Karthus vs Shaco
Skill matchup
Build vs Shaco
Build adapted to this matchup
Recommended items for Karthus: Blackfire Torch, Shadowflame, Rabadon's Deathcap, Sorcerer's Shoes, Zhonya's Hourglass, Liandry's Torment, Void Staff, Malignance.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Shaco's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
Shaco's basic attacks and Two-Shiv Poison deal additional damage when striking from behind.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 13s | 15s | 8s | – |
| 6 | 12s | 15s | 8s | 1m40 |
| 9 | 11s | 15s | 8s | 1m40 |
| 11 | 11s | 15s | 8s | 1m30 |
| 16 | 11s | 15s | 8s | 1m20 |
| 18 | 11s | 15s | 8s | 1m20 |
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 Shaco
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Back before you get too low
Back before your health drops too low: below 30% health, Two-Shiv Poison (E) deals much more damage to you.
- Move away from his clone
Move away from the Hallucinate (R) clone before it dies: it explodes and spawns three boxes that fear nearby enemies.
- Focus him when he engages
If you can reach him, focus him when he engages with Deceive (Q): he no longer has it to escape, on a 13 to 11 second cooldown.
- Ward his camps and your entrances
Ward near his camps and at the entrances to your lane: spot him before Deceive (Q), which makes him invisible for his gank.
- Move carefully in his jungle
Move carefully in his jungle: Jack In The Box (W) goes invisible, fears the champion who comes near, then shoots nearby enemies for 5 seconds.
Other Karthus matchups
Patch 16.21.1