Karthus vs Xayah

Not enough games

Heavy AD damageSustained DPSHigh burstHeavy CC

Build vs Xayah

The champion's reference build, for lack of enough games in this matchup

Starting items

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Core build

1—

2—

3—

Standard

4Magic pen

5—

Anti CC

4vs CC

Other options

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Strength by game phase

Passive, spells and ultimate

Clean Cuts (P)

After using an ability, Xayah's next basic attacks will hit all targets along their path and leave a Feather.

Cooldowns by spell rank

Level	Q	W	E	R
3	10s	18s	12s	–
6	9s	18s	12s	2m20
9	8s	17s	12s	2m20
11	8s	16s	12s	2m
16	8s	14s	10s	1m40
18	8s	14s	8s	1m40

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.

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

Stay out of her feathers' path
Don't stand between Xayah and her feathers on the ground: Bladecaller (E) pulls them back to her, and 3 feathers passing through you root you.
Engage when the ground is clear
If you can engage, go in when she has no feathers on the ground: without them, Bladecaller (E) can't root you.
Wait for her to land
During Featherstorm (R), hold your spells: she's untargetable for 1.5 seconds, then lands, leaving a line of feathers.

Patch 16.21.1