Interview with Better Katarina, a 14 year old Diamond 1 player, about his future and the meta

Triston 'Better Katarina' Feathers is a 14 year old D1 Katarina main who I had the pleasure of talking to. He is only
a freshman in high school but he shows a ton of potential for a future in LCS. Better Katarina has been playing MOBAs and MMORPGs since he was 6. It started with Runescape and eventually led him to League.

He claims his skill comes from the fact he has played viola for 4 years and continues to do so, proving hand dexterity is an important skill in learning this game and being good at it. I asked him a few questions about his league play, his opinion on the meta and what his thinks players at lower elos should improve on.

 

What got you into League?

Better Katarina: I got into league from actually a different game, everyone quit and moved to League saying it was better, and so I eventually found out. I wanted to quit at level 10 because levelling was a pain, and the fact that noone really new the game that well so everyone was really mean to eachother for being bad. I started watching league videos on youtube, more specifically Dyrus being Dyrus, and it really got me interested. Now, I play league with all my friends and I have a blast.

 

Do you want to go into competitive play when you are older?

Better Katarina: Yes, I do. I feel like the league competitive scene isn't just a hobby, I feel it's more than just that. everyone up there is really nice to eachother, and they can all have a laugh when someone misplays, and it feels like a family to be part of a team. I'm also really young,14, I'm no Kurreshendo or anything, but maybe I can be the next OddOrange of mid lane.

 

What do you think are the biggest mistakes that people in lower elos make?

Better Karatina: The biggest mistakes I see made, specifically on my smurfs, are pretty simple. The biggest one is warding honestly, people complain about 'Ugh, Wukong camping bot, why can't my jungler f****king gank like this" and then proceed to flame that Wukong and his own jungler. It'd be easier to just ward that, and let their jungler waste their time. Toxicity is also a big part, everytime they get outplayed or their teammates die, they proceed to flame their own teammates instead of focusing on winning the game, which is what the game is about.

 

Who are your favorite champs to play?

Better Katarina: My favorite champs are Katarina, Udyr, Zed, and most other assassins. I'm in love with Katarina as she fits my playstyle perfectly, a high mobility assassin with massive outplay potential and damage. I also play(main) her not only because she fits my playstyle, but I'm really young and I play an instrument, so I have fast fingers, good muscle memory, and good reflexes. I like Udyr just from watching Trick2g playing him ever since I started playing him, run around their base, disrespect, and #pzl8 these mfers. I also like Zed, he's a high mobility assassin with massive outplay potential and single target damage. I just enjoy the outplay potential with all 3 of these champs and that's why I play them.

 

How long have you been playing league?

Better Katarina: I started playing at the start of Season 3, it took me a bit to get to 30, which sucked, but I went through it with friends. I got to 30 mid seaason 3 and started playing ranked competitively. I achieved Platinum 1 99LP at the end of Season 3, which unfortunately left me with a Platinum border due to the elo clamping. However, in Season 4 I achieved diamond in less than 20-30 games after going 3/7 being placed Gold 1 after provisionals. I also achieved Diamond 1 about a month ago, balancing between Diamond 1 10-20lp to Diamond 2.

 

What is your opinion on the current meta?

Better Katarina: I think the meta is fine where it is right now, the only thing I don't like right now are how top lane is pretty much only tanks, the fact that in competitive play purple side has to 2v1 almost every time, and the fact that top lane is really wonky in general. There's almost never a time where it'll be a straight up 1v1, it'll generally be a 2v1, and you have to find a champ that can jungle well for a little bit, and then lane/teamfight/roam well later on. Another thing I don't like about the meta right now is the heal change, the 30% movement speed is just unneeded, and the Grievous Wounds removal on it is insane ( Kat ult ). I also hate the meta because it's not that great for Katarina at the moment, only tanks played top, mid lane has now turned from assassins into more sustained champs such as Lulu or Soraka with a lot of CC, and LeBlanc, my most hated champ, just from the fact that her kit is so strong and offers so much, including all that CC.

 

You can check out Better Katarina's stream at http://www.twitch.tv/peneerectuss. I had a pleasure talking to Better Katarina and suggest keeping an eye out in the League scene for his name the next few years.