Mid Matchup

Zed vs Katarina

Patch: 15.18 (25.18)
League: Platinum+
Zed

Zed

the Master of Shadows
Mid
Zed Mid Overall Win Rate
49.07%

Matchup Win Rate

51.0%
Zed vs Katarina Wins
⚔
49.0%
Katarina vs Zed Wins
Katarina

Katarina

the Sinister Blade
Mid
Katarina Mid Overall Win Rate
49.44%

Zed vs Katarina - Mid Matchup Guide Patch 15.18 (25.18)

Zed Mid vs Katarina Mid - Who is stronger?

Zed Mid has a slight edge over Katarina (51.0% win rate) based on 1483 games. The matchup slightly favors Zed.

View detailed statistics below: items, runes, and counter builds for Zed Mid vs Katarina Mid in patch 15.18 (25.18), including win rates and pick rates. With proper study, this can improve your chances of victory up to 74.4% in this matchup.

Statistical Matchup Analysis

Current meta showdown: Zed (7.1% pick rate, 4th most popular out of 61 Mid champions) versus Katarina (5.9%, 8th place). These two mid lane titans clash constantly, making matchup mastery a decisive factor in your climb. Even tiers, uneven results: Both champions sit at B-tier, but Zed claims a meaningful 51.0% vs 49.0% advantage. Zed's kit synergizes better in this specific head-to-head matchup. Optimize for consistency: First Strike paired with Cash Back (77.0% win rate, 1.6% popularity) provides the stats you need, while the item sequence Eclipse > Youmuu's Ghostblade > Serylda's Grudge with Ionian Boots of Lucidity delivers 74.4% win rate against Katarina.

Lane dominance: Zed not only wins the matchup but crushes CS (6.23/min vs 5.88 for Katarina). This 0.35 CS/min advantage generates significant gold leads that compound your already favorable position. Complete superiority: Zed dominates both win rate (51.0%) and damage output (908 vs 828/min, 2nd among Mid). The 80 damage/min difference creates massive snowball potential. Skill-based matchup: Identical KDA (2.30) with 51.0% win rate indicates that macro play, team coordination, and clutch moments determine outcomes more than individual mechanics.

Zed vs Katarina - Mid Stats Comparison

Zed Mid
Zed Mid		Versus
Katarina Mid
Katarina Mid
BTierB
51.0%Matchup Winrate49.0%
49.07%Role Winrate49.44%
#52Winrate Rank#49
7.1%Pickrate5.9%
2.3Average KDA2.3
431Gold per Minute435
6.23CS/Min5.88
0.27Wards per Minute0.28
908Damage per Minute828

How to Beat Katarina as Zed (Mid)

While statistically Zed is slightly stronger than Katarina 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.

Except for rare builds, Zed deals physical damage. Focus on eliminating enemy carries. Meanwhile, Katarina deals primarily magic damage (77.91%), additional magic resistance may be required.

An important advantage of Zed is higher farming statistics (ranked 40th among role champions) (versus 53rd for Katarina), which provides a stable gold advantage in extended games and allows faster access to key items.

Key aspects of the Zed Mid versus Katarina Mid matchup

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

Zed vs Katarina: 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.
53.4% Win Rate91.5% 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.
55.0% Win Rate6.7% Pick Rate

Zed vs Katarina: 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…

Taste of Blood
Taste of Blood Heal when you damage an enemy champion.

Healing: 16-40 (+0.1 bonus AD, +0.05 AP) health (based on level)

Cooldown: 20s

Taste of Blood

Heal when you damage an enemy champion.Healing: 16-40 (+0.1 bonus AD, +0.05 AP)…

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…

Ultimate Hunter
Ultimate Hunter Your ultimate gains 6 Ability Haste, plus an additional 5 Ability Haste per Bounty Hunter stack. Bounty Hunter stacks are earned the first time you get a takedown on each enemy champion.

Ultimate Hunter

Your ultimate gains 6 Ability Haste, plus an additional 5 Ability Haste per Bou…

Secondary Path
Sorcery
Transcendence
Transcendence Gain bonuses upon reaching the following levels:
Level 5: +5 Ability Haste
Level 8: +5 Ability Haste
Level 11: On Champion takedown, reduce the remaining cooldown of basic abilities by 20%.

