Kindred vs Karthus

Kindred
vs
46.3%

over 413 games

Karthus

Skill matchup

High burstHeavy pokeCountered by stasisHeavy AP damage

Build vs Karthus

Build adapted to this matchup

Recommended items for Kindred: Kraken Slayer, The Collector, Lord Dominik's Regards, Mercury's Treads, Infinity Edge, Trinity Force, Hexoptics C44, Wit's End.

Starting items

Scorchclaw Pup
Health Potion

Core build

Kraken Slayer
1
The Collector
2
Lord Dominik's Regards
3

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Infinity Edge
5

Summoner spells

FlashSmite99%
HasteSmite1%

Other options

Infinity Edge
Trinity Force
Hexoptics C44
Wit's End
B. F. Sword
Mortal Reminder
Rapid Firecannon
Guardian Angel
Serrated Dirk
Maw of Malmortius
Blade of The Ruined King
Black Cleaver
Immortal Shieldbow
Executioner's Calling
Yun Tal Wildarrows
Bloodthirster
Phantom Dancer
Runaan's Hurricane
Kaenic Rookern
Stormrazor
Quicksilver Sash
Force of Nature
Edge of Night
58.2% WR67 games
PrecisionPrecision
Press the AttackPress the Attack
TriumphTriumph
Legend: AlacrityLegend: Alacrity
Coup de GraceCoup de Grace
DominationDomination
Treasure HunterTreasure Hunter
Sudden ImpactSudden Impact
Attack SpeedAdaptive 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 Kindred

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. Hunt your marks

    Hunt the targets of Mark of the Kindred (passive), jungle monsters included: each successful hunt empowers your basic spells, and every 4 hunts, your range increases.

  2. Fight inside Wolf's zone

    Activate Wolf's Frenzy (W), then fight inside its zone: Dance of Arrows (Q) has a much shorter cooldown there.

  3. Three autos after your E

    Cast Mounting Dread (E), then land three autos on the same target: the third sends Wolf, who strikes based on their missing health.

  4. Save your team with your R

    Cast Lamb's Respite (R) to save your team or deny an objective: nothing inside the zone can die, allies, enemies and monsters alike.

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.

Patch 16.21.1