KarthusD

Build guide · Patch 16.19KarthusJungle build

the Deathsinger

Win rate
48.7%

#53/60 by win rate▲ 0.1 vs 16.18

Pick rate
1.4%

#40/60 most pickedunchanged vs 16.18

Ban rate
0.9%

#49 most bannedunchanged vs 16.18

Overall rank · Jungle
#54 / 60

Tier D · 28,418 games

Win rate by patch (%)

Patch 16.19 · Ranked Solo/Duo · Emerald+ · all regions · How we calculate

Recommended Karthus build

Most played and most reliable choices

Runes

Dark HarvestCheap ShotGrisly MementosUltimate HunterAxiom ArcanistGathering Storm

Spells

ExhaustSmite

Skill priority

Lay WasteQDefileEWall of PainW

Start

Scorchclaw PupHealth Potion

Boots

Sorcerer's Shoes

Core

Blackfire TorchShadowflameRabadon's Deathcap

Runes

43.6% WR28.8% pick7,925 games
Domination
ElectrocuteDark HarvestHail of Blades
Cheap ShotTaste of BloodSudden Impact
Sixth SenseGrisly MementosDeep Ward
Treasure HunterRelentless HunterUltimate Hunter
Sorcery
Axiom ArcanistManaflow BandNimbus Cloak
TranscendenceCelerityAbsolute Focus
ScorchWaterwalkingGathering Storm
Adaptive ForceAttack SpeedAbility Haste
Adaptive ForceMove SpeedHealth Scaling
HealthTenacity and Slow ResistHealth Scaling
Dark HarvestCheap ShotGrisly MementosTreasure HunterPresence of MindCoup de Grace
45.0% WR9.9% pick2,721 games
Deathfire TouchAxiom ArcanistAbsolute FocusGathering StormLast StandTriumph
53.7% WR6.8% pick1,858 games
First StrikeCash BackTriple TonicCosmic InsightAxiom ArcanistGathering Storm
48.3% WR5.3% pick1,446 games

Skill order

55.6% WR77.0% pick14,551 games
Lay WasteQ123456789101112131415
Wall of PainW123456789101112131415
DefileE123456789101112131415
RequiemR123456789101112131415

Summoner spells

ExhaustSmite
48.0% WR52.9% pick14,185 games
FlashSmite
49.0% WR40.0% pick10,719 games

Power curve

Scales into the late game

48.1<25 min
47.825–30
48.330–35
51.835–40
50.440+

Win rate (%) by game length in minutes. Dashed line = 50%.

Item builds

First three completed items
Blackfire TorchBlackfire TorchShadowflameShadowflameRabadon's DeathcapRabadon's Deathcap
51.8%
16.8% · 3,494 games
Blackfire TorchBlackfire TorchShadowflameShadowflameZhonya's HourglassZhonya's Hourglass
48.5%
11.9% · 2,472 games
Blackfire TorchBlackfire TorchLiandry's TormentLiandry's TormentShadowflameShadowflame
48.1%
7.7% · 1,593 games
Blackfire TorchBlackfire TorchShadowflameShadowflameLiandry's TormentLiandry's Torment
51.5%
5.6% · 1,170 games
Blackfire TorchBlackfire TorchLiandry's TormentLiandry's TormentZhonya's HourglassZhonya's Hourglass
51.3%
4.2% · 873 games
Scorchclaw PupScorchclaw PupHealth PotionHealth Potion
Start48.9%
44.1% · 11,965 games
Scorchclaw PupScorchclaw Pup
Start49.5%
37.9% · 10,277 games
Sorcerer's ShoesSorcerer's Shoes
Boots49.0%
98.3% · 23,055 games
Ionian Boots of LucidityIonian Boots of Lucidity
Boots41.8%
1.3% · 306 games
Plated SteelcapsPlated Steelcaps
Boots53.5%
0.2% · 43 games

Situational items

How often each item ends up in the final build
Blackfire TorchBlackfire Torch82.9% · 49.9%
ShadowflameShadowflame75.3% · 50.7%
Rabadon's DeathcapRabadon's Deathcap42.8% · 55.3%
Liandry's TormentLiandry's Torment34.9% · 50.2%
Zhonya's HourglassZhonya's Hourglass30.2% · 52.2%
MalignanceMalignance23.4% · 45.6%
Void StaffVoid Staff21.9% · 56.0%
Dark SealDark Seal20.0% · 49.6%
StormsurgeStormsurge13.4% · 57.8%
Mejai's SoulstealerMejai's Soulstealer6.5% · 84.8%
Oblivion OrbOblivion Orb5.9% · 38.1%
Seeker's ArmguardSeeker's Armguard3.2% · 51.5%
MorellonomiconMorellonomicon2.4% · 52.2%
CryptbloomCryptbloom1.5% · 59.5%
Horizon FocusHorizon Focus1.2% · 60.3%
Rylai's Crystal ScepterRylai's Crystal Scepter0.7% · 49.2%

Karthus counters

All matchups →

Hardest matchupsthese champions counter Karthus

Nidalee44.0%357 gamesEkko44.0%520 gamesHecarim45.3%678 gamesTalon45.3%759 gamesKayn45.7%797 gamesCho'Gath46.6%702 games

Easiest matchupsKarthus beats these

Vi59.8%403 gamesFiddlesticks54.7%320 gamesRengar54.1%458 gamesJarvan IV53.5%658 gamesViego53.3%887 gamesSylas52.8%799 games

Karthus abilities

Death Defied

PassiveDeath Defied

Upon dying, Karthus enters a spirit form that allows him to continue casting spells.

Lay Waste

QLay Waste

Karthus unleashes a delayed blast at a location, dealing damage to nearby enemies. Deals increased damage to isolated enemies.

Cooldown: 0s · Cost: 20/25/30/35/40
Wall of Pain

WWall of Pain

Karthus creates a passable screen of leeching energy. Any enemy units that walk through the screen have their Move Speed and Magic Resist reduced for a period.

Cooldown: 15s · Cost: 70
Defile

EDefile

Karthus passively steals energy from his victims, gaining Mana on each kill. Alternatively, Karthus can surround himself in the souls of his prey, dealing damage to nearby enemies, but quickly draining his own Mana.

Cooldown: 0.5s · Cost: 30/42/54/66/78
Requiem

RRequiem

After channeling for 3 seconds, Karthus deals damage to all enemy champions.

Cooldown: 200/180/160s · Cost: 100