Transcendence

Gain bonuses upon reaching the following levels:Level 5: +5 Ability Haste Level…

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

53.0% Win Rate41.4% Pick Rate

Best Win Rate Runes

Primary Path
Inspiration
First Strike
First Strike Attacks or abilities against an enemy champion within 0.25s of entering champion combat grant 10 gold and First Strike for 3 seconds, causing you to deal 7% extra damage against champions, and granting 50% (35% for ranged champions) of bonus damage dealt as gold.

Cooldown: 25 - 15s

First Strike

Attacks or abilities against an enemy champion within 0.25s of entering champion combat g…

Cash Back
Cash Back Get 6% Gold back when you purchase Legendary Items.

Cash Back

Get 6% Gold back when you purchase Legendary Items.

Triple Tonic
Triple Tonic Upon reaching level 3, gain an Elixir of Avarice.
Upon reaching level 6, gain an Elixir of Force.
Upon reaching level 9, gain an Elixir of Skill.

Triple Tonic

Upon reaching level 3, gain an Elixir of Avarice.Upon reaching level 6, gain an…

Jack Of All Trades
Jack Of All Trades For each different stat gained from items, gain one Jack stack. Each stack grants you 1 Ability Haste.

Gain 10 or 25 bonus Adaptive Force at 5 and 10 stacks, respectively.

Jack Of All Trades

For each different stat gained from items, gain one Jack stack. Each stack gran…

Secondary Path
Sorcery
Transcendence
Transcendence Gain bonuses upon reaching the following levels:
Level 5: +5 Ability Haste
Level 8: +5 Ability Haste
Level 11: On Champion takedown, reduce the remaining cooldown of basic abilities by 20%.

