less damage.

Bouncing Blade is a great harassment tool that should not go underutilized. After the recent patch the Bouncing Blades now scales with Ability Power. To all of the Ability Power based Katarina players this was an amazing buff to her and now we have a ranged attack which does not involve us getting literally on top of the target. This has now made Katarina a much safer champion to play.

Be sure to use the Bouncing Blades to farm minions and attack your enemy by having it bounce to them. This can easily be achieved when they have less minions than you do bounces. Overall, after the buff, this is a great ability to have on hand. :) Use it well and show the other summoners what Katarina is capable of.

Cost: None.
Cooldown: 9 / 8.5 / 8 / 7.5 / 7 seconds.
Magic Damage: 60 / 95 / 130 / 165 / 200 (+0.8 per bonus Attack Damage AND +0.35 per Ability Power).
Maximum Bounces: 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6.
Range: 600.


Passive: Katarina's attacks deal increased damage. Active: Katarina's next basic attack has a bonus effect. Bouncing Blade deals full damage to every target hit and reduces incoming healing to the target, or after using Shunpo Katarina takes reduced damage for 3 seconds.
Passive: Katarina's abilities and melee attacks deal 8/12/16/20/24 additional damage each hit.
Active: Katarina's next basic ability has a bonus effect.
Bouncing Blade: Deals full damage to every target it hits and applies 50% healing reduction for 10 seconds.
Shunpo: Katarina takes 15/20/25/30/35% reduced damage from enemy attacks for 3 seconds.

Wow... 35% reduced damage after using a Shunpo?! Full damage dealt with Bouncing Blades?! This is an incredible skill. Although Preparation is not what it used to be it is still a great ability and you should get a point in it early in the game.

Later in the game, when you have to jump into the midst of your enemies in a team fight to unleash the Death Lotus you will definitely be glad that you have the Preparation. You will usually be targeted and so this is a great way to save your skin. :)

Make sure to use this skill a lot. Use it while farming minions, use it while engaging the enemy with your team. In other words... Use it as much as possible and you will notice the advantages that it brings.

Cost: None.
Cooldown: 20 / 18 / 16 / 14 / 12 seconds .
Damage Increase: 8 / 12 / 16 / 20 / 24.
Shunpo Damage Reduction: 15 / 20 / 25 / 30 / 35 %


Katarina instantly moves to her target's location. If the target is an enemy, she deals damage.
Katarina moves to her target's location. If the target is an enemy, she deals 90/120/150/180/210 (+0.75) magic damage to the target.

Shunpo... This is where a lot of your damage will come from. This is what will make or break Katarina's. If you underutilize this amazing skill you are bound to fail. However, if you are able to use Shunpo well and you have mastered the simple Preparation, Shunpo and Death Lotus combo and you are able to drop enemies like there's no tomorrow then... well.. Congratulations my friend... You're doing it RIGHT!

Shunpo is a low cooldown, High damage nuke. Shunpo also teleports you to allied units so it can be a very strong defense mechanism. Remember to use it to engage and get out. This is what makes Katarina such an in - > out champion. Remember about Voracity, you see an enemy dangerously low on health next to their turret? Their minions are close by? Shunpo at them my friend. :) Remember that after a kill your cooldowns are reduced by 15 seconds. You can simply Shunpo to the minions and be in total safety. :D

Cost: None.
Cooldown: 10 / 9 / 8 / 7 / 6 seconds .
Magic Damage: 90 / 120 / 150 / 180 / 210 (+0.75 per Ability Power).
Range: 700.


Katarina goes into a state of extreme focus, throwing daggers with unrivaled speed at 3 closest enemy champions for 2.7 seconds.

This is a very powerful ultimate but unfortunately it is very easy to counter. It is very rare for a Katarina to be able to use Death Lotus and have 8 - 10 daggers slap the enemy in the face. However, if the enemy does not have any (or many) interrupts then the slow from your Exhaust and Rylai's Crystal Scepter should ensure that you feed them a good 5 - 6 daggers.

A great ultimate but very, very easy to counter. You should still try to jump in and use Death Lotus but it may not be as successful in higher ELO games.

Cost: None.
Cooldown: 60 / 55 / 50 seconds.
Magic Damage: 40 / 50 / 60 (+0.55 per bonus Attack Damage AND +0.3 per Ability Power) per dagger.
Area of Effect: 550.
Daggers Thrown: 30 (Max: 10 per Champion).


VI. Masteries

NOTE : Some parts of this Mastery Tree explanation are taken directly from my Vladimir guide.

Cripple 1/1 - Since I have taken Exhaust as my summoner spell... Why not improve it? This just helps with the armor and magic resist reduction allowing us to deal increased damage early in the game and the 0.5 seconds extra duration will be useful throughout your gameplay experience.

Archmage's Savvy 3/3 - This is quite self explanatory, Extra Ability Power for an Ability Power based Katarina. What more could you want?!

Sorcery 4/4 - This is a great mastery because it gives us cooldown reduction.. <3 to this mastery! It allows Katarina to use her abilities that tiny bit quicker.

Archaic Knowledge 1/1 - For a Magic Damage dealer, Magic Penetration is VERY important. This mastery provides us with just that. :) The extra Magic Penetration is a lovely bonus for us, so... why wouldn't you take this mastery?

Resistance 3/3 - Resistance provides us with... well... Magic Resistance. Katarina is rather squishy so this will help us lane longer.

Hardiness 3/3 - Hardiness gives us Armor, it is also going to be a nice addition to Katarina and help him stay in the lane longer. Just like Resistance, this is purely for extra survivability.

Evasion 4/4 - Extra Dodge Chance... YAY! This is just like the previous 2. Taken for extra survivability. :)

Nimbleness 1/1 - With the dodge chance from Evasion we can get a speed boost during our game. Although this will not be as effective on Katarina as on champions with high dodge chance (E.G. Sivir, Jax) but still... Every little bit helps. :D

Harden Skin 2/3 - Taken to reduce the effectiveness of DPS champions early game. Late game this mastery will practically be useless but in the early game, might just give you that little bit of an edge. Although this is highly unlikely, I have said it before, every little bit helps.

Veteran's Scars 3/3 - Exceptional boost to early game health. I usually take this to increase survivability as Katarina is very squishy.

Ardor 3/3 - This mastery provides us with an extra percentage of Ability Power and Attack Speed. This will be a great addition to your arsenal.

Tenacity 1/1 - Reduces damage taken by your champion. This is a spectacular mastery which should not be traded for something like Burning Embers. Since you will be targeted a lot you will greatly benefit from this mastery.

As you can see, I roll with the typical 9/21/0 Katarina. Taking 9 Offense, 21 Defense and 0 Utility. This provides us with Extra Magic Penetration, Extra Ability Power and a ton of Survivability bonuses. I do not take any points in Utility because most of them are mana related and as we do not have mana, it is COMPLETELY useless.

VII. Runes

The runes I use are listed below and have explanations for why I choose to use them.

