Karthus vs Aphelios

Karthus
vs
Not enough games
Aphelios
Sustained DPSHeavy AD damageHigh burstHeavy poke

Build vs Aphelios

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

Recommended items for Karthus: Blackfire Torch, Shadowflame, Rabadon's Deathcap, Sorcerer's Shoes, Void Staff, Zhonya's Hourglass, Stormsurge, Malignance.

Starting items

Scorchclaw Pup

Core build

Blackfire Torch
1
Shadowflame
2
Rabadon's Deathcap
3

Standard

Sorcerer's Shoes
4Magic pen
Void Staff
5

Summoner spells

ExhaustSmite100%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Void Staff
Zhonya's Hourglass
Stormsurge
Malignance
DominationDomination
Dark HarvestDark Harvest
Cheap ShotCheap Shot
Grisly MementosGrisly Mementos
Treasure HunterTreasure Hunter
PrecisionPrecision
Presence of MindPresence of Mind
Coup de GraceCoup de Grace
Adaptive ForceAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Aphelios's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

The Hitman and the Seer (P)

Aphelios wields 5 Lunari Weapons made by his sister Alune. He has access to two at a time: one main-hand and one off-hand. Each weapon has a unique Basic Attack and Ability. Attacks and abilities consume a weapon's ammo. When out of ammo, Aphelios discards the weapon and Alune summons the next of the 5.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
39s0.8s0s–
69s0.8s0s2m
99s0.8s0s2m
119s0.8s0s1m50
169s0.8s0s1m40
189s0.8s0s1m40

Playing as Karthus

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. Aim for isolated champions

    Aim Lay Waste (Q) at a champion away from their minions: if the blast hits only one enemy, it deals much more damage.

  2. Wall before your combo

    Place Wall of Pain (W) in their path before your combo: anyone who crosses it is slowed and loses magic resist.

  3. Keep playing after you die

    After you die, keep casting your spells: Death Defied (passive) keeps you in spirit form for a while, and you can still cast Lay Waste (Q) and Requiem (R).

  4. Requiem for the finish

    Save Requiem (R) to finish off wounded enemies, often right after a teamfight: it hits every enemy champion wherever they are, after a 3-second channel.

Playing against Aphelios

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Watch out for his cannon

    Back off when he holds Gravitum and has slowed you: Weapon Abilities (Q) with the cannon roots every enemy that weapon has slowed.

  2. Punish his lack of mobility

    If you can engage, go for him when his support drifts away: his kit has no dash, and only Severum makes him run faster.

  3. Spread out from your allies

    Spread out from your allies when he has Moonlight Vigil (R): the blast explodes on the first champion hit, damages those nearby, then he attacks each of them.

  4. Get away from his sentry

    When he deploys the Crescendum sentry with Weapon Abilities (Q), leave its area: it attacks you with his off-hand weapon.

Patch 16.21.1