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Kai'Sa vs Karthus

Kai'Sa
vs
42.5%

over 965 games

Karthus
Analyze a draft with Kai'Sa

Hard matchup

High burstHeavy pokeCountered by stasisHeavy AP damage

Build vs Karthus

Build adapted to this matchup

Recommended items for Kai'Sa: Kraken Slayer, Guinsoo's Rageblade, Terminus, Berserker's Greaves, Zhonya's Hourglass, Nashor's Tooth, Statikk Shiv, Rabadon's Deathcap.

Starting items

Doran's Bow
Health Potion
x2

Core build

Kraken Slayer
1
Guinsoo's Rageblade
2
Terminus
3

Standard

Berserker's Greaves
4AS
Zhonya's Hourglass
5

Summoner spells

FlashBarrier78%
ExhaustFlash11%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Zhonya's Hourglass
Nashor's Tooth
Statikk Shiv
Rabadon's Deathcap
Shadowflame
Infinity Edge
Wit's End
Voltaic Cyclosword
Phantom Dancer
Seeker's Armguard
Banshee's Veil
Guardian Angel
Runaan's Hurricane
Dusk and Dawn
Luden's Echo
B. F. Sword
Bloodthirster
Lord Dominik's Regards
The Collector
Hubris
Yun Tal Wildarrows
Jak'Sho, The Protean
Mercurial Scimitar
Maw of Malmortius
Fiendhunter Bolts
Blade of The Ruined King
Quicksilver Sash
48.9% WR272 games
PrecisionPrecision
Lethal TempoLethal Tempo
Presence of MindPresence of Mind
Legend: BloodlineLegend: Bloodline
Coup de GraceCoup de Grace
InspirationInspiration
Magical FootwearMagical Footwear
Biscuit DeliveryBiscuit Delivery
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 Kai'Sa

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. Use Q on an isolated target

    Cast Icathian Rain (Q) on an isolated target: the missiles split between nearby enemies, so a lone target takes them all.

  2. Attack after your ally's CC

    Attack right after your support lands CC: with Second Skin (passive), your allies' immobilizing effects also stack Plasma.

  3. Mark your target before your R

    Before Killer Instinct (R), stack Plasma on your target, from range with Void Seeker (W): the dash needs a marked target and gives you a shield.

  4. Play around your evolves

    Make use of each spell that Second Skin (passive) evolves: Supercharge (E) makes you invisible to get in, and Icathian Rain (Q) fires more missiles at a lone target.

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 Kai'Sa matchups

Patch 16.21.1