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BWaterSabreSupport DPS

Katalina

Summon Ares, then never let him leave

Element
Water
Weapon
Sabre
Role
Support DPS
Range
Melee
Release
Base game
Difficulty
2 out of 5
Katalina official artwork

Signature mechanic

Ares gauge doubles her offense and party utility

Katalina fills the Ares gauge with combo finishers (or skips straight there with Azure Sword), then runs Pactstrike combos where Ares attacks alongside her. Every skill she has gets upgraded while Ares is out — Light Wall goes from self-invincibility to party-wide invincibility, Emerald Shield buffs everyone. Endless Ragnarok added Ares Surge charges that stack off Pactstrikes, so the game is now about extending uptime rather than re-summoning.

Katalina is a versatile character that offers offensive support with high close-range damage and group-wide utility. Her maximum offensive prowess relies on a chain of combos that will lead up to filling a gauge, which will summon Ares and amplify her attack power when battling with him. The new update makes it easier for her to maintain Ares.— Game8 tier assessment

Support skills (passives)

  • Blue Radiance

    Allows Ares to temporarily join Katalina's attack when the Ares gauge is full. Perform a combo finisher, link attack, or skill to summon Ares.

  • Vow by the Sword

    Katalina's skills and Skybound Art are enhanced while Ares is summoned.

How to unlock

Players may obtain Katalina upon progressing through the first chapter of the main story.

Strengths

  • 1

    Party-wide invincibility

    Light Wall with Ares up covers the whole team — a genuine save button for Chaos++ and Defy Infinity wipe mechanics.

  • 2

    Good damage attached to real utility

    Unlike most supports she keeps competitive close-range DPS while providing Glaciate, heals, DEF↑ and Stout Heart.

  • 3

    Easy gauge access

    Azure Sword instantly maxes the Ares gauge, so you are never locked out of your power state by a bad fight opening.

Weaknesses

  • 1

    Dead without Ares

    Outside the summon her damage and utility are both ordinary — losing uptime is losing the character.

  • 2

    Melee exposure

    Pactstrike combos are long and rooted, which is punishing against bosses that reposition constantly.

  • 3

    Buff-dependent kit

    Much of her value is only realised with a party that is actually alive to receive it; she is weak in solo Defy Infinity runs.

Gear

Builds by progression stage

Chaos → Chaos+ → Chaos++, then Defy Infinity

Army of Two is the pick — it scales damage off how many times Ares has been summoned, so open with Azure Sword and never stop.

Sigil loadout — Fatebreaker

Apart from her character-related Sigils, you will want to equip her with Basic Stats-type Sigils , such as 2 Healths and 3 Stun Powers , to meet the 100% Damage Cap requirement in her Mastery Traits.

Moreover, equip her with Fatebreaker to boost damage output, along with Celestial Lumen and Celestial Terra to keep her HP at a certain threshold. This will allow the Catastrophe Nova to take effect, while still experiencing another increase in damage.

Improved Dodge and Steel Nerves are highly recommended for her survivability, since this will allow her to evade hits more successfully while tanking her up during a Stout Heart buff.

SigilSlotTraits
Guardian's Awakening+Character sigil2 slots
  • Guardian's Conviction — Grants Supplementary DMG to Katalina and booosts her damage cap while Ares is summoned.
  • Guardian's Honor — Shortens Katalina's skill cooldowns when Ares is summoned.
Guardian's Warpath
  • Guardian's Warpath — Grants a buff to the entire party whenever Katalina activates her Skybound Art.
  • Aegis — Raises maximum health in proportion to your current maximum health.
Health V+Basic stat5 slots
  • HP — Boosts base health.
  • DMG Cap — Raises the damage limit of attacks.
Health V+
  • HP — Boosts base health.
  • DMG Cap — Raises the damage limit of attacks.
Stun Power V+
  • Stun Power — Boosts stun power.
  • DMG Cap — Raises the damage limit of attacks.
Stun Power V+
  • Stun Power — Boosts stun power.
  • Uplift — Boosts the charge speed of your SBA gauge.
Stun Power V+
  • Stun Power — Boosts stun power.
  • Guts — Survive a lethal hit with 1 HP. Reactivation time is shortened based on trait level.
Fatebreaker V+Attack / special3 slots
  • Fatebreaker — Boosts attack, defense, and damage cap when participating in Fatebreaker-grade quests.
  • Greater Aegis — Greatly raises maximum health in proportion to your current maximum health.
Celestial Lumen V+
  • Celestial Lumen — Boosts attack power and damage cap when health is above a certain threshold.
  • Potion Hoarder — Increases the stock of recovery items.
Celestial Terra V+
  • Celestial Terra — Reduces maximum base health in exchange for a boost do damage cap.
  • Autorevive — Automatically recover from critical condition. Reactivation time is shortened based on trait level.
Improved Dodge+Defense / support2 slots
  • Improved Dodge — Extends the window for for attacks to miss during a dodge. Allows you to perform more dodges in a row.
  • Supplementary DMG — Grants a certain chance for normal attacks and damage skills to deal supplementary damage.
Steel Nerves V+
  • Steel Nerves — Takes less damage while Stouth Heart is active.
  • Supplementary DMG — Grants a certain chance for normal attacks and damage skills to deal supplementary damage.

