Standard — AP burst
Standard build maximizing damage output. Use on neutral matchups or when ahead.
15,200 total costBuilds — official CN server data (patch 7.2)
Safety — Zhonya
Defensive build adding survivability. Pick this against high enemy damage or when behind.
15,600 total cost +400gAnti-resist
Anti-resist build for tanky enemies. Choose when multiple enemies build armor/magic resist.
15,200 total cost
Recommended bootsBoots of Mana
Recommended runes: First Strike
Situational adaptations
Zhonya's HourglassAgainst AD burst (assassins, Zed, Rengar…)
Banshee's VeilAgainst AP burst (Syndra, Fizz, Evelynn…)
Core build — historical analysis (patch 7.0e)
Foundational item core, without recent situational additions — kept as a base for understanding the kit. For the up-to-date build, see the section above.
Katarina must kill fast to reset. The build maximizes burst then adds survivability for chaining resets.
Recommended Build
Starter
Amplifying Tome
Infinity Orb
penetration AP, amplifies the dagues passive and the R AoE
Rabadon's Deathcap
AP max for the R Death Lotus and the dagues passive
Oceanid's Trident
AP + PV, survival for reset with the passive Voracity
Final Build
Boots & enchant
Sorcerer's Shoes
Quicksilver
Skill order
›
›
1468
2121415
371011
5913
Runes
First Strike
E (Shunpo) dash to ramasser a dagger initiates First Strike before the combo devastating.
Sudden Impact
Each E Shunpo toward a dagger or a enemy triggers magic penetration.
Hubris
Your resets chain teamfight kills — adaptive force stacks at the pace of falling daggers.
Eyeball Collector
Each kill of cascade boosts his AP to the next combos of daggers.
Bone Plating
Reduces enemy punishes in trades leading up to his resets.
Situational Runes
vs Poke
Bone Plating
›
Second Wind
Bone Plating
Second Wind
Build timing
First Item
Your burst becomes strong enough to secure resets.