Skip to content
the Deathsinger

Karthus Jungle build & stats

Mage C 438 games · patch 16.18
Win rate
48.4%
Pick rate
1.6%
Ban rate
1.4%
Division
Master
Build, runes, spells and skill order are from Master games only.

Recommended build

Chosen by win rate among builds with enough games, from ranked matches of high-elo players on patch 16.18

Solid sample

Finish these three

Blackfire Torch
Blackfire Torch
2,800 gold
Shadowflame
Shadowflame
3,200 gold
Liandry's Torment
Liandry's Torment
3,000 gold
9,000 gold
37.5% WR 8 games

Boots

Sorcerer's Shoes
Sorcerer's Shoes
1,100 gold
44.6% 74 games

Runes

Domination Domination + Precision Precision
60.0% WR
20 games · 5% pick
Dark Harvest
Dark Harvest

Damaging a low health champion inflicts adaptive damage and harvests a soul from the victim.

Domination Domination
Electrocute Dark Harvest Hail of Blades
Cheap Shot Taste of Blood Sudden Impact
Sixth Sense Grisly Mementos Deep Ward
Relentless Hunter Ultimate Hunter Treasure Hunter
Precision Precision
Presence of Mind Absorb Life Triumph
Legend: Bloodline Legend: Alacrity Legend: Haste
Coup de Grace Cut Down Last Stand
Shards
Adaptive Force Attack Speed Ability Haste
Adaptive Force Move Speed Health Scaling
Health Tenacity and Slow Resist Health Scaling

Summoner spells

Smite Ignite
44.4% 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. Sample sizes are shown next to every choice.

Tips for Karthus

Generated from this patch's numbers

  • Karthus wins 48.4% of games as Jungle on patch 16.18 (438 games).
  • Most common core: Blackfire Torch → Rabadon's Deathcap → Shadowflame — 53% win rate over 45 games.
  • Take Dark Harvest as keystone: picked in 66% of games with a 47% win rate.
  • Best matchup: Vi (75% over 8 games). Hardest: Kayn (20% over 10 games) — consider a ban or a different pick when you see it.

Items

Most common sets of three completed items

Core build

Blackfire Torch
Blackfire Torch
Shadowflame
Shadowflame
Liandry's Torment
Liandry's Torment
37.5% WR
8 games · 2% pick
Blackfire Torch
Blackfire Torch
Zhonya's Hourglass
Zhonya's Hourglass
Shadowflame
Shadowflame
71.4% WR
7 games · 2% pick
Blackfire Torch
Blackfire Torch
Void Staff
Void Staff
Zhonya's Hourglass
Zhonya's Hourglass
42.9% WR
7 games · 2% pick

Boots

Sorcerer's Shoes
Sorcerer's Shoes
44.6% WR
74 games · 17% pick

Legendary items by win rate

ItemWin ratePick
57.1% 2% (7)
51.7% 7% (29)
48.1% 6% (27)
48.0% 6% (25)
46.7% 14% (60)
44.9% 18% (78)
40.0% 1% (5)
33.3% 4% (18)
33.3% 1% (3)

Runes

Most played full pages and keystone win rates

Domination Domination + Precision Precision
60.0% WR
20 games · 5% pick
Dark Harvest
Dark Harvest

Damaging a low health champion inflicts adaptive damage and harvests a soul from the victim.

Domination Domination
Electrocute Dark Harvest Hail of Blades
Cheap Shot Taste of Blood Sudden Impact
Sixth Sense Grisly Mementos Deep Ward
Relentless Hunter Ultimate Hunter Treasure Hunter
Precision Precision
Presence of Mind Absorb Life Triumph
Legend: Bloodline Legend: Alacrity Legend: Haste
Coup de Grace Cut Down Last Stand
Shards
Adaptive Force Attack Speed Ability Haste
Adaptive Force Move Speed Health Scaling
Health Tenacity and Slow Resist Health Scaling
Sorcery Sorcery + Precision Precision
27.3% WR
11 games · 3% pick
Deathfire Touch Axiom Arcanist Transcendence Gathering Storm Triumph Last Stand
Domination Domination + Precision Precision
33.3% WR
6 games · 1% pick
Dark Harvest Cheap Shot Grisly Mementos Treasure Hunter Coup de Grace Presence of Mind

Keystones

  • Dark Harvest Dark Harvest Damaging a low health champion inflicts adaptive damage and harvests a soul from the victim. 44.4%12% pick
  • Deathfire Touch Deathfire Touch Damaging a champion with an ability burns them over time. 44.4%6% pick

Summoner spells

  • Flash Smite Flash + Smite 46.5%10% pick
  • Exhaust Smite Exhaust + Smite 41.4%7% pick
  • Smite Ignite Smite + Ignite 44.4%2% pick

Abilities & skill order

  • PDeath Defied

    Upon 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.

  • RRequiem

    After channeling for 3 seconds, Karthus deals damage to all enemy champions.