Ekko is a scaling AP assassin with low early pressure who wants to control short trades and set up W stuns for burst windows.
Katarina has low early lane pressure and relies on dagger setups and resets, so Ekko should prevent her from safely positioning daggers and punish cooldowns.
Trading pattern
Use Q and E for quick burst trades, then back off using your passive movement speed to avoid Katarina's follow-up resets.
Punish Katarina if she uses E forward without a reset path by trading aggressively with your W stun setup.
Avoid engaging if your W stun misses or if you miss Q, as Katarina can capitalize on these missed cooldowns.
Danger windows
Be cautious when Katarina has daggers positioned near you or escape paths, as she can all-in with E and R resets.
Katarina's R channel is dangerous but can be interrupted by your W stun; time your crowd control accordingly.
Before level 6, you are vulnerable to Katarina's burst if you miss trades or crowd control setup.
Early game
Prioritize level 3 power spike to unlock your Q-W-E burst combo and punish Katarina's dagger placement before she can engage.
Avoid extended trades before level 6 as Katarina's resets and mobility can punish missed Q or W from you.
Use wave control to deny Katarina safe dagger setups and reduce her roam threat.
Power spikes
Respect Katarina's level 3 spike when she unlocks Q-W-E dagger setups and mobility for burst trades.
Your level 3 unlocks your main Q-W-E combo with dash and stun threat, enabling stronger short trades.
Level 6 is a major spike for both; use R to dodge Katarina R and reset fights safely.
Win conditions
Win by landing W stuns to enable quick burst trades with Q and E, then disengage before Katarina can reset.
Deny Katarina dagger setups and punish her cooldowns to prevent her from safely engaging or roaming.
Use R to dodge Katarina's ultimate and reset fights, turning skirmishes in your favor as you scale into mid and late game.
Tip: For Ekko vs Katarina, read overview, trading pattern, and danger windows first for a fast Mid lane check.
