Karthus vs Zeri

Karthus
vs
Not enough games
Zeri
Heavy AD damageSustained DPSHigh burstHeavy poke

Build vs Zeri

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

Core build

Blackfire Torch
1
Shadowflame
2
Rabadon's Deathcap
3

Standard

Sorcerer's Shoes
4Magic pen
Void Staff
5

Summoner spells

FlashSmite67%
ExhaustSmite33%

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

Zeri's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Living Battery (P)

Zeri's Attacks deal magic damage and are treated as Abilities. Moving and casting Burst Fire stores up energy in Zeri's Sparkpack. When fully charged her next Attack deals bonus damage.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
30s12s24s–
60s12s24s1m20
90s11s24s1m20
110s10s24s1m15
160s8s21s1m10
180s8s18s1m10

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 Zeri

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Stay behind your minions

    Keep minions between you and her: Burst Fire (Q) stops on the first enemy hit, except during Spark Surge (E), when it pierces through them.

  2. Stay away from walls

    Don't fight near a wall against her: if Ultrashock Laser (W) hits it, it becomes an area laser that slows and critically strikes.

  3. Engage right after her dash

    If you can engage, go in right after Spark Surge (E): it's her only dash, and each of her hits lowers its cooldown, so don't wait.

  4. Break contact during her ult

    During Lightning Crash (R), back off out of her range: each hit she lands on a champion extends the effect and makes her faster.

Patch 16.21.1