Greater Mark of Insight x 9 The Greater Mark of Insight provides us with 8.55 Magic Penetration to start the game with. This is great for any Magic Damage Dealer because it allows you to deal greater amounts of damage to your enemies early on in the game and it helps during the late game phase as well. Overall, a good rune choice in my opinion.

Greater Seal of Evasion x 9 The reasons for why I choose to use the Greater Seal of Evasion is because I do not have any items that greatly increase survivability. These runes provide me with 6.75% Dodge Chance which is not much but it is definitely something that can save you. If you disagree with the use of this rune you could definitely use a different one. Enjoy dodging. :)

Greater Glyph of Force x 9 I have been using these runes in gameplay and I have found it to be very useful. The Greater Glyph of Force provides us with 27.54 Ability Power at level 18. Overall, a great rune. I advise the use of this rune to everyone.

Greater Quintessence of Fortitude x 3 The Greater Quintessence of Fortitude provides us with 97.2 Health to start with which greatly increases your early game survivability. There have been many times when the 100 extra health helped me greatly. I am all for this Quintessence choice.

VIII. Item Build

= = = = =

The core of this build is Ionian Boots of Lucidity, Rylai's Crystal Scepter, Rabadon's Deathcap and Nashor's Tooth and then there are 2 optional items. I believe that the Mejai's Soulstealer is essential but if you're not doing too good, you may want to skip out on it and that is why it is not a core item. I have listed the Hextech Gunblade because I am trying to make a "Slightly Hybrid" build but if people want full AP then they can swap it out. This is a guide for both full AP and Slightly Hybrid. I think that it is a good item but it's up to you if you use it or not. This is all just my opinion. Feel free to experiment and adjust to counter the other team.


IX. Item Choice Explanation

NOTE : Some of the information in this section may be very similar to the information in my Vladimir guide

Mejai's Soulstealer

Statistics: 20 Ability Power. UNIQUE Passive: Your champion gains 8 Ability Power per stack, receiving 2 stacks for a kill or 1 stack for an assist. This effect can stack 20 times: You lose a third of your stacks when you die. At 20 stacks, your champions cooldowns are reduced by 15%

While playing Katarina I believe that a Mejai's Soulstealer is a very important item. Since your Death Lotus is an Area of Effect spell you should never have problems racking up assists. Katarina is also a killer so you should earn a few stacks from kills as well. Katarina is an assassin so she specializes in taking out single targets... Shunpo that!

Ionian Boots of Lucidity

Statistics: Passive: 15% Cooldown Reduction. UNIQUE Passive: Enhanced Movement 2.

Just a little bit more Cooldown Reduction for Katarina. If you do not require this you can feel free to use any other boots. E.G. Mercury Treads.

Rylai's Crystal Scepter

Statistics: 80 Ability Power, 500 Health. UNIQUE Passive: Dealing spell damage reduces the target's movement speed by 35% for 2 seconds (15% for multi-target spells)

This item is a beast on Katarina. It provides you with two very important things, Ability Power and Health. The Health is important because Katarina is squishy and Health will help you in the late game. The Rylai's Crystal Scepter also slows targets that are hit by any of your spells. This enables us to prevent the enemy from leaving the battlefield and this will allow us to EXTERMINATE them all with the lethal Death Lotus.

Rabadon's Deathcap

Statistics: 155 Ability Power. UNIQUE Passive: Increased ability power by 30%.

I believe that the choice of this item is obvious. The insane amounts of Ability Power you get from it is outstanding and this item is definitelly one that should not be overlooked. Overall, this is simply an improved Zhonya's without the active.

Nashor's Tooth

Statistics: +50% Attack Speed +55 Ability Power +10 Mana Regeneration per 5 UNIQUE Passive: Reduces ability cooldowns by 25%.

The reason for why I use the Nashor's Tooth is for the great Attack Speed, Ability Power and Cooldown Reduction boost. The 25% Cooldown Reduction from this and the 15% from the Mejai's Soulstealer will reach the Cooldown cap of 40%. This will make all our skills much more spammable and will make you an unstoppable force.

Also, with this item we can use our ultimate every 30 seconds (Approximately) and if we get 2 kills or assists it will come off cooldown.



X. Optional Items

Here I will discuss some items that could be used to replace an item from the main build. The items I have thought were great but just not good enough are listed below.

Void Staff

Statistics: +70 Ability Power UNIQUE Passive: +40% Magic Penetration

I believe that the Void Staff is a good sixth item. it provides us with 40% extra Magic Penetration. This item enables us to chop up everyone who is Magic Resist Stacking.

This is great as most of your damage is magic damage. Since you are a Magic Damage Dealer you will benefit from this item.

Abyssal Scepter

+70 Ability Power +57 Magic Resistance UNIQUE Aura: Reduces the Magic Resist of nearby enemy champions by 20.

I believe that this is an incredible item to have. It has an aura that harms all enemy champions so this item is very team friendly. The 57 Magic Resistance on this item is a very nice bonus too. I usually choose this item when the enemy team does not have too much Magic Resistance and my team has Magic Damage Dealers other than me. I love this item and the extra Magic Resistance is a very nice bonus as Katarina is a very squishy champion.

I have started to swap it for the Hextech Gunblade after the patch though.

Sorcerer's Shoes

Statistics: 20 Magic Penetration. UNIQUE Passive: Enhanced Movement Speed 2

The reason for why I used to chose to use the Sorcerer's Shoes is evident. 20 Flat Magic Penetration will help you rip apart the enemy team. The Sorcerer's Shoes were definitely the best boots for Katarina unless of course the enemy team has a lot if Crowd Control, in which case the Mercury's Treads may have been a better alternative. I now use the Ionian Boots of Lucidity.


Will of the Ancients

+40 Ability Power UNIQUE Aura: Gives nearby allied champions +30 Ability Power and 20% spell vamp.

Another excellent item. The Will of the Ancients is a very team friendly item. It provides your allies with extra Ability Power and Spell Vamp. This will greatly increase your teams effectiveness if there is another Caster or Magic Damage Dealer. The Will of the Ancients is also one of the few items that provide Spell Vamp and I think that it is a wonderful item because it makes all your Abilities give you health and since you will be doing immense amounts of damage this item is definitely viable for Katarina.

Lich Bane

+350 Mana +80 Ability Power +30 Magic Resist +7% Movement Speed UNIQUE Passive: 100% chance when an ability is used that your next physical attack deals an additional 100% of your Ability Power in damage. This effect has a 2 second cooldown.

I love using the Lich Bane on Casters and Magic Damage Dealers and Katarina is no exception. The Lich Bane passive is incredible and allows you to push towers like never before. The Lich Bane also makes you even more deadly because you will be putting out an extra 700 - 900 Damage every 2 seconds along with your other highly damaging skills. I did not list this item in the primary section of the build because I didn't want any comments about a "wasted stat". :)

Hextech Gunblade

Statistics: +60 Attack Damage +75 Ability Power +20% Life Steal +20% Spell Vamp UNIQUE Active: Deals 300 magic damage and slows the target champion by 50% for 3 seconds (700 range). 60 second cooldown.

