Karthus Top build & stats
- Win rate
- 56.8%
- Pick rate
- 0.2%
- Ban rate
- 3.4%
Recommended build
Chosen by win rate among builds with enough games, from ranked matches of high-elo players on patch 16.17
Start with
Best three items so far
Boots
Then, depending on the game
Runes
Sorcery +
Precision 
Damaging a champion with an ability burns them over time.
Axiom Arcanist
Transcendence
Scorch
Triumph
Last Stand
Summoner spells
57.7%
26 games
Max order
Q
E
W
55.6%
9 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. Not enough players have finished the same three items yet, so the core above is the three strongest items measured one by one. Sample sizes are shown next to every choice.
Tips for Karthus
Generated from this patch's numbers
- Karthus wins 56.8% of games as Top on patch 16.17 (44 games).
- Most common core: Blackfire Torch → Rabadon's Deathcap → Shadowflame — 57% win rate over 7 games.
- Take Deathfire Touch as keystone: picked in 98% of games with a 56% win rate.
Items
Most common sets of three completed items
Core build
Starting items
Boots
Legendary items by win rate
| Item | Win rate | Pick |
|---|---|---|
| 66.7% | 20% (9) | |
| 63.6% | 25% (11) | |
| 60.0% | 68% (30) | |
| 60.0% | 11% (5) | |
| 57.1% | 95% (42) | |
| 57.1% | 48% (21) | |
| 33.3% | 7% (3) |
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
Triumph
Last Stand
Sorcery +
Precision
Sorcery +
Precision
Keystones
-
Deathfire Touch
Damaging a champion with an ability burns them over time.
55.8%98% pick
Summoner spells
-
Exhaust + Flash
57.7%59% pick
-
Exhaust + Ignite
55.6%20% pick
-
Flash + Teleport
50.0%9% pick
Abilities & skill order
Which ability to max first, from match timelines
Q
E
W
55.6%9 games
Most common first three levels: Q → E → Q (57%).
-
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.