Katarina Build Guide by hrkz

About

Hello MOBAfire, we will be talking about Katarina The Sinister Blade in depth in this guide. Firstly, this guide will not work if you do not get early game ganks and make minion kills a priority. If you don't build quick enough you will still be very weak. You need a good tank for this to work so try to get a Shen or Morde. Endgame if built correctly you will do top damage and wipe out teams in seconds. Now onto the guide, I hope you enjoy and please comment and leave feedback.


IMPORTANT, READ THE DPS TAB TO GO PURE DPS!

Last Updated 1/24/2011

Introduction

So in this guide I will be teaching you how to build a powerful Katarina with a sturdy amount of health. This guide if done incorrectly can still be powerful, Just use Katarina's skills correctly and read the juking section. Now onto the pros and cons.

Pros

• Powerful
• Multi-Kills made easy
• Perfect Health to DPS and still be able to tank a few hits
• Banshee's Veil for protecting your ULT

• Hard to complete
• Without a good tank midgame is difficult
• Hard to perfect

Items

Mejai's Soulstealer: Rush this if you want an easier start, not necessary though.
Boots of Swiftness: Necessary for Juking, good for getting away quickly and to close in on teamfights.
Hextech Gunblade: A little bit of everything, helps AP and AD (kat utilizes both) also has for bringing your health up to optimize laning.
Banshee's Veil: AMAZING FOR STUNS, this is your lifeline! Also adds extra health.
Abyssal Scepter: Great against Magic champs, good AP. Replace this as you please, as this is not essential. (Good replacemeant is )
Rabadon's Deathcap: Amplifies AP and has good amount build it, very good to do some big damage.
Rylais Crystal Scepter: DPS Tanky =D, replace this with if you want to pentakill with your eyes closed.

Spells

Exhaust: Use the Shunpo > Exhaust > Ultimate combo and this spell with definitely come in handy, it will slow them down so they cannot get out of your ultimate.
Fortify: I use this personally with the AOE mastery for sticky situations, this can be changed with anything you want.

Early Game Ganks (ESSENTIAL)

Early Game Ganks are essential to do this build correctly. Try switching lanes if you are going against tanks, ask your teamates to let you get last hits. (it will be worth it) If not, when going for a kill Shunpo>Exhaust>DeathLotus>Bouncing Blade. Press 1 while casting Death Lotus and right as your target is about to get out of your Bouncing Blade range throw it! Even if your ult it still casting, i've gotten countless kills from the Bouncing Blade criting and hitting very hard when they are lit.

Gaining Gold Made Easy

Everytime a wave of minion comes Press Killer Instincts and then throw Bouncing Blade, it will do alot of dmg to the minions and you can then shunpo and time your auto attacks to get last hits on the rest. When waiting for last hit you might have skills up, I recommend using shunpo and throwing your blade to clean it up. In team fights go for last hit, don't just stand like and wait for it but keep an extra skill up. I personally snipe to get them lit, by using the Killer Instincts and Bouncing Blade combo. Light up your targets before ulting, it will help in the long run because your ult will get more kills.

More things you can do to help -
Time your attacks well on minions, sometimes wait until they are almost near death then attack.
In Teamfights use all your skills but try and keep death lotus, once they are near 75% use death lotus.

Skills (and how to efficiently use them)

Bouncing Blade:This skill is good for Sniping, bounce it off of minions close to the enemy champions.
It's good to light people up so use this skill whenever it's up.
Killer Instincts:Get this atleast Once,some people don't know what it does. Use this before Shunpo or Bouncing Blades, I usually use it then throw bouncing blade at a incoming wave of minions.
Shunpo:This is your lifeline, use this to get away. Teleport to minions, teleport to your teamates, maybe a ward or anything that is friendly and targetable. Use it to juke, use it to gank, use it to snipe. You will see alot more of this skill in use in the videos to come.
Death Lotus:DID SOMEONE SAY PENTA-KILL?!
Shunpo and use this, with enough AP you can blow people up like they're paper.

Voracity (Passive): Get kills with Death Lotus and get it back quickly! If you get a double you almost have your ultimate again, this passive definitely comes in handy.

Sniping

Sniping is how you weaken them up for the kills, bounce Bouncing Blade off minions that are close to the enemy champions. Keep sniping them until they are around 75% then Shunpo, Exhaust and Ultimate them. Hopefully by the time they are about to run out of your ult range you can throw Bouncing Blade to finish it off if they have not died.

Pure DPS

Buy these items to go for a pure dps build. (buy in order listed)
*note this isn't tanky at all!*
*also I will not be explaining these*
Mejai's Soulstealer
Boots of Swiftness
Hextech Gunblade
Rabadon's Deathcap
Last Whisper
Zhonya's Hourglass

In-Game Videos

If you would like further explanation well here it is.

Easy Gold:



Juking:



Sniping:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tC3cVA_0zuw

Embedded is messed up :L

FAQ

Why would you get a Banshee's Veil?

A Banshee's Veil will help to keep your ult from not being interupted, let a tank lead and get stunned so you don't have to.



What if I want more DPS

Read the DPS Section, it will help you build.



I heard Katarina was nerfed, does she suck now?

No, she is still a great champion some may argue but I will add gameplay soon.



Why get a Abyssal Scepter?

This can be replaced, but this is good if you are going against a magic champion I
would recommend grabbing it so you are not scratched.

Additional Notes

If you find anything should be changed or any typos found please comment I would like to make it the best build possible.

This guide is meant to be short and simple, I hope it helps.