Karthus vs Gragas

Karthus
vs
40.7%

over 113 games

Gragas

Hard matchup

Heavy AP damageStrong engageHeavy CCVery tanky

Build vs Gragas

Build adapted to this matchup

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

Starting items

Scorchclaw Pup

Core build

Blackfire Torch
1
Shadowflame
2
Rabadon's Deathcap
3

Standard

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

Summoner spells

ExhaustSmite55%
FlashSmite35%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Liandry's Torment
Malignance
Void Staff
Zhonya's Hourglass
Dark Seal
Stormsurge
Mejai's Soulstealer
Seeker's Armguard
Cryptbloom
Horizon Focus
62.5% WR24 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

Gragas's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Happy Hour (P)

Gragas periodically heals upon using a skill.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
310s5s14s–
68s5s14s1m40
96s5s14s1m40
116s5s14s1m25
166s5s13s1m10
186s5s12s1m10

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 Gragas

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Stay behind your minions

    Stay behind your minions: Body Slam (E) stops on the first enemy it meets, minions included.

  2. Get out of the barrel zone fast

    Get out of the Barrel Roll (Q) area right away: the longer the barrel sits on the ground, the more its explosion hurts and slows.

  3. Step up after a missed E

    Step up when Body Slam (E) hits nobody: its cooldown isn't reduced and stays at 14 to 12 seconds.

  4. Spread out from your allies

    Spread out from your allies: Explosive Cask (R) knocks every enemy away from the impact, which can split you up or send you toward his team.

Patch 16.21.1