Master Yi vs Karthus
You are stronger late game. Farm safe and avoid early trades.
Build vs Karthus
The champion's reference build, for lack of enough games in this matchup
Recommended items for Master Yi: Blade of The Ruined King, The Collector, Lord Dominik's Regards, Gluttonous Greaves, Titanic Hydra, Infinity Edge, Death's Dance, Immortal Shieldbow.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
100%Anti CC
Other options
Domination
Hail of Blades
Sudden Impact
Grisly Mementos
Treasure Hunter
Precision
Legend: Alacrity
Triumph
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Karthus's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
Upon dying, Karthus enters a spirit form that allows him to continue casting spells.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0s | 15s | 0.5s | – |
| 6 | 0s | 15s | 0.5s | 3m20 |
| 9 | 0s | 15s | 0.5s | 3m20 |
| 11 | 0s | 15s | 0.5s | 3m |
| 16 | 0s | 15s | 0.5s | 2m40 |
| 18 | 0s | 15s | 0.5s | 2m40 |
Playing as Master Yi
Tips to maximize your impact
- Dodge with Alpha Strike
Cast Alpha Strike (Q) to dodge a spell or a burst: you're untargetable during the strike, and your autos lower its cooldown.
- Meditate to tank damage
Cast Meditate (W) to tank a burst mid-teamfight: you take less damage, heal more at low health, and the time left on Highlander (R) is paused.
- Activate Highlander to chase
Activate Highlander (R) to chase: you gain move speed and attack speed, and slows no longer affect you.
- Chain your kills
Chain kills in teamfights: each takedown lowers the remaining cooldown of your basic spells, and extends Highlander (R) if it's active.
Playing against Karthus
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- 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.
- Jump on him if you can
If you can engage, jump on him: Karthus has no dash or leap to escape.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 Master Yi matchups
Master Yi vs Lee Sin
Master Yi vs Viego
Master Yi vs Graves
Master Yi vs Kha'Zix
Master Yi vs Kayn
Master Yi vs WukongPatch 16.21.1