Rammus vs Karthus
Skill matchup
Build vs Karthus
Build adapted to this matchup
Recommended items for Rammus: Thornmail, Hollow Radiance, Jak'Sho, The Protean, Mercury's Treads, Sunfire Aegis, Kaenic Rookern, Dead Man's Plate, Force of Nature.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Other options
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 Rammus
Tips to maximize your impact
- Engage with Powerball
Engage with Powerball (Q): your speed builds while you roll, and the impact knocks back and slows enemies around your target.
- Defensive Ball Curl against autos
Cast Defensive Ball Curl (W) when you're being hit by autos: you gain armor and magic resist, and each attack returns magic damage to its attacker.
- Taunt during Defensive Ball Curl
Cast Frenzying Taunt (E) during Defensive Ball Curl (W): forced to attack you, your target takes damage with every auto.
- Soaring Slam while rolling
Cast Soaring Slam (R) during Powerball (Q): enemies in the center of the area also take a knock-up, and your speed extends the leap's range.
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 Rammus matchups
Patch 16.21.1