Karthus Splash Art
Karthus

Karthus ADC

the Deathsinger
Win Rate: All Roles 48.8% | as ADC 53.7%
Pick Rate: All Roles 1.9% | as ADC 0.2%
Ban Rate: 1.0%
Analyzed: 14972 ranked matches
League: Platinum+
Patch: 15.24 (25.24)
Jungle ADC ARAM

Karthus ADC Guide

A Tier

Karthus excels in ADC with a 53.7% win rate (#2 among ADC champions) vs 48.8% win rate across all roles. This role really brings out the champion's potential. Karthus remains underpicked 1.9% overall pick rate and 0.2% usage in ADC in Plat+ on patch 15.24 (25.24)**Data may mix with previous patch on the first day of patch release, based on 14972 ranked games. Very niche pick - only 12.9% of Karthus's games are in this role. Optimal build starts with Sorcerer's Shoes, rushing Blackfire Torch, Shadowflame, and Rabadon's Deathcap. Karthus has strong farm - 7.16 CS/min (#8 among ADC champions) and earns 452 gold per minute. Averages 2.2 KDA (#24 among ADC champions). Has a 1.0% ban rate (134th place). Karthus deals mostly magic damage, ideal for teams lacking AP threats. Recommended runes: Dark Harvest, Cheap Shot, Grisly Mementos, Ultimate Hunter, (Domination) + Presence of Mind, Last Stand, (Precision). When playing, most players max abilities in Q > E > W order.

Karthus Roles

Karthus

  • Jungle
    (Jungle - 74.7%) 11189 games

  • ADC
    (ADC - 12.9%) 1930 games

ARAM Stats

  • ARAM
    Analyzed 13286 ARAM games

Karthus ADC Stats

53.7%
Win Rate (Role)
12.9%
ADC (Role Rate)
1.0%
Ban Rate
0.0020
Penta/Game
9.5
Kills/Game
8.9
Deaths/Game
10.1
Assists/Game
0.26
Wards/Min
7.16
CS/Min
452
Gold/Min

Damage Type

Physical: 0.9%
Magic: 93.1%
True: 5.96%

Overall Champion Matrix

Karthus ADC Summoner Spells

Most Popular
Exhaust
Exhaust Slows target enemy champion and reduces their damage dealt.
Flash
Flash Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
53.5% Win Rate 77.5% Pick Rate1496 games

Highest Win Rate
Flash
Flash Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
Heal
Heal Restores Health and grants Move Speed to you and target allied champion.
69.4% Win Rate 0.6% Pick Rate11 games

Karthus ADC Item Builds

Most Popular Build

Starting Items
Stealth Ward
Stealth Ward (0 gold) Active (210 - 120s, max 2 charges)
Places an Invisible Stealth Ward that grants vision for 90-120 seconds.
Doran's Ring
Doran's Ring (400 gold) 18 Ability Power
90 Health
Restoration
Restore 1.25 Mana every second. If you can't gain Mana, restore 0.55 Health instead.
Helping Hand
Attacks deal 5 bonus physical damage to minions.
Health Potion
Health Potion (50 gold) Consume
Restores 120 Health over 15 seconds.
52.3% Win Rate 96.0% Pick Rate1852 games
Popular Boots
Sorcerer's Shoes
Sorcerer's Shoes (1100 gold) 12 Magic Penetration
45 Move Speed
54.7% Win Rate 89.2% Pick Rate1721 games
Ionian Boots of Lucidity
Ionian Boots of Lucidity (900 gold) 10 Ability Haste
45 Move Speed
Ionian Insight
Gain 10 Summoner Spell Haste.
59.2% Win Rate 1.0% Pick Rate19 games
Boots of Swiftness
Boots of Swiftness (1000 gold) 60 Move Speed
Fleetfooted
Reduce the effectiveness of Slows by 25%.
68.5% Win Rate 0.6% Pick Rate11 games
Core Build
Lost Chapter
Lost Chapter (1200 gold) 40 Ability Power
300 Mana
10 Ability Haste
Enlighten
Levelling up restores 20% max Mana over 3 seconds.
->
Blackfire Torch
Blackfire Torch (2800 gold) 80 Ability Power
600 Mana
20 Ability Haste
Baleful Blaze
Damaging Abilities deals bonus magic damage for 3 seconds.
Blackfire
For each enemy champion, epic and large monster affected by your Baleful Blaze, gain 4% Ability Power.
Shadowflame
Shadowflame (3200 gold) 110 Ability Power
15 Magic Penetration
Cinderbloom
Magic and true damage Critically Strikes enemies below 40% Health, dealing 20% increased damage.
Rabadon's Deathcap
Rabadon's Deathcap (3600 gold) 130 Ability Power
Magical Opus
Increases your total Ability Power by 30%.
58.6% Win Rate 29.7% Pick Rate574 games
Final Build
Void Staff
Void Staff (3000 gold) 95 Ability Power
40% Magic Penetration
57.4% Win Rate 23.3% Pick Rate449 games