Gearing priorities

  • Transcended Terminus (T.Lvl 7): Catastrophe Nova, DMG Cap, Sigil Booster, Unbound Master
  • While progressing Chaos, a transcended Defender weapon usually beats an un-transcended Terminus
  • The standard template: 5 Basic-Stat + 3 Attack + 2 Defense/Support sigils
  • Fatebreaker V+, Celestial Lumen V+ and Celestial Terra V+ in the attack slots
  • Improved Dodge+ and Steel Nerves V+ for survivability that does not cost damage
  • Summons for their traits: War Elemental, Stout Heart, Berserker Echo, Spartan Echo

Over Mastery bonuses

  • Critical Hit Rate Up
  • Skill Damage Cap Up
  • Normal Attack Damage Cap Up
  • Skybound Art Damage Cap Up

Katalina heavily relies on combos and her Ares gauge, so you will want to get Critical Hit Rate Up and Normal Attack Damage Cap Up to optimize this. Including Skill Damage Cap Up will further increase the damage from Katalina's skills, especially when executed during her Ares Pactstrike combo. Skybound Art Damage Up is another recommended bonus to have to maximize her Skybound Art's damage output.

Best-in-slot — transcended Terminus

Blutgang

I
Catastrophe NovaLv 35Boosts attack power and damage cap when maximum health is below a certain threshold.
II
DrainLv 25Recover health based on the damage dealt to a foe.
III
DMG CapLv 15Raises the damage limit of attacks.
IV
Sigil BoosterLv 1Raises the trail levels of all equipped sigils.
EX
Unbound MasterLv 55Boosts damage cap based on master level.

Wrightstone

Sequestration Wrightstone

  • Weak Point DMG
  • Supplementary DMG
  • Cascade

The best Endgame weapon for Katalina is going to be her Transcended Terminus, Blutgang . This can provide her with Catastrophe Nova, which significantly boosts her ATK and DMG Cap if her HP is equal to or less than 200,000. She gains another DMG Cap among its traits, plus a Sigil Booster to raise all levels of the Sigils equipped on her. To top it off, she will also get an increase in Skybound Art Damage through Unbound Master.

While progressing Chaos

Rukalsa

I
HPLv 35Boosts base health.
II
Greater AegisLv 25Greatly raises maximum health in proportion to your current maximum health.
III
DMG Cap EcruLv 15Boosts attack power and damage cap based on how high your maximum health is.
IV
StrongholdLv 10Boosts defense the higher your remaining health is.
EX
Unbound ExertionLv 15Boosts damage cap of Skybound Arts.

Wrightstone

Vitality Wrightstone

  • Critical Hit Rate
  • DMG Cap
  • Supplementary DMG

While progressing through the DLC, her next best weapon will be a Transcended Rukalsa . She can gain a big boost in HP with this Defender Weapon, especially with Greater Aegis and Stronghold equipped. This can help optimize DMG Cap Ecru , which requires a certain amount of HP to activate. Going beyond the threshold makes the trait more efficient.

