Jungle Matchup

Karthus vs Zed

Patch: 15.24 (25.24)
League: Platinum+
Karthus

Karthus

the Deathsinger
Jungle
Karthus Jungle Overall Win Rate
48.57%

Matchup Win Rate

54.4%
Karthus vs Zed Wins
⚔
45.6%
Zed vs Karthus Wins
Zed

Zed

the Master of Shadows
Jungle
Zed Jungle Overall Win Rate
48.36%

Karthus vs Zed - Jungle Matchup Guide Patch 15.24 (25.24)

Karthus Jungle vs Zed Jungle - Who is stronger?

Karthus Jungle performs well against Zed (54.4% win rate) based on 540 games. This matchup works well for Karthus players.

View detailed statistics below: items, runes, and counter builds for Karthus Jungle vs Zed Jungle in patch 15.24 (25.24), including win rates and pick rates. With proper study, this can improve your chances of victory up to 57.3% in this matchup.

Statistical Matchup Analysis

While Karthus remains a niche pick (1.4% pick rate, 48th place out of 63 Jungle champions), Zed dominates the current meta jungle with 5.4% popularity. Mastering this matchup is crucial for Karthus players - you'll face Zed in the majority of your games. Amplify your advantage: The Dark Harvest + Cheap Shot rune setup achieves 53.7% win rate (43.4% popularity), while the core build Blackfire Torch > Shadowflame > Rabadon's Deathcap with Sorcerer's Shoes (57.3% win rate) lets you snowball advantages into guaranteed victories by 15 minutes.

Lane dominance: Karthus not only wins the matchup but crushes CS (7.38/min vs 6.40 for Zed). This 0.98 CS/min advantage generates significant gold leads that compound your already favorable position. Quality over quantity: Karthus wins through smart play rather than raw damage - despite lower DPS (1 vs 730/min), the 54.4% win rate shows superior utility, positioning, and team fight impact. Intriguing anomaly: Karthus wins the matchup (54.4%) despite a lower KDA (2.40 vs 2.60). This suggests you win through macro influence and clutch plays in key moments rather than consistent individual performance.

Karthus vs Zed - Jungle Stats Comparison

Karthus Jungle
Karthus Jungle		Versus
Zed Jungle
Zed Jungle
DTierC
54.4%Matchup Winrate45.6%
48.57%Role Winrate48.36%
#56Winrate Rank#57
1.4%Pickrate5.4%
2.4Average KDA2.6
474Gold per Minute449
7.38CS/Min6.40
0.22Wards per Minute0.18
1Damage per Minute730

How to Beat Zed as Karthus (Jungle)

The Karthus versus Zed matchup in the jungle is favorable with proper positioning. Use your statistical advantage and prevent the opponent from realizing their potential.

The magic damage that Karthus deals remains relevant in the late game. Look for opportunities to initiate or counter-initiate. Zed deals mainly physical damage (86.51%), additional items against this damage type may be required against snowballing or aggressive play.

An important advantage of Karthus is higher farming statistics (ranked 3rd among role champions) (versus 20th for Zed), which provides a stable gold advantage in extended games and allows faster access to key items. Meanwhile, their higher KDA (2.6 versus 2.4) suggests they participate more effectively in team fights.

Key aspects of the Karthus Jungle versus Zed Jungle matchup

Despite the statistical advantage in the matchup, overconfidence can be the main mistake. It is important for the Karthus player to maintain constant pressure on Zed, not allowing the opponent to safely scale up, and actively use the advantage gained to help their team.

Karthus vs Zed: Jungle Summoner Spells

Most Popular

Exhaust
Exhaust Slows target enemy champion and reduces their damage dealt.
Smite
Smite Deals true damage to a monster or minion.
52.5% Win Rate48.0% Pick Rate

Highest Win Rate

Ignite
Ignite Deals true damage over time to target enemy champion and reduces healing effects on them for the duration.
Smite
Smite Deals true damage to a monster or minion.
79.1% Win Rate2.4% Pick Rate

Karthus vs Zed: Jungle Runes

Most Frequent Runes

Primary Path
Domination
Dark Harvest
Dark Harvest Damaging a Champion below 50% health deals adaptive damage and harvests their soul, permanently increasing Dark Harvest's damage by 11.

Dark Harvest damage: 30 (+11 damage per soul) (+0.1 bonus AD) (+0.05 AP)
Cooldown: 35s (resets to 1.0s on takedown)

Dark Harvest

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

Cheap Shot
Cheap Shot Damaging champions with impaired movement or actions deals 10 - 45 bonus true damage (based on level).

Cooldown: 4s
Activates on damage occurring after the impairment.

