Mid Matchup

Katarina vs Malzahar

Patch: 15.15 (25.15)
League: Platinum+
Katarina

Katarina

the Sinister Blade
Mid
Katarina Mid Overall Win Rate
49.68%

Matchup Win Rate

47.8%
Katarina vs Malzahar Wins
⚔
52.2%
Malzahar vs Katarina Wins
Malzahar

Malzahar

the Prophet of the Void
Mid
Malzahar Mid Overall Win Rate
51.42%

Katarina vs Malzahar - Mid Matchup Guide Patch 15.15 (25.15)

Katarina Mid vs Malzahar Mid - Who is stronger?

Katarina Mid has trouble against Malzahar (47.8% win rate) based on 1665 games. This is a tough matchup for Katarina players.

View detailed statistics below: items, runes, and counter builds for Katarina Mid vs Malzahar Mid in patch 15.15 (25.15), including win rates and pick rates. With proper study, this can improve your chances of victory up to 79.5% in this matchup.

Statistical Matchup Analysis

Current meta showdown: Katarina (6.1% pick rate, 8th most popular out of 57 Mid champions) versus Malzahar (6.3%, 5th place). These two mid lane titans clash constantly, making matchup mastery a decisive factor in your climb. Every edge matters: In this tough matchup, the proven Electrocute + Sudden Impact combination (57.5% win rate) plus optimal itemization Lich Bane, Mejai's Soulstealer, Shadowflame, and Sorcerer's Shoes boosts your chances from 47.8% to 79.5% - potentially game-changing.

Survive and scale: Katarina faces both matchup (47.83%) and farming disadvantages (6.08 vs 7.62/min). With a 1.54 CS/min deficit, prioritize safe farming and jungle assistance. Damage doesn't equal wins: Katarina outputs more damage (861 vs 775/min, 2nd place) but still loses the matchup. The issue likely lies in survivability, mobility, or damage timing rather than raw output. Strong individual performance: Katarina maintains better KDA (2.30, 28th place vs 44th for Malzahar), but loses the matchup overall. High KDA without wins suggests difficulty translating individual advantages into victory conditions.

Katarina vs Malzahar - Mid Stats Comparison

Katarina Mid
Katarina Mid		Versus
Malzahar Mid
Malzahar Mid
B+TierS
47.8%Matchup Winrate52.2%
49.68%Role Winrate51.42%
#38Winrate Rank#17
6.1%Pickrate6.3%
2.3Average KDA2.1
447Gold per Minute424
6.08CS/Min7.62
0.32Wards per Minute0.33
861Damage per Minute775

How to Beat Malzahar as Katarina (Mid)

Difficult matchup requiring deep understanding of game mechanics and flawless execution. Patience and proper macro play are the keys to victory in this confrontation.

The magic damage that Katarina deals remains relevant in the late game. Look for opportunities to initiate or counter-initiate. Meanwhile, Malzahar deals primarily magic damage (93.48%), additional magic resistance may be required.

Consider the farming superiority demonstrated by Malzahar, ranking 5th (versus 45th for Katarina) in farming efficiency among champions in this role. This means the opponent can build gold advantages more quickly. Meanwhile, their lower KDA (2.1 versus 2.3) suggests they are less effective in team fights.

Key aspects of the Katarina Mid versus Malzahar Mid matchup

In this difficult confrontation, it is critically important for the Katarina player to avoid attempts to force trades and all-ins with the Malzahar player, as the matchup requires a patient and calculated approach. Extended trades without clear tactical advantage often lead to unfavorable consequences, and ignoring opportunities to receive team support can be a fatal mistake for game progression.

Katarina vs Malzahar: Mid Lane Summoner Spells

Most Popular

Flash
Flash Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
Ignite
Ignite Deals true damage over time to target enemy champion and reduces healing effects on them for the duration.
45.9% Win Rate77.0% Pick Rate

Highest Win Rate

Exhaust
Exhaust Slows target enemy champion and reduces their damage dealt.
Flash
Flash Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
79.1% Win Rate0.4% Pick Rate

Katarina vs Malzahar: Mid Lane Runes

Most Frequent Runes

Primary Path
Domination
Electrocute
Electrocute Hitting a champion with 3 separate attacks or abilities within 3s deals bonus adaptive damage.