The Hextech Gunblade is an excellent item, especially after the patch. This amazing item is also one that gives us Spell Vampirism and so it is a very, very good choice. I use this item a lot because of the stats it gives us. The Active of this item is also a very nice thing. It deals 300 damage to a target 700 range away and slows them by 50%. This is a great tool if the enemy is running away and both your Bouncing Blades and Shunpo are on cooldown.

An amazing item for any Katarina. It is not listed in the Core because I really like the Magic Resistance that the Abyssal Mask gives us. I may have to rethink the choice though because after the patch, this is an incredible item for Katarina.

Now for some defensive items that you may need:

Force of Nature

+76 Magic Resist +40 Health Regen per 5 sec +8% Movement Speed UNIQUE Passive: Restores 0.35% of your champion's health every second.

Hmm... What a great anti-caster item... The Force of Nature is a very good item to have when facing Caster heavy teams. The 76 Magic Resist is exceptional and this item is a must-have when facing other powerful Casters. The Force of Nature also gives us movement speed and Health Regeneration. Overall, you cannot go wrong buying an item like this when facing a Caster heavy team.

Thornmail

+100 Armor UNIQUE Passive: On being hit by standard attacks, returns 30% of damage taken as magic damage.

The Thornmail should be commended for it's ability to make the enemy DPS destroy themselves. Simply put on a Thornmail and the enemy carry will want to think twice before targeting you. However, if there is someone who is brave enough to try to kill you should simply attack them while they attack you. If you do this their Health should drop like a rock (and so should they considering that they will be dead).

Randuin's Omen

+300 Health +90 Armor +25 Health Regen per 5 sec. UNIQUE Passive: 15% Cooldown Reduction and 20% chance on being hit to slow the attacker's movement and attack speeds by 35% for 3 seconds. UNIQUE Active: Slows movement speeds and attack speeds of surrounding units by 35% for 2 seconds + 0.5 seconds for each 100 Armor and Magic Resist. 60 second cooldown.

This is an item that is excellent when we consider the Health, large amount of Armor, Health Regeneration and Cooldown Reduction. The Randuin's Omen active is something that should not be forgotten or ignored as it has the potential to save your life out on the Fields of Justice. Definitely a good choice when facing a physically orientated team. :D

Aegis of the Legion

+270 Health +18 Armor +24 Magic Resist UNIQUE Aura: +12 Armor / +15 Magic Resistance / +8 Damage to nearby allied units.

Not much to say about this really, a good, team friendly item that provides us with Health and a little bit of extra Armor, Magic Resistance and Damage. I am not a big fan of an Aegis of the Legion but I do find it a viable defense item.

Guardian Angel

Statistics: +68 Armor +38 Magic Resistance UNIQUE Passive: Revives your Champion upon death, restoring 750 Health and 375 Mana, this effect can only occur once every 5 minutes.

The Guardian Angel is a decent item. It provides us with a great amount of Armor and Magic Resistance. Also this item allows us to be revived after death every 5 minutes making it just that much easier to maintain the precious Mejai's Soulstealer full of stacks.

Banshee's Veil

Statistics: +450 Health +400 Mana +57 Magic Resist UNIQUE Passive: Blocks one negative spell every 30 seconds.

The Banshee's Veil is an excellent item on any champion with a channeled spell. Naturally, Katarina is no exception. She will benefit greatly from the spell block that this item has. The 450 Extra Health and 57 Magic Resist are also very nice bonuses to have seeing as Katarina is a very squishy champion.

Warmog's Armor

Statistics: +920 Health +30 Health Regen per 5 sec Passive: Permanently gain 4.5 Health and .15 Health Regen per 5 sec per minion kill. Champion kills and assists grant 45 Health and 1.5 Health Regen per 5 sec. Bonuses cap at +450 Health and 15 health regen per 5.

Ok, now you're all probably thinking "WTF Vicarious?!" and I have to admit, I am thinking that too. I have decided to put this item up here because I have seen some very good Katarina's use it and they were very effective. It provides you with a ton of health so the squishyness problem is partly solved. Personally, I would never take a Warmog's Armor on Katarina but since there have been encounters with players who use it I decided to put it on anyway. It's all a matter of taste when it comes to this item and i do not like to take it. The reason why is because Katarina is an assassin, she jumps in, kills her target, goes away. She should not be staying in the place long enough to have to NEED this much health. I would rather be dealing more damage with my attacks... But that's just me though, you decide what is best for you.

XI. Gameplay

My Definitions:

Early Game: Level 1 - 9

Mid Game: Level 10 - 16

Late Game: Level 17 +


Early Game - Level 1 - 9

In the early game just farm. Farm like there is no tomorrow for Katarina NEEDS to be farmed to be effective. Harass your enemies with Bouncing Blades and Shunpo. Around Level 6 you can go for a kill. If your partner has a stun, suppress or a slow you should EASILY pick up a kill.

Remember to stay in the brush and wait for your team mate to use their debuff on the target. Throw out a Bouncing Blades, Use Preparation, Shunpo to the enemy and... well... Let the daggers fly! Unleash your Death Lotus on the enemy! Wow... A kill.. That was easy and the best part is, there will be plenty more to come!

Mid Game - Level 10 - 16

During the Mid game you should be farmed, fed and ready for battle. You and your team mates will annihilate the enemy in this part of the game. Make sure to jump into team fights when the enemy is busy fighting your team. This will ensure that you do not get targeted!

The Mid game, just like the Early game, is what will either make or break Katarina. You HAVE to succeed in this part of the game otherwise your power diminishes and your usefulness in battles does too.

Late Game - Level 17 +

Ahh, Late game... My favorite part. Your performance in the Late game will depend on how you did early on. If you fed hopelessly, well, then you will generally continue to fail. There is not much you can do in this situation except for go and take care of the big minion waves.

However, if you did brilliantly before, you should continue to do so! Dominate the other team. Become godlike! Hear "LEGENDARY!" after every kill! All a fed Katarina has to do is win. That is all that should be left for you to do. Enjoy the glory and praise of your team mates and make sure to spread the word about this guide. xD

XII. Champion Spotlight

Heh... Well... I lied about it being a "Champion Spotlight" but the video is still good. I do not agree with the item build used in this video but it is the gameplay that counts and I am quite sure that it is safe to say that the gameplay is great. I will make a few video's of me playing and upload them soon. :)




...and I though I might as well throw in another image of the epic Katarina, The Katastrophic Kitty Kat.

XIII. Battle Plan

The Battle Plan for Katarina is VERY simple yet VERY effective. I think I have already mentioned it before but I will say it all again. Use Bouncing Blades on the target, use Preparation, Shunpo at them (Now, mind you they should be having a heart attack by this point. Imagine, a knife flies in from nowhere and hits you and then some random woman jumps at you hurting you badly...) then use your Death Lotus and watch their lifeless body drop dead on the floor.

If you are in a team fight the same method applies but remember to engage only when the enemy is preoccupied by your lovely team mates. :)

XIV. Securing Kills

Katarina is one of those champions that should not have trouble securing kills. Simply use a Bouncing Blades and when it is just about to hit use a Shunpo on them. The damage from Shunpo is instant so their health will plummet if they are hit by both it and the Bouncing Blades at the same time. This should kill the enemy and net you a kill.

