Karthus vs Rammus
Hard matchup
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
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Rammus's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
Rammus gains bonus Attack Damage scaling with his Armor and Magic Resistance.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 12s | 7s | 12s | – |
| 6 | 9s | 7s | 12s | 2m |
| 9 | 6s | 7s | 12s | 2m |
| 11 | 6s | 7s | 12s | 1m45 |
| 16 | 6s | 7s | 12s | 1m30 |
| 18 | 6s | 7s | 12s | 1m30 |
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 Rammus
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Stay behind your minions
Stay behind your minions: Powerball (Q) stops on the first enemy it collides with, minions included.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Other Karthus matchups
Patch 16.21.1