Shaco vs Karthus

Shaco
vs
48.4%

over 283 games

Karthus

Skill matchup

High burstHeavy pokeCountered by stasisHeavy AP damage

Build vs Karthus

Build adapted to this matchup

Recommended items for Shaco: Blackfire Torch, Liandry's Torment, Imperial Mandate, Berserker's Greaves, Voltaic Cyclosword, The Collector, Lord Dominik's Regards, Infinity Edge.

Starting items

Gustwalker Hatchling
Health Potion

Core build

Blackfire Torch
1
Liandry's Torment
2
Imperial Mandate
3

Standard

Berserker's Greaves
4AS
Voltaic Cyclosword
5

Summoner spells

SmiteDot95%
FlashSmite4%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Voltaic Cyclosword
The Collector
Lord Dominik's Regards
Infinity Edge
Youmuu's Ghostblade
Umbral Glaive
Serrated Dirk
Shadowflame
Zhonya's Hourglass
Dark Seal
B. F. Sword
Profane Hydra
Edge of Night
Serpent's Fang
Cryptbloom
Maw of Malmortius
Rabadon's Deathcap
Hubris
Mejai's Soulstealer
Oblivion Orb
Essence Reaver
Bloodletter's Curse
Bastionbreaker
Malignance
Mortal Reminder
Serylda's Grudge
Trinity Force
Guardian Angel
Phantom Dancer
50.0% WR22 games
DominationDomination
Hail of BladesHail of Blades
Sudden ImpactSudden Impact
Grisly MementosGrisly Mementos
Relentless HunterRelentless Hunter
PrecisionPrecision
Coup de GraceCoup de Grace
Legend: AlacrityLegend: Alacrity
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 Shaco

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. Gank from behind

    Gank with Deceive (Q) and come in behind your target: Backstab (passive) empowers hits from behind, and your first invisible auto becomes a critical strike.

  2. Finish with Two-Shiv Poison

    Save Two-Shiv Poison (E) to finish: the shiv deals much more damage to a target below 30% health.

  3. Trick them with your clone

    Cast Hallucinate (R) to bait their spells: you briefly disappear and reappear with a clone, which explodes on death into three boxes that fear.

  4. Trap their escape routes

    Place Jack In The Box (W) on their escape routes or at a camp entrance: invisible after a delay, it fears champions who come near, then shoots them.

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