Katarina is an extremely mobile and high damage champion and she has been my favorite champion since the time i bought her. Katarina may have a difficult time laning but with her roaming ability and late game resets it is hard to lose! Her Shunpo ability allows you to be safe in lane and out play other champions. High damage, mobile, safe pick, insanely strong late and mid game, whats not to like about her? This guide and a little practice will easily help you master Katarina and start stomping solo queue with her.

Pros -

+High Burst Damage
+Resets on a Kill or Assist
+Good Wave Clear
+Good late Game Scaling
+Easily Carries when Fed
+Penta Kill Machine
+Easy to Farm With
+High Mobility

Cons -

-Ultimate can be Cancelled
-Needs Kills or she becomes useless
-No CC

Starting Items - Katarina's best starting items are Boots and Health Potion. This start gives you +25 speed to dodge skill shots and enough sustain to help you survive the early levels, which are the most difficult for Katarina. You can also start with items such as null-magic mantel vs a difficult ap opponent or Cloth Armor vs ad.

Core Items - Katarina's core items are pretty standard for any ap mid lane. Rabadon's Deathcap is obviously essential to every game played on Katarina. The 120 and a 30% increase on your total ability power is too good to pass. The next item is Sorcerer's Shoes. These give you 15 magic penetration to help shred through you opponents ability power and an additional 45 movement speed to help you escape or catch enemies. Zhonya's Hourglass is one of the strongest ability power items in the game. It has a 70 ability power, 45 armor and a stasis unique passive, which keeps you invulnerable for 2.5 seconds!

Offensive Items -
Luden's Tempest is a great item for Katarina if you are ahead. It gives you 120 ability power and 10% movement speed. The stacking on its passive is increases whenever you use an ability. This synergizes extremely well with Katarinas passive Voracity and is why it is a strong item on Katarina. Another great offensive item is Void Staff. This allows you to ignore 35% of your enemies magic resist and gives you 70 ability power. Mejai's Soulstealer is an item you should only buy if the game is insanely out of control and there is no possible way you can lose. It is a high risk high reward item and i do not recommend buying it if you are inexperienced with the item. Liandry's Torment is a good item for a little durability and magic pen to shred through enemy magic resist.

Defensive Options -
Abyssal Mask gives you 60 ability power and an impressive 60 magic resist. This item is good to rush when you are vs a high damage opponent or any difficult lane. The magic resist will help you survive the laning phase and the ability power will keep your damage strong. Another valuable item choice is Rylai's Crystal Scepter. Ryali's gives you 100 ability power and 400 health. It has a unique passive which gives all of your abilities a slow and gives you some utility making up for Katarinas lack of crowd control. Banshee's Veil will give you the magic resist and health to survive ability power opponents and the active will nullify the other teams initiation. This item gives you 300 health and 70 magic resist. The final item and one of the most valuable on Katarina is Guardian Angel. Guardian Angel gives you 60 armor and 45 magic resist. The unique passive gives you a second life and revives you allowing you to clean up even more kills after you have died.

Trinkets
Stealth Ward is good early game for protecting yourself before you can buy real wards. When you actually start buying wards switch Stealth Ward for Sweeping Lens. Upgrade Sweeping Lens into Oracle's Lens after you have full build or if you need

Ignite is a must take summoner spell. It burns enemies over time giving you extra damage to finish of a kill. Additionally it gives enemy champions grievous wounds, which reduces healing by 50%. This is extremely useful for taking down champions such as Dr. Mundo or a heavy life steal champion like Aatrox.


Teleport is the only other summoner spell that I would even consider using. Ignite is a much better choice, but if you prefer the ability to teleport to your side lanes to help them then you can use this spell.


Flash is the one summoner spell that should be taken in every single game played on Katarina. It allows you to reposition in team fights escape a gank or secure a kill.

Voracity - Katarina's passive is Voracity. This is the reason that Katarina is famous. With the ability to reset after a kill or assist Katarina easily destroys the opposition in team fights.

Bouncing Blades - Katarina's q is Bouncing Blades. This is her main poke tool and farming ability. Use Bouncing Blades to harass your opponent in lane and start your main combo with this ability. Max this first for the lower cool down and because it does the most damage out of your non ultimate abilities.

sinister steel sinister steel - Sinister Steel is Katarina's "w" ability. This ability is primarily used for the movement speed when it hits an enemy champion. This can be used to escape a gank or chase an enemy champion. Use this ability before your ultimate in team fights. Max sinister steel second after Bouncing Blades.

Shunpo - Shunpo is Katarina's "e". This ability is used for its utility by being a gap closer or an escape. Use Shunpo to enter into a team fight and or escape one or a gank. Max this ability last.

Death Lotus - Katarina's ultimate ability is Death Lotus. Death Lotus should be used after your enemies have burned their crowd control because it can be interrupted. Level this ability whenever you can.

Mobafire mastery tree is not updated for season 6 yet.....

Greater Seal of Scaling Health - Give you 216 health at level 18 and give you more bulkiness.

Greater Seal of Armor - Flat armor lets you survive an attack damage mid laner.

Greater Mark of Magic Penetration - Increases your ability damage by decreasing enemies magic resist.

Greater Glyph of Magic Resist - Take these when vs an ability power lane opponent to reduce their damage

Greater Glyph of Ability Power - These runes will give you more damage. Use them when vs an attack damage opponent.

Greater Quintessence of Ability Power - These are flat ability power and make you strong all game long and are the only quintessence option.

Warding!!

Warding is the most important and underestimated part of this game. Knowing where to ward and when to ward can save your life and or get you kills.

This video will show you the spots to ward and tell you the ups and downs to each position. Play Video

In conclusion, Katarina is my go too champion and a strong pick into almost any lane opponent when played at her full potential. Even is you don't play league for ranking and play casually getting easy kills and resetting is one of the most fun things u you can do in this game! Have fun pwning noobs with Katarina!

Guide Log -

3-18-15 - Guide Published
6-5-16 - Updated 6.11