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Kayn vs Karthus

Kayn
vs
51.1%

over 372 games

Karthus
Analyze a draft with Kayn

Skill matchup

High burstHeavy pokeCountered by stasisHeavy AP damage

Build vs Karthus

Build adapted to this matchup

Recommended items for Kayn: Hubris, Voltaic Cyclosword, Axiom Arc, Ionian Boots of Lucidity, Edge of Night, Serylda's Grudge, Bastionbreaker, Serpent's Fang.

Starting items

Gustwalker Hatchling
Health Potion

Core build

Hubris
1
Voltaic Cyclosword
2
Axiom Arc
3

Standard

Ionian Boots of Lucidity
4CDR
Edge of Night
5

Summoner spells

FlashSmite95%
SmiteDot5%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Edge of Night
Serylda's Grudge
Bastionbreaker
Serpent's Fang
Lord Dominik's Regards
Death's Dance
Youmuu's Ghostblade
Black Cleaver
Serrated Dirk
Eclipse
Guardian Angel
Maw of Malmortius
Spirit Visage
Endless Hunger
Spear of Shojin
Mortal Reminder
Umbral Glaive
The Collector
B. F. Sword
Sterak's Gage
Chempunk Chainsword
Executioner's Calling
58.3% WR36 games
DominationDomination
Dark HarvestDark Harvest
Sudden ImpactSudden Impact
Grisly MementosGrisly Mementos
Treasure HunterTreasure Hunter
InspirationInspiration
Magical FootwearMagical Footwear
Cosmic InsightCosmic Insight
Adaptive ForceAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Karthus's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Death Defied (P)

Upon dying, Karthus enters a spirit form that allows him to continue casting spells.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
30s15s0.5s–
60s15s0.5s3m20
90s15s0.5s3m20
110s15s0.5s3m
160s15s0.5s2m40
180s15s0.5s2m40

Playing as Kayn

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. Pick your form based on their team

    Take Rhaast against a tanky team, Shadow Assassin against squishy targets: The Darkin Scythe (passive) gives one healing, the other bonus damage at the start of fights.

  2. Gank through walls

    Gank through walls with Shadow Step (E): you move through terrain faster, and you heal when you first enter it.

  3. Hide inside an enemy

    To dodge a burst, cast Umbral Trespass (R) on a champion you just hit: inside, you're untargetable while your spells come back up.

  4. As Rhaast, hit everyone

    As Rhaast, hit as many champions as you can with your spells: The Darkin Scythe (passive) heals you for part of the ability damage they take.

Playing against Karthus

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Stay near your minions

    Stay near your minions or your allies: Lay Waste (Q) deals much more damage when the blast hits only one enemy.

  2. Jump on him if you can

    If you can engage, jump on him: Karthus has no dash or leap to escape.

  3. Don't stay low once he hits 6

    Once he hits level 6, back instead of staying at low health: Requiem (R) hits every enemy champion wherever they are, 3 seconds after he starts channeling.

  4. Save your protection for Requiem

    If you have a shield, a heal or invulnerability, save it for Requiem (R): it hits every enemy champion 3 seconds after he starts channeling.

  5. Move away after he dies

    Once Karthus is dead, move away: Death Defied (passive) keeps him in spirit form for a while, and he can still cast his spells.

Other Kayn matchups

Patch 16.21.1