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Karthus vs Jarvan IV

Karthus
vs
49.2%

over 897 games

Jarvan IV
Analyze a draft with Karthus

Skill matchup

Strong engageHeavy AD damageHeavy CCDive threat

Build vs Jarvan IV

Build adapted to this matchup

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

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

FlashSmite47%
ExhaustSmite47%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Liandry's Torment
Zhonya's Hourglass
Void Staff
Malignance
Dark Seal
Stormsurge
Mejai's Soulstealer
Seeker's Armguard
Oblivion Orb
Morellonomicon
Cryptbloom
Horizon Focus
Banshee's Veil
Rylai's Crystal Scepter
Luden's Echo
50.7% WR136 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

Jarvan IV's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Martial Cadence (P)

Jarvan's first basic attack on an enemy deals bonus physical damage based on their current Health. This effect cannot occur again on the same enemy for a few seconds.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
310s9s12s–
68s9s12s2m
96s9s12s2m
116s9s12s1m45
166s9s11s1m30
186s9s10s1m30

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 Jarvan IV

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Step out of his flag's line

    As soon as he plants Demacian Standard (E), step out of the line between him and the flag: Dragon Strike (Q) pulls him to it and knocks anyone in his path into the air.

  2. Punish him after his combo

    Punish him after his flag-and-lance combo: without the flag, he has no dash to get out, and Demacian Standard (E) has a 12 to 10 second cooldown.

  3. Save a way out of his arena

    If you have a way over walls, save it for Cataclysm (R): the arena can't be crossed on foot and locks you in with him while it lasts.

Other Karthus matchups

Patch 16.21.1