Matchup

Countered by stasisHigh burstDive threatHeavy AP damage

Build vs Katarina

Build adapted to this matchup

Starting items

Gustwalker Hatchling
Health Potion

Core build

Lich Bane
1Mage
Mejai's Soulstealer
2
Rabadon's Deathcap
3Mage

Standard

Sorcerer's Shoes
4Magic pen
Shadowflame
5vs Tank

Anti AP

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC
Banshee's Veil
5vs AP

Anti Tank

Shadowflame
5vs Tank
Void Staff
vs Tank
Stormsurge
vs Tank

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Early (0-15)
Mid (15-30)
Late (30+)
EvelynnEvelynn
KatarinaKatarina
Neutral
Neutral
Neutral

Katarina's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Voracity (P)

Whenever an enemy champion dies that Katarina has damaged recently, her remaining ability cooldowns are dramatically reduced.If Katarina picks up a Dagger, she uses it to slash through all nearby enemies, dealing magic damage.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
311s15s12s
69s15s12s1m15
97s14s12s1m15
117s13s12s1m
167s11s10s45s
187s11s8s45s

Playing against Katarina

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

1

Save a CC to interrupt her R (Death Lotus) — she's very vulnerable during the channel.

2

Avoid daggers on the ground: don't walk over them and stay away from where they land.

3

Katarina is weak before level 6 and in short trades without her daggers — punish her early.

4

Buy MR: her damage is almost 100% magic, even in on-hit builds.

Source: op.gg + LTL Engine · Patch 16.9.1 · May 9, 2026