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League of Legends: Katarina Skins’ Review – StrategyZero
Aug 212012
 
Katarina, the Sinister Blade
Katarina, the Sinister Blade

Katarina, the Sinister Blade is a true fan of swords and daggers of all kinds; her preferred tools for her assassinations. Besides, Katarina is an attractive woman and prefers light, comfortable clothing to long cloaks or armour. Then, do her skins enhance both her lethality and appeal? Read further on her skins’ review and find out.

Mercenary Katarina
Mercenary Katarina Splash Art Mercenary Katarina Model
Category: Regular
Price: 520 RP
Concept: Katarina reprising her original look: with pink hair and green clothes.
Model: New textures for Katarina.
Particles: No new particles.
Animations: No new animations.
Sounds: No new sounds.
Splash Art: Mercenary Katarina hints at a more modern look than she actually has. The background seems to be made of skyscrapers, one of which has its top floors on fire. Moreover, the other buildings are twisted and inclined as if collapsing. The whole of the background is covered by the dust of such falls which makes the lack of clarity reasonable. However, as a much as a show of Katarina’s intense destructive power as it may be it appears inapplicable: Katarina is an assassin not a demolisher. It is fortunate then that Katarina’s depiction is excellent. Her hair flows masterfully, her leather clothes shine under the light as well as her blades while her pose is focused, believable and appealing. For some reason her body tattoo is drawn on her left side which coupled with the extra detail absent from her in-game model make the piece not a faithful reproduction of her true aspect. Still, on the whole this is quite a good splash art despite the obvious flaws it suffers from.
Rating: Star clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZeroStar clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZero
Conclusion: Mercenary Katarina is a re-texture and a hint at her original look. The mercenary colours aren’t particularly good nor are they unsuitable. Truth is, this is a skin that exists more for the nostalgia it provides than the quality it shows. On its own, besides the pink hair, which seems as pale as white, and green clothes you get absolutely nothing else. Therefore, except for nostalgic fans Mercenary Katarina isn’t worth getting.

Red Card Katarina
Red Card Katarina Splash Art Red Card Katarina Model
Category: Legacy
Price: 975 RP
Concept: Katarina dressed as an association football referee.
Model: Moderate model changes for Katarina.
Particles: No new particles.
Animations: No new animations.
Sounds: No new sounds.
Splash Art: This splash art is simple and straightforward: stadium on the background, Katarina on the foreground and work done. The background is simple with a minimal display of the stadium’s crowds and lights; most of it is a dark cloudy sky. Katarina looks nice and attractive in her referee clothes and while the red card makes sense the sword does not, at all. The quality of the drawing is very good but the composition is indeed simple. Overall, a nice splash art that does its job, with quality, but nothing more.
Rating: Star clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZeroStar clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZero
Conclusion: In spite of how unfitting a referee is in the middle of a battlefield armed with a couple of swords, Katarina does look good. It can’t be denied that the clothes enhance her lean figure and do an excellent job at showing how attractive she is; maybe better than Kitty Cat Katarina does. Still, there isn’t anything striking about her look: it simply offers a clear view of her silhouette. On those grounds, it’s a nice skin but as far as concept and execution goes there isn’t much on offer.

Bilgewater Katarina
Bilgewater Katarina Splash Art Bilgewater Katarina Model
Category: Regular
Price: 975 RP
Concept: Katarina as swashbuckling pirate.
Model: Major model changes for Katarina. New model for Katarina’s swords.
Particles: No new particles.
Animations: No new animations.
Sounds: No new sounds.
Splash Art: Bilgewater Katarina’s splash art is good but feels like it could’ve been better. The setting is appropriate: a misty ship; Katarina is well depicted as well. Regardless, it all looks quite empty like a pose more than a glimpse of her seafaring adventures. Still the piece succeeds in its intent: Katarina is well delineated with great shading and good depiction of materials and proportions. Still, despite the visual quality the piece looks devoid of life; it’s just a spotlight. Overall, a good looking piece but with a lot of wasted potential.
Rating: Star clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZeroStar clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZeroStar clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZero
Conclusion: Bilgewater Katarina is a nice skin with a few inconsistencies. Firstly, it effectively delivers the sea scoundrel look: patch, hat and boarding sabres effectively work in tandem. Secondly, the revealing clothes and the unexplainable armour stain the quality. It seems as if the skin attempts to simultaneously present Katarina as a pirate and femme fatale with conflicting elements that generate a result that isn’t exactly a success. In conclusion, Bilgewater Katarina is a nice pirate skin as long as you don’t mind her baring skin and retaining traces of her classic incarnation.

Kitty Cat Katarina
Kitty Cat Katarina Splash Art Kitty Cat Katarina Model
Category: Legacy
Price: 975 RP
Concept: Katarina wearing a revealing cat costume.
Model: Moderate model changes for Katarina.
Particles: No new particles.
Animations: No new animations.
Sounds: No new sounds.
Splash Art: Kitty Cat Katarina isn’t a serious skin and it’s splash art has to be considered under the same light. The city background and moon with a cat face are a setting but one that simply frames the pose and just tells that cats like high places. Katarina is alluring and attractive in her cat suit and the excellent shading enhances her portrayal. In the end, the piece succeeds at what it wants to do: spotlight Katarina’s Kitty Cat look; it does nothing more and maybe it shouldn’t.
Rating: Star clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZeroStar clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZero
Conclusion: Kitty Cat Katarina is a skin of extremes as its both desirable but disappointing. On the one hand, it dresses Katarina in an appealing and funny cat suit. On the other hand, that’s all this skin is: an exclusive fetish. There’s no denying that Kitty Cat Katarina is a skin with an attractive look but the concept is quite basic and the execution is limited. You could say that this is a bubblegum skin: it looks incredible in the beginning but in the end it doesn’t amount to much.

