Katarina tech

This page is intended to document specialized/advanced Katarina techniques.

3-string Hit-confirm

Katarina's 3-string can be hit-confirmed after the first 2 hits. This means you have access to a safe, i14 mid-poke with good range and good damage (38).

Confirming after 3,3,3

This confirm is easier to do. Even if not confirmed, it is only -10 and can additionally be cancelled into HAR to evade a potential i10 punish (potentially netting a HAR 1 CH for 50 dmg).

Confirming after 3,3

Opening beats from the Terminator 2: Judgement Day theme by Brad Fiedel. The interval between the 2nd and 3rd beats is how much time you have to confirm the hit.

The best way to hit-confirm the 3-string after two hits is to use the theme from Terminator 2: Judgement Day as a reference. You have enough time between the 2nd and 3rd beats to confirm a hit. You can do this by looking at the health bar (to check for decrease) or by looking for the hit sparks.

Instant FC d/f+4

If you input d/f+4 as d/f and press 4 exactly one frame later, when ducking certain highs, you will get an instant FC d/f+4.

Post HAR 4 ender oki

After ending combos with HAR 4, you can enter HAR manually immediately after to get an oki mixup between HAR d/f+3, delayed HAR 4 and HAR cancel into nothing. Recommended to try HAR d/f+3 as the first option until opponent starts defending against it. Then mix in delayed HAR 4 or HAR cancel depending on how opponent defends.

Option	Reward	Risk	Defence	Notes
HAR d/f+3	20 dmg, +5	-12, ~17 dmg	quick roll left/right into duck, wake-up into duck, spring kick, kip up	if the opponent stays on the ground, will push them away allowing them to get up safely
delayed HAR 4	27 dmg, resets the oki situation	-9	any other wakeup option other than ducking, spring kick, kip up	delay needs to be somewhat precise to prevent opponent from blocking both options
HAR cancel	none if opponent does nothing, punish or launch if opponent does spring kick or kip up	none	don't do spring kick or kip up	since spring kick and kip up beat the previous options, if the opponent is sufficiently conditioned, they can be baited to do this for a full launch or heavy punish

Dealing with blocked RAs

Katarina's best option for punishing blocked generic mid RAs is b+4, 1+2 > u/b+4. This is because it does 51 dmg, which is comfortably above the rage damage break point of 41. It has simple inputs, and is unlikely to be messed up in clutch situations, especially if one has a 1+2 button bind. It also is unlikely to drop due to side-wall situations unlike doing a launcher into partial combo, and is generally consistent against all body types.

This is not applicable to Jack-7's RA since b+4 might not reach if Jack-7 spaces out his RA.