Katarina vs Jinx
You are stronger early. Look to snowball before your opponent scales.
Build vs Jinx
The champion's reference build, for lack of enough games in this matchup
Recommended items for Katarina: Lich Bane, Shadowflame, Zhonya's Hourglass, Sorcerer's Shoes, Rabadon's Deathcap, Dark Seal, Death's Dance, Void Staff.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Jinx's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
Jinx receives massively increased Move Speed and Attack Speed whenever she helps kill or destroy an enemy champions epic jungle monster, or structure.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0.9s | 8s | 24s | – |
| 6 | 0.9s | 8s | 24s | 1m25 |
| 9 | 0.9s | 7s | 24s | 1m25 |
| 11 | 0.9s | 6s | 24s | 1m05 |
| 16 | 0.9s | 4s | 17s | 45s |
| 18 | 0.9s | 4s | 10s | 45s |
Playing as Katarina
Tips to maximize your impact
- Pick up your daggers
Pick up your daggers in trades and teamfights: Voracity (passive) then hits every nearby enemy, and each dagger picked up lowers the cooldown of Shunpo (E).
- Shunpo to your Q dagger
After Bouncing Blade (Q), blink to its dagger with Shunpo (E): it lands behind your target, and picking it up triggers Voracity (passive).
- Hit everyone before the kills
In teamfights, hit as many champions as you can before they go down: when one of them dies, Voracity (passive) sharply lowers all your cooldowns.
- Death Lotus after their CC
Cast Death Lotus (R) once the enemy CC is used: it's a channel, and a single CC is enough to cancel it.
Playing against Jinx
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Short trades
Take a short trade, then back off: with the minigun from Switcheroo! (Q), each auto increases her attack speed, so long trades favor her.
- Punish her lack of mobility
If you can engage, go for her when her support walks away: with no dash or leap, Jinx can only back off on foot.
- Walk around her traps
Don't step on Flame Chompers! (E): they root the champion who touches them. Walk around them or wait for them to vanish after 5 seconds.
- Deny her the first kill
If you can reach her, focus her first: any takedown gives her a big speed boost with Get Excited! (passive).
Other Katarina matchups
Patch 16.21.1