High Command Katarina
High Command Katarina Splash Art High Command Katarina Model
Category: Regular
Price: 750 RP
Concept: Katarina in her high rank Noxian military uniform.
Model: New model for Katarina and her swords.
Particles: No new particles.
Animations: No new animations.
Sounds: No new sounds.
Splash Art: The siege engines stay silent behind Katarina, she stands defiant under the rain; with her swords drawn, her eyes face what’s coming. She waits calmly but focused: Katarina is always ready to do whatever her loyalty asks for. This piece makes a clear and interesting impression and backs it with great use of colours and lighting. The background does look rougher that Katarina but it also contrasts her precise assassin style with the blunt destruction of the catapults. While it is strange to find Katarina alone in the middle of such machinery it could very well be an infiltration to reach her target. Truth is, this is a piece that tells a lot and suggests even more. It’s not just a good spotlight, it also is a little story and that makes it one of League of Legends’ best splash arts.
Rating: Star clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZeroStar clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZeroStar clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZeroStar clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZero
Conclusion: High Command Katarina is a skin that doesn’t deliver on the promises of the splash art; as unexpected as it may be. Still, what it does deliver is quite good as the overall aesthetic is well presented: it equally demonstrates Katarina’s attractiveness and lethality. For instance, the clothes show skin but are more suggestive than revealing. Moreover, the guards of the swords echo the knee caps with very eloquent skulls. The golden decorations add an aristocratic feel without standing in the way of practicality. While the daggers have the classic design the hooked style of her swords matches the skin perfectly and also modifies Bouncing Blade; which is a nice addition.
The design still has a few issues: the unnecessarily high boots make the gaps on the outsides of the tights almost insignificant. Furthermore, the jacket going under her trousers is a whimsical and ridiculous choice as it serves no other function than to show something unusual and make her tattoo disappear. Having the clothing as two separate pieces seems more natural and comfortable. All things considered, High Command Katarina is a very nice skin, despite its flaws, that heightens her classic theme with some militaristic aristocracy.

Sandstorm Katarina
Sandstorm Katarina Splash Art Sandstorm Katarina Model
Category: Regular
Price: 975 RP
Concept: Katarina wearing desert style clothing and wielding serrated scimitars.
Model: New model for Katarina and her swords.
Particles: New whirlwind for Death Lotus.
Animations: New animation for her taunt.
Sounds: No new sounds.
Splash Art: Flying sand is nothing uncommon in the desert, something quite convenient to get away with an unnecessarily fuzzy background. At least the structures’ silhouettes are enough to clearly convey the setting. Katarina looks really good: the loose clothes flow in the air, the metal decorations shine and the serrated scimitars look deadly and eye-catching; just like her. Regrettably, there seems to be a few perspective problems that, while minor, make certain aspects of Katarina look awkward. For instance, the size and width of the coins on her dress or the scar over her left eye and even her body’s proportions. The individual effects are minor but together they affect the perception of the piece. Overall, it’s quite a nice splash art that suffers from an underlying and not always subtle problem with the way things are delineated.
Rating: Star clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZeroStar clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZeroStar clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZero
Conclusion: As a homage to Prince of Persia’s 2008 version, Sandstorm Katarina is definitely faithful to its source material. In addition to this, the desert theme is executed effectively providing an appealing and fresh outfit without making it revealing. In other words, Katarina does show skin but it makes perfect sense for a hot environment; even though, in a true desert she would completely cover herself. The serrated scimitars and daggers are good but it’s strange that blades designed to be wielded with finesse are made less precise and cleaner by this characteristic.
Actually, the skin seems to be more about looks than source fidelity and now the skin no longer has the support of new particles to add the necessary touch of sand and serrated blades to Katarina’s activities. Only Death Lotus gets a little extra style and most abilities employ a thick red that doesn’t fit in with the desert feel intended. On the whole, Sandstorm Katarina is a nice skin on the surface. It surely has an attractive concept but followed by a shallow execution.

Slay Belle Katarina
Slay Belle Katarina Splash Art Slay Belle Katarina Model
Category: Legacy
Price: 975 RP
Concept: Katarina dressed as a sexy Santa helper.
Model: New model for Katarina and her swords.
Particles: New sparkles for her abilities and Christmas lights for Death Lotus.
Animations: New spinning poses for Voracity and Death Lotus plus new recall animation.
Sounds: New sounds for her recall.
Splash Art: The background is actually undefined, some hints can be caught from the Christmas tree and walls, it could be a hallway or a manor’s entrance. Regardless, it’s more speculation than an actual display; much like the identity or even relevance of the startled and falling man. Katarina’s depiction has a pleasing cartoon style and interesting composition. She seems to have ripped a box open from the inside so as to make a surprise appearance; though she could just be on an anti-present rampage. Her portrayal is very nice: the stance is dynamic but it hides her body and boots. Besides, the shading is great yet her hair looks a bit waxy, her dress too wrinkled and her right blade quite plain. Overall, is a fine depiction of Katarina that serves its purpose, to a point, yet has some issues.
Rating: Star clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZeroStar clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZeroStar clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZeroStar clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZero
Conclusion: Slay Belle Katarina is a fine skin with a simple but attractive concept: Katarina as an enticing Santa helper. The clothes are nice and the antlers acceptable but the outfit is hardly impressive. Conversely, the new blades have a fascinating design that greatly helps make the skin unique. The particles are shy but the little sparkles do give a magical touch to her activities. The string of Christmas lights added to Death Lotus is a more overt reference to the related event; which is a welcome addition. The new poses for her spinning are a small change that is often difficult to notice but it contributes a tiny extra towards a more playful identity; as her clothes indicate. All things considered, Slay Belle Katarina doesn’t bedazzle with its style but it’s still an appealing skin for the Sinister Blade.

Warring Kingdoms Katarina
Warring Kingdoms Katarina Splash Art Warring Kingdoms Katarina Model
Category: Regular
Price: 975 RP
Concept: Katarina as an elegant flower assassin.
Model: New model for Katarina and her swords.
Particles: New red flowers for Bouncing Blade and Death Lotus.
Animations: New recall animation.
Sounds: New sounds for her abilities, auto-attack and recall.
Splash Art: Fantastically sliding through a rope of hanging paper lanterns Katarina swiftly makes her way through the city. The fireworks illuminate the city behind her but around her darkness extends its protective anonymity. For starters, the idea behind the piece is quite nice. The blurriness of the background can be attributed to her movement yet it may be a bit too much. Besides, the city looks lifeless. It’s reasonable to think that everybody is celebrating around the fireworks but it also appears lacking in decoration and detail.
Katarina looks like the completely opposite though. Her clothing is abundant in folds and the metal in highlights. However, her face seems a tad alien and her legs disproportionately big for her body. The right one is also too deformed by the perspective. The colours appear rather dim even though they’re quite good but her left arm is questionably blurry; it doesn’t look so far back.
All in all, it’s a piece that has a good setup but that ends up like the sparks at her feet: looks good for a while but then all the shine disappears.
Rating: Star clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZeroStar clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZeroStar clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZeroStar clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZero
Conclusion: At a glance Warring Kingdoms Katarina is a simple skin and to an extent it is. The new outfit is unassuming and mostly consists of black trousers and a white blouse. There are some golden highlights here and there as well as the unavoidable cleavage but nothing that catches one’s attention. The blades have a nice design and Katarina doesn’t look bad but the Eastern style of the skin isn’t clear.
The particles incorporate red and flowers in a way that is appealing but, again, isn’t striking. They are eye-catching when present but only two abilities benefit from them and on top of the classic visuals. The new sounds have a more clattering, metallic feel than the classic ones but still feel too similar. Her abilities do look and sound good but they also seem only acceptable because they fail to impress. In fact, they bear little relation to her simple, monochromatic outfit. The same could be said of the recall: it’s good and fancy but seems just sufficient.
In the end, Warring Kingdoms Katarina is a satisfying skin but not a remarkable one. Everything about her seems nice and different but just enough. Therefore, it’s an appropriate option for fans of the Sinister Blade but nothing out of this world.

