Mid Matchup

Katarina vs Xerath

Patch: 15.17 (25.17)
League: Platinum+
Katarina

Katarina

the Sinister Blade
Mid
Katarina Mid Overall Win Rate
49.29%

Matchup Win Rate

51.6%
Katarina vs Xerath Wins
⚔
48.4%
Xerath vs Katarina Wins
Xerath

Xerath

the Magus Ascendant
Mid
Xerath Mid Overall Win Rate
51.38%

Katarina vs Xerath - Mid Matchup Guide Patch 15.17 (25.17)

Katarina Mid vs Xerath Mid - Who is stronger?

Katarina Mid has an advantage against Xerath (51.6% win rate) based on 621 games. The matchup leans toward Katarina.

View detailed statistics below: items, runes, and counter builds for Katarina Mid vs Xerath Mid in patch 15.17 (25.17), including win rates and pick rates. With proper study, this can improve your chances of victory up to 70%+ in this matchup.

Statistical Matchup Analysis

Katarina dominates the meta (8th most popular, 5.9% pick rate) and regularly clashes with Xerath (3.9% pick rate). Understanding this common matchup forms the foundation of consistent gameplay for one of mid lane's current powerhouses. Optimize for consistency: Electrocute paired with Sudden Impact (70.4% win rate, 2.3% popularity) provides the stats you need, while the item sequence Lich Bane > Shadowflame > Mejai's Soulstealer with Sorcerer's Shoes delivers 70%+ win rate against Xerath.

Win through macro: Katarina takes the matchup (51.58%) despite falling behind in CS (5.73 vs 6.23/min). Your victories come through roaming, team fighting, and map pressure rather than 1v1 lane dominance. Complete superiority: Katarina dominates both win rate (51.6%) and damage output (871 vs 857/min, 2nd among Mid). The 14 damage/min difference creates massive snowball potential. Intriguing anomaly: Katarina wins the matchup (51.6%) despite a lower KDA (2.30 vs 3.10). This suggests you win through macro influence and clutch plays in key moments rather than consistent individual performance.

Katarina vs Xerath - Mid Stats Comparison

Katarina Mid
Katarina Mid		Versus
Xerath Mid
Xerath Mid
BTierA+
51.6%Matchup Winrate48.4%
49.29%Role Winrate51.38%
#46Winrate Rank#17
5.9%Pickrate3.9%
2.3Average KDA3.1
456Gold per Minute417
5.73CS/Min6.23
0.28Wards per Minute0.33
871Damage per Minute857

How to Beat Xerath as Katarina (Mid)

While statistically Katarina is slightly stronger than Xerath in the mid lane, neither champion has an overwhelming advantage in this matchup. The winner is determined by player skill and understanding the intricacies of the confrontation. Studying this guide will improve your chances of success.

The magic damage that Katarina deals remains relevant in the late game. Look for opportunities to initiate or counter-initiate. Meanwhile, Xerath deals primarily magic damage (95.28%), additional magic resistance may be required.

Consider the farming superiority demonstrated by Xerath, ranking 44th (versus 57th for Katarina) in farming efficiency among champions in this role. This means the opponent can build gold advantages more quickly. Meanwhile, their higher KDA (3.1 versus 2.3) suggests they participate more effectively in team fights.

Key aspects of the Katarina Mid versus Xerath Mid matchup

Despite the statistical advantage in the matchup, overconfidence can be the main mistake. It is important for the Katarina player to maintain constant pressure on Xerath, not allowing the opponent to safely scale up, and actively use the advantage gained to help their team.

Katarina vs Xerath: 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.
52.8% Win Rate79.6% Pick Rate

Highest Win Rate

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.
52.8% Win Rate79.6% Pick Rate

Katarina vs Xerath: 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

51.5% Win Rate65.3% 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
Sorcery
Absolute Focus
Absolute Focus While above 70% health, gain an adaptive bonus of up to 18 Attack Damage or 30 Ability Power (based on level).

Grants 1.8 Attack Damage or 3 Ability Power at level 1.

Absolute Focus

While above 70% health, gain an adaptive bonus of up to 18 Attack Damage or 30 …

Scorch
Scorch Your next damaging ability hit sets champions on fire dealing 20 - 40 bonus magic damage based on level after 1s.

