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Karthus vs Cho'Gath

Karthus
vs
49.7%

over 784 games

Cho'Gath
Analyze a draft with Karthus

Skill matchup

Very tankyHeavy AP damageHeavy CCHigh burst

Build vs Cho'Gath

Build adapted to this matchup

Recommended items for Karthus: Blackfire Torch, Shadowflame, Rabadon's Deathcap, Sorcerer's Shoes, Liandry's Torment, Void Staff, Malignance, Dark Seal.

Starting items

Scorchclaw Pup
Health Potion

Core build

Blackfire Torch
1
Shadowflame
2
Rabadon's Deathcap
3

Standard

Sorcerer's Shoes
4Magic pen
Liandry's Torment
5

Summoner spells

ExhaustSmite47%
FlashSmite46%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Liandry's Torment
Void Staff
Malignance
Dark Seal
Zhonya's Hourglass
Stormsurge
Mejai's Soulstealer
Oblivion Orb
Seeker's Armguard
Morellonomicon
Horizon Focus
Rylai's Crystal Scepter
Cryptbloom
Bloodletter's Curse
Banshee's Veil
Seraph's Embrace
45.5% WR101 games
DominationDomination
Dark HarvestDark Harvest
Cheap ShotCheap Shot
Grisly MementosGrisly Mementos
Ultimate HunterUltimate Hunter
SorcerySorcery
Axiom ArcanistAxiom Arcanist
Gathering StormGathering Storm
Adaptive ForceAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Cho'Gath's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Carnivore (P)

Whenever Cho'Gath kills a unit, he recovers Health and Mana. The values restored increase with Cho'Gath's level.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
36s11s8s–
66s11s8s1m20
96s10.5s8s1m20
116s10s8s1m10
166s9s6s1m
186s9s4s1m

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 Cho'Gath

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Keep moving

    Keep moving against him: Rupture (Q) strikes an area on the ground, and an enemy standing still takes a knock-up, damage and a slow.

  2. Punish him while he farms

    Punish him when he goes for last hits: Carnivore (passive) restores health and mana for each unit he kills, and he lasts a long time in lane if you let him farm.

  3. Keep your distance if you can

    If you have range, keep your distance: his kit has no dash, only the slows from Rupture (Q) and Vorpal Spikes (E).

  4. Beware Feast at low health

    Don't stay in melee range at low health when Feast (R) is up: its true damage ignores your resistances, even if you're a tank.

Other Karthus matchups

Patch 16.21.1