MacroMind matchup data: real ranked games, not opinions
Katarina vs Malzahar
Katarina vs Malzahar in Mid: who wins more often?
Across 3,491 ranked games in Mid, Katarina beats Malzahar in 52% of them.
Global ranked sample: games from every region and every rank pooled together, not one server's stats. Data runs through patch 26.12; curves updated 2026-08-07.
By 15 minutes the median game has Katarina ahead by 317 gold.
Katarina at 15:00
- Gold: +317
- CS: -19
- XP: -89
Typical gap to Malzahar, from 3,472 games that reached 15:00.
Does Katarina counter Malzahar?
On the count, yes. Katarina takes 52% of 3,491 ranked Mid games against Malzahar. Protect the edge: the rows below show what Katarina wins with a gold lead at 10:00, and how far it drops from behind, so trade for that lead early and do not give it back.
Your Katarina game plan against Malzahar
With a gold lead at 10:00, Katarina wins 60% of 2,022 games in this matchup. Behind at the same mark, the rate drops to 41% over 1,466.
| The spot | Win rate | Games |
|---|---|---|
| Ahead in gold at 10:00 | 60% | 2,022 |
| Behind in gold at 10:00 | 41% | 1,466 |
| First blood | 56% | 2,380 |
| +kills at 10:00 | 58% | 2,265 |
| +CS at 10:00 | 62% | 748 |
| 0 deaths at 10:00 | 60% | 953 |
| 0 deaths at 15:00 | 75% | 314 |
In the median game here, the first death comes near 6:42 and level 6 lands around 5:17. Until your spike is online, treat the all-in window with respect.
Katarina in Mid: the items that actually get built
Into Malzahar specifically, Katarina finishes Hextech Gunblade first most often: 50.0% over 760 games of this matchup.
The most-finished core in this exact matchup is Kraken Slayer, Blade of The Ruined King, Terminus: 67.7% across 186 games.
The most-finished Katarina core is Lich Bane, Shadowflame, Zhonya's Hourglass: 54.7% across 5,566 games when all three got done. All matchups, patches 26.1-26.12.
Most games start Dark Seal + Refillable Potion; the first finished item is usually Hextech Gunblade (22,295 games).
Skill plan: Katarina players max Q first and take Q at level 1.