Cooldown: 10s

Scorch

Your next damaging ability hit sets champions on fire dealing 20 - 40 bonus mag…

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

+65 Health
+65 Health +65 Health

+65 Health

+65 Health

70.4% Win Rate2.3% Pick Rate

Katarina vs Xerath: 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.
46.3% Win Rate50.6% Pick Rate
Popular Boots
Sorcerer's Shoes
Sorcerer's Shoes (1100 gold) 12 Magic Penetration
45 Move Speed
54.8% Win Rate78.7% Pick Rate
Mercury's Treads
Mercury's Treads (1250 gold) 20 Magic Resist
45 Move Speed
30% Tenacity
36.6% Win Rate9.6% Pick Rate
Plated Steelcaps
Plated Steelcaps (1200 gold) 25 Armor
45 Move Speed
Plating
Reduces incoming damage from Attacks by 10%.
35.3% Win Rate3.2% 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.
54.8% Win Rate16.0% Pick Rate
Final Build
Void Staff
Void Staff (3000 gold) 95 Ability Power
40% Magic Penetration
55.0% Win Rate22.7% 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.
Doran's Ring
Doran's Ring (400 gold) 18 Ability Power
90 Health
Restoration
Restore 1.25 Mana every second. If you can't gain Mana, restore 0.55 Health instead.
Helping Hand
Attacks deal 5 bonus physical damage to minions.
Health Potion
Health Potion (50 gold) Consume
Restores 120 Health over 15 seconds.
75.1% Win Rate4.4% Pick Rate
Highest Winrate Boots
Berserker's Greaves
Berserker's Greaves (1100 gold) 25% Attack Speed
45 Move Speed
99.2% Win Rate0.2% Pick Rate
Ionian Boots of Lucidity
Ionian Boots of Lucidity (900 gold) 10 Ability Haste
45 Move Speed
Ionian Insight
Gain 10 Summoner Spell Haste.
99.0% Win Rate0.2% Pick Rate
Boots of Swiftness
Boots of Swiftness (1000 gold) 60 Move Speed
Fleetfooted
Reduce the effectiveness of Slows by 25%.
98.4% Win Rate0.2% 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.
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.
100.0% Win Rate1.5% Pick Rate
Final Build
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.
99.3% Win Rate2.5% Pick Rate
Other Items
Rabadon's Deathcap
Rabadon's Deathcap (3600 gold) 130 Ability Power
Magical Opus
Increases your total Ability Power by 30%.
83.9% Win Rate16.5% 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.
50.2% Win Rate10.0% Pick Rate
Nashor's Tooth
Nashor's Tooth (3000 gold) 80 Ability Power
50% Attack Speed
15 Ability Haste
Icathian Bite
Attacks deal bonus magic damageOn-Hit.
39.7% Win Rate6.4% 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.
33.4% Win Rate3.7% Pick Rate
Spear of Shojin
Spear of Shojin (3100 gold) 45 Attack Damage
450 Health
Dragonforce
Gain 25 Basic Ability Haste.
Focused Will
Dealing damage with Abilities increases your Champion's Ability and Passive damage by 3% for 6 seconds. (stacks 4 times).
0.0% Win Rate2.5% Pick Rate
Kraken Slayer
Kraken Slayer (3100 gold) 45 Attack Damage
40% Attack Speed
4% Move Speed
Bring It Down
Every third Attack deals bonus physical damageOn-Hit, increased based on their missing Health.
0.0% Win Rate2.5% 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.
99.3% Win Rate2.5% Pick Rate

Katarina vs Xerath: 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
47.3% Win Rate76.5% 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
66.2% Win Rate3.4% 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 Xerath

  • Xerath's range can be intimidating, but most champions who close distance with him can trade favorably.
  • Xerath takes a long time to engage Rite of the Arcane. Watch for his spellcast animation and start dodging.
  • Banshee's Veil will make it much harder for Xerath to land Shocking Orb on you.

Katarina Mid other Matchups

Katarina
+5.5%
Syndra

Katarina vs Syndra

Katarina
+5.1%
Yone

Katarina vs Yone

Katarina
+4.7%
Ahri

Katarina vs Ahri

Katarina
+4.0%
Aurelion Sol

Katarina vs Aurelion Sol

Katarina
+3.5%
Orianna

Katarina vs Orianna

Katarina
+3.2%
Taliyah

Katarina vs Taliyah

Katarina
+3.2%
Aurora

Katarina vs Aurora

Katarina
+3.1%
Mel

Katarina vs Mel

Katarina
+3.1%
Veigar

Katarina vs Veigar

Katarina
+2.8%
Azir

Katarina vs Azir

Katarina
+2.3%
Hwei

Katarina vs Hwei

Katarina
+1.9%
Lux

Katarina vs Lux

Katarina
+1.8%
Viktor

Katarina vs Viktor

Katarina
+1.7%
Sylas

Katarina vs Sylas

Katarina
+1.6%
LeBlanc

Katarina vs LeBlanc

Katarina
+1.6%
Twisted Fate

Katarina vs Twisted Fate

Katarina
-1.0%
Zed

Katarina vs Zed

Katarina
-1.0%
Yasuo

Katarina vs Yasuo

Katarina
-1.3%
Talon

Katarina vs Talon

Katarina
-1.6%
Zoe

Katarina vs Zoe

Katarina
-1.6%
Akali

Katarina vs Akali

Katarina
-2.0%
Malzahar

Katarina vs Malzahar

Katarina
-2.0%
Annie

Katarina vs Annie

Katarina
-2.3%
Kassadin

Katarina vs Kassadin

Katarina
-2.4%
Ryze

Katarina vs Ryze

Katarina
-2.8%
Akshan

Katarina vs Akshan

Katarina
-3.0%
Qiyana

Katarina vs Qiyana

Katarina
-3.3%
Diana

Katarina vs Diana

Katarina
-3.5%
Lissandra

Katarina vs Lissandra

Katarina
-3.7%
Ekko

Katarina vs Ekko

Katarina
-3.7%
Vladimir

Katarina vs Vladimir

Katarina
-3.7%
Galio

Katarina vs Galio

Katarina
-4.3%
Vex

Katarina vs Vex

Katarina
-4.3%
Irelia

Katarina vs Irelia

Katarina
-4.3%
Fizz

Katarina vs Fizz