Best Win Rate Build

Starting Items
Stealth Ward
Stealth Ward (0 gold) Active (210 - 120s, max 2 charges)
Places an Invisible Stealth Ward that grants vision for 90-120 seconds.
Sapphire Crystal
Sapphire Crystal (300 gold) 300 Mana
Refillable Potion
Refillable Potion (150 gold) Active (2 charges)
Restores 100 Health over 12 seconds.
Refills upon visiting the shop.
66.0% Win Rate 0.3% Pick Rate6 games
Highest Winrate Boots
Boots of Swiftness
Boots of Swiftness (1000 gold) 60 Move Speed
Fleetfooted
Reduce the effectiveness of Slows by 25%.
68.5% Win Rate 0.6% Pick Rate11 games
Ionian Boots of Lucidity
Ionian Boots of Lucidity (900 gold) 10 Ability Haste
45 Move Speed
Ionian Insight
Gain 10 Summoner Spell Haste.
59.2% Win Rate 1.0% Pick Rate19 games
Sorcerer's Shoes
Sorcerer's Shoes (1100 gold) 12 Magic Penetration
45 Move Speed
54.7% Win Rate 89.2% Pick Rate1721 games
Core Build
Lost Chapter
Lost Chapter (1200 gold) 40 Ability Power
300 Mana
10 Ability Haste
Enlighten
Levelling up restores 20% max Mana over 3 seconds.
->
Malignance
Malignance (2700 gold) 85 Ability Power
600 Mana
15 Ability Haste
Scorn
Gain 20 Ultimate Ability Haste.
Hatefog
Damaging a champion with your Ultimate burns the ground beneath them for 3s, dealing magic damage per second and reducing their Magic Resist.
Shadowflame
Shadowflame (3200 gold) 110 Ability Power
15 Magic Penetration
Cinderbloom
Magic and true damage Critically Strikes enemies below 40% Health, dealing 20% increased damage.
Rabadon's Deathcap
Rabadon's Deathcap (3600 gold) 130 Ability Power
Magical Opus
Increases your total Ability Power by 30%.
68.3% Win Rate 2.3% Pick Rate44 games
Final Build
Mejai's Soulstealer
Mejai's Soulstealer (1500 gold) 20 Ability Power
100 Health
Glory
Takedowns grant Glory, up to 25. 10 Glory is lost on death.
Gain 5 Ability Power per Glory and 10% Move Speed at 10 or higher Glory.
77.4% Win Rate 5.7% Pick Rate110 games
Other Items
Zhonya's Hourglass
Zhonya's Hourglass (3250 gold) 105 Ability Power
50 Armor

Time Stop
Enter Stasis for 2.5 seconds.
51.4% Win Rate 18.7% Pick Rate361 games
Stormsurge
Stormsurge (2900 gold) 90 Ability Power
15 Magic Penetration
4% Move Speed
Stormraider
Dealing 25% of a champion's maximum Health within 2.5s applies Squall to them and grants 25% Move Speed for 1.5 seconds.
Squall
After 2 seconds, deal magic damage. If the target dies before Squall triggers, it damages nearby enemies and grants 30 gold.
65.1% Win Rate 7.6% Pick Rate146 games
Malignance
Malignance (2700 gold) 85 Ability Power
600 Mana
15 Ability Haste
Scorn
Gain 20 Ultimate Ability Haste.
Hatefog
Damaging a champion with your Ultimate burns the ground beneath them for 3s, dealing magic damage per second and reducing their Magic Resist.
54.3% Win Rate 6.2% Pick Rate120 games
Mejai's Soulstealer
Mejai's Soulstealer (1500 gold) 20 Ability Power
100 Health
Glory
Takedowns grant Glory, up to 25. 10 Glory is lost on death.
Gain 5 Ability Power per Glory and 10% Move Speed at 10 or higher Glory.
77.4% Win Rate 5.7% Pick Rate110 games
Morellonomicon
Morellonomicon (2950 gold) 75 Ability Power
350 Health
15 Ability Haste
Grievous Wounds
Dealing magic damage to champions applies 40% Wounds for 3 seconds.
56.9% Win Rate 5.7% Pick Rate109 games
Liandry's Torment
Liandry's Torment (3000 gold) 70 Ability Power
300 Health
Torment
Damaging Abilities burn enemies for 2% max Health magic damage per second for 3 seconds.
Suffering
For each second in combat with enemy champions, deal 2% bonus damage, up to 6%.
34.8% Win Rate 4.3% Pick Rate84 games
Horizon Focus
Horizon Focus (2700 gold) 75 Ability Power
25 Ability Haste
Hypershot
Dealing Ability damage to champions at 600 range or greater Reveals them for 6 seconds.
Deal 10% increased damage to enemies Revealed by this item.
Focus
When Hypershot is triggered, Reveal all other enemy champions within 1400 range of them for 3 seconds.
47.0% Win Rate 4.3% Pick Rate82 games

