Katarina vs Lux
Skill matchup
You are stronger early. Look to snowball before your opponent scales.
Build vs Lux
Build adapted to this matchup
Recommended items for Katarina: Lich Bane, Shadowflame, Zhonya's Hourglass, Sorcerer's Shoes, Dark Seal, Rabadon's Deathcap, Kraken Slayer, Hextech Gunblade.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Lux's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
Lux's damaging spells charge the target with energy for a few seconds. Lux's next attack ignites the energy, dealing bonus magic damage (depending on Lux's level) to the target.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 10s | 12s | 10s | – |
| 6 | 10s | 12s | 10s | 1m |
| 9 | 10s | 11.5s | 10s | 1m |
| 11 | 10s | 11s | 10s | 50s |
| 16 | 10s | 10s | 9s | 40s |
| 18 | 10s | 10s | 8s | 40s |
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 Lux
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Keep two minions between you and her
Stay behind at least two minions: Light Binding (Q) roots the first two enemies hit, so a single minion doesn't protect you.
- Step up when she misses Q
Step up when Light Binding (Q) misses you: it's her only root, with a 10-second cooldown, and she has no dash to escape.
- Get out of her singularity fast
Step out to the side as soon as Lucent Singularity (E) lands: the zone slows you, then explodes when it expires or when Lux detonates it.
- Don't run in a straight line
At low health, change direction as you back off: Final Spark (R) is a straight beam that reaches very far and fires after a charge-up.
Other Katarina matchups
Patch 16.21.1