Damage: 70 - 240 (+0.1 bonus AD, +0.05 AP) damage.
Cooldown: 20s

'We called them the Thunderlords, for to speak of their lightning was to invite disaster.'

Electrocute

Hitting a champion with 3 separate attacks or abilities within 3s deals bonus adaptive da…

Sudden Impact
Sudden Impact Damaging basic attacks and abilities deal a bonus 20 - 80 True Damage based on level to enemy champions after using a dash, leap, blink, teleport, or when leaving stealth for 4s.

Cooldown: 10s

Sudden Impact

Damaging basic attacks and abilities deal a bonus 20 - 80 True Damage based on …

Grisly Mementos
Grisly Mementos Collect 1 memento on champion takedowns, up to 18 total.

Gain 6 Trinket Haste for each collected. In game modes where vision Trinkets do not exist, instead gain 3 Summoner Spell Haste.

Grisly Mementos

Collect 1 memento on champion takedowns, up to 18 total.Gain 6 Trinket Haste fo…

Relentless Hunter
Relentless Hunter Gain 8 Move Speed out of combat per Bounty Hunter stack. Bounty Hunter stacks are earned the first time you get a takedown on each enemy champion.

Relentless Hunter

Gain 8 Move Speed out of combat per Bounty Hunter stack. Bounty Hunter stacks a…

Secondary Path
Precision
Triumph
Triumph Takedowns restore 5% of your missing health, 2.5% of your max health, and grant an additional 20 gold.


'The most dangerous game brings the greatest glory.'
—Noxian Reckoner

Triumph

Takedowns restore 5% of your missing health, 2.5% of your max health, and grant…

Coup de Grace
Coup de Grace Deal 8% more damage to champions who have less than 40% health.

Coup de Grace

Deal 8% more damage to champions who have less than 40% health.

Adaptive
Adaptive Force
Adaptive Force Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

Adaptive Force

Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

Adaptive Force
Adaptive Force Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

Adaptive Force

Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

Scaling Health
Scaling Health Increases health from 10 to 180 HP across levels 1-18

Scaling Health

Increases health from 10 to 180 HP across levels 1-18

48.7% Win Rate56.8% Pick Rate

Best Win Rate Runes

Primary Path
Domination
Electrocute
Electrocute Hitting a champion with 3 separate attacks or abilities within 3s deals bonus adaptive damage.

Damage: 70 - 240 (+0.1 bonus AD, +0.05 AP) damage.
Cooldown: 20s

'We called them the Thunderlords, for to speak of their lightning was to invite disaster.'

Electrocute

Hitting a champion with 3 separate attacks or abilities within 3s deals bonus adaptive da…

Sudden Impact
Sudden Impact Damaging basic attacks and abilities deal a bonus 20 - 80 True Damage based on level to enemy champions after using a dash, leap, blink, teleport, or when leaving stealth for 4s.

Cooldown: 10s

Sudden Impact

Damaging basic attacks and abilities deal a bonus 20 - 80 True Damage based on …

Grisly Mementos
Grisly Mementos Collect 1 memento on champion takedowns, up to 18 total.

Gain 6 Trinket Haste for each collected. In game modes where vision Trinkets do not exist, instead gain 3 Summoner Spell Haste.

Grisly Mementos

Collect 1 memento on champion takedowns, up to 18 total.Gain 6 Trinket Haste fo…

Relentless Hunter
Relentless Hunter Gain 8 Move Speed out of combat per Bounty Hunter stack. Bounty Hunter stacks are earned the first time you get a takedown on each enemy champion.

