Mid Matchup

Katarina vs Zed

Patch: 15.15 (25.15)
League: Platinum+
Katarina

Katarina

the Sinister Blade
Mid
Katarina Mid Overall Win Rate
49.68%

Matchup Win Rate

51.2%
Katarina vs Zed Wins
⚔
48.8%
Zed vs Katarina Wins
Zed

Zed

the Master of Shadows
Mid
Zed Mid Overall Win Rate
49.15%

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

Katarina Mid vs Zed Mid - Who is stronger?

Katarina Mid has a slight edge over Zed (51.2% win rate) based on 1928 games. The matchup slightly favors Katarina.

View detailed statistics below: items, runes, and counter builds for Katarina Mid vs Zed 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 72.4% in this matchup.

Statistical Matchup Analysis

Current meta showdown: Katarina (6.1% pick rate, 8th most popular out of 57 Mid champions) versus Zed (6.6%, 4th place). These two mid lane titans clash constantly, making matchup mastery a decisive factor in your climb. Meta strength confirmed: Katarina's superior tier rating (B+ vs B) translates into a solid 51.2% matchup win rate. This performance explains why Katarina ranks 38th in win rate among Mid champions. Optimize for consistency: Electrocute paired with Sudden Impact (63.2% win rate, 2.5% popularity) provides the stats you need, while the item sequence Lich Bane > Zhonya's Hourglass > Shadowflame with Sorcerer's Shoes delivers 72.4% win rate against Zed.

Lane dominance: Katarina not only wins the matchup but crushes CS (6.08/min vs 5.71 for Zed). This 0.37 CS/min advantage generates significant gold leads that compound your already favorable position. Complete superiority: Katarina dominates both win rate (51.2%) and damage output (861 vs 766/min, 2nd among Mid). The 95 damage/min difference creates massive snowball potential. Skill-based matchup: Identical KDA (2.30) with 51.2% win rate indicates that macro play, team coordination, and clutch moments determine outcomes more than individual mechanics.

Katarina vs Zed - Mid Stats Comparison

Katarina Mid
Katarina Mid		Versus
Zed Mid
Zed Mid
B+TierB
51.2%Matchup Winrate48.8%
49.68%Role Winrate49.15%
#38Winrate Rank#49
6.1%Pickrate6.6%
2.3Average KDA2.3
447Gold per Minute439
6.08CS/Min5.71
0.32Wards per Minute0.30
861Damage per Minute766

How to Beat Zed as Katarina (Mid)

While statistically Katarina is slightly stronger than Zed 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. Zed deals mainly physical damage (86.77%), additional items against this damage type may be required against snowballing or aggressive play.

An important advantage of Katarina is higher farming statistics (ranked 45th among role champions) (versus 53rd for Zed), which provides a stable gold advantage in extended games and allows faster access to key items.

Key aspects of the Katarina Mid versus Zed 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 Zed, not allowing the opponent to safely scale up, and actively use the advantage gained to help their team.

Katarina vs Zed: 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.
51.2% Win Rate82.7% Pick Rate

Highest Win Rate

Flash
Flash Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
Teleport
Teleport After a brief channel, become untargetable and travel to an allied unit. Upgrades into Unleashed Teleport, which significantly increases travel speed.
53.4% Win Rate10.9% Pick Rate

Katarina vs Zed: 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

51.3% Win Rate59.1% 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

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

63.2% Win Rate2.5% Pick Rate

Katarina vs Zed: 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.
54.1% Win Rate43.0% Pick Rate
Popular Boots
Sorcerer's Shoes
Sorcerer's Shoes (1100 gold) 12 Magic Penetration
45 Move Speed
52.2% Win Rate74.7% Pick Rate
Plated Steelcaps
Plated Steelcaps (1200 gold) 25 Armor
45 Move Speed
Plating
Reduces incoming damage from Attacks by 10%.
51.2% Win Rate13.9% Pick Rate
Mercury's Treads
Mercury's Treads (1250 gold) 20 Magic Resist
45 Move Speed
30% Tenacity
42.7% Win Rate2.3% 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.
51.0% Win Rate16.0% Pick Rate
Final Build
Void Staff
Void Staff (3000 gold) 95 Ability Power
40% Magic Penetration
62.1% Win Rate22.3% 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.
Amplifying Tome
Amplifying Tome (400 gold) 20 Ability Power
Health Potion
Health Potion (50 gold) Consume
Restores 120 Health over 15 seconds.
73.7% Win Rate0.6% Pick Rate
Highest Winrate Boots
Boots of Swiftness
Boots of Swiftness (1000 gold) 60 Move Speed
Fleetfooted
Reduce the effectiveness of Slows by 25%.
98.8% Win Rate0.1% 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.
65.7% Win Rate0.2% Pick Rate
Sorcerer's Shoes
Sorcerer's Shoes (1100 gold) 12 Magic Penetration
45 Move Speed
52.2% Win Rate74.7% 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.
Zhonya's Hourglass
Zhonya's Hourglass (3250 gold) 105 Ability Power
50 Armor

Time Stop
Enter Stasis for 2.5 seconds.
Shadowflame
Shadowflame (3200 gold) 110 Ability Power
15 Magic Penetration
Cinderbloom
Magic and true damageCritically Strikes enemies below 40% Health, dealing 20% increased damage.
72.4% Win Rate3.3% Pick Rate
Final Build
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.
70.7% Win Rate2.8% Pick Rate
Other Items
Rabadon's Deathcap
Rabadon's Deathcap (3600 gold) 130 Ability Power
Magical Opus
Increases your total Ability Power by 30%.
55.8% Win Rate20.0% 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.
53.9% Win Rate11.2% 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.
30.8% Win Rate6.3% 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.
70.7% Win Rate2.8% 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.
66.7% Win Rate2.4% Pick Rate
Riftmaker
Riftmaker (3100 gold) 70 Ability Power
350 Health
15 Ability Haste
Void Corruption
For each second in combat with enemy champions, deal 2% bonus damage, up to 8%. At maximum strength, gain Omnivamp.
Void Infusion
Gain 2% of your bonus Health as Ability Power.
19.9% Win Rate2.0% Pick Rate

Katarina vs Zed: 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
48.7% Win Rate80.9% 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: E > Q > W
72.2% Win Rate1.1% 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 Zed

  • Zed receives bonus effect from Attack Damage items he purchases, so Armor is super effective against him.
  • After Zed uses his Living Shadow, he is at his most vulnerable as his damage, slow, and mobility are both dependent upon it.
  • Zed's Shadow Slash can only slow you if his shadow hits you with it.

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
+1.1%
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%
Malzahar

Katarina vs Malzahar

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