Karthus vs Yasuo

Karthus
vs
Not enough games
Yasuo
Heavy AD damageSustained DPSHigh burstDive threat

Build vs Yasuo

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

Summoner spells

ExhaustSmite100%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Void Staff
Zhonya's Hourglass
Stormsurge
Malignance
DominationDomination
Dark HarvestDark Harvest
Cheap ShotCheap Shot
Grisly MementosGrisly Mementos
Ultimate HunterUltimate Hunter
SorcerySorcery
Axiom ArcanistAxiom Arcanist
Gathering StormGathering Storm
Adaptive ForceAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Yasuo's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Way of the Wanderer (P)

Yasuo's Critical Strike Chance is increased. Additionally, Yasuo builds toward a shield whenever he is moving. The shield triggers when he takes damage from a champion or monster.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
34s25s0.5s–
64s25s0.5s1m10
94s23s0.5s1m10
114s21s0.5s50s
164s17s0.3s30s
184s17s0.1s30s

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 Yasuo

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Pop his shield first

    Hit him with a cheap attack to trigger the Way of the Wanderer (passive) shield, then start the real trade: otherwise, it absorbs your best damage.

  2. Wait for his Wind Wall

    If you have projectiles, save them for after Wind Wall (W): it blocks them all for 4 seconds, on a 25 to 17 second cooldown. Other spells go through it.

  3. Don't give him minions

    Don't stand right behind your minions: each one gives him a target for Sweeping Blade (E), and he gets closer to you with every dash.

  4. Dodge his whirlwind

    Get out of the line of his whirlwind, the third Steel Tempest (Q): without a knock-up, he can't cast Last Breath (R).

  5. Judge him by his crit items

    Judge his threat by his crit items more than his level: Way of the Wanderer (passive) raises his critical strike chance, so each crit item does more for him.

Patch 16.21.1