Swain vs Katarina

Swain
vs
Not enough games
Katarina
Countered by stasisHeavy AP damageHigh burstDive threat

Build vs Katarina

The champion's reference build, for lack of enough games in this matchup

Recommended items for Swain: Blackfire Torch, Rylai's Crystal Scepter, Zhonya's Hourglass, Boots of Swiftness, Liandry's Torment, Rod of Ages, Spirit Visage, Morellonomicon.

Starting items

Doran's Ring
Health Potion
x2

Core build

Blackfire Torch
1
Rylai's Crystal Scepter
2
Zhonya's Hourglass
3

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Liandry's Torment
5

Summoner spells

FlashTeleport33%
FlashHaste33%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Liandry's Torment
Rod of Ages
Spirit Visage
Morellonomicon
Frozen Heart
Randuin's Omen
PrecisionPrecision
ConquerorConqueror
Presence of MindPresence of Mind
Legend: HasteLegend: Haste
Last StandLast Stand
ResolveResolve
ConditioningConditioning
OvergrowthOvergrowth
Adaptive ForceAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

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 as Swain

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. Aim Nevermove past your target

    Cast Nevermove (E) past your target: it only roots on the way back, as it returns to you. Then recast it to pull rooted champions to you.

  2. Poke through the wave

    Poke with Death's Hand (Q) even behind minions: its bolts pierce enemies, and its cooldown drops from 7 to 3 seconds.

  3. Collect Soul Fragments

    Hit champions with Vision of Empire (W) and pull them with Nevermove (E): each Ravenous Flock (passive) Soul Fragment heals you and raises your max health.

  4. Stay close during your ult

    During Demonic Ascension (R), stay close to enemy champions: the drain extends your form, and a takedown refills your Demonic Energy.

  5. Support distant fights with your eye

    Cast Vision of Empire (W) on a fight breaking out elsewhere: its range is 5500 to 7500, and a busy or rooted enemy struggles to dodge the hit 1.5 seconds later.

Playing against Katarina

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Stay away from her daggers

    Stay away from her daggers on the ground: when she picks one up, Voracity (passive) hits every nearby enemy, and Shunpo (E) lets her blink to it.

  2. Trade after her Shunpo

    Trade right after Shunpo (E): it's her only blink, and it has a 12 to 8 second cooldown, less if she picks up a dagger.

  3. Save your CC for her Lotus

    If you have CC, save it for Death Lotus (R): it's a channel, and interrupting it stops its damage.

  4. Don't count on your healing

    Don't count on your healing during Death Lotus (R): each knife applies Grievous Wounds, which reduces healing received.

Patch 16.21.1