Jungle Matchup

Zed vs Karthus

Patch: 15.18 (25.18)
League: Platinum+
Zed

Zed

the Master of Shadows
Jungle
Zed Jungle Overall Win Rate
48.11%

Matchup Win Rate

53.0%
Zed vs Karthus Wins
⚔
47.0%
Karthus vs Zed Wins
Karthus

Karthus

the Deathsinger
Jungle
Karthus Jungle Overall Win Rate
48.49%

Zed vs Karthus - Jungle Matchup Guide Patch 15.18 (25.18)

Zed Jungle vs Karthus Jungle - Who is stronger?

Zed Jungle has an advantage against Karthus (53.0% win rate) based on 540 games. The matchup leans toward Zed.

View detailed statistics below: items, runes, and counter builds for Zed Jungle vs Karthus Jungle in patch 15.18 (25.18), including win rates and pick rates. With proper study, this can improve your chances of victory up to 52.4% in this matchup.

Statistical Matchup Analysis

Meta staple Zed (6.1% pick rate, 8th most popular out of 60 Jungle champions) rarely faces off-meta Karthus (1.4% pick rate). However, even uncommon picks can cheese unprepared players, so basic matchup knowledge provides valuable insurance. Meta strength confirmed: Zed's superior tier rating (C vs D) translates into a solid 53.0% matchup win rate. This performance explains why Zed ranks 56th in win rate among Jungle champions. Optimize for consistency: Electrocute paired with Sudden Impact (54.6% win rate, 18.2% popularity) provides the stats you need, while the item sequence Eclipse > Voltaic Cyclosword > Serylda's Grudge with Ionian Boots of Lucidity delivers 52.4% win rate against Karthus.

Win through macro: Zed takes the matchup (52.97%) despite falling behind in CS (6.64 vs 7.19/min). Your victories come through roaming, team fighting, and map pressure rather than 1v1 lane dominance. Complete superiority: Zed dominates both win rate (53.0%) and damage output (738 vs 1/min, 2nd among Jungle). The 737 damage/min difference creates massive snowball potential. Statistical dominance: Zed leads in both matchup win rate (53.0%) and KDA (2.70 vs 2.40) - complete superiority across all metrics.

Zed vs Karthus - Jungle Stats Comparison

Zed Jungle
Zed Jungle		Versus
Karthus Jungle
Karthus Jungle
CTierD
53.0%Matchup Winrate47.0%
48.11%Role Winrate48.49%
#56Winrate Rank#51
6.1%Pickrate1.4%
2.7Average KDA2.4
425Gold per Minute461
6.64CS/Min7.19
0.16Wards per Minute0.19
738Damage per Minute1

How to Beat Karthus as Zed (Jungle)

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

Except for rare builds, Zed deals physical damage. Focus on eliminating enemy carries. Meanwhile, Karthus deals primarily magic damage (91.77%), additional magic resistance may be required.

Consider the farming superiority demonstrated by Karthus, ranking 5th (versus 12th for Zed) in farming efficiency among champions in this role. This means the opponent can build gold advantages more quickly. Meanwhile, their lower KDA (2.4 versus 2.7) suggests they are less effective in team fights.

Key aspects of the Zed Jungle versus Karthus Jungle matchup

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

Zed vs Karthus: Jungle Summoner Spells

Most Popular

Flash
Flash Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
Smite
Smite Deals true damage to a monster or minion.
50.1% Win Rate55.3% Pick Rate

Highest Win Rate

Flash
Flash Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
Smite
Smite Deals true damage to a monster or minion.
53.0% Win Rate43.4% Pick Rate

Zed vs Karthus: Jungle Runes

Most Frequent Runes

Primary Path
Precision
Conqueror
Conqueror Basic attacks or spells that deal damage to an enemy champion grant 2 stacks of Conqueror for 5s, gaining 1.8-4 Adaptive Force per stack. Stacks up to 12 times. Ranged champions gain only 1 stack per basic attack.

When fully stacked, heal for 8% of the damage you deal to champions (5% for ranged champions).

Conqueror

Basic attacks or spells that deal damage to an enemy champion grant 2 stacks of Conqueror…

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…

Legend: Haste
Legend: Haste Gain 1.5 basic ability haste for every Legend stack (max 10 stacks).

Earn progress toward Legend stacks for every champion takedown, epic monster takedown, large monster kill, and minion kill.

