Vladimir vs Katarina

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

You are stronger late game. Farm safe and avoid early trades.

Build vs Katarina

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

Recommended items for Vladimir: Stormsurge, Rabadon's Deathcap, Void Staff, Sorcerer's Shoes, Riftmaker, Dark Seal, Shadowflame, Mejai's Soulstealer.

Starting items

Doran's Ring
Health Potion
x2

Core build

Stormsurge
1
Rabadon's Deathcap
2
Void Staff
3

Standard

Sorcerer's Shoes
4Magic pen
Riftmaker
5

Summoner spells

FlashHaste53%
FlashDot47%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Riftmaker
Dark Seal
Shadowflame
Mejai's Soulstealer
Cosmic Drive
Liandry's Torment
Zhonya's Hourglass
SorcerySorcery
Stormraider's SurgeStormraider's Surge
Nimbus CloakNimbus Cloak
TranscendenceTranscendence
Gathering StormGathering Storm
PrecisionPrecision
Last StandLast Stand
Legend: HasteLegend: Haste
Ability HasteAdaptive 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 Vladimir

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. Save your empowered Transfusion

    After two Transfusion (Q) casts, the next one is empowered for a few seconds: save it for a trade, since it hits harder and heals you based on your missing health.

  2. Farm safely with Transfusion

    Last-hit minions with Transfusion (Q) until your items come in: it deals damage before healing you, and costs you nothing.

  3. Charge Tides of Blood at least 1 second

    Charge Tides of Blood (E) for at least 1 second before releasing: the missiles then also slow, and their damage grows with the charge.

  4. Dodge in your Sanguine Pool

    Save Sanguine Pool (W) to dodge CC or a burst: for 2 seconds, you're untargetable. It costs you part of your current health.

  5. Hemoplague first, burst second

    Cast Hemoplague (R) before your burst: infected enemies take increased damage from all sources, then the blast heals you for each champion hit.

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