PROJECT: Katarina
PROJECT: Katarina Splash Art PROJECT: Katarina Model
Category: Regular
Price: 1350 RP
Concept: Katarina as a cyborg assassin.
Model: New model for Katarina and her swords plus new glow for her swords.
Particles: New particles for her abilities, auto-attack and recall.
Animations: New recall and spawn animation.
Sounds: New sounds for her abilities, auto-attack and recall plus processed voice-over.
Splash Art: The blur of a futuristic city is the place. Rain falls on streets that seem to need no help to reflect neon lights. An explosion stains the precision of the buildings’ designs and a cyborg appears as the one responsible; a sentinel looks from far away at the action. As far as context is concerned, the cyberpunk feel is present. It’s also only suggested so while the outline and coldness expected of a dystopia is appreciable there are few concrete elements to inspect. In fact, aside from Katarina and the street around her, it’s a diffuse mess.
Katarina does enjoy a nice portrayal. Her dashing pose shows her finishing a target that is left to explode behind her as she lands on the wet street and a pool splashes its water around while her leg leaves a trail of eye-catching sparks; a great touch. The lines are precise and the colours sharp with a measured use of highlights and reflections. That moderation suits the dark cyberpunk mood. Her blades look a bit simple and their glow is too faint. Conversely, her synthetic arms are brought to life with the raindrops making their simple, pristine surfaces more interesting. That effect isn’t always used as the dull look of her visor and cotton hair confirm. Fortunately, her body and legs do benefit from it. That’s particularly relevant as the right leg looks simple and disproportionate considering the perspective.
All in all, this is a great splash art with a good context to back an attractive portrayal. The background suffers from the chaotic blur that conceals any details while Katarina struggles against the plain areas of her cybernetic body. Regardless, the scene is simple yet fitting and appealing so this piece does a very fine job at presenting its futuristic take on the Sinister Blade.
Rating: Star clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZeroStar clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZeroStar clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZero
Conclusion: The move of the Sinister Blade to a cyberpunk dystopia is a swift one. The cybernetic enhancements naturally suit an assassin and so her armoured body and synthetic additions effortlessly portray her futuristic aspect. The lighter coloured left arm and hair easily stand out from the dark tones used elsewhere. In fact, there’re too many dark hues which don’t let the design of her artificial body be appreciated. Her jacket seems buried among the similarly busy design of her body which removes some of the youthful humanity that should be saved. It helps make the appearance unique by taking advantage of Katarina’s own human identity. The visor also looks solid and dull and that’s something shared with the blades used for swords and daggers alike. There’s no transparency or added effect to make them look made of energy and more than simple, solid material.
The particles follow the blades design with polygonal shapes and a red colour scheme. The colour is interesting but the structure is repeated between abilities which make them appear too similar. The only effects that help give them a distinct style are Shunpo’s vertical bands with the teleport distortion and Death Lotus’ diagonal swirls; which suit the ultimate so well that it’s surprising that they haven’t been used before on the classic incarnation. Sadly, Voracity doesn’t benefit from significant new particles or new sounds.
The new sounds seem similar to the classic ones but there’s a significant even if somewhat subtle difference. Abilities do incorporate energy bursts which better communicate the virtual feel of the abilities; still deeper changes were to be expected. The only new animation is the recall which is another example of this trend. The metallic sounds are all recognizable but the distortions’ look and sounds are what bring the PROJECT theme to life; the acrobatics are nice too. The processing of the voice-over is nothing surprising by now. It suits the concept but without any surprises.
All in all, this is a particularly adequate adaptation. It seems to do enough to communicate its message but it seldom makes an effort to differentiate itself from the rest. The only real highlights are synthetic limbs, some more noticeable than others, and the particles distortions; which appear like interesting glitches she takes advantage of. This makes PROJECT: Katarina an effective cyborg assassin but not an impressive one as she deserves; especially considering the ample potential of the concept.