Legend: Haste

Gain 1.5 basic ability haste for every Legend stack (max 10 stacks).Earn progre…

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.

Secondary Path
Sorcery
Axiom Arcanist
Axiom Arcanist Your Ultimate has 12% increased damage, healing, and shielding.
(AoE damage is reduced to a 8% increase)

Scoring a takedown on an enemy champion reduces your Ultimate's current cooldown by 7%.

Axiom Arcanist

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

Transcendence
Transcendence Gain bonuses upon reaching the following levels:
Level 5: +5 Ability Haste
Level 8: +5 Ability Haste
Level 11: On Champion takedown, reduce the remaining cooldown of basic abilities by 20%.

Transcendence

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

Adaptive
Attack Speed
Attack Speed Increases attack speed by 10%

Attack Speed

Increases attack speed by 10%

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

53.0% Win Rate38.4% Pick Rate

Best Win Rate Runes

Primary Path
Domination
Electrocute
Electrocute Hitting a champion with 3 separate attacks or abilities within 3s deals bonus adaptive damage.

Damage: 70 - 240 (+0.1 bonus AD, +0.05 AP) damage.
Cooldown: 20s

'We called them the Thunderlords, for to speak of their lightning was to invite disaster.'

Electrocute

Hitting a champion with 3 separate attacks or abilities within 3s deals bonus adaptive da…

Sudden Impact
Sudden Impact Damaging basic attacks and abilities deal a bonus 20 - 80 True Damage based on level to enemy champions after using a dash, leap, blink, teleport, or when leaving stealth for 4s.

Cooldown: 10s

Sudden Impact

Damaging basic attacks and abilities deal a bonus 20 - 80 True Damage based on …

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…

Ultimate Hunter
Ultimate Hunter Your ultimate gains 6 Ability Haste, plus an additional 5 Ability Haste per Bounty Hunter stack. Bounty Hunter stacks are earned the first time you get a takedown on each enemy champion.

Ultimate Hunter

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

Secondary Path
Precision
Triumph
Triumph Takedowns restore 5% of your missing health, 2.5% of your max health, and grant an additional 20 gold.


'The most dangerous game brings the greatest glory.'
—Noxian Reckoner

Triumph

Takedowns restore 5% of your missing health, 2.5% of your max health, and grant…

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

54.6% Win Rate18.2% Pick Rate

Zed vs Karthus: 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.
46.2% Win Rate21.9% Pick Rate
Popular Boots
Ionian Boots of Lucidity
Ionian Boots of Lucidity (900 gold) 10 Ability Haste
45 Move Speed
Ionian Insight
Gain 10 Summoner Spell Haste.
48.3% Win Rate68.9% Pick Rate
Mercury's Treads
Mercury's Treads (1250 gold) 20 Magic Resist
45 Move Speed
30% Tenacity
47.6% Win Rate16.3% Pick Rate
Plated Steelcaps
Plated Steelcaps (1200 gold) 25 Armor
45 Move Speed
Plating
Reduces incoming damage from Attacks by 10%.
48.6% Win Rate4.9% Pick Rate
Core Build
Caulfield's Warhammer
Caulfield's Warhammer (1050 gold) 20 Attack Damage
10 Ability Haste
->
Eclipse
Eclipse (2900 gold) 60 Attack Damage
15 Ability Haste
Ever Rising Moon
Hitting a champion with 2 separate Attacks or Abilities within 2 seconds grants you a Shield for 2 seconds.
Black Cleaver
Black Cleaver (3000 gold) 40 Attack Damage
400 Health
20 Ability Haste
Carve
Dealing physical damage to champions reduces their Armor by 6% for 6 seconds. (stacks 5 times).
Fervor
Dealing physical damage grants 20 Move Speed for 2 seconds.
Spear of Shojin
Spear of Shojin (3100 gold) 45 Attack Damage
450 Health
Dragonforce
Gain 25 Basic Ability Haste.
Focused Will
Dealing damage with Abilities increases your Champion's Ability and Passive damage by 3% for 6 seconds. (stacks 4 times).
50.4% Win Rate9.6% Pick Rate
Final Build
Edge of Night
Edge of Night (3000 gold) 50 Attack Damage
15 Lethality
250 Health
Annul
Grants a Spell Shield that blocks the next enemy Ability.
54.7% Win Rate16.2% Pick Rate