Summons & equip bonus

Recommended summons

  • Lucilius
  • Beelzebub
  • Lilith
  • Behemoth III

For these traits

  • War Elemental
  • Stout Heart
  • Berserker Echo
  • Spartan Echo

Equip bonus

  • Normal Attack Damage Cap Up
  • Skill Damage Cap Up
  • Skybound Art Damage Cap Up
  • Critical Hit Rate Up

Level 100+ · Endless Ragnarok

Master Traits

Army of Two

Recommended

Rank 1

  • While Ares is summoned: ATK +10%.
  • Blades of Frost: ATK +20%
  • DMG Cap +15%
  • DEF +5%

Rank 2

  • Boosts ATK by a max of +30% based on the number of times Ares has been summoned during the quest
  • While Ares is summoned: DMG Cap +25%
  • Heal now grants Shield (5% of max HP) instead of healing HP. Stacks with other master traits of the same effect
  • Unique Attack (Xbox Y / PS Triangle / Switch 2 X / Mouse Right-Click) Combo Finishers: DMG Cap +35%
  • Max HP +15,000
  • While inflicted with Burn: DMG Cap +100%

Rank 3

  • Unique Attack (Xbox Y / PS Triangle / Switch 2 X / Mouse Right-Click) Combo Finishers: DMG Cap +35%
  • Essence Rank Perk 2: Special Supplementary DMG +20%
  • Boosts DMG Cap by a max of +40% based on the number of times Ares has been summoned during the quest
  • Skill DMG Cap +30%
  • ATK +10% per Attack-type sigil equipped (max sigils: 5)
  • Chain Burst DMG Cap +40%

Rank EX

  • While Ares is summoned: Gain Drain
  • When Ares is dismissed: Gain ATK↑ (10%)
  • ATK +10% per Attack-type sigil equipped (max sigils: 5)
  • DMG Cap +35%
  • DMG Cap +35%

Forever Ares

Rank 1

  • While Ares is summoned: DMG Cap +25%
  • Max HP +15,000
  • DMG Cap +15%

Rank 2

  • Insight Rank Perk 1: Damage Skill ATK +20%
  • Insight Rank Perk 1: Damage Skill DMG Cap +20%

Rank 3

  • Insight Rank Perk 3: Ares Summon Duration +1 sec.
  • Insight Rank Perk 3: Dual Raid grants an additional DMG Dealt +5% per effect lvl
  • DMG Cap +20% per Basic Stats-type sigil equipped (max sigils: 5)

Rank EX

  • DMG Cap +20% per Basic Stats-type sigil equipped (max sigils: 5)
  • Critical Hit DMG +9%
  • DMG Cap +35%
  • DMG Cap +35%
  • Frozen Blade: DMG Cap +45%
  • Enchanted Lands: DMG Cap +45%
  • Upon performing a perfect dodge: Grants Shield (1000)

Blade Blue

Rank 1

  • While Ares is summoned: DMG Cap +25%
  • DMG Cap +15%
  • Max HP +15,000

Rank 2

  • While Ares is summoned: ATK +10%
  • While Ares isn't summoned: ATK +10%

Rank 3

  • HP +10,000 per Defense- or Support-type sigil equipped (max sigils: 4)

Rank EX

  • Skill DMG Cap +40%
  • Light Wall: Invincibility Duration +2 sec.
  • DMG Cap +35%
  • Primal bursts gain DMG Dealt +25%. Effect strength is based on the total number of this effect equipped by the entire party
  • DMG Cap +35%
  • Against foes of the weaker element: DMG Dealt +10%
  • Heal now grants Shield (5% of max HP) instead of healing HP. Stacks with other master traits of the same effect
  • DEF +6% per Defense- or Support-type sigil equipped (max sigils: 5)

This distribution considers Master Level 50.

With all Mastery Traits considered, we recommend investing in Essence: Army of Two . This grants Katalina a massive DMG boost while Ares is summoned. While Forever Ares also offers a similar DMG stack mechanic, it can take some time to activate as it relies heavily on combo finishers alone, which isn't ideal with a target that is constantly moving.

You will want to unlock nodes in Army of Two that will give DMG Cap and ATK boosts, whether Ares is summoned to the battlefield or not. You will also want to take the Heal node that grants Shield instead, which can be stackable.

For Forever Ares, you must unlock the DMG Cap per Basic Stats-type sigil at Rank 3 to activate 100% Damage Cap, in line with the recommended Sigils above. For survivability, you will want to get Blade Blue's node at Rank 3 about an HP raise for every defense or support type sigil that Katalina has equipped.

Execution

Combos & rotation

  • Ares Surge Combo (Endless Ragnarok)

    The Ares Gauge can be immediately activated after using Azure Sword, which can prompt you to begin combos. With Ares summoned, keep dealing Ares Packstrikes, which gradually provide more serious damage, since a successful Ares Packstrike provides 1 charge of Ares Surge. Use Link Time or Azure Sword to reset the buff, and ultimately keep Ares longer on the battlefield.

