Katarina is the type of champion in League of Legends that can't be ignored; players must account for her position at all times or face the deadly consequences. A vanishing, dagger-throwing, whirling dervish of death, many games on the Rift have been decided quickly as a result of Katarina racking up kills and carrying her team to victory.
Her polarizing in-game reputation, the dedication of players who spend time learning and playing her, and the agile-assassin fantasy she represents make Katarina an iconic character—cosplayers have taken notice and brought the Noxian from the world of Runeterra to life.
Climbing Over The Competition
Cosplayer @kotori_doll brings the hallmark dexterity and mobility of Katarina to life with her rendition of the Noxian assassin. In an action shot that sees the champion scaling a wall, the cosplay highlights the characteristics that make Katarina such a deadly foe: tenacious dedication, unparalleled skill, and a wealth of experience garnered from intensive training since childhood.
@kotori_doll emphasizes Katarina's scar, too, which she received after failing her first mission. The climb and steely visage call to mind Katarina's drive to serve her kingdom as an accomplished assassin—a goal that many players are sure to have succumbed to on the Rift.
The Way Of The Wicked Blade
Many, if not most, champions in League of Legends are designed so that their main weapon is instantly recognizable. Katarina's signature daggers, devious and wickedly wavy, have sent many players back to fountain (i.e. killed them). @likeassassin showcases the assassin's blade, holding the curved blades at the ready.
The cosplay even features a number of spare throwing-daggers strapped to her thigh; Katarina's ultimate ability, "Death Lotus," sees the champion spinning in place, essentially becoming a blade-tossing tornado, so the extra ammunition is both aesthetic and practical.
Fighting Up Close And Personal
Although Katarina wields daggers and the majority of her abilities feature her tossing them, she is a melee champion—her basic attacks require her to be in close range of her enemies. Despite their classification as "daggers," the blades are surprisingly large, which cosplayer @littlejem brings to life in her take on the character.
As she poses, ready to erupt into a flurry of devastating and acrobatic attacks, the blades she holds could be mistaken for short swords. The look on her face, however, suggests that she isn't interested in discussing semantics with a target marked for death.
A Demon With Daggers
The "Blood Moon" skin line reimagines champions as a cult of demon-worshipping fanatics with the ultimate goal of fusing their human self with a mirrored demon version. @katekeycosplay showcases this form of Katarina, a priestess in the cult that has merged with her demon.
As the cult is set in Ionia, the Eastern themes and homages are on full display with the lamps, fans, and charms. It's only fitting that such a metaphorical demon on the Rift would receive a skin making the figurative literal, and it's clear that this cosplay realizes that dark metamorphosis.
Candy Canes And Pointy Blades
@baby_amunete brings the holiday cheer with her Slay Belle Katarina, electing the cosplay the Noxian assassin in her Yuletide skin. These limited cosmetics are only available in League of Legend's shop for special events, usually whatever respective holiday they are inspired by, though the power of cosplay allows players and fans to experience the look in a completely different way.
While this version of Katarina embodies the Christmas spirit, her gingerbread-and-candy-cane daggers are no less deadly. The Santa's-helper-themed outfit and the playful reindeer horns are indicative of a festive and party atmosphere, but Katarina's countenance suggests that she's more concerned with dolling out punishment to all, regardless of whether they've been naughty or nice.
A Bad Assassin With An Attitude
It's one thing to bring the imagery of a character to life with cosplay but expressing their personality and attitude requires an extra commitment to the role. @sakana_cosplay displays a thorough understanding of Katarina as a champion, leisurely strolling through the woods with a cocksure demeanor.
This haughty confidence is one of Katarina's most powerful and exploitable characteristics; her self-assured nature is the product of years of training, but it has also resulted in arrogance unbecoming of a shadowy assassin—an internal conflict elegantly represented through cosplay.
A Referee's Death Penalty
One of League of Legends's more humorous series of skins sees champions as soccer players and officials. As a competitive team-oriented game, League draws many comparisons to more traditional sports; Red Card Katarina takes players out of the game, permanently.
Transposing the "red card" penalty to League, @kuro_m_cosplay poses in her referee stripes with blades drawn ready to enforce her on-the-field calls. Although an ostensibly funny skin, this cosplay seems to put a more morose spin to it, as the assassin-turned-referee somberly stares up into the falling rain.
A Pretty In Pink Terminator
Cosplayer @pastelcolouredhell portrays Katarina in her PROJECT variation, a world where cybernetics have created a battle of morals and philosophy. Recreating the pose from the skin's splash art, the future tech elements of the skin are on full display, culminating in an action pose that is both on-brand for Katarina and representative of a science-fiction alternate take on the deadly assassin.
Katarina's daggers are highlighted, transformed from mere steel blades to an advanced and mechanical futuristic weapon designed for destruction. Whether human, android, or something in between, it's clear that this iteration of Katarina is ready to initiate combat.
A Trio Of Gifts Beneath The Christmas Tree
Whether connected by lore or thematically linked through skins, League of Legends often creates dynamic stories with its massive roster of champions. @little_miss_blueberry plays on this feature of the game with their take on Slay Belle Katarina.
Posing with an oversized candy cane and a far-away expression, the cosplay manages to simultaneously capture holiday revelry and the more focused and cold personality Katarina is more traditionally associated with. Bolstering the Christmas Spirit, @enekocosplay's Ambitious Elf Jinx and @kumiko_cosplay's Snow Bunny Nidalee showcase the connections League creates between champions that may be totally unrelated by lore.
A Project Fully Realized
Donning a futuristic battle suit and wielding cutting-edge technology, @roga_na_noge's incredible cosplay transports PROJECT: Katarina from the Rift to reality with stunning detail. The flowing dystopian-white locks, the cybernetic body, and the glowing pink digital-style daggers are near-perfect replications of the in-game model.
The skin updates all of Katarina's particle effects, transforming her abilities from shadowy techniques to high-tech flourishes of combat-focused engineering—a transformation that is aesthetically preserved in @roga_na_noge's cosplay. Although the entire cosplay exudes quality and craftsmanship, the blades draw particular attention, as their subtle glow emphasizes the danger that awaits any enemy that has the misfortune of coming across such a well-equipped assassin.