Death Sworn Katarina
Death Sworn Katarina Splash Art Death Sworn Katarina Model
Category: Legacy
Price: 1350 RP
Concept: Katarina as a spectral assassin.
Model: New model for Katarina and her swords. New glow for her hair, right arm and swords.
Particles: New particles for her abilities, auto-attack and recall.
Animations: New animations for her hair and new recall animation.
Sounds: New sounds for her abilities, auto-attack and recall plus processed voice-over.
Splash Art: A cathedral shrouded in shadows but not the type that are passive witnesses. The architecture is detailed and antique, what little can be appreciated. The shadows are blurs of darkness with generic, humanoid shapes. In the middle, a spectre glows under the moonlight. The context is straightforward, unoriginal but fitting. It’s a pity though that most of it is barely suggested. There’re large areas that show nothing concrete, like on the left side of the piece, even if they aim at hinting at something larger.
Katarina’s appearance is a wonder against the diffuse mess of the background. With sharp lines and colours along a soft use of light she easily catches the eye. The stance is quietly defiant and confident, practically showing Katarina’s classic personality but with a touch of the supernatural. In fact, she feels like the Sinister Blade that everyone knows and loves. The surface is different but the identity seems intact; which does have its ups and downs. The elegance in display by the ethereal blades, arm and hair is a high point of the portrayal. Unfortunately, she does look a bit monochromatic; though that’s due to following the in-game look. The pose doesn’t allow a good view at Katarina’s supernatural appearance. Sure, it’s dramatic and communicates her personality but asks for a sacrifice.
The result is a splash art with acceptable context whose potential is squandered thanks to a background that looks like a sketch. Katarina, on the other hand, stands tall in her new look though it all seems rather superficial even if quite eye-catching. As a presentation card the portrayal does all the job.
Rating: Star clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZeroStar clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZeroStar clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZero
Conclusion: Somewhere between Lunar Wraith and PROJECT we find Death Sworn Katarina. The spectral feel is there but so luminescent and with such clean lines that there’s an unintended futuristic feel to Katarina’s look. The armour is lean and practical while the decorative lines have a modern feel. The clothes are convenient for an agile warrior and even have a casual angle due to the jacket; which also allow for a good amount of cleavage. Colours are too similar to each other. Darker tones should offer more contrast so that the glow could stand out better. The swords manage a slight antique feel, a bit like the armour which provides a slight supernatural tint. However, compared to the lean design of the Katarina’s clothes, her swords look too ornamental and even cartoony.
Most of the spectral feel comes from the glowing arm and hair; with help from the swords. The measured glow is classy and effective but it also has a digital or holographic feel. While this could be interpreted as a lack of focus on the skin the look is actually distinct and clear about its intentions. What it lacks is a sinister feel. After all, despite the chalk-white skin Katarina looks quite human and healthy. Regardless, it’s a refreshing approach that embraces the ghostly and leaves the obvious horror behind.
Particles tend to rely on soft white trails for the swords which indicate supernatural magic and swift movement. The effect is actually appealing and suitable but also repetitive. All abilities and even auto-attacks use the same effect. In terms of consistency, there’s nothing bad to be said. However, it goes over to the point of homogeneity and even monotony. Perhaps using more contrast between whites and blacks could’ve added some depth to the visuals. It’s worth noting that Voracity looks rather similar to the classic version.
Sounds are quite good with a metallic and lightly haunting tone to the blades which is attractive. They are so suitable that they could fit the classic version just as well. The sinister tone is downplayed; reasonably so as is the approach of the skin. Unfortunately, that also diminishes the supernatural angle which, added to how similar they metal clanks end up sounding, leaves the audio feeling a tad mundane. The processed voice-over adds some haunting echoes to Katarina’s voice which helps set the spooky tone.
The new animations for the hair are nothing noteworthy. Essentially, it means that her hair floats behind her at all times instead of flowing naturally. It helps with the subtle supernaturalism of the skin. However, it’s also a shy addition that doesn’t feel significant. The recall is mostly Katarina showing off her abilities with the supernatural. It works but doesn’t say much about this specific version of the ghost.
All things considered, for a spectral Sinister Blade, Death Sworn Katarina goes the subtle way which has many advantages but also disadvantages. The classy approach of the skin is refreshing and the elegance in visuals and sounds are welcome. Unfortunately, animations don’t collaborate much plus there’s a lack of variety in colours, particles and sounds. The idea that the model shows is good but it needs variety to make the result more vivid. Still, Death Sworn Katarina is a good skin without doubt. It’s a pity that with some extra work it could’ve been great, though.

Conclusion

Katarina shows different aesthetics befitting a blade wielding assassin. Warring Kingdoms Katarina is the recommended skin: it has an attractive style even if it is nothing striking. It surely is elegant and classy with flowers added to a couple of her abilities. Yet, the core of the skin is still Katarina but a bit more aristocratic than usual. It’s a good skin with an acceptable execution but it plays it too safe.

Sandstorm Katarina and High Command Katarina are the best exponents provided you are content with re-models. The desert aesthetic of the former is appealing and distinct though shallow. Sand particles could help but they are mostly missing. The latter has a few stylish but questionable design choices. It still works well enough so as to display the more militaristic side of her life. It’s only a re-model but the lore reference helps it stand out.

One of the most expensive skins so far is PROJECT: Katarina. The adaptation into a cybernetic assassin is a natural fit for the Sinister Blade but it also seems somewhat basic. The model is good but seems busy in dark colours with little attention given to her synthetic enhancements. The particles rely on the familiar polygonal shapes and though the new colour helps only the distortions stand out. The sounds also suffer from only adding a few energy bursts. Overall, it’s a fine skin but not impressive enough given how much potential it has.

Another expensive skin is Death Sworn Katarina. It’s a skin with an interesting, spectral feel that is classy and attractive. Sadly, there’s not enough variety in the skin to make each aspect as distinct as the approach of the skin is. The result is good, nonetheless. There’re no areas that are bad but they don’t take advantage of the good features as well as they could. With some extra variety and vibrancy the skin would be great.

In legacy territory, we find Kitty Cat, Red Card and Slay Belle Katarina. The first, Kitty Cat, is a fancy costume that relies on revealing skin and being a fetish to appeal; as it’s not really funny. The second, Red Card, is a sporty look that reveals her fine figure but doesn’t do much beyond changing her clothes. The last one, Slay Belle, presents her as a sexy helper with a bad attitude. That suits her personality and the particles are rather nice so it can be an option for a less serious take on the Sinister Blade.

Bilgewater Katarina is a good choice if seafarers are to your liking but be aware of the lingering classic traits that remain in her. Finally, Mercenary Katarina is a cheap change of colours for the Sinister Blade. If you really like the colour scheme or feel nostalgic about Katarina it may be a skin for you; yet be mindful that there’s nothing else on offer.

  122 Responses to “League of Legends: Katarina Skins’ Review”

  1. Trank you very much for the skin review Zero!..

  2. pls do a nunu skin review not sure if i should get glacial Olaf and demolisher nunu.

    • Sure, Olaf added to the list and Nunu bumped in the order.

      With regards to the skins, Glacial Olaf is simply blue Olaf so consider how much you like Classic Olaf but with a blue colour scheme.
      Demolisher Nunu is more interesting as it outfits Nunu and Willump in heavy armour. The look is quite appealing and if you like Nunu there’s a good chance you’ll like the armour; despite Nunu’s gorilla face.

  3. I really do like katarina but I’ve never played her due to the fact that everyone else plays her. I really like her christmas skin and im not sure if I should buy it, wait for the sandstorm to go on sale or buy neither of them. Please tell me your opinion guys. I really do need it.

    • It’s true that Katarina has become quite popular after her visual upgrade but she’s still quite fun to play.

      Slay Belle Katarina is a nice skin but it’s firmly Christmas based. Therefore, you should consider whether the look is nice enough to use the skin for the rest of the year.

      Sandstorm Katarina has a distinct Persian style that isn’t tied to a season. However, the particle problem with Bouncing Blade is a bit detracting; though it should be fixed, sometime.

      In the end, you should purchase a skin if you intend to play the champion and like the skin. Sandstorm has a broader concept but Slay Belle is more exclusive; as it’s legacy.