This strategy can also be used to steal kills but that is not advised as that will not be liked by too many people. :|

XV. Principles

NOTE : The idea of having Principles was taken from Madmack's Ashe guide. Credits to him and his amazing guide.

Principle #1.

Use Bouncing Blade to harass. Bouncing Blade is a great harassment tool. Do not underutilize it! You can slap away at your enemies health and later, considering that they don't recall, you can pick up a kill.


Principle #2.

Killer Instincts provides for great defense. Be sure to use Killer Instincts when engaging a fight. The damage reduction is great and might just save your life in a fight. Especially a 1 v 1 where you will definitely be taking damage from your enemy.


Principle #3.

Shunpo is also an escape mechanism. Be sure to use Shunpo defensively if you have to. In many cases you will rely on it to get to safety so mastering the use of it is key. As it is on a short cooldown it can be used almost straight after you have used it to engage a fight.


Principle #4.

You have no mana. You have to remember that to you, the cooldowns of your spells are the limit. Don't be afraid of spamming skills as you do not have any mana and so you cannot run out of it. You are a Cooldown Champion, remember it, exploit it and win with it!


Principle #5.

Use the short Cooldown of your Ultimate to your Advantage. Death lotus has a very short Cooldown, especially with a Nashor's Tooth and a stacked Mejai's Soulstealer. Be sure to use it often as it is highly useful and will come off Cooldown quickly. Also, netting a kill or assist will make the wait even shorter.


Principle #6.

Abuse Voracity. As a Katarina player you must abuse your passive as much as you can. You see a champion recalling? They're low on health? There's a turret and minions nearby? Don't worry, with your passive you can jump in with a Killer Instincts imbuned Shunpo, throw a Bouncing Blade and their finished. Oh and what else? Your basic spells are ready to be cast again, Shunpo to a minion and you're safe.

XVI. FAQ

There have been no questions asked yet and so there is currently nothing to include in this section.

XVII. Riot Tips

Playing as Katarina

- Try using Killer Instinct's active and Shunpo to increase your survivability while using Death Lotus.

- Try waiting until the other team is distracted with fighting your team, and use Shunpo to teleport into the fray and unleash a devastating Death Lotus.

- Using Shunpo on an ally or allied minion can be a great escape tactic.


XVIII. Conclusion

I hope you like my Katarina guide and I hope that you will leave me constructive comments that I can utilize and make my guide better. I will also try to work on this guide more later on and help you become the ultimate champion, Katarina, The Katastrophic Kitty Kat!

Just a note: Please comment if you don't like the guide layout because when I make new guides I will use the same template. Comment now before it's too late for me to change anything!

I wish you the best of luck while using this build. Happy Casting. :) Also, ratings are welcomed. Please rate it a +1 if you believe that it is a good guide and a -1 if you don't think that it is quite good enough. Please make sure that after you -1 you check back later to see either an answer to your question or a change in the guide that I have made. Then you can feel free to +1 my guide. xD

NOTE : Just so there are no comments questioning my ability to spell... I do know how to spell Catastrophic, The K was in it for the Katarina Effect.

XIX. Change Log

31/12/2010 (Pre-Release) - Final Editing Stages
- Very Minor Spelling Correction.
- Fixed link.
- Fixed images that were not displaying.

10/1/2011
- Edited item build seeing as Zhonya's Ring was removed.
- Minor work on Explanations.

XX. Coming Soon

There is currently nothing planned. Be sure to leave advice! :)

Hello and welcome to my guide for Katarina, the Katastrophic Kitty Kat. I am relatively new to MOBAFire and this is my third build so all constructive feedback is appreciated. Also if you disagree with something please leave a comment before rating. :) Also, If you are going to -1 then if you could leave a comment as to why you are doing it, it would be appreciated. The whole reason behind this guide was to be as helpful as possible so please help me achieve that goal.

It seems that MOBAFire is not showing statistics properly. When I play Katarina I usually have much higher stats. :|

I know some of you may be getting tired of the layout of my guides but I believe that consistency is key. If you have seen my other guides you may already know your way around my guides so it will be simpler. Anyway, it's the information that counts and I think that the information in this guide is bound to make you "LEGENDARY"!

Now, to Katarina, the Katastrophic Kitty Kat. Katarina is a very interesting champion to play. Firstly, she does not have any mana and so she will be referred to as a "Cooldown Champion". The beauty behind cooldown champions is that you are able to use what you want and the only thing that can possibly get in your way is the cooldown. Katarina has recently been buffed and is now more deadly than ever. This buff may have given a definitive edge to the Ability Power Katarina because Bouncing Blade in now affected by Ability Power. In this guide I will try my best to teach you how to play Katarina, the Katastrophic Kitty Kat.



I am aware that after the patch Full Hybrid seems to be the way to go but I still prefer a High AP Katarina. The reasons as to why will be explained within this guide. Also, if I get any requests to do a Full Hybrid guide I will. :)

As a militaristic state, it would perhaps come as no surprise that the primary responsibilities of Noxian women are raising strong children and providing succor for husbands who walk the path of soldiery. There are some, however, for whom nurture is not nature, and Katarina is just such a creature. Born the daughter of the feared Noxian General Du Couteau, the girl was always more interested in her father's knives than in the dresses, jewelry, and other trifles that her sisters spent so much time fussing over. A childhood dispute soon unveiled her uncanny knack for bloodshed, and her father, ever the opportunist, happily fostered her killer instincts. After training under the tutelage of the finest assassins the mighty city-state had to offer, Katarina first cut her teeth performing assassinations in the Ionian War. There, her ruthless mastery of the knife and dagger combined with her sadistic temperament to earn her the title Sinister Blade, a moniker that would follow her for the remainder of her career. She is most famous, however, for her exploits in the campaigns against Demacia, especially those surrounding her engagements with the nation's champion, Garen; a rivalry which began when she recovered the remains of Sion from a vanguard under his protection.

With the demand for warfare somewhat arrested by the tenuous peace settling over Valoran, Katarina sought the allure of violence in its last remaining haven: The League of Legends. Some might say it was an inevitability that Katarina's chosen path would draw her to become a champion of the League, continuing to enforce the will of Noxus and bring prestige of war to her noble family. There, she continues to perform her bloody work - esteemed and reviled, feared and adored.

Basic Statistics

Damage 53 Health 395 Mana 0 Move Speed 325 Armor 14.75 Magic Resist 30 Health Regen 1.39 Mana Regen 0

(+3.2 / per level) (+83 / per level) (+0 / per level) (+0 / per level) (+4 / per level) (+1.25 / per level) (+0.11 / per level) (+0 / per level)

Pros

+ Amazing Burst if played AP.
+ Shunpo is a 600 - 800 damage nuke late game.
+ Killer Instincts and Shunpo will greatly reduce damage taken.
+ Death Lotus is capable of annihilating the enemy team.
+ A very in - > out type of champion.
+ Voracity will be a great tool for your in - > out playstyle.
+ A great assassin.
+ Pulchritudinous ;)
+ Kitty Cat Skin is epic. :D (Oh my god... she has a tail!!!)


