KarthusD

Build guide · Patch 16.19KarthusADC build

the Deathsinger

Win rate
49.7%

▼ 52.5 vs 16.18

Pick rate
2.2%

▼ 0.6 vs 16.18

Ban rate
0.9%

▼ 0.8 vs 16.18

Overall rank · ADC
#154 / 40

Tier D · 45,996 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

Deathfire TouchAxiom ArcanistTranscendenceScorchPresence of MindLast Stand

Spells

ExhaustFlash

Skill priority

Lay WasteQDefileEWall of PainW

Start

Doran's RingHealth PotionHealth Potion

Boots

Sorcerer's Shoes

Core

Blackfire TorchShadowflameRabadon's Deathcap

Runes

54.9% WR34.6% pick3,441 games
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
Dark HarvestCheap ShotGrisly MementosUltimate HunterPresence of MindLast Stand
52.4% WR9.5% pick942 games
Dark HarvestCheap ShotGrisly MementosUltimate HunterAxiom ArcanistGathering Storm
48.6% WR8.1% pick804 games
Deathfire TouchAxiom ArcanistTranscendenceGathering StormPresence of MindLast Stand
56.2% WR4.7% pick466 games

Skill order

59.5% WR48.9% pick2,858 games
Lay WasteQ123456789101112131415
Wall of PainW123456789101112131415
DefileE123456789101112131415
RequiemR123456789101112131415

Summoner spells

ExhaustFlash
54.5% WR90.1% pick8,778 games
FlashTeleport
46.9% WR5.0% pick484 games

Power curve

Steady through the whole game

0.0<25 min
0.025–30
0.030–35
0.035–40
0.040+

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

Item builds

First three completed items
Blackfire TorchBlackfire TorchShadowflameShadowflameRabadon's DeathcapRabadon's Deathcap
53.7%
20.7% · 1,624 games
Blackfire TorchBlackfire TorchShadowflameShadowflameStormsurgeStormsurge
56.2%
15.2% · 1,194 games
Blackfire TorchBlackfire TorchLiandry's TormentLiandry's TormentShadowflameShadowflame
53.6%
7.5% · 586 games
Blackfire TorchBlackfire TorchShadowflameShadowflameLiandry's TormentLiandry's Torment
49.1%
5.9% · 466 games
Dark SealDark SealBlackfire TorchBlackfire TorchShadowflameShadowflameRabadon's DeathcapRabadon's Deathcap
62.9%
5.4% · 426 games
Doran's RingDoran's RingHealth PotionHealth PotionHealth PotionHealth Potion
Start53.3%
93.0% · 9,155 games
Amplifying TomeAmplifying TomeDoran's RingDoran's RingHealth PotionHealth PotionHealth PotionHealth Potion
Start59.6%
1.4% · 136 games
Sorcerer's ShoesSorcerer's Shoes
Boots54.2%
98.8% · 9,026 games
Gluttonous GreavesGluttonous Greaves
Boots50.0%
0.4% · 32 games
Plated SteelcapsPlated Steelcaps
Boots37.9%
0.3% · 29 games

Situational items

How often each item ends up in the final build
Blackfire TorchBlackfire Torch96.4% · 53.9%
ShadowflameShadowflame80.3% · 55.2%
Rabadon's DeathcapRabadon's Deathcap45.2% · 56.7%
Liandry's TormentLiandry's Torment36.1% · 53.1%
StormsurgeStormsurge30.4% · 60.2%
Dark SealDark Seal28.0% · 59.0%
Void StaffVoid Staff25.0% · 54.7%
Zhonya's HourglassZhonya's Hourglass21.7% · 55.9%
Oblivion OrbOblivion Orb12.8% · 45.1%
MalignanceMalignance6.8% · 52.4%
Mejai's SoulstealerMejai's Soulstealer3.3% · 84.0%
Seeker's ArmguardSeeker's Armguard2.7% · 57.0%
MorellonomiconMorellonomicon1.8% · 53.6%
CryptbloomCryptbloom1.8% · 55.9%
Horizon FocusHorizon Focus1.3% · 59.2%
Rylai's Crystal ScepterRylai's Crystal Scepter0.8% · 55.0%

Karthus counters

All matchups →

Hardest matchupsthese champions counter Karthus

Jinx49.9%674 gamesJhin51.3%661 gamesCaitlyn52.9%544 gamesTristana54.3%422 gamesKai'Sa56.6%698 gamesYunara56.9%738 games

Easiest matchupsKarthus beats these

Ezreal59.5%425 gamesAphelios58.2%347 gamesYunara56.9%738 gamesKai'Sa56.6%698 gamesTristana54.3%422 gamesCaitlyn52.9%544 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
Karthus ADC Build 16.19: Runes, Items, Skill Order & Counters | LUM.GG