      Besides, you shouldn’t discard new skins being released; as Katarina is quite popular. If you purchase any be sure that you like it enough that a new skin wouldn’t make them obsolete.

  4. There’s a small typo in the Mercenary Katarina: her hair is not pink, but some kind of greyish blue. I’m surprised nobody in the comments noticed it.

    • Actually, we were mostly quoting a Rioter who explained that Mercenary Katarina homages her original look with pink hair. We’ll check a bit further and update the review as needed. Thanks for the notice.

      • I thought I was colorblind for a sec, I had to check with my friends what her hair color was, haha!

        Still, I didn’t know her original look had pink hair. That is indeed a surprise on my part.

        • It probably goes as far back as beta, as only in her visual upgrade were her icons updated with her new aspect. Before that they showed her with pink hair as she looks in her mercenary style.

          Apparently, Katarina was a tad more lively in her origins. In the end, everyone has a dark past they want to conceal.

  5. For most of the skins you have stated “New projectile for Bouncing Blade.”, but how so are the projectiles new? I have seen several videos on the skins but cannot really notice any new projectile.

    Also, this is my personal opinion but, don’t you think Bilgewater Katarina deserves a 4 star rating?

    • What we mean is that when Katarina throws her Bouncing Blade the blade on the air matches the one she was holding in her hand. For instance, that’s not the case with Sandstorm Katarina as the blade she throws isn’t a serrated scimitar but instead her classic blade.

      Bilgewater Katarina is an appealing skin but for 975 RP it should let go more of Classic Katarina’s design. We agree that it’s charming but it could embody the pirate look a bit better.

  6. Zero, very good review as always I currently have bilge water,high command, sandstorm, and mercenary. And I love using katarina, I really love slay belle katarinas splash art and in game look and I live in Asia do you happen to know If they will be selling it and the rest of the showdown skins this Christmas thanks in advance and sorry for the long post

    • As far as we know, Slay Belle Katarina is a legacy skin and so will probably be available for purchase again during Christmas; as well as other 2011 and 2012 Snowdown skins. Theoretically, skins shouldn’t be unavailable depending on region so, unless something strange happens, next Christmas they should be back at the store.

  7. does anybody knows when kitty cat katarina will be available this month? i really want to take her!!!!!!!!!

  8. does anyone know when katarina will be able to buy slay belle skin? on chirstmas? or when?

  9. the slay belle katarina is 5* for me :3

    • Nothing wrong with that, in fact, we agree that it’s a great skin. However, to reach five stars as a legacy skin it needs something extra that pushes it beyond the usual quality. Nonetheless, it’s definitely quite a charming skin.

  10. What is the best skin for katarina?

    • If you like something serious then Sandstorm Katarina is the best though High Command is also quite good. For something funny then Slay Belle delivers good looks. Personal preference is probably the deciding factor as these three are all nice options.

      • I cant buy slaybelle and i dont like the look of sandstorm , I like high Command and i like mercenary too b’cuz it has blue hair … better to hear your opinion

        • High Command is quite nice, not only in looks but also in terms of lore: she’s reasonably, yet not flawlessly, dressed as a high ranking officer of the Noxian military.
          Mercenary is simpler and cheaper as well as a tribute to her original appearance.

          In this case, there are sufficient arguments to make both skins an attractive purchase because of the most important factor: you like them both. You only have to decide if you’d rather spend more for something more elaborate or not.

  11. Really good review! 🙂 Do you know if bilgewater Katarina or high command katarina will be coming on sale soon? 🙂

    • Bilgewater Katarina was discounted on July right after High Command. Therefore, a reasonable amount of time has passed since they were on sale. Sadly, there are some skins that haven’t been discounted for over a year. Ultimately, a sale including any of these skins is feasable in the foreseeable future but there’s some tough competition to beat.

  12. Zero, can you confirm on Red Card Katarina’s price? It says 520 rp on lolwiki.

  13. After looking at the kata skins for sometime I have decided to not get any, so do you think they (Riot) need to make a new skin for her. One with full FX changes! If so what skin would you guys like to see? (Make one up and use your imagination 😀 )

    • There should be another skin for Katarina as the ones she has are good but none are really impressive.

      We currently don’t have any specific ideas regarding possible skins. We’ll have to think long on this one as it’s not a matter of just having an idea that might work and doing what you can with it. Ideally, it should be an interesting and fitting concept backed by a meticulous execution.

      The people at Riot have the expertise to do something spectacular let’s just hope that the end result is satisfying to the player once released. After all, skins aren’t exactly a cheap thing.

  14. Well Zero, seems like its 975 RP. Thanks!

  15. Hi Zero, I read all the skins reviews before I buy a skin and I think there really cool and have stopped me from making stupid decisions. But anyways I would like to ask a question, I own all the KAT skins most of them I have got in special but i wanted to here your opinion on owning all of champions skins if you “main” them or play them heaps like I play KAT.
    Cheers

    • Glad that you find the reviews useful.

      We think it’s understandable and even a good idea to have a lot of skins for a champion you enjoy and play a lot. They provide variety and some champions do have many good skins so there’s satisfaction to be had in owning many skins.

      The other side of the matter is if a skin is purchased simply to have them all. There will be more skins, eventually, because it’s the nature of the game. So, unless you are a collector there’s little point in getting a skin that won’t see much use.

      The bottom line is that it’s not really a problem to have several skins if you use and like them. However, getting a skin just to fulfil a quota is a weak argument.

  16. My opion, and im not sure about others, is that mercenary is the best skin

  17. have they fixed the blade on sandstorm skin yet?

    • We just checked and they have not fixed it, the classic blade remains. It’s the only skin to have new blades without Bouncing Blade having new particles. Considering how things are it’ll probably never be changed.

  18. When will you make a reveiw for the upcoming warring kingdoms katarina skin?

  19. Warring Kingdoms Katarina only has new sounds on her recall. Placebo effect FTW.

    • We compared each sound side by side between Warring Kingdoms and Classic Katarina and we noticed a difference. It’s small as the abilities only sound a bit more metallic but it existed. Is there a place where it was stated that no new sounds were added, like a PBE announcement? We could be wrong so we’d appreciate more information, thanks.

  20. Doesn’t Mercenary Katarina have white hair? Not pink? Or am I terribly mistaken?

    • It’s a rather pale pink to be fair but, at least, the intention is supposed to be that. Pink hair was the original colour for Katarina and was visible in her old ability icons.

