Karthus vs Draven

Karthus
vs
Not enough games
Draven
Heavy AD damageSustained DPSHigh burstSplit push

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

Build vs Draven

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
Health Potion

Core build

Blackfire Torch
1
Shadowflame
2
Rabadon's Deathcap
3

Standard

Sorcerer's Shoes
4Magic pen
Void Staff
5

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Void Staff
Zhonya's Hourglass
Stormsurge
Malignance

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Draven's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

League of Draven (P)

Draven gains his fans' Adoration when he catches a Spinning Axe or kills a minion, monster, or tower. Killing enemy champions grants Draven bonus gold based on how much Adoration he has.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
312s12s16s–
610s12s16s1m40
98s12s16s1m40
118s12s16s1m30
168s12s14s1m20
188s12s12s1m20

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 Draven

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Play hard when he drops an axe

    Play hard when he drops a Spinning Axe (Q): without it, he loses his bonus damage and the Blood Rush (W) reset.

  2. Aim where his axe lands

    If you have skillshots, aim where his Spinning Axe (Q) falls: he has to go there to catch it.

  3. Engage after his Stand Aside

    If you can engage, wait until Stand Aside (E) is used: it's his only spell to push you back, on a 16 to 12 second cooldown.

  4. Don't give him kills

    Don't hand him kills: with League of Draven (passive), each champion he kills gives him bonus gold based on his stored Adoration.

  5. Beware his axes at low health

    At low health, beware of Whirling Death (R), which crosses the map: it executes a champion below a threshold that grows with his Adoration.

Patch 16.21.1