Caitlyn vs Karthus

Caitlyn
vs
38.9%

over 208 games

Karthus

Hard matchup

High burstHeavy pokeCountered by stasisHeavy AP damage

Build vs Karthus

Build adapted to this matchup

Recommended items for Caitlyn: Hexoptics C44, Infinity Edge, Lord Dominik's Regards, Berserker's Greaves, Rapid Firecannon, The Collector, Bloodthirster, B. F. Sword.

Starting items

Doran's Bow
Health Potion
x2

Core build

Hexoptics C44
1
Infinity Edge
2
Lord Dominik's Regards
3

Standard

Berserker's Greaves
4AS
Rapid Firecannon
5

Summoner spells

FlashBarrier85%
BoostFlash6%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Rapid Firecannon
The Collector
Bloodthirster
B. F. Sword
Guardian Angel
Maw of Malmortius
Mortal Reminder
Stormrazor
Phantom Dancer
Immortal Shieldbow
Yun Tal Wildarrows
Mercurial Scimitar
Quicksilver Sash
Hubris
Executioner's Calling
Runaan's Hurricane
53.5% WR43 games
PrecisionPrecision
Lethal TempoLethal Tempo
Presence of MindPresence of Mind
Legend: BloodlineLegend: Bloodline
Coup de GraceCoup de Grace
SorcerySorcery
Absolute FocusAbsolute Focus
Gathering StormGathering Storm
Attack SpeedAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Karthus's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Death Defied (P)

Upon dying, Karthus enters a spirit form that allows him to continue casting spells.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
30s15s0.5s–
60s15s0.5s3m20
90s15s0.5s3m20
110s15s0.5s3m
160s15s0.5s2m40
180s15s0.5s2m40

Playing as Caitlyn

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. Put your traps in their path

    Place Yordle Snap Trap (W) in brushes and in their path: a champion who steps on one is rooted, and revealed to you for 3 seconds.

  2. Net and trap for your headshots

    Chain 90 Caliber Net (E) and Yordle Snap Trap (W) under the slowed target: each champion netted or trapped grants you a double-range Headshot (passive).

  3. Fire your Q at a trapped target

    Fire Piltover Peacemaker (Q) at a champion caught in your trap: they take full damage, even if the shot passed through a minion first.

  4. Save your R to finish

    Save Ace in the Hole (R) to finish a low-health target that's fleeing: another enemy champion can block the shot, so fire when no one is covering them.

Playing against Karthus

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Stay near your minions

    Stay near your minions or your allies: Lay Waste (Q) deals much more damage when the blast hits only one enemy.

  2. Jump on him if you can

    If you can engage, jump on him: Karthus has no dash or leap to escape.

  3. Don't stay low once he hits 6

    Once he hits level 6, back instead of staying at low health: Requiem (R) hits every enemy champion wherever they are, 3 seconds after he starts channeling.

  4. Save your protection for Requiem

    If you have a shield, a heal or invulnerability, save it for Requiem (R): it hits every enemy champion 3 seconds after he starts channeling.

  5. Move away after he dies

    Once Karthus is dead, move away: Death Defied (passive) keeps him in spirit form for a while, and he can still cast his spells.

Patch 16.21.1