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
#53 / 60

Tier D · 29,179 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

43.7% WR28.9% pick8,166 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
44.9% WR9.9% pick2,806 games
Deathfire TouchAxiom ArcanistAbsolute FocusGathering StormLast StandTriumph
53.4% WR6.8% pick1,909 games
First StrikeCash BackTriple TonicCosmic InsightAxiom ArcanistGathering Storm
48.5% WR5.3% pick1,483 games

Skill order

55.5% WR77.1% pick15,001 games
Lay WasteQ123456789101112131415
Wall of PainW123456789101112131415
DefileE123456789101112131415
RequiemR123456789101112131415

Summoner spells

ExhaustSmite
48.1% WR52.8% pick14,568 games
FlashSmite
49.0% WR40.1% pick11,072 games

Power curve

Scales into the late game

48.3<25 min
47.725–30
48.330–35
51.935–40
50.640+

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%
16.9% · 3,600 games
Blackfire TorchBlackfire TorchShadowflameShadowflameZhonya's HourglassZhonya's Hourglass
48.4%
11.8% · 2,523 games
Blackfire TorchBlackfire TorchLiandry's TormentLiandry's TormentShadowflameShadowflame
48.1%
7.6% · 1,634 games
Blackfire TorchBlackfire TorchShadowflameShadowflameLiandry's TormentLiandry's Torment
51.0%
5.6% · 1,200 games
Blackfire TorchBlackfire TorchLiandry's TormentLiandry's TormentZhonya's HourglassZhonya's Hourglass
51.4%
4.2% · 897 games
Scorchclaw PupScorchclaw PupHealth PotionHealth Potion
Start49.0%
44.0% · 12,256 games
Scorchclaw PupScorchclaw Pup
Start49.5%
38.0% · 10,591 games
Sorcerer's ShoesSorcerer's Shoes
Boots49.0%
98.3% · 23,694 games
Ionian Boots of LucidityIonian Boots of Lucidity
Boots41.5%
1.3% · 311 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%
ShadowflameShadowflame75.2% · 50.7%
Rabadon's DeathcapRabadon's Deathcap42.9% · 55.4%
Liandry's TormentLiandry's Torment34.9% · 50.0%
Zhonya's HourglassZhonya's Hourglass30.2% · 52.2%
MalignanceMalignance23.5% · 45.8%
Void StaffVoid Staff22.0% · 55.9%
Dark SealDark Seal20.0% · 49.7%
StormsurgeStormsurge13.5% · 57.9%
Mejai's SoulstealerMejai's Soulstealer6.5% · 84.8%
Oblivion OrbOblivion Orb5.9% · 37.9%
Seeker's ArmguardSeeker's Armguard3.2% · 51.5%
MorellonomiconMorellonomicon2.4% · 52.9%
CryptbloomCryptbloom1.5% · 59.4%
Horizon FocusHorizon Focus1.2% · 60.7%
Rylai's Crystal ScepterRylai's Crystal Scepter0.7% · 49.5%

Karthus counters

All matchups →

Hardest matchupsthese champions counter Karthus

Nidalee44.1%363 gamesEkko44.1%542 gamesHecarim45.2%692 gamesKayn45.4%823 gamesTalon45.9%775 gamesCho'Gath46.2%727 games

Easiest matchupsKarthus beats these

Vi59.7%414 gamesFiddlesticks54.4%329 gamesRengar53.8%476 gamesJarvan IV53.6%683 gamesViego53.4%919 gamesSylas53.4%820 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