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.
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.
50.9% Win Rate5.0% Pick Rate
Highest Winrate Boots
Boots of Swiftness
Boots of Swiftness (1000 gold) 60 Move Speed
Fleetfooted
Reduce the effectiveness of Slows by 25%.
56.7% Win Rate0.4% Pick Rate
Plated Steelcaps
Plated Steelcaps (1200 gold) 25 Armor
45 Move Speed
Plating
Reduces incoming damage from Attacks by 10%.
48.6% Win Rate4.9% Pick Rate
Symbiotic Soles
Symbiotic Soles (900 gold) 40 Move Speed
Voidborn
Gain Empowered Recall.
Symbiosis
After traveling 150000 units of distance, transform into Synchronized Souls.
48.6% Win Rate0.3% Pick Rate
Core Build
Pickaxe
Pickaxe (875 gold) 25 Attack Damage
->
Eclipse
Eclipse (2900 gold) 60 Attack Damage
15 Ability Haste
Ever Rising Moon
Hitting a champion with 2 separate Attacks or Abilities within 2 seconds grants you a Shield for 2 seconds.
Voltaic Cyclosword
Voltaic Cyclosword (3000 gold) 55 Attack Damage
18 Lethality
10 Ability Haste
Galvanize
Dashes and Stealth stack Energized 75% faster.
Firmament
Your Energized Attack deals bonus physical damage and Slows for 0.75 seconds.
Serylda's Grudge
Serylda's Grudge (3000 gold) 45 Attack Damage
35% Armor Penetration
15 Ability Haste
Bitter Cold
Damaging Abilities Slow enemies below 50% Health by 30% for 1 second.
52.4% Win Rate3.8% Pick Rate
Final Build
Axiom Arc
Axiom Arc (3000 gold) 55 Attack Damage
18 Lethality
20 Ability Haste
Flux
When a champion that you damaged within 3 seconds dies, refund some of your Ultimate Ability's total cooldown.
58.2% Win Rate7.8% Pick Rate
Other Items
Serpent's Fang
Serpent's Fang (2500 gold) 55 Attack Damage
15 Lethality
Shield Reaver
Damaging an enemy champion reduces Shields they gain by % for 3 seconds.
If they were not already affected by Shield Reaver, reduce Shields on them by %.
52.3% Win Rate11.8% Pick Rate
Axiom Arc
Axiom Arc (3000 gold) 55 Attack Damage
18 Lethality
20 Ability Haste
Flux
When a champion that you damaged within 3 seconds dies, refund some of your Ultimate Ability's total cooldown.
58.2% Win Rate7.8% Pick Rate
Guardian Angel
Guardian Angel (3200 gold) 55 Attack Damage
45 Armor
Rebirth
Upon taking lethal damage, restores 50% base Health and 100% max Mana after 4 seconds of Stasis.
55.6% Win Rate7.2% Pick Rate
Serylda's Grudge
Serylda's Grudge (3000 gold) 45 Attack Damage
35% Armor Penetration
15 Ability Haste
Bitter Cold
Damaging Abilities Slow enemies below 50% Health by 30% for 1 second.
57.8% Win Rate6.6% Pick Rate
Youmuu's Ghostblade
Youmuu's Ghostblade (2800 gold) 55 Attack Damage
18 Lethality
4% Move Speed
Haunt
Gain Move Speed while out of combat.
Wraith Step
Gain Move Speed and Ghosting for seconds.
57.7% Win Rate6.6% Pick Rate
Maw of Malmortius
Maw of Malmortius (3100 gold) 60 Attack Damage
15 Ability Haste
40 Magic Resist
Lifeline
Taking magic damage that would reduce your Health below 30% grants a magic damage Shield for 3 seconds and 10% Omnivamp until end of combat.
52.0% Win Rate5.2% Pick Rate
Voltaic Cyclosword
Voltaic Cyclosword (3000 gold) 55 Attack Damage
18 Lethality
10 Ability Haste
Galvanize
Dashes and Stealth stack Energized 75% faster.
Firmament
Your Energized Attack deals bonus physical damage and Slows for 0.75 seconds.
53.2% Win Rate4.2% Pick Rate

Zed vs Karthus: 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
Razor Shuriken Zed and his shadows throw their shurikens.