Cons

- Very Squishy.
- Easy to counter.
- Death Lotus is channeled and is prone to interrupts.
- Likely to get targeted.
- Hated by many. :(

For my summoner spells while using the exceptional champion, Katarina, I take two highly offensive spells. Exhaust and Ignite for the following reasons. Exhaust can be highly useful as it can be used to slow enemies within the range of your Death lotus (A role which will later be done by a Rylai's Crystal Scepter), it can be used to protect yourself from heavy enemy DPS and it can also be used to simply disable a target, rendering them useless and allowing you and your team to pick them off without a problem. As for Ignite, the reason why I take it is to help secure kills early in the game. Ignite can also be used in conjunction with Bouncing Blade to deal devastating damage to enemies who may already be within the range of their turret in a place where it will be dangerous to Shunpo to. Overall Ignite is a great spell as it suits Katarina's offensive nature and helps her get fed in the Early Game.

Some other choices of Summoner Spells could be:

Fortify is a spell that benefits the whole team. I have played against many teams who have had a player with fortify and I know how useful this spell is. If used correctly you can save your turrets even if you are alone after a team fight. I prefer to leave it to the tanks because I would rather have Exhaust and Ignite.

Flash is a great way to get away, personally I do not take Flash because Shunpo works much like it. Flash is a good choice if you want a little extra help during escape episodes.

Cleanse is a "Get out of jail *FREE*" card. You can have the entire enemy team fire disables at you to stop you from unleashing chaos, which is also known as the Death Lotus, and then watch you use Cleanse and Shunpo the hell away. Definitely a great spell but if their team does not have Crowd Control it may be a wasted Summoner Spell slot. I sometimes use Cleanse and I find it an amazing spell to have on a fragile champion like Katarina. With her, every little bit of added survivability helps and so Cleanse is a very, very handy spell to have on hard.

Ghost is another great spell that can be used both defensively and offensively. Ghost can be used to chase enemies (Although you shouldn't need to as you have Shunpo and with a Rylai's Crystal Scepter your abilities will slow them anyway) and run away from them. Personally i do not take Ghost because if you are running away you can simply Shunpo to a minion or a champion that is further up ahead. I do not like the idea of having Ghost on Katarina for these reasons but if you are going to use it, make sure you use it well. :)

Clairvoyance is a good spell as it gives your team map awareness and it can be used to scout for incoming ganks and can provide information about enemy junglers. It is a great spell that gives you a lot every minute but I do not like it on Katarina, let a tank take it because you would benefit much more from Exhaust and Ignite.

Teleport is a self explanatory spell. it allows you to... well... Teleport to an allied minion or ward. This spell provides for great mobility around the map. In my opinion it is a great spell but Katarina can benefit so much more from Exhaust and Ignite.

After a kill or assist, Katarina gains 25 gold and her cooldowns are reduced by 15 seconds.

Hodayum! This is a very, very good passive. It takes off 15 seconds of your cooldowns for every kill and assist and you also gain a nice bonus of 25 extra gold. With this passive you are greatly enhanced. Think about it, you're fighting a 5 v 5, you send out a Bouncing Blades, use Preparation, Shunpo at their squishy and unleash a deadly Death Lotus. As your team mops up the enemy all your cooldowns are refreshed and you are ready for another encounter. Also, you could be in a 2 v 2 situation where the same theory applies. If after the battle someone comes in for a gank they will be in for a very, very nasty surprise. :) Possibly even a flurry of daggers from the lethal Death Lotus.

Cost: N/A.
Cooldown: N/A.


Katarina throws a dagger that bounces from enemy to enemy, dealing magic damage.
Katarina throws a dagger that hits up to 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 enemies, dealing 20 / 40 / 60 / 80 / 100 (+) magic damage. Each subsequent hit deals 10% less damage.

Bouncing Blade is a great harassment tool that should not go underutilized. After the recent patch the Bouncing Blades now scales with Ability Power. To all of the Ability Power based Katarina players this was an amazing buff to her and now we have a ranged attack which does not involve us getting literally on top of the target. This has now made Katarina a much safer champion to play.

Be sure to use the Bouncing Blades to farm minions and attack your enemy by having it bounce to them. This can easily be achieved when they have less minions than you do bounces. Overall, after the buff, this is a great ability to have on hand. :) Use it well and show the other summoners what Katarina is capable of.

Cost: None.
Cooldown: 9 / 8.5 / 8 / 7.5 / 7 seconds.
Magic Damage: 60 / 95 / 130 / 165 / 200 (+0.8 per bonus Attack Damage AND +0.35 per Ability Power).
Maximum Bounces: 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6.
Range: 600.


Passive: Katarina's attacks deal increased damage. Active: Katarina's next basic attack has a bonus effect. Bouncing Blade deals full damage to every target hit and reduces incoming healing to the target, or after using Shunpo Katarina takes reduced damage for 3 seconds.
Passive: Katarina's abilities and melee attacks deal 8/12/16/20/24 additional damage each hit.
Active: Katarina's next basic ability has a bonus effect.
Bouncing Blade: Deals full damage to every target it hits and applies 50% healing reduction for 10 seconds.
Shunpo: Katarina takes 15/20/25/30/35% reduced damage from enemy attacks for 3 seconds.

Wow... 35% reduced damage after using a Shunpo?! Full damage dealt with Bouncing Blades?! This is an incredible skill. Although Preparation is not what it used to be it is still a great ability and you should get a point in it early in the game.

Later in the game, when you have to jump into the midst of your enemies in a team fight to unleash the Death Lotus you will definitely be glad that you have the Preparation. You will usually be targeted and so this is a great way to save your skin. :)

Make sure to use this skill a lot. Use it while farming minions, use it while engaging the enemy with your team. In other words... Use it as much as possible and you will notice the advantages that it brings.

Cost: None.
Cooldown: 20 / 18 / 16 / 14 / 12 seconds .
Damage Increase: 8 / 12 / 16 / 20 / 24.
Shunpo Damage Reduction: 15 / 20 / 25 / 30 / 35 %


Katarina instantly moves to her target's location. If the target is an enemy, she deals damage.
Katarina moves to her target's location. If the target is an enemy, she deals 90/120/150/180/210 (+0.75) magic damage to the target.

Shunpo... This is where a lot of your damage will come from. This is what will make or break Katarina's. If you underutilize this amazing skill you are bound to fail. However, if you are able to use Shunpo well and you have mastered the simple Preparation, Shunpo and Death Lotus combo and you are able to drop enemies like there's no tomorrow then... well.. Congratulations my friend... You're doing it RIGHT!

Shunpo is a low cooldown, High damage nuke. Shunpo also teleports you to allied units so it can be a very strong defense mechanism. Remember to use it to engage and get out. This is what makes Katarina such an in - > out champion. Remember about Voracity, you see an enemy dangerously low on health next to their turret? Their minions are close by? Shunpo at them my friend. :) Remember that after a kill your cooldowns are reduced by 15 seconds. You can simply Shunpo to the minions and be in total safety. :D

Cost: None.
Cooldown: 10 / 9 / 8 / 7 / 6 seconds .
Magic Damage: 90 / 120 / 150 / 180 / 210 (+0.75 per Ability Power).
Range: 700.