  • Ares Pactstrike Combo Pre-DLC4 steps
    1. 1Hit the enemy with this combo: attack, attack, then special attack. Continue this process until your Ares gauge is full.
    2. 2With the Ares gauge filled up, activate this with attack, attack, attack, attack, then special skill.
    3. 3Start spamming your special skill to maximize damage output with Ares until the combo is finished.
    4. 4Repeat the combo.

    While there is an option to use four normal attacks before unleashing the special attack, we recommend using it twice instead for better efficiency and for a steady and faster combo reset. It's best to go for the lengthier combo with the Ares gauge full instead for maximum damage output.

    Once the Ares gauge has been filled, you can immediately initiate the Pactstrike Combo , where Katalina can deal continuous amplified attacks with Ares to the enemy.

  • Use Skills During Pactstrike Combo

    Katalina's offensive skills are better used during the Ares Pactstrike Combo, as not only will this be able to deal more damage, but it can also prolong the time Ares is summoned to the battlefield. Moreover, you can use Azure Sword to immediately fill the Ares gauge and start a chain of combos.

  • Utilize Link Attack with Ares

    On top of using Katalina's offensive skills, finding the perfect timing to activate Link Attack during the Pactstrike Combo is a good addition to have. Like all of her skills and attacks, her Link Attack during the Ares combo is also increased. This will also keep Ares activated for a bit longer.

Kit

Skills

Recommended loadout — Azure Sword to Winter's Rain

Azure Sword is easily a recommended skill, as this can immediately fill up Ares' gauge and summon him without going through the attack and special combos. Meanwhile, Enchanted Lands can serve as your gap closer , while also dealing with multiple attacks at once.

Frozen Sword is another good skill to have, since you can aim this at an enemy twice. Each aim can inflict multiple hits, so it definitely deals considerable damage.

Lastly, Winter's Rain is a good skill to include, as this is Katalina's main skill for stunning enemies. It can also inflict multiple hits, especially when attacking with Ares.

SkillEffectApplies
Azure SwordRecommendedSummons Ares to attack foes in fron of Katalina and temporarily maxes out the Ares gauge.
    Emerald ShieldGrants DEF↑ and Stout Heart to Katalina. Grants both buffs to the entire party instead while Ares is Summoned.
      Enchanted LandsRecommendedA fast, piercing lunge attack. Deals more hits when attacking with Ares.
        Frozen BladeRecommendedA ranged ice spell that can be cast twice in a row before entering cooldown. Deals more hits when attacking with Ares.
          HealCasts a cricle that restores allies' HP. Heals more HP over area while Ares is summoned.
            Light WallGrans Invincibility to Katalina. Grants Invincibility to the entire party instead while Ares is summoned.
              Sacred WindsCasts an ice spell that inflicts Glaciate. Hold while casting to prolong the duration. Area of effect widens while Ares is summoned.
                Winter's RainRecommendedA multi-hit attack that deals a high amount of stun. Deals more hits when attacking with Ares.

                  Situational swaps: Sacred Winds.Sacred Winds is mainly used to inflict Glaciate on surrounding enemies, which you can prolong by holding the skill down. This is best paired with teammates who can deal considerable damage while they're incapacitated.

                  Weapon list

                  WeaponMax HPMax ATKTraits
                  Rukalsa25562003HP, Garrison
                  Murgleis11321013ATK, HP
                  Ephemeron13513320Weak Point DMG, Break Assassin
                  Luminiera Sword Omega15232299Critical Hit Rate, Critical DMG
                  Flame Rapier20402660Stun Power, Linked Together
                  Blutgang10893683Catastrophe, Regen, DMG Cap, Sigil Booster

                  Party

                  Recommended team — Zeta, Eugen, and Cagliostro

                  For Katalina's best DPS team, other than having her as your primary damage dealer, Zeta can serve as the secondary DPS, especially with her airborne combo . This helps the team maintain consistent damage over a wider area.

                  Meanwhile, Eugen can serve as a support at the sidelines, while also dealing considerable damage with his perfect aimbot. Moreover, he can debuff enemies, thanks to his skills that can induce paralysis and poison . To balance the team, Cagliostro can be relied on by keeping the party alive, while also buffing them up with her **Phantasmagoria.

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