Karthus vs Katarina

Karthus
vs
Not enough games
Katarina
Countered by stasisHeavy AP damageHigh burstDive threat

Build vs Katarina

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

Core build

Blackfire Torch
1
Shadowflame
2
Rabadon's Deathcap
3

Standard

Sorcerer's Shoes
4Magic pen
Void Staff
5

Summoner spells

FlashSmite100%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Void Staff
Zhonya's Hourglass
Stormsurge
Malignance
DominationDomination
Dark HarvestDark Harvest
Cheap ShotCheap Shot
Grisly MementosGrisly Mementos
Ultimate HunterUltimate Hunter
PrecisionPrecision
Presence of MindPresence of Mind
Last StandLast Stand
Adaptive ForceAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Katarina's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Voracity (P)

Whenever an enemy champion dies that Katarina has damaged recently, her remaining ability cooldowns are dramatically reduced.If Katarina picks up a Dagger, she uses it to slash through all nearby enemies, dealing magic damage.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
311s15s12s–
69s15s12s1m15
97s14s12s1m15
117s13s12s1m
167s11s10s45s
187s11s8s45s

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 Katarina

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Stay away from her daggers

    Stay away from her daggers on the ground: when she picks one up, Voracity (passive) hits every nearby enemy, and Shunpo (E) lets her blink to it.

  2. Trade after her Shunpo

    Trade right after Shunpo (E): it's her only blink, and it has a 12 to 8 second cooldown, less if she picks up a dagger.

  3. Save your CC for her Lotus

    If you have CC, save it for Death Lotus (R): it's a channel, and interrupting it stops its damage.

  4. Don't count on your healing

    Don't count on your healing during Death Lotus (R): each knife applies Grievous Wounds, which reduces healing received.

Patch 16.21.1