Karthus vs Rammus

Karthus
vs
41.7%

over 319 games

Rammus

Hard matchup

Very tankyHeavy AD damageHeavy CCStrong engage

Build vs Rammus

Build adapted to this matchup

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

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

ExhaustSmite51%
FlashSmite45%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Liandry's Torment
Void Staff
Malignance
Zhonya's Hourglass
Dark Seal
Stormsurge
Mejai's Soulstealer
Oblivion Orb
Seeker's Armguard
Morellonomicon
Cryptbloom
Actualizer
Rylai's Crystal Scepter
52.2% WR46 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

Rammus's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Spiked Shell (P)

Rammus gains bonus Attack Damage scaling with his Armor and Magic Resistance.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
312s7s12s–
69s7s12s2m
96s7s12s2m
116s7s12s1m45
166s7s12s1m30
186s7s12s1m30

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 Rammus

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Stay behind your minions

    Stay behind your minions: Powerball (Q) stops on the first enemy it collides with, minions included.

  2. Lean on magic damage

    If you deal magic damage, lean on it in trades when Defensive Ball Curl (W) is on cooldown: without it, his resistances drop to those of an ordinary tank.

  3. Stay out of taunt range

    If you're ranged, don't let him reach melee range when Frenzying Taunt (E) is ready: its range is short, and it forces you to attack him.

  4. Leave his impact zone fast

    Get out of the Soaring Slam (R) area fast: aftershocks repeat the slow there, and if cast during Powerball (Q), it adds a knock-up in the center.

  5. No autos on Defensive Ball Curl

    Don't attack during Defensive Ball Curl (W): each auto returns magic damage to you, and he gains armor and magic resist.

Patch 16.21.1