  21. Hey Zero just wondering what you thought of the new katarina splash art? I quite like it because it takes away the supermodel aspect of Kat and better matches her theme. But I’m interested more in what you thought of it as a price of art? Cheers

    • We agree, the current splash art better displays her as a Sinister Blade instead of the sexy femme fatale that she’s always displayed as; even in other media. The idea of a dashing assassin is conveyed by the piece but the blurry effect isn’t convincing. It tries to display how she moves or teleports between enemies but it’s too pronounced and doesn’t reflect her actual in-game effects.

      Katarina looks good but she still appears more sexy than fearsome though there’s more emphasis on the latter despite the former being clearly present. All in all, it’s a clearer portrayal of Katarina as a deadly assassin. It’s a bit messy but it’s an improvement.

  22. I found a noticeable typo on Mercenary Katarina:
    “Concept: Katarina with pink hair and green clothes.”
    I’m sure you meant white, but I thought you should know so you can correct it.

    • Also, in the Conclusion for it, it says “On its own, besides the pink hair and green clothes, you get absolutely nothing else.”

    • The thing is that originally Katarina did have pink hair and mercenary is a homage to her look. The hair does look a bit pink but we agree that it’s a rather pale hue. Perhaps we should clarify that in-game her hair looks practically white despite the intention of the skin.

  23. It says that the concept for Mercenary Katarina is “Katarina with pink hair and green clothes,” but she has white hair. My guess is that the skin had pink hair before her visual update.

    • The concept part of Mercenary Katarina is a bit confusing because it relates to the original look. We think it’s high time we go straight up and note it as such to avoid confusion. Thanks for the correction.

  24. Slay Belle Katarina’s E has a different animation btw, it’s more of a spin, its minor but noticeable.

    • We just checked online and couldn’t notice any difference she simply appears behind her target as she does in her classic Shunpo. We’ll check in-game to make sure and if we notice something we’ll update the review.

  25. oh thank god this is here im in a game right now and im wondering how much it costs so i went on google and looked :PPP

  26. I recently got Slay Belle Katarina from a mystery gift, and even though I don’t play Katarina and am very bad with her, it is a lovely skin. I have always noticed something in that skin though, and that is a small extra sound added to her Q I think. It is rather difficult to notice because it is small and added on top of the classic sound, but I am almost certain it is there.

    • The sounds seem to be a bit higher pitched but mostly the same and it happens in all abilities; which means it could just be our perception. We’ll check in-game to be sure but we never noticed anything. If there’s a difference it’s probably small and not obvious. Regardless, we’ve just discovered that Dead Lotus has a different animation; so to speak, she poses differently. Thanks for bringing this to our attention.

  27. Hey Zero, cool review- since they brought back the legacy Harrowing skins I think I’m gonna get Kitty Cat Katarina, even though the skin I really want is Slay Belle, because hopefully they will also re-release all the Christmas skins this Christmas (ermagerd Earnest Elf Tristana hype) 😀

    • Hope you enjoy Kitty Cat Kat. It’s quite probable that by the end of the year the Snowdown Showdown will bring Slay Belle Katarina back. It could be a bit delayed as it happened with Harrowing but it’s the time of the year for Snowdown skins so: get ready for the Snow Wars; bombs away…

  28. Hiya, I was just wondering on your opinion on whether the warring kingdoms skins will ever be on the 50% off sales? I haven’t been playing that long, so don’t know if past lunar revel skins have been on sale. Thanks for looking at my stupid question XD

    • Confucius says: asking a stupid question is better than repairing a stupid mistake.

      Besides, it’s a valid question to make as seasonal and events skins sometimes are legacy and sometimes not and it can get confusing. Non-legacy skins of any event or season always go on regular sales for 50% of their value but it often takes a lot of patience. Legacy skins seldom go on sale and usually can only be found discounted at release sales or bundles.

      A quick look at the Warring Kingdoms skins shows that Katarina, Nidalee, Jarvan IV and Xin Zhao can go on sale as they are regular skins. However, as they are recent skins that haven’t yet reched a sale so that should happen sometime in the future; sales are unpredictable.

      The only exception is Tryndamere: as a legacy skin it won’t reach a regular sale; sans some particular exception. It won’t be available to purchase all year long either but should return at each Lunar Revel as other skins from that event.

      • Thank goodness, I really wanted some of the warring kingdoms skins, but wasn’t sure whether to just buy now at the discounted 975 or wait for the year cycle. Thank you for the clarification, helped me out a lot!!! Oh and love the reviews, as many mentioned, I always go here before buying any skin now, so great stuff 🙂

        • Glad that you find the reviews useful.

          It’s usually better to wait for good discount when buying skins because there are a lot of good ones and the expense adds up quite fast. Most of the Warring Kingdoms skin will surely be discounted. Not sure if by next Lunar Revel they’ll all go to half price but during the next year they should. With some patience good sales can be found and it helps the wallet a lot.

  29. Hi! Just wanted to ask something 🙂 and letting you know that I really enjoy your reviews and, before buyin any skin, I come right over here to read your opinion on it 😀
    My question is, when will Red Card Katarina be available? I know it’s only a skin for football World Cups, but is there any special event that will allow me to buy it? Even on a bundle or at 2016 European Cup 🙂
    I have all Katarina’s skins, and it would mean a lot to me to finish my collection.
    Thank you and keep the excellent work! 🙂

    • Glad that you find the reviews useful.

      Red Card Katarina’s availability is a good question. As far as we know it’s a skin for football events. The good news is that the 100th Anniversary of the America Cup, Copa América, is to be held between the 3rd and the 26 of June of this year in the United States. So, there’s a reasonable chance that the football skins could return during that event.

      That aside, the skin could appear in a bundle or some other special event. More than that it’s only guesswork so it’s surely a matter of patience at this point.

  30. Good night Zero 🙂 I have a silly question for you. And, before that, I want to let you know that I really appreciate this website of yours and the reviews. They are amazing, with the information you provide, little details that can make all the difference. Before buying a skin, I always take a look to your review.
    Anyway, my question is about Red Card Katarina. I’be been a main for a while, and I was wondering if the skin will only be available on 2018’s World Cup, or If is there anyway I can get it, even by bundles or any specific occasion, for instance, 2016’s European Cup (?) it is the only skin of her that I am missing.
    Keep up the good work.
    And btw, in my opinion, the best skin for Kata is High Command.

    • The only truly silly question is the one not asked. We are glad that you like the site and you find it useful.

      The possibility of Red Card Katarina being included in a bundle or an special event exists but it’s probability is only speculation. Following in that line, World Cups as well as European or America Cup are possible options for the skin to reapper. The 100th anniversary of the America Cup, from the 3rd to the 26th of June this year, to be held in the United States is another good opportunity for the skin to appear. It’s all about hope at this time but it seems like a reasonable time for the skin to be available again.