Relentless Hunter

Gain 8 Move Speed out of combat per Bounty Hunter stack. Bounty Hunter stacks a…

Secondary Path
Resolve
Second Wind
Second Wind After taking damage from an enemy champion, heal for 4% of your missing health +3 over 10s.

Second Wind

After taking damage from an enemy champion, heal for 4% of your missing health …

Overgrowth
Overgrowth Absorb life essence from monsters or enemy minions that die near you, permanently gaining 3 maximum health for every 8.

When you've absorbed 120 monsters or enemy minions, gain an additional 3.5% maximum health.

Overgrowth

Absorb life essence from monsters or enemy minions that die near you, permanent…

Adaptive
Adaptive Force
Adaptive Force Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

Adaptive Force

Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

Adaptive Force
Adaptive Force Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

Adaptive Force

Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

Scaling Health
Scaling Health Increases health from 10 to 180 HP across levels 1-18

Scaling Health

Increases health from 10 to 180 HP across levels 1-18

57.5% Win Rate4.6% Pick Rate

Katarina vs Malzahar: Mid Lane Item Builds

Most Popular Build

Starting Items
Stealth Ward
Stealth Ward (0 gold) Active (210 - 120s, max 2 charges)
Places an Invisible Stealth Ward that grants vision for 90-120 seconds.
Dark Seal
Dark Seal (350 gold) 15 Ability Power
50 Health
Glory
Takedowns grant Glory, up to 10. 5 Glory is lost on death.
Gain 4 Ability Power per Glory.
Refillable Potion
Refillable Potion (150 gold) Active (2 charges)
Restores 100 Health over 12 seconds.
Refills upon visiting the shop.
44.2% Win Rate41.7% Pick Rate
Popular Boots
Sorcerer's Shoes
Sorcerer's Shoes (1100 gold) 12 Magic Penetration
45 Move Speed
47.8% Win Rate68.4% Pick Rate
Mercury's Treads
Mercury's Treads (1250 gold) 20 Magic Resist
45 Move Speed
30% Tenacity
48.8% Win Rate21.9% Pick Rate
Plated Steelcaps
Plated Steelcaps (1200 gold) 25 Armor
45 Move Speed
Plating
Reduces incoming damage from Attacks by 10%.
47.9% Win Rate2.9% Pick Rate
Core Build
Blasting Wand
Blasting Wand (850 gold) 45 Ability Power
->
Lich Bane
Lich Bane (3200 gold) 115 Ability Power
4% Move Speed
10 Ability Haste
Spellblade
After using an Ability, your next Attack deals bonus magic damageOn-Hit.
Shadowflame
Shadowflame (3200 gold) 110 Ability Power
15 Magic Penetration
Cinderbloom
Magic and true damageCritically Strikes enemies below 40% Health, dealing 20% increased damage.
Zhonya's Hourglass
Zhonya's Hourglass (3250 gold) 105 Ability Power
50 Armor

Time Stop
Enter Stasis for 2.5 seconds.
41.1% Win Rate11.7% Pick Rate
Final Build
Void Staff
Void Staff (3000 gold) 95 Ability Power
40% Magic Penetration
63.8% Win Rate20.9% Pick Rate

