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Karthus vs Varus

Karthus
vs
Not enough games
Varus
Analyze a draft with Karthus
Heavy AD damageHeavy pokeHeavy CCHigh burst

Build vs Varus

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
Health Potion

Core build

Blackfire Torch
1
Shadowflame
2
Rabadon's Deathcap
3

Standard

Sorcerer's Shoes
4Magic pen
Void Staff
5

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Void Staff
Zhonya's Hourglass
Stormsurge
Malignance

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Varus's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Living Vengeance (P)

On kill or assist, Varus temporarily gains Attack Damage and Ability Power. This bonus is larger if the enemy is a champion.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
316s40s18s–
614s40s18s1m40
912s40s18s1m40
1112s40s18s1m20
1612s40s14s1m
1812s40s10s1m

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 Varus

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Back off with his Blight on you

    Back off after taking a few autos: each one applies a Blight stack from Blighted Quiver (W), and his spells detonate them for damage based on your max health.

  2. Engage while he charges

    If you can engage, go in while he charges Piercing Arrow (Q): charging slows him, and he has no dash to escape.

  3. Leave his hail of arrows

    Get out of the Hail of Arrows (E) zone fast: the desecrated ground slows you and reduces the healing you receive.

  4. Spread out from the chained ally

    When an ally is caught by Chain of Corruption (R), move away from them fast: the corruption spreads to nearby champions, but dies out if you get far enough in time.

Other Karthus matchups

Patch 16.21.1