      Of course, this is all conjecture so take it as the guesswork it is.

      High Command is quite a nice skin for Katarina. While it’s not as elaborate as others skin it draws from her lore so that it is meaningful. As always, it’s a matter of personal preference but it surely remains among her best options.

  31. Hello Zero! what can you say about the upcoming Project Katarina skin?

    • It’s a good adaptation but not really great. PROJECT Katarina covers the expected changes and there are even a few particularly nice ones but nothing really impressive. We’d say that it does a good job but it needs more work to excel.

  32. I would like your opinion on Project Katarina. Do you think it’s superior than Warring Kingdoms Katarina?

    • As far as features go Warring Kingdoms and PROJECT: Katarina are equivalent. The advantage of PROJECT is that the concept is more ambitious and so the execution inevitably is more interesting that a new set of elegant clothes and some subtle new particles as Warring Kingdoms offers. However, while the particles are more eloquent they aren’t something impressive and while the new model is interesting it’s also subdued.

      In spite of Warring Kingdoms modesty it’s a more accomplished skin as it delivers its message better. PROJECT: Katarina is more attractive because of its potential but we find that the execution doesn’t make the most of it and only has a few shining moments. We’ll have an in-depth review soon.

  33. Another fantastic review though i think that Project: Katarina should be a 4 star skin as it offers much than the 975 skins at just 300 more RP and maybe Mercenary Katarina should probably be 3 star as its only 520 RP and offers the same as most 750 skins. Thank you gor the great work on this blog! I have bought every skin I want for Katarina and still read this. Its not only informative but also very interrsting. Keep up the great work!

    • And acctually (not sure if its written like this) it has a very little particle change on its Q. It look kinda blue-ish now.

    • Glad that you like the review. We didn’t see the vast difference between PROJECT: Katarina and a skin at 975 RP. We admit that it’s more elaborate but to a point. In fact, at 975 RP it wouldn’t have been too cheap. The main problem is that the changes don’t fully capture the cyberpunk idea. They present the concept but don’t develop it beyond the surface.

      We still think that it’s a good skin. However, there’s room for it to be something much more interesting; especially given the breadth of changes that 1350 RP offers.

  34. Hey Zero osmic here i think you wrote durable duable at the cyberneteic blade?

  35. Hey Zero!
    I’ve been loving your reviews so far! Keep up with the excellent work.
    Just wanted to ask if you are planning on updating the Katarina reviews because of her latest rework.
    Some skins have been improved, specially Slay Belle has some new Christmas feed and particles 🙂
    Thank you and have a great day!

    • Glad that you like the reviews. From what we’ve seen of the update we don’t seen the need to make changes to the reviews. All the skins were updated in a similar way and also the changes aren’t that significant. There are some small additions but nothing that would affect the rating; especially with regards to the other skins which are also updated.

      We’ll keep our eye open though in case there are things to add or note about the skins. There may still be some aspects that should be added to the reviews. Usually, gameplay updates don’t affect the skins in a huge way. Visual upgraged on the other hand do need a whole reassessment of each skin.

  36. Hi Zero,

    Do you think I should buy project Katarina for 405 RP?
    I’m not very good at Katarina but I could practice, she seems to be really OP

    Do you think Warring Kingdoms or Slay belle is better? I’ve been in doubt since forever which one is my favourite Katarina skin…

    • PROJECT: Katarina for 405 RP is really attractive. If you like Katarina enough then getting good with her shouldn’t be an issue. In fact, if you like her you would enjoy learning to play well with her. In that case, and with that price, it shouldn’t be a skin to miss. It could be better developed for the price tier it belongs to but it offers quite a few interesting features.

      Considering that both Warring Kingdoms and Slay Belle are in a lower tier we think that they offer enough for their tier; even if the latter can’t go on sale. Regardless, PROJECT: Katarina is a good skin. We just expected more work to better realise the theme. The skin still is quite attractive and at 405 RP cheaper than any of the 975 RP on sale; 487 RP in that case.

      To sum up, if you like Katarina and can see yourself playing her then this could be a great option to get a good skin for little RP. The key is whether the skin will see use. If you will use it and you like both Katarina and her PROJECT style then it’ll be worth it. If they won’t be used then, no matter how little money it is, there’s no point in spending in the skin.

  37. Thank you so much for these skin reviews. You helped me a lot . You are the best!!

  38. Um Warring kingdoms Does not have New particles when picking up a dagger. Just saying this should be noted, It used to have Different Particles on W Pre-Rework.

    • We checked Warring Kingdoms vs Classic Katarina and there is a red swirl around Warring Kingdoms not present in Classic. It’s very fast and perhaps a bit subtle but we think there is a difference.

      • Oh i noticed it now, Thank you. Though it’s really hard to notice, they should’ve kept the Pre-Rework W Particles for picking up a dagger. The skin used to be better i believe.

        • It did have more of a flurry of flowers because the red swirls are nothing special. You are right, updates not always do the best for skins; even if they are centred on visuals. Sadly, they are the only chance for a skin to get better, the fact that they usually don’t, it’s a disappointment.

  39. Hey, Zero!
    What are your honest thoughts on Red Card Katarina and whether it’s worth getting? This skin keeps grabbing my attention whenever I see it in game. The splash art is stunning, and even though it doesn’t offer much aside from a new uniform, it still seems like a lovely skin. World Cup is months away and I feel like I won’t be able to resist not-buying it.

    However, I have to agree that the price is ridiculous. 975RP for something that’s barely worth anything above 520RP by today’s standards is pretty insane.

    So yeah, I’d like to hear your personal opinion on it, as your thoughts may have changed since you made this review years ago. Oh, and how about a short Red Card VS Kitty Cat comparison, since they’re both iconic legacy skins that are going to be available in near future.

    • Actually, our thoughts haven’t changes about both Red Card and Kitty Cat Katarina. We usually update reviews in those cases; as when we are made aware of changes we haven’t noticed about a skin. Price aside, they sure are charming skins. Katarina looks quite nice with her uniform and sexy in her costume. There’s no point in denying it, after all that’s what makes the skins attractive.

      The problem is when we add the price. They aren’t even full re-models so asking 975 RP, especially nowadays where skins are chock full of additional effects, is simply too much; not to say preposterous. In the end, we understand why they are so appealing. If the price were lower we would think they are acceptable options but that’s not the case.

