Karthus vs Jinx
Build vs Jinx
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
Core build
Standard
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Jinx's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
Jinx receives massively increased Move Speed and Attack Speed whenever she helps kill or destroy an enemy champions epic jungle monster, or structure.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0.9s | 8s | 24s | – |
| 6 | 0.9s | 8s | 24s | 1m25 |
| 9 | 0.9s | 7s | 24s | 1m25 |
| 11 | 0.9s | 6s | 24s | 1m05 |
| 16 | 0.9s | 4s | 17s | 45s |
| 18 | 0.9s | 4s | 10s | 45s |
Playing as Karthus
Tips to maximize your impact
- 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.
- 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.
- 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).
- 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 Jinx
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Short trades
Take a short trade, then back off: with the minigun from Switcheroo! (Q), each auto increases her attack speed, so long trades favor her.
- Punish her lack of mobility
If you can engage, go for her when her support walks away: with no dash or leap, Jinx can only back off on foot.
- Walk around her traps
Don't step on Flame Chompers! (E): they root the champion who touches them. Walk around them or wait for them to vanish after 5 seconds.
- Deny her the first kill
If you can reach her, focus her first: any takedown gives her a big speed boost with Get Excited! (passive).
Other Karthus matchups
Patch 16.21.1