Karthus vs Viktor

Karthus
vs
Not enough games
Viktor
Heavy AP damageHigh burstHeavy CCSustained DPS

Build vs Viktor

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

Viktor's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Glorious Evolution (P)

Viktor gains Hex Fragments whenever he kills an enemy. With every 100 Hex Fragments he obtains, Viktor permanently augments an active ability. After upgrading all of his basic abilities, he can gather 100 Hex Fragments to augment his ultimate ability.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
39s17s12s–
67s17s12s2m
95s16s12s2m
115s15s12s1m40
165s13s10s1m20
185s13s8s1m20

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 Viktor

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Leave his field before 1.25 seconds

    Get out of Gravity Field (W) right away: the zone slows, and an enemy who stays in it for 1.25 seconds is stunned.

  2. Engage after his Gravity Field

    If you can engage, go in after Gravity Field (W): it's his only stun, on a 17 to 13 second cooldown, and he has no dash.

  3. Play hard before his upgrades

    Get ahead early: for every 100 Hex Fragments he gets from kills, Glorious Evolution (passive) permanently upgrades one of his spells. His staff's glow shows how far along he is.

  4. Leave his storm fast

    Get out of Arcane Storm (R) fast: it hits every second and follows the champions it just damaged on its own.

Patch 16.21.1