Marks - Always take 9 magic pen marks, there's nothing better

Seals - Take 9 scaling health seals in most situations, because most of your match ups will be vs AP mages. Versus AD champions, go 9 armor seals for obvious reasons. You can also go armor seals vs mages with long range (e.g. Annie, Anivia, Nidalee)

Glyphs - Don't go flat AP glyphs, your laning is terrible. In most cases, go flat magic resist glyphs. Vs AD champions, the magic resist won't be as effective and you should go scaling AP glyphs.

Quintessences - Always go movement speed. Again, flat AP is not effective because of how bad her early laning is, and scaling AP is not worth it on any champion. It has its obvious advantages versus champions with skillshots, but even versus champions with only targeted abilities, the movement speed gives you several advantages. First, the nature of her kit is designed for skirmishes and teamfights, rather than dueling. Because of this, you should often be looking to gank bottom. The movement speed really helps here. Second, you should be harassing with Q whenever you can. Higher movement speed makes this much easier to accomplish without taking too much reciprocated damage. Third, higher movement speed allows you to escape ganks much easier. Lastly, higher movement speed allows you to return to lane much faster, so you don't fall behind in lane when you back (though you shouldn't be if you are backing properly)

Explanation of defensive path: This is a pretty standard 21/9 AP page, I don't like this page because you miss out on some offensive capability

Explanation of offensive path: Why do I prefer this page? The advantages of this page overrule the disadvantages. Katarina's ult has a 3.75 AD scaling, so this alone justifies the points into AD. Furthermore, Katarina's level two all in is actually pretty strong, and the AD does make a large impact on early trades. It also helps to last hit, which is important because every CS counts (this is also why you take Arcane Blade).

Starting Items:

Always start with a warding trinket. It gives you a free escape if you use it to ward jump (which you should be doing)

Don't build Doran's Shield anymore after the nerf. The health regeneration is negligible, and you can only start with one potion. Versus auto attack reliant champions, you should start Cloth Armor. It will both block more damage and give more regeneration, because of the armor it gives and you can start with 5 potions.

The standard start is boots + 4 pots. It has synergy with MS quints because the quints give % MS. Movement speed is good for the reasons mentioned in the Runes section.

Core Items:

Zhonyas: The buildup to this item is the best out of the other items that she builds. Seeker's Armguard is pretty overpowered for the price, the only disadvantage is having to stack it, which shouldn't be too hard as long as you get it within the laning phase.

Rabadon: Get this right after Zhonya's. Don't ever rush this though, it's only good after you have some AP for the passive.

Void Staff: Get this right after Rabadon's. Even if they have no magic resist items, most champions naturally have scaling magic resist, and the enemy midlaner will most likely have a grail. They'll most likely have some magic resist items by the time you pick this up.

Banshee's Veil: Get this over Guardian Angel. GA is not really a good pickup on assassins especially in soloq. Most of the time you'll be focused in teamfights, and if your GA gets popped the enemies will stand around your reviving body and kill you right after you respawn. With Banshee's veil, you'll survive much longer because the ability that killed you won't affect you in the first place. It also helps for when you enter a teamfight, so that when you cast your ult it won't immediately be canceled.

Deathfire Grasp: I don't rush this item because I play Katarina as more of an AOE team fighter, rather than a single target assassin. It's good to pick it up



Liandrys: Noob trap. I see way too many Katarina's rushing this item. It's okay to get this later on in the game, but it's still not a great item on Katarina, she's not a poke champion.