Karthus ADC build & stats
- Win rate
- 49.6%
- Pick rate
- 2.0%
- Ban rate
- 3.5%
Recommended build
Chosen by win rate among builds with enough games, from ranked matches of high-elo players on patch 16.17
Start with
Build in this order
Runes
Sorcery +
Precision 
Damaging a champion with an ability burns them over time.
Axiom Arcanist
Absolute Focus
Scorch
Presence of Mind
Coup de Grace
Summoner spells
49.3%
375 games
Max order
Q
E
W
49.4%
77 games
Each line is the variant with the best win rate among those played enough times, not simply the most popular one. Win rates are smoothed so a lucky three-game build can't top the list. Sample sizes are shown next to every choice.
Tips for Karthus
Generated from this patch's numbers
- Karthus wins 49.6% of games as ADC on patch 16.17 (381 games).
- Most common core: Blackfire Torch → Shadowflame → Rabadon's Deathcap — 50% win rate over 22 games.
- Take Deathfire Touch as keystone: picked in 75% of games with a 50% win rate.
- Best matchup: Tristana (71% over 17 games). Hardest: Caitlyn (31% over 13 games) — consider a ban or a different pick when you see it.
- Karthus is an early-game champion: 56% win rate in games under 25 minutes but 43% after 35. Snowball your lead into towers and objectives.
Items
Core build in purchase order (from match timelines)
Core build
Starting items
Legendary items by win rate
| Item | Win rate | Pick |
|---|---|---|
| 80.0% | 3% (10) | |
| 72.7% | 3% (11) | |
| 66.7% | 2% (6) | |
| 66.3% | 22% (83) | |
| 57.1% | 2% (7) | |
| 51.3% | 20% (78) | |
| 50.6% | 40% (154) | |
| 50.3% | 78% (296) | |
| 49.3% | 99% (377) | |
| 47.4% | 36% (137) | |
| 45.9% | 19% (74) | |
| 44.4% | 2% (9) |
Runes
Most played full pages and keystone win rates
Sorcery +
Precision
Damaging a champion with an ability burns them over time.
Axiom Arcanist
Transcendence
Scorch
Presence of Mind
Last Stand
Sorcery +
Precision
Sorcery +
Precision
Keystones
-
Deathfire Touch
Damaging a champion with an ability burns them over time.
50.3%75% pick
-
Dark Harvest
Damaging a low health champion inflicts adaptive damage and harvests a soul from the victim.
46.8%25% pick
Summoner spells
-
Exhaust + Flash
49.3%98% pick
-
Flash + Teleport
80.0%1% pick
Abilities & skill order
Which ability to max first, from match timelines
Q
E
W
49.4%77 games
E
Q
W
50.0%2 games
Most common first three levels: Q → E → Q (55%), Q → E → W (45%), Q → E → E (33%).
-
PDeath DefiedUpon dying, Karthus enters a spirit form that allows him to continue casting spells.
-
QLay Waste
Karthus unleashes a delayed blast at a location, dealing damage to nearby enemies. Deals increased damage to isolated enemies.
-
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.
-
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.
-
RRequiemAfter channeling for 3 seconds, Karthus deals damage to all enemy champions.