Katarina goes into a state of extreme focus, throwing daggers with unrivaled speed at 3 closest enemy champions for 2.7 seconds.

This is a very powerful ultimate but unfortunately it is very easy to counter. It is very rare for a Katarina to be able to use Death Lotus and have 8 - 10 daggers slap the enemy in the face. However, if the enemy does not have any (or many) interrupts then the slow from your Exhaust and Rylai's Crystal Scepter should ensure that you feed them a good 5 - 6 daggers.

A great ultimate but very, very easy to counter. You should still try to jump in and use Death Lotus but it may not be as successful in higher ELO games.

Cost: None.
Cooldown: 60 / 55 / 50 seconds.
Magic Damage: 40 / 50 / 60 (+0.55 per bonus Attack Damage AND +0.3 per Ability Power) per dagger.
Area of Effect: 550.
Daggers Thrown: 30 (Max: 10 per Champion).

NOTE : Some parts of this Mastery Tree explanation are taken directly from my Vladimir guide.

Cripple 1/1 - Since I have taken Exhaust as my summoner spell... Why not improve it? This just helps with the armor and magic resist reduction allowing us to deal increased damage early in the game and the 0.5 seconds extra duration will be useful throughout your gameplay experience.

Archmage's Savvy 3/3 - This is quite self explanatory, Extra Ability Power for an Ability Power based Katarina. What more could you want?!

Sorcery 4/4 - This is a great mastery because it gives us cooldown reduction.. <3 to this mastery! It allows Katarina to use her abilities that tiny bit quicker.

Archaic Knowledge 1/1 - For a Magic Damage dealer, Magic Penetration is VERY important. This mastery provides us with just that. :) The extra Magic Penetration is a lovely bonus for us, so... why wouldn't you take this mastery?

Resistance 3/3 - Resistance provides us with... well... Magic Resistance. Katarina is rather squishy so this will help us lane longer.

Hardiness 3/3 - Hardiness gives us Armor, it is also going to be a nice addition to Katarina and help him stay in the lane longer. Just like Resistance, this is purely for extra survivability.

Evasion 4/4 - Extra Dodge Chance... YAY! This is just like the previous 2. Taken for extra survivability. :)

Nimbleness 1/1 - With the dodge chance from Evasion we can get a speed boost during our game. Although this will not be as effective on Katarina as on champions with high dodge chance (E.G. Sivir, Jax) but still... Every little bit helps. :D

Harden Skin 2/3 - Taken to reduce the effectiveness of DPS champions early game. Late game this mastery will practically be useless but in the early game, might just give you that little bit of an edge. Although this is highly unlikely, I have said it before, every little bit helps.

Veteran's Scars 3/3 - Exceptional boost to early game health. I usually take this to increase survivability as Katarina is very squishy.

Ardor 3/3 - This mastery provides us with an extra percentage of Ability Power and Attack Speed. This will be a great addition to your arsenal.

Tenacity 1/1 - Reduces damage taken by your champion. This is a spectacular mastery which should not be traded for something like Burning Embers. Since you will be targeted a lot you will greatly benefit from this mastery.

As you can see, I roll with the typical 9/21/0 Katarina. Taking 9 Offense, 21 Defense and 0 Utility. This provides us with Extra Magic Penetration, Extra Ability Power and a ton of Survivability bonuses. I do not take any points in Utility because most of them are mana related and as we do not have mana, it is COMPLETELY useless.

The runes I use are listed below and have explanations for why I choose to use them.

Greater Mark of Insight x 9 The Greater Mark of Insight provides us with 8.55 Magic Penetration to start the game with. This is great for any Magic Damage Dealer because it allows you to deal greater amounts of damage to your enemies early on in the game and it helps during the late game phase as well. Overall, a good rune choice in my opinion.

Greater Seal of Evasion x 9 The reasons for why I choose to use the Greater Seal of Evasion is because I do not have any items that greatly increase survivability. These runes provide me with 6.75% Dodge Chance which is not much but it is definitely something that can save you. If you disagree with the use of this rune you could definitely use a different one. Enjoy dodging. :)

Greater Glyph of Force x 9 I have been using these runes in gameplay and I have found it to be very useful. The Greater Glyph of Force provides us with 27.54 Ability Power at level 18. Overall, a great rune. I advise the use of this rune to everyone.

Greater Quintessence of Fortitude x 3 The Greater Quintessence of Fortitude provides us with 97.2 Health to start with which greatly increases your early game survivability. There have been many times when the 100 extra health helped me greatly. I am all for this Quintessence choice.

= = = = =

The core of this build is Ionian Boots of Lucidity, Rylai's Crystal Scepter, Rabadon's Deathcap and Nashor's Tooth and then there are 2 optional items. I believe that the Mejai's Soulstealer is essential but if you're not doing too good, you may want to skip out on it and that is why it is not a core item. I have listed the Hextech Gunblade because I am trying to make a "Slightly Hybrid" build but if people want full AP then they can swap it out. This is a guide for both full AP and Slightly Hybrid. I think that it is a good item but it's up to you if you use it or not. This is all just my opinion. Feel free to experiment and adjust to counter the other team.

NOTE : Some of the information in this section may be very similar to the information in my Vladimir guide

Mejai's Soulstealer

Statistics: 20 Ability Power. UNIQUE Passive: Your champion gains 8 Ability Power per stack, receiving 2 stacks for a kill or 1 stack for an assist. This effect can stack 20 times: You lose a third of your stacks when you die. At 20 stacks, your champions cooldowns are reduced by 15%

While playing Katarina I believe that a Mejai's Soulstealer is a very important item. Since your Death Lotus is an Area of Effect spell you should never have problems racking up assists. Katarina is also a killer so you should earn a few stacks from kills as well. Katarina is an assassin so she specializes in taking out single targets... Shunpo that!

Ionian Boots of Lucidity

Statistics: Passive: 15% Cooldown Reduction. UNIQUE Passive: Enhanced Movement 2.

Just a little bit more Cooldown Reduction for Katarina. If you do not require this you can feel free to use any other boots. E.G. Mercury Treads.

Rylai's Crystal Scepter

Statistics: 80 Ability Power, 500 Health. UNIQUE Passive: Dealing spell damage reduces the target's movement speed by 35% for 2 seconds (15% for multi-target spells)

This item is a beast on Katarina. It provides you with two very important things, Ability Power and Health. The Health is important because Katarina is squishy and Health will help you in the late game. The Rylai's Crystal Scepter also slows targets that are hit by any of your spells. This enables us to prevent the enemy from leaving the battlefield and this will allow us to EXTERMINATE them all with the lethal Death Lotus.

Rabadon's Deathcap

Statistics: 155 Ability Power. UNIQUE Passive: Increased ability power by 30%.

I believe that the choice of this item is obvious. The insane amounts of Ability Power you get from it is outstanding and this item is definitelly one that should not be overlooked. Overall, this is simply an improved Zhonya's without the active.