Best Win Rate Build

Starting Items
Stealth Ward
Stealth Ward (0 gold) Active (210 - 120s, max 2 charges)
Places an Invisible Stealth Ward that grants vision for 90-120 seconds.
Long Sword
Long Sword (350 gold) 10 Attack Damage
Health Potion
Health Potion (50 gold) Consume
Restores 120 Health over 15 seconds.
63.0% Win Rate2.0% Pick Rate
Highest Winrate Boots
Boots of Swiftness
Boots of Swiftness (1000 gold) 60 Move Speed
Fleetfooted
Reduce the effectiveness of Slows by 25%.
75.6% Win Rate0.3% Pick Rate
Symbiotic Soles
Symbiotic Soles (900 gold) 40 Move Speed
Voidborn
Gain Empowered Recall.
Symbiosis
After traveling 150000 units of distance, transform into Synchronized Souls.
49.8% Win Rate0.3% Pick Rate
Mercury's Treads
Mercury's Treads (1250 gold) 20 Magic Resist
45 Move Speed
30% Tenacity
48.8% Win Rate21.9% Pick Rate
Core Build
Blasting Wand
Blasting Wand (850 gold) 45 Ability Power
->
Lich Bane
Lich Bane (3200 gold) 115 Ability Power
4% Move Speed
10 Ability Haste
Spellblade
After using an Ability, your next Attack deals bonus magic damageOn-Hit.
Mejai's Soulstealer
Mejai's Soulstealer (1500 gold) 20 Ability Power
100 Health
Glory
Takedowns grant Glory, up to 25. 10 Glory is lost on death.
Gain 5 Ability Power per Glory and 10% Move Speed at 10 or higher Glory.
Shadowflame
Shadowflame (3200 gold) 110 Ability Power
15 Magic Penetration
Cinderbloom
Magic and true damageCritically Strikes enemies below 40% Health, dealing 20% increased damage.
79.5% Win Rate2.8% Pick Rate
Final Build
Mercurial Scimitar
Mercurial Scimitar (3200 gold) 40 Attack Damage
40 Magic Resist
10% Life Steal

ACTIVE
Quicksilver
Removes all crowd control debuffs (excluding Airborne) and grants Move Speed.
85.6% Win Rate3.6% Pick Rate
Other Items
Rabadon's Deathcap
Rabadon's Deathcap (3600 gold) 130 Ability Power
Magical Opus
Increases your total Ability Power by 30%.
57.8% Win Rate18.7% Pick Rate
Mejai's Soulstealer
Mejai's Soulstealer (1500 gold) 20 Ability Power
100 Health
Glory
Takedowns grant Glory, up to 25. 10 Glory is lost on death.
Gain 5 Ability Power per Glory and 10% Move Speed at 10 or higher Glory.
67.0% Win Rate9.2% Pick Rate
Banshee's Veil
Banshee's Veil (3000 gold) 105 Ability Power
40 Magic Resist
Annul
Grants a Spell Shield that blocks the next enemy Ability.
39.3% Win Rate5.1% Pick Rate
Mercurial Scimitar
Mercurial Scimitar (3200 gold) 40 Attack Damage
40 Magic Resist
10% Life Steal

ACTIVE
Quicksilver
Removes all crowd control debuffs (excluding Airborne) and grants Move Speed.
85.6% Win Rate3.6% Pick Rate
Stormsurge
Stormsurge (2900 gold) 90 Ability Power
15 Magic Penetration
4% Move Speed
Stormraider
Dealing 25% of a champion's maximum Health within 2.5s applies Squall to them and grants 25% Move Speed for 1.5 seconds.
Squall
After 2 seconds, deal magic damage. If the target dies before Squall triggers, it damages nearby enemies and grants 30 gold.
33.6% Win Rate3.1% Pick Rate
Jak'Sho, The Protean
Jak'Sho, The Protean (3200 gold) 350 Health
45 Armor
45 Magic Resist
Voidborn Resilience
After 5 seconds of champion combat, increase your bonus Armor and Magic Resist by 30% until end of combat.
80.5% Win Rate2.6% Pick Rate
Wit's End
Wit's End (2800 gold) 50% Attack Speed
45 Magic Resist
20% Tenacity
Fray
Attacks deal bonus magic damageOn-Hit.
49.1% Win Rate2.1% Pick Rate

Katarina vs Malzahar: Mid Lane Skill (abilities) Orders

Most Frequent Skill Order

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
Q
Q
Bouncing Blade Katarina throws a Dagger at the target that then bounces to nearby enemies before ricocheting onto the ground.
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
W
W
Preparation Katarina gains a burst of Move Speed, tossing a Dagger into the air directly above herself.
W
W
W
W
W
E
E
Shunpo Katarina blinks to the target, striking it if its an enemy, or striking the nearest enemy otherwise.
E
E
E
E
E
R
R
Death Lotus Katarina becomes a flurry of blades, dealing massive magic damage while she channels to the 3 nearest enemy champions.
R
R
R
Max Order: Q > E > W
45.1% Win Rate76.4% Pick Rate

