Rammus vs Karthus

Rammus
vs
53.0%

over 117 games

Karthus

Skill matchup

High burstHeavy pokeCountered by stasisHeavy AP damage

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

Gustwalker Hatchling
Health Potion

Core build

Thornmail
1
Hollow Radiance
2
Jak'Sho, The Protean
3

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Sunfire Aegis
5

Summoner spells

FlashSmite78%
HasteSmite18%

Other options

Sunfire Aegis
Kaenic Rookern
Dead Man's Plate
Force of Nature
Randuin's Omen
Protoplasm Harness
Bramble Vest
Frozen Heart
Unending Despair
Knight's Vow
Heartsteel
53.9% WR13 games
ResolveResolve
AftershockAftershock
Font of LifeFont of Life
ConditioningConditioning
UnflinchingUnflinching
PrecisionPrecision
Legend: AlacrityLegend: Alacrity
TriumphTriumph
Attack SpeedHealth ScalingHealth 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 Rammus

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. Engage with Powerball

    Engage with Powerball (Q): your speed builds while you roll, and the impact knocks back and slows enemies around your target.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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

  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