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Cho'Gath vs Karthus

Cho'Gath
vs
Not enough games
Karthus
Analyze a draft with Cho'Gath
High burstHeavy pokeCountered by stasisHeavy AP damage

You are stronger late game. Farm safe and avoid early trades.

Build vs Karthus

The champion's reference build, for lack of enough games in this matchup

Recommended items for Cho'Gath: Hextech Rocketbelt, Riftmaker, Dead Man's Plate, Boots of Swiftness, Heartsteel, Hollow Radiance, Kaenic Rookern, Randuin's Omen.

Starting items

Doran's Ring
Health Potion
x2

Core build

Hextech Rocketbelt
1
Riftmaker
2
Dead Man's Plate
3

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Heartsteel
5

Summoner spells

FlashTeleport68%
FlashDot27%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Heartsteel
Hollow Radiance
Kaenic Rookern
Randuin's Omen
Unending Despair
Dark Seal
Jak'Sho, The Protean
Thornmail
Force of Nature
Bramble Vest
Warmog's Armor
DominationDomination
Hail of BladesHail of Blades
Cheap ShotCheap Shot
Grisly MementosGrisly Mementos
Ultimate HunterUltimate Hunter
SorcerySorcery
Axiom ArcanistAxiom Arcanist
CelerityCelerity
Adaptive ForceMove SpeedHealth 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 Cho'Gath

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. Aim Rupture where they're going

    Aim Rupture (Q) where your opponent is going, not where they are: the area knocks them into the air and slows them.

  2. Silence after the knock-up

    Follow a successful Rupture (Q) with Feral Scream (W): the silence stops them from casting spells, dashes included.

  3. Charge your spikes before a trade

    Cast Vorpal Spikes (E) before a trade: your next 3 autos launch spikes that slow enemies in front of you and deal damage based on their max health.

  4. Eat as soon as Feast is up

    Finish with Feast (R) as soon as it's up: each kill gives you permanent max health, but minions and non-epic monsters only give a limited amount.

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.

Other Cho'Gath matchups

Patch 16.21.1