Cheap Shot

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

Grisly Mementos
Grisly Mementos Collect 1 memento on champion takedowns, up to 18 total.

Gain 6 Trinket Haste for each collected. In game modes where vision Trinkets do not exist, instead gain 3 Summoner Spell Haste.

Grisly Mementos

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

Treasure Hunter
Treasure Hunter Gain an additional 50 gold the next time you collect a Bounty Hunter stack. Increase the gold gained by 20 gold for each Bounty Hunter stack, up to 130 gold.

Bounty Hunter stacks are earned the first time you get a takedown on each enemy champion.

Treasure Hunter

Gain an additional 50 gold the next time you collect a Bounty Hunter stack. Inc…

Secondary Path
Precision
Presence of Mind
Presence of Mind Damaging an enemy champion restores 6-50 (80% for ranged) mana or 6 energy.

Takedowns restore 15% of your maximum mana or energy.

Cooldown for damage restoration: 8s

Presence of Mind

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

Coup de Grace
Coup de Grace Deal 8% more damage to champions who have less than 40% health.

Coup de Grace

Deal 8% more damage to champions who have less than 40% health.

Adaptive
Adaptive Force
Adaptive Force Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

Adaptive Force

Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

Adaptive Force
Adaptive Force Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

Adaptive Force

Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

Scaling Health
Scaling Health Increases health from 10 to 180 HP across levels 1-18

Scaling Health

Increases health from 10 to 180 HP across levels 1-18

53.7% Win Rate43.4% Pick Rate

Best Win Rate Runes

Primary Path
Domination
Dark Harvest
Dark Harvest Damaging a Champion below 50% health deals adaptive damage and harvests their soul, permanently increasing Dark Harvest's damage by 11.

Dark Harvest damage: 30 (+11 damage per soul) (+0.1 bonus AD) (+0.05 AP)
Cooldown: 35s (resets to 1.0s on takedown)

Dark Harvest

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

Cheap Shot
Cheap Shot Damaging champions with impaired movement or actions deals 10 - 45 bonus true damage (based on level).

Cooldown: 4s
Activates on damage occurring after the impairment.

Cheap Shot

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

Grisly Mementos
Grisly Mementos Collect 1 memento on champion takedowns, up to 18 total.

Gain 6 Trinket Haste for each collected. In game modes where vision Trinkets do not exist, instead gain 3 Summoner Spell Haste.

Grisly Mementos

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

Treasure Hunter
Treasure Hunter Gain an additional 50 gold the next time you collect a Bounty Hunter stack. Increase the gold gained by 20 gold for each Bounty Hunter stack, up to 130 gold.

Bounty Hunter stacks are earned the first time you get a takedown on each enemy champion.

Treasure Hunter

Gain an additional 50 gold the next time you collect a Bounty Hunter stack. Inc…

Secondary Path
Precision
Presence of Mind
Presence of Mind Damaging an enemy champion restores 6-50 (80% for ranged) mana or 6 energy.

Takedowns restore 15% of your maximum mana or energy.

Cooldown for damage restoration: 8s

Presence of Mind

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

Coup de Grace
Coup de Grace Deal 8% more damage to champions who have less than 40% health.

Coup de Grace

Deal 8% more damage to champions who have less than 40% health.

Adaptive
Adaptive Force
Adaptive Force Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

Adaptive Force

Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

Adaptive Force
Adaptive Force Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

Adaptive Force

Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

Scaling Health
Scaling Health Increases health from 10 to 180 HP across levels 1-18

Scaling Health

Increases health from 10 to 180 HP across levels 1-18

53.7% Win Rate43.4% Pick Rate

Karthus vs Zed: Jungle 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.
Scorchclaw Pup
Scorchclaw Pup (450 gold) Jungle Companions
Summon a Scorchclaw that assists you against monsters.
Scorchclaw's Slash
The companion grows as you hunt monsters, empowering your Smite. When fully grown, it periodically imbues your next Attack or Ability to burn enemies and Slow them. Killing large monsters readies this immediately.
Health Potion
Health Potion (50 gold) Consume
Restores 120 Health over 15 seconds.
48.4% Win Rate40.6% Pick Rate
Popular Boots
Sorcerer's Shoes
Sorcerer's Shoes (1100 gold) 12 Magic Penetration
45 Move Speed
48.8% Win Rate89.1% Pick Rate
Ionian Boots of Lucidity
Ionian Boots of Lucidity (900 gold) 10 Ability Haste
45 Move Speed
Ionian Insight
Gain 10 Summoner Spell Haste.
44.8% Win Rate1.7% Pick Rate
Plated Steelcaps
Plated Steelcaps (1200 gold) 25 Armor
45 Move Speed
Plating
Reduces incoming damage from Attacks by 10%.
43.7% Win Rate0.1% Pick Rate
Core Build
Fated Ashes
Fated Ashes (900 gold) 30 Ability Power
Inflame
Damaging Abilities deal 15 bonus magic damage over 3 seconds.
Deals an additional 45 magic damage to monsters.
->
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 damageCritically 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%.
55.3% Win Rate10.2% Pick Rate
Final Build
Void Staff
Void Staff (3000 gold) 95 Ability Power
40% Magic Penetration
60.6% Win Rate23.9% Pick Rate