Nashor's Tooth

Statistics: +50% Attack Speed +55 Ability Power +10 Mana Regeneration per 5 UNIQUE Passive: Reduces ability cooldowns by 25%.

The reason for why I use the Nashor's Tooth is for the great Attack Speed, Ability Power and Cooldown Reduction boost. The 25% Cooldown Reduction from this and the 15% from the Mejai's Soulstealer will reach the Cooldown cap of 40%. This will make all our skills much more spammable and will make you an unstoppable force.

Also, with this item we can use our ultimate every 30 seconds (Approximately) and if we get 2 kills or assists it will come off cooldown.

Here I will discuss some items that could be used to replace an item from the main build. The items I have thought were great but just not good enough are listed below.

Void Staff

Statistics: +70 Ability Power UNIQUE Passive: +40% Magic Penetration

I believe that the Void Staff is a good sixth item. it provides us with 40% extra Magic Penetration. This item enables us to chop up everyone who is Magic Resist Stacking.

This is great as most of your damage is magic damage. Since you are a Magic Damage Dealer you will benefit from this item.

Abyssal Scepter

+70 Ability Power +57 Magic Resistance UNIQUE Aura: Reduces the Magic Resist of nearby enemy champions by 20.

I believe that this is an incredible item to have. It has an aura that harms all enemy champions so this item is very team friendly. The 57 Magic Resistance on this item is a very nice bonus too. I usually choose this item when the enemy team does not have too much Magic Resistance and my team has Magic Damage Dealers other than me. I love this item and the extra Magic Resistance is a very nice bonus as Katarina is a very squishy champion.

I have started to swap it for the Hextech Gunblade after the patch though.

Sorcerer's Shoes

Statistics: 20 Magic Penetration. UNIQUE Passive: Enhanced Movement Speed 2

The reason for why I used to chose to use the Sorcerer's Shoes is evident. 20 Flat Magic Penetration will help you rip apart the enemy team. The Sorcerer's Shoes were definitely the best boots for Katarina unless of course the enemy team has a lot if Crowd Control, in which case the Mercury's Treads may have been a better alternative. I now use the Ionian Boots of Lucidity.


Will of the Ancients

+40 Ability Power UNIQUE Aura: Gives nearby allied champions +30 Ability Power and 20% spell vamp.

Another excellent item. The Will of the Ancients is a very team friendly item. It provides your allies with extra Ability Power and Spell Vamp. This will greatly increase your teams effectiveness if there is another Caster or Magic Damage Dealer. The Will of the Ancients is also one of the few items that provide Spell Vamp and I think that it is a wonderful item because it makes all your Abilities give you health and since you will be doing immense amounts of damage this item is definitely viable for Katarina.

Lich Bane

+350 Mana +80 Ability Power +30 Magic Resist +7% Movement Speed UNIQUE Passive: 100% chance when an ability is used that your next physical attack deals an additional 100% of your Ability Power in damage. This effect has a 2 second cooldown.

I love using the Lich Bane on Casters and Magic Damage Dealers and Katarina is no exception. The Lich Bane passive is incredible and allows you to push towers like never before. The Lich Bane also makes you even more deadly because you will be putting out an extra 700 - 900 Damage every 2 seconds along with your other highly damaging skills. I did not list this item in the primary section of the build because I didn't want any comments about a "wasted stat". :)

Hextech Gunblade

Statistics: +60 Attack Damage +75 Ability Power +20% Life Steal +20% Spell Vamp UNIQUE Active: Deals 300 magic damage and slows the target champion by 50% for 3 seconds (700 range). 60 second cooldown.

The Hextech Gunblade is an excellent item, especially after the patch. This amazing item is also one that gives us Spell Vampirism and so it is a very, very good choice. I use this item a lot because of the stats it gives us. The Active of this item is also a very nice thing. It deals 300 damage to a target 700 range away and slows them by 50%. This is a great tool if the enemy is running away and both your Bouncing Blades and Shunpo are on cooldown.

An amazing item for any Katarina. It is not listed in the Core because I really like the Magic Resistance that the Abyssal Mask gives us. I may have to rethink the choice though because after the patch, this is an incredible item for Katarina.

Now for some defensive items that you may need:

Force of Nature

+76 Magic Resist +40 Health Regen per 5 sec +8% Movement Speed UNIQUE Passive: Restores 0.35% of your champion's health every second.

Hmm... What a great anti-caster item... The Force of Nature is a very good item to have when facing Caster heavy teams. The 76 Magic Resist is exceptional and this item is a must-have when facing other powerful Casters. The Force of Nature also gives us movement speed and Health Regeneration. Overall, you cannot go wrong buying an item like this when facing a Caster heavy team.

Thornmail

+100 Armor UNIQUE Passive: On being hit by standard attacks, returns 30% of damage taken as magic damage.

The Thornmail should be commended for it's ability to make the enemy DPS destroy themselves. Simply put on a Thornmail and the enemy carry will want to think twice before targeting you. However, if there is someone who is brave enough to try to kill you should simply attack them while they attack you. If you do this their Health should drop like a rock (and so should they considering that they will be dead).

Randuin's Omen

+300 Health +90 Armor +25 Health Regen per 5 sec. UNIQUE Passive: 15% Cooldown Reduction and 20% chance on being hit to slow the attacker's movement and attack speeds by 35% for 3 seconds. UNIQUE Active: Slows movement speeds and attack speeds of surrounding units by 35% for 2 seconds + 0.5 seconds for each 100 Armor and Magic Resist. 60 second cooldown.

This is an item that is excellent when we consider the Health, large amount of Armor, Health Regeneration and Cooldown Reduction. The Randuin's Omen active is something that should not be forgotten or ignored as it has the potential to save your life out on the Fields of Justice. Definitely a good choice when facing a physically orientated team. :D

Aegis of the Legion

+270 Health +18 Armor +24 Magic Resist UNIQUE Aura: +12 Armor / +15 Magic Resistance / +8 Damage to nearby allied units.

Not much to say about this really, a good, team friendly item that provides us with Health and a little bit of extra Armor, Magic Resistance and Damage. I am not a big fan of an Aegis of the Legion but I do find it a viable defense item.

Guardian Angel

Statistics: +68 Armor +38 Magic Resistance UNIQUE Passive: Revives your Champion upon death, restoring 750 Health and 375 Mana, this effect can only occur once every 5 minutes.

The Guardian Angel is a decent item. It provides us with a great amount of Armor and Magic Resistance. Also this item allows us to be revived after death every 5 minutes making it just that much easier to maintain the precious Mejai's Soulstealer full of stacks.

Banshee's Veil

Statistics: +450 Health +400 Mana +57 Magic Resist UNIQUE Passive: Blocks one negative spell every 30 seconds.

The Banshee's Veil is an excellent item on any champion with a channeled spell. Naturally, Katarina is no exception. She will benefit greatly from the spell block that this item has. The 450 Extra Health and 57 Magic Resist are also very nice bonuses to have seeing as Katarina is a very squishy champion.

