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KarthusA

Karthus

Build for Bot
Death DefiedPLay WasteQWall of PainWDefileERequiemR
Updated 34 minutes ago · Patch 26.19
ARAM
All ranks
World
AmericasEuropeAsiaOceania & Southeast Asia

Grey servers: not enough games yet. They switch on as we collect them.

Select matchup
Tier
A
Win rate
56.4%
Win rate change
-10.3%
Pick rate
0.7%
Ban rate
0.7%
Games
188
High-elo games

Runes

55.8% (86)

Sorcery

Summon AeryArcane CometStormraider's SurgeDeathfire Touch
Axiom ArcanistManaflow BandNimbus Cloak
TranscendenceCelerityAbsolute Focus
ScorchWaterwalkingGathering Storm

Precision

Absorb LifeTriumphPresence of Mind
Legend: AlacrityLegend: HasteLegend: Bloodline
Coup de GraceCut DownLast Stand
Adaptive ForceAttack SpeedAbility Haste
Adaptive ForceMove SpeedHealth Scaling
HealthTenacity and Slow ResistHealth Scaling

Summoner spells

ExhaustFlash
58.4% 178

Skill priority

Lay WasteQDefileEWall of PainW
57.5% 160

Start

Doran's RingHealth PotionHealth Potion56.5%
Dark SealRefillable Potion100.0%

Boots

Sorcerer's Shoes56.2%
Plated Steelcaps100.0%

Vision

Farsight Alteration0.3 control wards / game

First back usually around 3:02

Amplifying Tome52.2%13%
Lost Chapter53.9%8%

Build order

  1. Amplifying Tome
  2. Dark Seal
  3. Lost Chapter
  4. Amplifying Tome
  5. Fated Ashes
  6. Sapphire Crystal
  7. Boots
  8. Blackfire Torch
  9. Needlessly Large Rod
  10. Sorcerer's Shoes
  11. Amplifying Tome
  12. Hextech Alternator
  13. Shadowflame
  14. Needlessly Large Rod
  15. Needlessly Large Rod
  16. Rabadon's Deathcap

Completed items

  1. Blackfire Torch156.5%9:58
  2. Sorcerer's Shoes256.2%13:08
  3. Shadowflame357.1%17:50
  4. Liandry's Torment452.0%18:49
  5. Rabadon's Deathcap555.0%25:34
  6. Void Staff651.1%27:24
When items get finished
05101520253035
Blackfire Torch
Sorcerer's Shoes
Shadowflame
Liandry's Torment
Rabadon's Deathcap
Void Staff

Median finish time in minutes, from the games that built each item.

Situational

  • Stormsurge65.1%
  • Zhonya's Hourglass62.2%
  • Malignance66.7%

Skill path

Lay WasteQDefileEWall of PainWMost popular leveling order
Skill path
Lay WasteQ13579
Wall of PainW1314151718
DefileE2481012
RequiemR61116

Toughest matchups

These champions counter Karthus

Not enough games against specific opponents yet.

Best matchups

Karthus beats these champions

Win rate by game length

Karthus is strongest early: end it fast
< 25 min49 games25-30 min63 games30-35 min47 games35+ min29 games

Average gold vs the lane opponent at 15:00: +219 (143 games)

Damage breakdown

Physical1%Magic96%True3%

Similar champions

Playing as Karthus

  • Ask your allies to help point out when you should use Requiem to get kills in different lanes.
  • Lay Waste is very strong at farming minions and harassing enemy champions.

Playing against Karthus

  • Karthus can cast spells for a short duration after he is killed. Move away from his corpse to be safe.
  • Make sure you always have enough health to survive Requiem, even if you have to go back to the base more frequently to heal.

Official tips from Riot