Highest Win % Skill Order

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
R
Q
Bouncing Blade Katarina throws a Dagger at the target that then bounces to nearby enemies before ricocheting onto the ground.
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
R
W
Preparation Katarina gains a burst of Move Speed, tossing a Dagger into the air directly above herself.
W
W
W
W
W
R
E
Shunpo Katarina blinks to the target, striking it if its an enemy, or striking the nearest enemy otherwise.
E
E
E
E
E
R
R
Death Lotus Katarina becomes a flurry of blades, dealing massive magic damage while she channels to the 3 nearest enemy champions.
R
R
R
Max Order: Q > E > W
54.1% Win Rate1.0% Pick Rate

Katarina tips:

  • Picking up Daggers will significantly reduce Shunpo's cooldown.
  • Try waiting until the other team is distracted with fighting your team, and use Shunpo to teleport into the fray and unleash a devastating Death Lotus.
  • Using Shunpo on an allied Champion, Dagger, or minion can be a great escape tactic.

Playing Against Malzahar

  • When Malzahar hits a spell on enemies affected by Malefic Visions, the Visions are refreshed.
  • Avoid minion waves that have been affected by Malefic Visions. You never know when they may die and pass the Visions onto you.
  • Malzahar is especially dangerous when he has built up his Void Swarm.

Katarina Mid other Matchups

Katarina
+9.6%
Yone

Katarina vs Yone

Katarina
+4.4%
Orianna

Katarina vs Orianna

Katarina
+3.5%
Ahri

Katarina vs Ahri

Katarina
+3.5%
Hwei

Katarina vs Hwei

Katarina
+3.2%
Aurora

Katarina vs Aurora

Katarina
+3.2%
Zoe

Katarina vs Zoe

Katarina
+3.1%
Syndra

Katarina vs Syndra

Katarina
+2.9%
Mel

Katarina vs Mel

Katarina
+2.8%
Viktor

Katarina vs Viktor

Katarina
+2.7%
Veigar

Katarina vs Veigar

Katarina
+2.2%
Xerath

Katarina vs Xerath

Katarina
+2.0%
Taliyah

Katarina vs Taliyah

Katarina
+1.8%
Aurelion Sol

Katarina vs Aurelion Sol

Katarina
+1.7%
Twisted Fate

Katarina vs Twisted Fate

Katarina
+1.3%
Lux

Katarina vs Lux

Katarina
+1.2%
Zed

Katarina vs Zed

Katarina
+1.1%
Talon

Katarina vs Talon

Katarina
+1.0%
Irelia

Katarina vs Irelia

Katarina
-1.0%
Annie

Katarina vs Annie

Katarina
-1.1%
LeBlanc

Katarina vs LeBlanc

Katarina
-1.6%
Fizz

Katarina vs Fizz

Katarina
-1.7%
Sylas

Katarina vs Sylas

Katarina
-1.9%
Akshan

Katarina vs Akshan

Katarina
-2.2%
Akali

Katarina vs Akali

Katarina
-2.3%
Lissandra

Katarina vs Lissandra

Katarina
-2.4%
Ryze

Katarina vs Ryze

Katarina
-2.5%
Ekko

Katarina vs Ekko

Katarina
-2.6%
Azir

Katarina vs Azir

Katarina
-2.6%
Kassadin

Katarina vs Kassadin

Katarina
-2.7%
Yasuo

Katarina vs Yasuo

Katarina
-2.8%
Qiyana

Katarina vs Qiyana

Katarina
-3.0%
Diana

Katarina vs Diana

Katarina
-3.2%
Galio

Katarina vs Galio

Katarina
-3.4%
Vex

Katarina vs Vex

Katarina
-4.6%
Vladimir

Katarina vs Vladimir