Warmog's Armor

Statistics: +920 Health +30 Health Regen per 5 sec Passive: Permanently gain 4.5 Health and .15 Health Regen per 5 sec per minion kill. Champion kills and assists grant 45 Health and 1.5 Health Regen per 5 sec. Bonuses cap at +450 Health and 15 health regen per 5.

Ok, now you're all probably thinking "WTF Vicarious?!" and I have to admit, I am thinking that too. I have decided to put this item up here because I have seen some very good Katarina's use it and they were very effective. It provides you with a ton of health so the squishyness problem is partly solved. Personally, I would never take a Warmog's Armor on Katarina but since there have been encounters with players who use it I decided to put it on anyway. It's all a matter of taste when it comes to this item and i do not like to take it. The reason why is because Katarina is an assassin, she jumps in, kills her target, goes away. She should not be staying in the place long enough to have to NEED this much health. I would rather be dealing more damage with my attacks... But that's just me though, you decide what is best for you.

My Definitions:

Early Game: Level 1 - 9

Mid Game: Level 10 - 16

Late Game: Level 17 +


Early Game - Level 1 - 9

In the early game just farm. Farm like there is no tomorrow for Katarina NEEDS to be farmed to be effective. Harass your enemies with Bouncing Blades and Shunpo. Around Level 6 you can go for a kill. If your partner has a stun, suppress or a slow you should EASILY pick up a kill.

Remember to stay in the brush and wait for your team mate to use their debuff on the target. Throw out a Bouncing Blades, Use Preparation, Shunpo to the enemy and... well... Let the daggers fly! Unleash your Death Lotus on the enemy! Wow... A kill.. That was easy and the best part is, there will be plenty more to come!

Mid Game - Level 10 - 16

During the Mid game you should be farmed, fed and ready for battle. You and your team mates will annihilate the enemy in this part of the game. Make sure to jump into team fights when the enemy is busy fighting your team. This will ensure that you do not get targeted!

The Mid game, just like the Early game, is what will either make or break Katarina. You HAVE to succeed in this part of the game otherwise your power diminishes and your usefulness in battles does too.

Late Game - Level 17 +

Ahh, Late game... My favorite part. Your performance in the Late game will depend on how you did early on. If you fed hopelessly, well, then you will generally continue to fail. There is not much you can do in this situation except for go and take care of the big minion waves.

However, if you did brilliantly before, you should continue to do so! Dominate the other team. Become godlike! Hear "LEGENDARY!" after every kill! All a fed Katarina has to do is win. That is all that should be left for you to do. Enjoy the glory and praise of your team mates and make sure to spread the word about this guide. xD

Heh... Well... I lied about it being a "Champion Spotlight" but the video is still good. I do not agree with the item build used in this video but it is the gameplay that counts and I am quite sure that it is safe to say that the gameplay is great. I will make a few video's of me playing and upload them soon. :)




...and I though I might as well throw in another image of the epic Katarina, The Katastrophic Kitty Kat.

The Battle Plan for Katarina is VERY simple yet VERY effective. I think I have already mentioned it before but I will say it all again. Use Bouncing Blades on the target, use Preparation, Shunpo at them (Now, mind you they should be having a heart attack by this point. Imagine, a knife flies in from nowhere and hits you and then some random woman jumps at you hurting you badly...) then use your Death Lotus and watch their lifeless body drop dead on the floor.

If you are in a team fight the same method applies but remember to engage only when the enemy is preoccupied by your lovely team mates. :)

Katarina is one of those champions that should not have trouble securing kills. Simply use a Bouncing Blades and when it is just about to hit use a Shunpo on them. The damage from Shunpo is instant so their health will plummet if they are hit by both it and the Bouncing Blades at the same time. This should kill the enemy and net you a kill.

This strategy can also be used to steal kills but that is not advised as that will not be liked by too many people. :|

NOTE : The idea of having Principles was taken from Madmack's Ashe guide. Credits to him and his amazing guide.

Principle #1.

Use Bouncing Blade to harass. Bouncing Blade is a great harassment tool. Do not underutilize it! You can slap away at your enemies health and later, considering that they don't recall, you can pick up a kill.


Principle #2.

Killer Instincts provides for great defense. Be sure to use Killer Instincts when engaging a fight. The damage reduction is great and might just save your life in a fight. Especially a 1 v 1 where you will definitely be taking damage from your enemy.


Principle #3.

Shunpo is also an escape mechanism. Be sure to use Shunpo defensively if you have to. In many cases you will rely on it to get to safety so mastering the use of it is key. As it is on a short cooldown it can be used almost straight after you have used it to engage a fight.


Principle #4.

You have no mana. You have to remember that to you, the cooldowns of your spells are the limit. Don't be afraid of spamming skills as you do not have any mana and so you cannot run out of it. You are a Cooldown Champion, remember it, exploit it and win with it!


Principle #5.

Use the short Cooldown of your Ultimate to your Advantage. Death lotus has a very short Cooldown, especially with a Nashor's Tooth and a stacked Mejai's Soulstealer. Be sure to use it often as it is highly useful and will come off Cooldown quickly. Also, netting a kill or assist will make the wait even shorter.


Principle #6.

Abuse Voracity. As a Katarina player you must abuse your passive as much as you can. You see a champion recalling? They're low on health? There's a turret and minions nearby? Don't worry, with your passive you can jump in with a Killer Instincts imbuned Shunpo, throw a Bouncing Blade and their finished. Oh and what else? Your basic spells are ready to be cast again, Shunpo to a minion and you're safe.

There have been no questions asked yet and so there is currently nothing to include in this section.

Playing as Katarina

- Try using Killer Instinct's active and Shunpo to increase your survivability while using Death Lotus.

- Try waiting until the other team is distracted with fighting your team, and use Shunpo to teleport into the fray and unleash a devastating Death Lotus.

- Using Shunpo on an ally or allied minion can be a great escape tactic.

I hope you like my Katarina guide and I hope that you will leave me constructive comments that I can utilize and make my guide better. I will also try to work on this guide more later on and help you become the ultimate champion, Katarina, The Katastrophic Kitty Kat!

Just a note: Please comment if you don't like the guide layout because when I make new guides I will use the same template. Comment now before it's too late for me to change anything!

I wish you the best of luck while using this build. Happy Casting. :) Also, ratings are welcomed. Please rate it a +1 if you believe that it is a good guide and a -1 if you don't think that it is quite good enough. Please make sure that after you -1 you check back later to see either an answer to your question or a change in the guide that I have made. Then you can feel free to +1 my guide. xD

NOTE : Just so there are no comments questioning my ability to spell... I do know how to spell Catastrophic, The K was in it for the Katarina Effect.

31/12/2010 (Pre-Release) - Final Editing Stages
- Very Minor Spelling Correction.
- Fixed link.
- Fixed images that were not displaying.

10/1/2011
- Edited item build seeing as Zhonya's Ring was removed.
- Minor work on Explanations.

25/02/2011 (Re-Release) - Re-editing Stages
- Minor Adjustments to Descriptions.
- Rabadon's Deathcap info added.
- Ionian Boots of Lucidity info added.

There is currently nothing planned. Be sure to leave advice! :)