Each shuriken deals damage to every enemy hit.
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
W
W
Living ShadowPassive: Zed gains energy whenever he and his shadows strike an enemy with the same ability. Energy can only be gained once per cast ability.

Active: Zed's shadow dashes forward, remaining in place for a few seconds. Reactivating Living Shadow will cause Zed to switch positions with this shadow.
W
W
W
W
W
E
E
Shadow Slash Zed and his Shadows slash, dealing damage to nearby enemies. Enemies hit by a Shadow's slash are slowed.
E
E
E
E
E
R
R
Death Mark Zed becomes untargetable and dashes to an enemy champion, marking them. After 3 seconds the mark triggers, repeating a portion of all the damage Zed dealt to the target while they were marked.
R
R
R
Max Order: Q > E > W
40.2% Win Rate41.8% 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
Razor Shuriken Zed and his shadows throw their shurikens.

Each shuriken deals damage to every enemy hit.
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
R
W
Living ShadowPassive: Zed gains energy whenever he and his shadows strike an enemy with the same ability. Energy can only be gained once per cast ability.

Active: Zed's shadow dashes forward, remaining in place for a few seconds. Reactivating Living Shadow will cause Zed to switch positions with this shadow.
W
W
W
W
W
R
E
Shadow Slash Zed and his Shadows slash, dealing damage to nearby enemies. Enemies hit by a Shadow's slash are slowed.
E
E
E
E
E
R
R
Death Mark Zed becomes untargetable and dashes to an enemy champion, marking them. After 3 seconds the mark triggers, repeating a portion of all the damage Zed dealt to the target while they were marked.
R
R
R
Max Order: Q > E > W
78.6% Win Rate5.4% Pick Rate

Zed tips:

  • Saving energy and spell cooldowns until you use your ultimate will maximize Death Mark's damage.
  • Quickly double tapping Living Shadow will teleport Zed to his shadow immediately for rapid escapes.
  • Placing a Living Shadow before using Death Mark can give Zed a safe escape from combat.

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.

Zed Jungle other Matchups

Zed
+5.6%
Lillia

Zed vs Lillia

Zed
+3.3%
Shaco

Zed vs Shaco

Zed
+2.5%
Kayn

Zed vs Kayn

Zed
+2.5%
Zac

Zed vs Zac

Zed
+2.3%
Nocturne

Zed vs Nocturne

Zed
+1.9%
Jarvan IV

Zed vs Jarvan IV

Zed
-1.1%
Wukong

Zed vs Wukong

Zed
-1.1%
Vi

Zed vs Vi

Zed
-1.2%
Volibear

Zed vs Volibear

Zed
-1.2%
Sejuani

Zed vs Sejuani

Zed
-1.3%
Hecarim

Zed vs Hecarim

Zed
-1.3%
Xin Zhao

Zed vs Xin Zhao

Zed
-1.4%
Fiddlesticks

Zed vs Fiddlesticks

Zed
-1.6%
Warwick

Zed vs Warwick

Zed
-1.8%
Trundle

Zed vs Trundle

Zed
-2.0%
Rammus

Zed vs Rammus

Zed
-2.1%
Diana

Zed vs Diana

Zed
-2.1%
Talon

Zed vs Talon

Zed
-2.3%
Bel'Veth

Zed vs Bel'Veth

Zed
-2.8%
Kha'Zix

Zed vs Kha'Zix

Zed
-2.9%
Ekko

Zed vs Ekko

Zed
-3.0%
Rengar

Zed vs Rengar

Zed
-3.2%
Amumu

Zed vs Amumu

Zed
-3.4%
Elise

Zed vs Elise

Zed
-3.4%
Naafiri

Zed vs Naafiri

Zed
-3.5%
Nidalee

Zed vs Nidalee

Zed
-3.7%
Evelynn

Zed vs Evelynn

Zed
-3.8%
Master Yi

Zed vs Master Yi

Zed
-3.8%
Viego

Zed vs Viego

Zed
-3.8%
Udyr

Zed vs Udyr

Zed
-3.9%
Graves

Zed vs Graves

Zed
-3.9%
Pantheon

Zed vs Pantheon

Zed
-4.1%
Kindred

Zed vs Kindred

Zed
-4.4%
Lee Sin

Zed vs Lee Sin

Zed
-4.6%
Briar

Zed vs Briar

Zed
-5.9%
Nunu & Willump

Zed vs Nunu & Willump