Karthus ADC Runes

Most Frequent Runes

Primary Path
Domination
Dark Harvest
Dark Harvest

Dark Harvest

Damaging a Champion below 50% health deals adaptive damage and harvests their soul, perma…

Cheap Shot
Cheap Shot

Cheap Shot

Damaging champions with impaired movement or actions deals 10 - 45 bonus true d…

Grisly Mementos
Grisly Mementos

Grisly Mementos

Collect 1 memento on champion takedowns, up to 18 total.Gain 6 Trinket Haste fo…

Ultimate Hunter
Ultimate Hunter

Ultimate Hunter

Your ultimate gains 6 Ability Haste, plus an additional 5 Ability Haste per Bou…

Secondary Path
Precision
Presence of Mind
Presence of Mind

Presence of Mind

Damaging an enemy champion restores 6-50 (80% for ranged) mana or 6 energy.Take…

Last Stand
Last Stand

Last Stand

Deal 5% - 11% increased damage to champions while you are below 60% health. Max…

Adaptive
Adaptive Force
Adaptive Force

Adaptive Force

Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

Adaptive Force
Adaptive Force

Adaptive Force

Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

+65 Health
+65 Health

+65 Health

+65 Health

53.2% Win Rate 74.6% Pick Rate1440 games

Best Win Rate Runes

Primary Path
Sorcery
Summon Aery
Summon Aery

Summon Aery

Damaging enemy champions with basic attacks or abilities sends Aery to them, dealing 10 -…

Axiom Arcanist
Axiom Arcanist

Axiom Arcanist

Your Ultimate has 12% increased damage, healing, and shielding. (AoE damage is …

Transcendence
Transcendence

Transcendence

Gain bonuses upon reaching the following levels:Level 5: +5 Ability Haste Level…

Scorch
Scorch

Scorch

Your next damaging ability hit sets champions on fire dealing 20 - 40 bonus mag…

Secondary Path
Precision
Presence of Mind
Presence of Mind

Presence of Mind

Damaging an enemy champion restores 6-50 (80% for ranged) mana or 6 energy.Take…

Last Stand
Last Stand

Last Stand

Deal 5% - 11% increased damage to champions while you are below 60% health. Max…

Adaptive
Adaptive Force
Adaptive Force

Adaptive Force

Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

Adaptive Force
Adaptive Force

Adaptive Force

Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

+65 Health
+65 Health

+65 Health

+65 Health

62.5% Win Rate 2.5% Pick Rate48 games

Karthus best with

Karthus ADC Skill (abilities) Orders

Most Frequent Skill Order

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
W
W
W
W
W
W
W
E
E
E
E
E
E
E
R
R
R
R
R
Max Order: Q > E > W
54.1% Win Rate 45.5% Pick Rate879 games

Highest Win % Skill Order

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
W
W
W
W
W
W
W
E
E
E
E
E
E
E
R
R
R
R
R
Max Order: Q > E > W
64.5% Win Rate 1.4% Pick Rate27 games

Countered by Karthus

Karthus Counterpicks

Karthus ADC Lane Matchups

Karthus lore:

The harbinger of oblivion, Karthus is an undying spirit whose haunting songs are a prelude to the horror of his nightmarish appearance. The living fear the eternity of undeath, but Karthus sees only beauty and purity in its embrace, a perfect union of life and death. When Karthus emerges from the Shadow Isles, it is to bring the joy of death to mortals, an apostle of the unliving.

Karthus tips:

  • 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.

Karthus abilities description:

Death Defied
P
Death Defied (passive)
Upon dying, Karthus enters a spirit form that allows him to continue casting spells.
Lay Waste
Q
Lay Waste (Q)
Karthus unleashes a delayed blast at a location, dealing damage to nearby enemies. Deals increased damage to isolated enemies.
Wall of Pain
W
Wall of Pain (W)
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.
Defile
E
Defile (E)
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.
Requiem
R
Requiem (R)
After channeling for 3 seconds, Karthus deals damage to all enemy champions.

Karthus Skins and Splash Arts

Default Karthus Default Karthus
Phantom Karthus Phantom Karthus
Statue of Karthus Statue of Karthus
Grim Reaper Karthus Grim Reaper Karthus
Pentakill Karthus Pentakill Karthus
Fnatic Karthus Fnatic Karthus
Karthus Lightsbane Karthus Lightsbane
Infernal Karthus Infernal Karthus
Pentakill III: Lost Chapter Karthus Pentakill III: Lost Chapter Karthus
Elderwood Karthus Elderwood Karthus