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Katarina, the Sinister Blade - AD retro build






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Spells:
Exhaust
Ignite
Ability Order
Voracity (PASSIVE)
Katarina Passive Ability
Chapter 1
Note to new patch update: Yes, AD Katarina was nerfed in last patch and AP Kat was buffed, so that means AD = AP (not like AD > AP before)

-> 31/12/2010 - item build now up to date to this patch
-> this isnt the AD build anymore, its more like hybrid, because its works better then pure AD or AP
Katarina, the Sinister Blade
To the start, dont downrate, because you dont like this champ or AD build for she as overall. But comment and rate, so i can see the feedback and improve.
Yet, this is another of those "hard to master" champs, so dont downrate because you wont get those 30-2-x scores right from the beginning.
Shortcuts
CC - Crowd Control
BB -

KI -

Ult -

Juke - Escape from "death grasp"
PROS
- one of the best harassers
- very good burst damage
- excellent finisher or clean up
-

- easy jukes
- dependable at your timing and reflex skills
- sexy look and voice ;)
CONS
- squishy
- no CC's and dependable on enemy/your team CC's
- hard to master
- dependable at your timing and reflex skills
MASTERIES
For here i take little non standard 21-9-0.

Yes i seen Katarinas with 9-21-0 or 9-0-21, but i found the utility one (9-0-21) kinda useless, because iam addicted to massive damage and to the defence one (9-21-0), well, its not that bad as it looks, give you little more survival early on, but i like the damage and fast early kills... :)
SKILLS

This is why you are one of the best finishers/clean ups and how you will deal extreme burts damage in teamfights. Your BB and Shunpo will get refreshed right away after kill/assist, meaning so you can Shunpo+BB to another, another and another targets. And if you are alive, then use your ult 2 times in 1 teamfight.

Main ability to harass, finish running opponents and deal massive damage in combination with KI. You can also use it to last hitting minions or just killing whole wave in later game. But my game is kinda passive and agressive both at a time, ill get to that later, but also its my reason to level this up 1st, because it will deal more damage then Shunpo and you will be save most of the time.

One point to this ability is all you need. Just level it up last, because other levels arent so good to take, but in mid/late game it is very powerfull in combination with BB to get 100% damage in all bounces or with Shunpo to get a little survival while channeling your Ult.

Instant teleport, moving you behind your target and dealing damage. I personaly level it up as 2nd, because you are not AP Katarina, so you wont do epic damage early on and i dont play so agressive. Well, use it in combination with BB + Ignite to finish enemy early game.

This is your "carry eater", sometimes "whole team eater" and also your biggest weakness. Why? Because its channeling that means so any CC (snare, stun, air knock, silance) will interrupt this skill, making you useless for next seconds until your abilitys will recharge. This skill works best, if all enemy CC's are wasted at your team and then you just Shunpo in middle of the fight and get the kills, its only about timing. Also you cant move while channeling (if you do or if you use any other skill, your ult will be interrupted), but you can use your summoner spells like




RUNES
Marks

Seals


Glyphs

Quintessences

SUMMONER SPELLS
Which to use.





Consider before trying.




No way!





But be aware... Ignite > Exhaust in early game... Ignite < Exhaust in mid/late game.
ITEMS
This is the tricky part. I cant tell you define build, with which you will be getting these penta kills, which one will suit your play style and how much CC's will have your enemy team, thats why im gonna show more of them.
Core items












Detailed







-> same thing if you'd like to take









Hextech Blade - now its one of the best items for Kats, because it gives both damage attributes you need and survival (life steal and spell vamp) + slow is always good
note to:

Yes i know, its a lot of items, but you must adapt to enemy, to counter his champ abilitys, make them useless and kill them all. ;)
TIPS
1) dont never, ever die, if you are getting outharassed buy survival items - start Warmog, but death is not an option, even in trades 1 for 1, its better to leave him get back and you will have time to push the tower or gang other lanes and your death can make your team lose in late game, so dont try the fortune
2) harass, harass, harass, you are one of the best harassers in the game without skill shots, so get them under half health and if they wont back, learn them a lesson of how squishy they are
3) map control is half of sucess, use the Sight Wards to avoid ganks and never die
4) little to jukes... well with Shunpo you can teleport at wards, Heime turrets or traps, use it while planning your escape route... also you can enter a bush, wait until enemy gets close and when he enteres the bush, then go the way he came from, if hes bad, then he wont use autoattack move and you are a little closer to your immortality or eventialy if more people are chasing you, then you can Shunpo on top of the last one and go the way opposing of his... in other words dont be predictible and dont use same escape route again and again
5) for early kills, is very good combo Shunpo + Bouncing Blade + Ignite and if enemy isnt in range, just Shunpo to the minion and get try get a kill only with BB and Ignite
6) dont never, initiate the fights (or you will die), unless its a sure kill, of course dont be stupid with getting a 1 kill in 1v5 :P
7)





8) adapt, thats how you will recognise the skilled players, they wont do same builds all the time, they will adapt to the enemy, counter him and then steamroll
9) with who to lane with? its simple, the best works the another damage burster and/or CC user, like LeBlanc, Sion, Sona, Nasus, Kayle, Taric, Akali,...
SKILL ROTATION
1v1/1v2
As you seen above, harass with









Teamfights - 4v4/5v5
Here is the only this which matters to you. Timing. Harass until you can and wait until enemy get his CC's on cooldown, then jump in the fight with





SCREEN for your happiness ;)

note2: if the image apears to be small, use CTRL + Mouse Wheel to zoom in
Items, masteries, runes and summoner spells are dependable on combination of these 4 categories. So its not 100% how i play/build Katarina.
Well thats probably all. I hope this is/was helpfull to you and post your comments below.
Thanks to Furor for his guide, from whare i taken an inspiration and from whare i learned how to play Katarina.
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