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Jarvan IV vs Karthus

Jarvan IV
vs
50.0%

over 376 games

Karthus
Analyze a draft with Jarvan IV

Skill matchup

High burstHeavy pokeCountered by stasisHeavy AP damage

Build vs Karthus

Build adapted to this matchup

Recommended items for Jarvan IV: Profane Hydra, Voltaic Cyclosword, Bastionbreaker, Mercury's Treads, Maw of Malmortius, Sundered Sky, Black Cleaver, Death's Dance.

Starting items

Scorchclaw Pup
Health Potion

Core build

Profane Hydra
1
Voltaic Cyclosword
2
Bastionbreaker
3

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Maw of Malmortius
5

Summoner spells

FlashSmite100%

Other options

Maw of Malmortius
Sundered Sky
Black Cleaver
Death's Dance
Axiom Arc
Guardian Angel
Eclipse
Edge of Night
Serrated Dirk
B. F. Sword
Serpent's Fang
Frozen Heart
Endless Hunger
Spirit Visage
Kaenic Rookern
Lord Dominik's Regards
Spear of Shojin
Hubris
Serylda's Grudge
The Collector
Randuin's Omen
Executioner's Calling
Sterak's Gage
Experimental Hexplate
Titanic Hydra
Mortal Reminder
Zeke's Convergence
Youmuu's Ghostblade
47.5% WR59 games
PrecisionPrecision
ConquerorConqueror
TriumphTriumph
Legend: AlacrityLegend: Alacrity
Coup de GraceCoup de Grace
InspirationInspiration
Magical FootwearMagical Footwear
Cosmic InsightCosmic Insight
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 Jarvan IV

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. Flag first, then lance

    Plant Demacian Standard (E), then cast Dragon Strike (Q) toward it: you fly to the flag and knock enemies in your path into the air.

  2. Start with an auto

    Land an auto as soon as you reach your target: Martial Cadence (passive) adds damage based on their current health, then only triggers on them again after a few seconds.

  3. Trap a carry in your arena

    Cast Cataclysm (R) on a carry who is away from their team: the arena is impassable, and you can recast to collapse it if it gets in your allies' way.

  4. Plant your flag near your allies

    In teamfights, plant Demacian Standard (E) near the allies who are attacking: it gives them attack speed while they stay close to it.

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 Jarvan IV matchups

Patch 16.21.1