Transcendence

Gain bonuses upon reaching the following levels:Level 5: +5 Ability Haste Level…

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

77.0% Win Rate1.6% Pick Rate

Zed vs Katarina: 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.
Long Sword
Long Sword (350 gold) 10 Attack Damage
Health Potion
Health Potion (50 gold) Consume
Restores 120 Health over 15 seconds.
53.2% Win Rate44.4% Pick Rate
Popular Boots
Ionian Boots of Lucidity
Ionian Boots of Lucidity (900 gold) 10 Ability Haste
45 Move Speed
Ionian Insight
Gain 10 Summoner Spell Haste.
54.2% Win Rate66.7% Pick Rate
Mercury's Treads
Mercury's Treads (1250 gold) 20 Magic Resist
45 Move Speed
30% Tenacity
51.3% Win Rate21.4% Pick Rate
Plated Steelcaps
Plated Steelcaps (1200 gold) 25 Armor
45 Move Speed
Plating
Reduces incoming damage from Attacks by 10%.
57.0% Win Rate2.8% Pick Rate
Core Build
Caulfield's Warhammer
Caulfield's Warhammer (1050 gold) 20 Attack Damage
10 Ability Haste
->
Eclipse
Eclipse (2900 gold) 60 Attack Damage
15 Ability Haste
Ever Rising Moon
Hitting a champion with 2 separate Attacks or Abilities within 2 seconds grants you a Shield for 2 seconds.
Voltaic Cyclosword
Voltaic Cyclosword (3000 gold) 55 Attack Damage
18 Lethality
10 Ability Haste
Galvanize
Dashes and Stealth stack Energized 75% faster.
Firmament
Your Energized Attack deals bonus physical damage and Slows for 0.75 seconds.
Serylda's Grudge
Serylda's Grudge (3000 gold) 45 Attack Damage
35% Armor Penetration
15 Ability Haste
Bitter Cold
Damaging Abilities Slow enemies below 50% Health by 30% for 1 second.
45.4% Win Rate9.0% Pick Rate
Final Build
Edge of Night
Edge of Night (3000 gold) 50 Attack Damage
15 Lethality
250 Health
Annul
Grants a Spell Shield that blocks the next enemy Ability.
53.5% Win Rate17.6% 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 Blade
Doran's Blade (450 gold) 10 Attack Damage
80 Health
3% Life Steal
Health Potion
Health Potion (50 gold) Consume
Restores 120 Health over 15 seconds.
54.6% Win Rate16.2% Pick Rate
Highest Winrate Boots
Symbiotic Soles
Symbiotic Soles (900 gold) 40 Move Speed
Voidborn
Gain Empowered Recall.
Symbiosis
After traveling 150000 units of distance, transform into Synchronized Souls.
62.8% Win Rate0.7% Pick Rate
Plated Steelcaps
Plated Steelcaps (1200 gold) 25 Armor
45 Move Speed
Plating
Reduces incoming damage from Attacks by 10%.
57.0% Win Rate2.8% 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.
54.2% Win Rate66.7% Pick Rate
Core Build
Caulfield's Warhammer
Caulfield's Warhammer (1050 gold) 20 Attack Damage
10 Ability Haste
->
Eclipse
Eclipse (2900 gold) 60 Attack Damage
15 Ability Haste
Ever Rising Moon
Hitting a champion with 2 separate Attacks or Abilities within 2 seconds grants you a Shield for 2 seconds.
Youmuu's Ghostblade
Youmuu's Ghostblade (2800 gold) 55 Attack Damage
18 Lethality
4% Move Speed
Haunt
Gain Move Speed while out of combat.
Wraith Step
Gain Move Speed and Ghosting for seconds.
Serylda's Grudge
Serylda's Grudge (3000 gold) 45 Attack Damage
35% Armor Penetration
15 Ability Haste
Bitter Cold
Damaging Abilities Slow enemies below 50% Health by 30% for 1 second.
74.4% Win Rate1.7% Pick Rate
Final Build
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).
75.6% Win Rate13.1% Pick Rate
Other Items
Axiom Arc
Axiom Arc (3000 gold) 55 Attack Damage
18 Lethality
20 Ability Haste
Flux
When a champion that you damaged within 3 seconds dies, refund some of your Ultimate Ability's total cooldown.
68.6% Win Rate13.7% 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).
75.6% Win Rate13.1% Pick Rate
Serpent's Fang
Serpent's Fang (2500 gold) 55 Attack Damage
15 Lethality
Shield Reaver
Damaging an enemy champion reduces Shields they gain by % for 3 seconds.
If they were not already affected by Shield Reaver, reduce Shields on them by %.
68.2% Win Rate8.7% Pick Rate
Youmuu's Ghostblade
Youmuu's Ghostblade (2800 gold) 55 Attack Damage
18 Lethality
4% Move Speed
Haunt
Gain Move Speed while out of combat.
Wraith Step
Gain Move Speed and Ghosting for seconds.
86.2% Win Rate7.7% Pick Rate
Death's Dance
Death's Dance (3300 gold) 60 Attack Damage
15 Ability Haste
50 Armor
Ignore Pain
A percentage of damage taken is dealt to you over 3 seconds instead.
Defy
When a champion that you damaged within 3 seconds dies, cleanse Ignore Pain's remaining damage and restore Health over 2 seconds.
50.4% Win Rate5.4% Pick Rate
Maw of Malmortius
Maw of Malmortius (3100 gold) 60 Attack Damage
15 Ability Haste
40 Magic Resist
Lifeline
Taking magic damage that would reduce your Health below 30% grants a magic damage Shield for 3 seconds and 10% Omnivamp until end of combat.
44.0% Win Rate5.0% Pick Rate
Chempunk Chainsword
Chempunk Chainsword (3100 gold) 45 Attack Damage
450 Health
15 Ability Haste
Hackshorn
Dealing physical damage applies 40% Wounds to enemy champions for 3 seconds.
57.4% Win Rate3.8% Pick Rate

Zed vs Katarina: 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
Razor Shuriken Zed and his shadows throw their shurikens.

Each shuriken deals damage to every enemy hit.
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
W
W
Living ShadowPassive: Zed gains energy whenever he and his shadows strike an enemy with the same ability. Energy can only be gained once per cast ability.