Best Win Rate Build

Starting Items
Oracle Lens
Oracle Lens (0 gold) Active (160 - 100s, max 2 charges)
Reveals enemy Stealth Wards and traps around you for 6 seconds.
Gustwalker Hatchling
Gustwalker Hatchling (450 gold) Jungle Companions
Summon a Gustwalker that assists you against monsters.
Gustwalker's Gait
The companion grows as you hunt monsters, empowering your Smite. When fully grown, it grants Move Speed upon entering brush, increased when killing large monsters.
54.1% Win Rate1.4% Pick Rate
Highest Winrate Boots
Sorcerer's Shoes
Sorcerer's Shoes (1100 gold) 12 Magic Penetration
45 Move Speed
48.8% Win Rate89.1% Pick Rate
Ionian Boots of Lucidity
Ionian Boots of Lucidity (900 gold) 10 Ability Haste
45 Move Speed
Ionian Insight
Gain 10 Summoner Spell Haste.
44.8% Win Rate1.7% Pick Rate
Plated Steelcaps
Plated Steelcaps (1200 gold) 25 Armor
45 Move Speed
Plating
Reduces incoming damage from Attacks by 10%.
43.7% Win Rate0.1% Pick Rate
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 damageCritically 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%.
57.3% Win Rate9.9% Pick Rate
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.
77.5% Win Rate4.8% Pick Rate
Other Items
Zhonya's Hourglass
Zhonya's Hourglass (3250 gold) 105 Ability Power
50 Armor

Time Stop
Enter Stasis for 2.5 seconds.
57.3% Win Rate14.5% Pick Rate
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.
58.0% Win Rate7.6% Pick Rate
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.
55.9% Win Rate6.8% Pick Rate
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%.
55.5% Win Rate6.1% Pick Rate
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.
77.5% Win Rate4.8% Pick Rate
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.
60.0% Win Rate3.6% Pick Rate
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.
51.3% Win Rate3.3% Pick Rate

Karthus vs Zed: Jungle 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
Lay Waste Karthus unleashes a delayed blast at a location, dealing damage to nearby enemies. Deals increased damage to isolated enemies.
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
W
W
Wall 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.
W
W
W
W
W
E
E
Defile 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.
E
E
E
E
E
R
R
Requiem After channeling for 3 seconds, Karthus deals damage to all enemy champions.
R
R
R
Max Order: Q > E > W
50.0% Win Rate62.7% Pick Rate

Highest Win % Skill Order

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
R
Q
Lay Waste Karthus unleashes a delayed blast at a location, dealing damage to nearby enemies. Deals increased damage to isolated enemies.
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
R
W
Wall 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.
W
W
W
W
W
R
E
Defile 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.
E
E
E
E
E
R
R
Requiem After channeling for 3 seconds, Karthus deals damage to all enemy champions.
R
R
R
Max Order: Q > E > W
51.2% Win Rate7.9% Pick Rate

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 Zed

  • Zed receives bonus effect from Attack Damage items he purchases, so Armor is super effective against him.
  • After Zed uses his Living Shadow, he is at his most vulnerable as his damage, slow, and mobility are both dependent upon it.
  • Zed's Shadow Slash can only slow you if his shadow hits you with it.

Karthus Jungle other Matchups

Karthus
+2.1%
Shaco

Karthus vs Shaco

Karthus
+2.1%
Viego

Karthus vs Viego

Karthus
+1.1%
Kayn

Karthus vs Kayn

Karthus
-0.2%
Vi

Karthus vs Vi

Karthus
-1.4%
Kha'Zix

Karthus vs Kha'Zix

Karthus
-2.0%
Lee Sin

Karthus vs Lee Sin

Karthus
-2.1%
Xin Zhao

Karthus vs Xin Zhao

Karthus
-2.4%
Jarvan IV

Karthus vs Jarvan IV

Karthus
-3.2%
Nocturne

Karthus vs Nocturne

Karthus
-5.2%
Pantheon

Karthus vs Pantheon

Karthus
-5.8%
Trundle

Karthus vs Trundle