Tier
Win Rate
48.8%Pick Rate
1.9%Ban Rate
3.0%Matches
52,653Karthus AP Runes
Build Patch 14.17Core Karthus Item Build Order
54.3% Win Rate (5,783 Games)![Scorchclaw Pup](https://blitz-cdn.blitz.gg/blitz/lol/item/1101.webp?v=null)
Starting
![Blackfire Torch](https://blitz-cdn.blitz.gg/blitz/lol/item/2503.webp?v=null)
1st
![Sorcerer's Shoes](https://blitz-cdn.blitz.gg/blitz/lol/item/3020.webp?v=null)
2nd
![Liandry's Torment](https://blitz-cdn.blitz.gg/blitz/lol/item/6653.webp?v=null)
3rd
![Liandry's Torment](https://blitz-cdn.blitz.gg/blitz/lol/item/6653.webp?v=null)
4th
![Blackfire Torch](https://blitz-cdn.blitz.gg/blitz/lol/item/2503.webp?v=null)
5th
![Rabadon's Deathcap](https://blitz-cdn.blitz.gg/blitz/lol/item/3089.webp?v=null)
6th
![Scorchclaw Pup](https://blitz-cdn.blitz.gg/blitz/lol/item/1101.webp?v=null)
![Blackfire Torch](https://blitz-cdn.blitz.gg/blitz/lol/item/2503.webp?v=null)
![Sorcerer's Shoes](https://blitz-cdn.blitz.gg/blitz/lol/item/3020.webp?v=null)
![Liandry's Torment](https://blitz-cdn.blitz.gg/blitz/lol/item/6653.webp?v=null)
![Liandry's Torment](https://blitz-cdn.blitz.gg/blitz/lol/item/6653.webp?v=null)
![Blackfire Torch](https://blitz-cdn.blitz.gg/blitz/lol/item/2503.webp?v=null)
![Rabadon's Deathcap](https://blitz-cdn.blitz.gg/blitz/lol/item/3089.webp?v=null)
Core Karthus Item Build Path
![](https://blitz-cdn.blitz.gg/blitz/lol/item/1101.webp?v=null)
![](https://blitz-cdn.blitz.gg/blitz/lol/item/3802.webp?v=null)
![](https://blitz-cdn.blitz.gg/blitz/lol/item/2508.webp?v=null)
![](https://blitz-cdn.blitz.gg/blitz/lol/item/2503.webp?v=null)
![](https://blitz-cdn.blitz.gg/blitz/lol/item/1001.webp?v=null)
![](https://blitz-cdn.blitz.gg/blitz/lol/item/3020.webp?v=null)
![](https://blitz-cdn.blitz.gg/blitz/lol/item/3147.webp?v=null)
![](https://blitz-cdn.blitz.gg/blitz/lol/item/2508.webp?v=null)
![](https://blitz-cdn.blitz.gg/blitz/lol/item/6653.webp?v=null)
Situational
![Malignance](https://blitz-cdn.blitz.gg/blitz/lol/item/3118.webp?v=null)
![Shadowflame](https://blitz-cdn.blitz.gg/blitz/lol/item/4645.webp?v=null)
![Zhonya's Hourglass](https://blitz-cdn.blitz.gg/blitz/lol/item/3157.webp?v=null)
![Void Staff](https://blitz-cdn.blitz.gg/blitz/lol/item/3135.webp?v=null)
![Morellonomicon](https://blitz-cdn.blitz.gg/blitz/lol/item/3165.webp?v=null)
![Mejai's Soulstealer](https://blitz-cdn.blitz.gg/blitz/lol/item/3041.webp?v=null)
![Cryptbloom](https://blitz-cdn.blitz.gg/blitz/lol/item/3137.webp?v=null)
Summoner Spells
![Exhaust](https://blitz-cdn.blitz.gg/blitz/lol/summoner-spells/3.webp)
![](https://blitz-cdn.blitz.gg/blitz/lol/summoner-spells/11.webp)
![](https://blitz-cdn.blitz.gg/blitz/lol/summoner-spells/4.webp)
![](https://blitz-cdn.blitz.gg/blitz/lol/summoner-spells/11.webp)
Karthus Skill Order
0![Death Defied](https://blitz-cdn.blitz.gg/blitz/lol/passive/Karthus_Passive.webp)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
![Lay Waste](https://blitz-cdn.blitz.gg/blitz/lol/spell/KarthusLayWasteA1.webp)
![Wall of Pain](https://blitz-cdn.blitz.gg/blitz/lol/spell/KarthusWallOfPain.webp)
![Defile](https://blitz-cdn.blitz.gg/blitz/lol/spell/KarthusDefile.webp)
![Requiem](https://blitz-cdn.blitz.gg/blitz/lol/spell/KarthusFallenOne.webp)
Win Rate(-0.1%)vs last patch
48.8%
Pick Rate(-0.3%)vs last patch
1.9%
Ban Rate(-0.6%)vs last patch
3.0%
Key Insights
- IfQonly hits one enemy, it deals double damage.
- QandWreveal their affected areas.
- Edeals an extra tick of damage when Karthus recasts it.
- Rdamages all targetable enemy champions.
Strengths
- Even if Karthus is killed first, he continues fighting withP, giving his team an advantage in fights since enemy resources were used on him.
- Forces enemies to play with a "lower HP bar" since he can castRat any point to finish them off.
- Best with items enhancing magic damage, penetration, and burst potential.
Weaknesses
- Completely immobile, leaving him vulnerable to ganks.
- When fighting, if Karthus misses a singleQ, it becomes much harder to land one.
- Vulnerable to items that mitigate magic damage or negate spell effects, aiding in reducing the impact of hisR.