      Our rating is influenced by the price but isn’t the only factor. They are shallow skins with all their appeal based on looks without much effort given to the adaptation. They are simple and they don’t hide it. This doesn’t prevent them from being attractive but it’s an attraction that wears thin too soon.

      If you like the skins, there’s no shame in buying them. They have their charm. However, take into consideration that they lack the depth that keeps other skins interesting beyond a few playthroughs. Even if we ignore the price, Red Card and Kitty Cat Katarina are skins that don’t offer much.

  40. Heyo

    I started playing Katarina recently and found that I actually really enjoy it, so I’m thinking about picking up either the Death Sworn or Warring Kingdoms skins. Both are really nice, but from your reviews, you don’t seem to particularly enjoy either. I’m leaning towards Death Sworn, but do you have any suggestions to give on this? I’m not sure if I should really go for either at full price, wait for a sale that will never come, or look for a different character entirely. That Warring Kingdom Nidalee also looks very nice….

    • We see Warring Kingdoms Katarina as having better value than Death Sworn. It’s cheaper and offers almost as much. Death Sworn has some nice features but it doesn’t do as much as one would expect from a skin at 1350 RP; nor does PROJECT for that matter.

      At the beginning of June there was a sale for Warring Kingdoms so another will probably take a while. We always recommend sales as expenses pile up quite fast when skins are considered; and in any other matter involving money actually. Death Sworn, being legacy, will only see a discount in a bundle; unless Riot decides to change that.

      At any rate, our problem with Warring Kingdoms is that it’s a bit superficial. It’s nice but just Katarina dressed differently and with some flowers. That’s nice, sure, but there’s room for something more elaborate. Still, we do think it’s a rather appealing skin if taken for what it is.

  41. Hi,
    I bought Death Sworn Katarina and after listening to her quotes for a while I’m quite certain there’s a slight filter for her voiceover. It sounds a bit echoey and ghosty. It’s not that easy to notice but I’m pretty sure her voiceover was processed.

    • You’re right, there new echeos added to her voice which help with the identity of the skin. Thanks for the notice, we’ve added it to the review.

  42. Hey,I really enjoy your reviews and while sometimes I hold a different opinion,this is a good site to get advice from before buying a new skin.Anyways,you’ve written that Sandstorm Katarina has new particles and projectiles but seeing game-plays on YouTube I’m not able to see those listed above.Were they only added on the skin before Kata’s rework or are they still in game?The skin seems nice and I’m considering buying it but for 975 rp and only a model,it doesn’t deem quite as worthy to me.

    • Glad that you find the reviews useful. Even if we disagree we hope that our view helps you better decide which skins you like.

      Sadly, we didn’t realise just how bad Sandstorm Katarina was affected by the assassin update. The only noticeable different we could notice in particles was a new whirlwind around Katarina for Death Lotus. Technically, her Voracious spin is a bit different but so similar that it may very well be us seeing something that isn’t there.

      We also found that Warring Kingdoms Katarina saw her dose of red flowers reduced too. Truth be told, for Riot making an effort in keeping the particles after a rework, as stated in Reddit, they are doing a poor job.

      As the new conclusion to the review reflects, Sandstorm Katarina is a good skin if you take it as a re-model. The new particles are minor and don’t add much as the former sand did. Right now, we recommend Warrig Kingdoms. Still, it’s difficult to recommend a skin for the Sinister Blade as things stand. To be sure, perhaps getting the skins on sale is a safer bet to avoid spending too much on too little. The days of re-models at 975 RP are gone.

      • First and foremost,thank you for your quick reply.
        Im glad that Im not the only one who sees it that way but Im also sad that Riot wouldnt update the particles to match with Katarina after her rework.The sandstorm theme is appealing but not for it’s current price.I will wait for its sale to buy it.
        I already own Warring Kingdoms and indeed it is a nice skin.While I dont have a personal favorite,I think Slay Belle is quite a good option even though it is a bit season restricted.
        Anyways thank you once again,I own most Katarina skins and I was considering going for either sandstorm or High command.

        • Not at all. Unfortunately, whether it’s a full rework or gameplay update Riot has the bad habit of removing features from skins and forgetting about it. We think it’s a wasted opportunity to re-launch skins and make them popular and interesting a second time. Apparently, they see otherwise. It seems that only new products are of interest. In a way, the re-made or updated skins would be new but perhaps that’s not enough.

          If you take Sandstorm and High Command Katarina for the re-models they are you’ll find they are nice albeit modest skins. Owning Warring Kingdoms the question is if any of these skins would be able to compete for your attention. At any rate, we recommend a sale; especially given how things are.

  43. is red card kat is coming on june

  44. Hey well i bought the slay belle skin and it looks pretty awesome in general but the spinning animation on r looks weird to me (i know the w/dagger changes too but w is ok) is it bugged or they did it on purpose

    • We aren’t sure what the problem is but from what we’ve seen Death Lotus shouldn’t look weird in any way. Perhaps it’s a bug introduced with a recent patch. You can contact support or post in the forums to tell Riot about the occurrence.

  45. With the reworked Katarina and legacy Lunar Revel skins coming back to store, is it still worth getting Warring Kingdoms Katarina (on sale atm)? Or is Project or Death Sworn better to wait for?

    • As with every event with legacy skins attached they should return. However, how and in which way is all Riot’s prerogative. We think that Warring Kingdoms Katarina is quite a nice skin and, with its price on sale, a great option for fans of the Sinister Blade.

      PROJECT is an alternative that has interesting features but we’d only recommend on sale. If taken on sale, the price is only a bit more expensive than Warring Kingdoms and then it depends on which concept you like the most; though PROJECT offers a bit more.

      Death Sworn can only be got during Halloween/Harrowing/Tales-of-the-Rift or whatever Riot comes up with. As legacy it won’t go on sale and, seeing what the skin offers, we think the adaptation could’ve been deeper to make the skin much better; the base is good. As the price would remain high we think it’s a skin only for those that really like the concept or are dedicated fans of Katarina.

  46. I love red card katarina will it come back ????

    • With luck, the new Football World Cup will make the Red Card Katarina and other football skins come back. At least, the Winter Games are a good indication that it’s a reasonable guess.

  47. Hey Zero, do you think The new Battle Academia Katarina is worth the price? What are some pro’s and cons of the skin? I am considering to get it, so I would like to know what you think.

    • Mini-review: from what we see of the skin it’s rather good. The Battle Academia theme seems to be mostly in the uniform because particles and sounds have a noticeable hi-tech feel. It’s good but out of context, perhaps. The particles have too strict a colour palette, though, which makes them a bit monotonous. The result is good but there are some caveats.

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