Active: Zed's shadow dashes forward, remaining in place for a few seconds. Reactivating Living Shadow will cause Zed to switch positions with this shadow.
W
W
W
W
W
E
E
Shadow Slash Zed and his Shadows slash, dealing damage to nearby enemies. Enemies hit by a Shadow's slash are slowed.
E
E
E
E
E
R
R
Death Mark Zed becomes untargetable and dashes to an enemy champion, marking them. After 3 seconds the mark triggers, repeating a portion of all the damage Zed dealt to the target while they were marked.
R
R
R
Max Order: Q > E > W
52.5% Win Rate41.2% 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
Razor Shuriken Zed and his shadows throw their shurikens.

Each shuriken deals damage to every enemy hit.
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
R
W
Living ShadowPassive: Zed gains energy whenever he and his shadows strike an enemy with the same ability. Energy can only be gained once per cast ability.

Active: Zed's shadow dashes forward, remaining in place for a few seconds. Reactivating Living Shadow will cause Zed to switch positions with this shadow.
W
W
W
W
W
R
E
Shadow Slash Zed and his Shadows slash, dealing damage to nearby enemies. Enemies hit by a Shadow's slash are slowed.
E
E
E
E
E
R
R
Death Mark Zed becomes untargetable and dashes to an enemy champion, marking them. After 3 seconds the mark triggers, repeating a portion of all the damage Zed dealt to the target while they were marked.
R
R
R
Max Order: Q > E > W
72.9% Win Rate1.1% Pick Rate

Zed tips:

  • Saving energy and spell cooldowns until you use your ultimate will maximize Death Mark's damage.
  • Quickly double tapping Living Shadow will teleport Zed to his shadow immediately for rapid escapes.
  • Placing a Living Shadow before using Death Mark can give Zed a safe escape from combat.

Playing Against Katarina

  • Katarina's abilities deal magic damage, so even if she's building Attack Damage items, get magic resistance to counter her.
  • Try to save a disable for when Katarina uses her Death Lotus.

Zed Mid other Matchups

Zed
+5.0%
Xerath

Zed vs Xerath

Zed
+4.7%
Taliyah

Zed vs Taliyah

Zed
+4.1%
Yone

Zed vs Yone

Zed
+3.4%
Aurelion Sol

Zed vs Aurelion Sol

Zed
+3.3%
Ahri

Zed vs Ahri

Zed
+3.1%
Aurora

Zed vs Aurora

Zed
+3.0%
Mel

Zed vs Mel

Zed
+2.6%
Irelia

Zed vs Irelia

Zed
+2.5%
Hwei

Zed vs Hwei

Zed
+1.9%
Azir

Zed vs Azir

Zed
+1.5%
Orianna

Zed vs Orianna

Zed
+1.5%
Veigar

Zed vs Veigar

Zed
+1.2%
Syndra

Zed vs Syndra

Zed
+1.1%
Fizz

Zed vs Fizz

Zed
+1.0%
Talon

Zed vs Talon

Zed
+0.6%
Viktor

Zed vs Viktor

Zed
-1.1%
Zoe

Zed vs Zoe

Zed
-1.4%
LeBlanc

Zed vs LeBlanc

Zed
-1.5%
Annie

Zed vs Annie

Zed
-1.5%
Lissandra

Zed vs Lissandra

Zed
-2.0%
Yasuo

Zed vs Yasuo

Zed
-2.0%
Vladimir

Zed vs Vladimir

Zed
-2.0%
Akali

Zed vs Akali

Zed
-2.1%
Galio

Zed vs Galio

Zed
-2.2%
Qiyana

Zed vs Qiyana

Zed
-2.2%
Anivia

Zed vs Anivia

Zed
-2.2%
Ryze

Zed vs Ryze

Zed
-2.3%
Ekko

Zed vs Ekko

Zed
-2.5%
Akshan

Zed vs Akshan

Zed
-3.1%
Lux

Zed vs Lux

Zed
-3.8%
Malzahar

Zed vs Malzahar

Zed
-3.8%
Twisted Fate

Zed vs Twisted Fate

Zed
-4.0%
Sylas

Zed vs Sylas

Zed
-4.2%
Vex

Zed vs Vex

Zed
-4.4%
Diana

Zed vs Diana

Zed
-7.1%
Malphite

Zed vs Malphite