Neeko vs Karma Counter Pick

Two mage supports with almost identical roles produce a narrow result: Neeko 52.6% in 1,021 recorded games on patch 16.13.1. Range is close at 550 against 525, both deal magic damage, both spend mana, and both are rated 5 for difficulty, so the decision points are cooldown structure and the shape of the damage rather than raw stats.

Karma‘s advantage is that she never waits for an ultimate. Mantra is available from level one and consumes no skill point, and Gathering Fire shortens its cooldown every time she damages a champion. That makes her pressure relentless: an empowered Inner Flame for damage, or an empowered Inspire that shields an ally and speeds them out of a Tangle-Barbs line. She also carries more late health, 2,483 against 2,378, and a better armor curve, 28 to 113 against 21 to 109.4.

Neeko‘s route to a lead is committed rather than incremental. Pop Blossom knocks up and stuns everything nearby after its preparation, and Inherent Glamour can hide that preparation by presenting her as an ally champion. Shapesplitter adds a clone walking in a chosen direction while the real Neeko keeps her passive move speed. Focused Resolve is the counterplay, a tether that roots if it is not broken, so creating distance during it decides the trade. At 340 move speed against 335, she has a marginal edge in doing so.