Matchup

Heavy AP damageHeavy shieldingHeavy pokeHeavy CC

Build vs Karma

Build adapted to this matchup

Starting items

Doran's Blade
Health Potion

Core build

Essence Reaver
1DPS
Black Cleaver
2vs Tank
Spear of Shojin
3Bruiser

Standard

Ionian Boots of Lucidity
4CDR
Rapid Firecannon
5DPS

Summoner spells

41277%
42115%

Anti AD

Plated Steelcaps
4vs AD
Guardian Angel
5vs AD

Anti AP

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC
Mercurial Scimitar
5vs AP

Anti Tank

Serpent's Fang
5vs Tank
Lord Dominik's Regards
vs Tank

DPS

Rapid Firecannon
DPS
Infinity Edge
DPS
Endless Hunger
DPS
100.0% WR1 games
PrecisionPrecision
Fleet FootworkFleet Footwork
Presence of MindPresence of Mind
Legend: HasteLegend: Haste
Coup de GraceCoup de Grace
SorcerySorcery
TranscendenceTranscendence
Gathering StormGathering Storm
Ability HasteAdaptive ForceHealth

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Early (0-15)
Mid (15-30)
Late (30+)
SmolderSmolder
KarmaKarma
Careful
Careful
Aggressive

Karma's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Gathering Fire (P)

Karma's damaging abilities will reduce the cooldown of Mantra.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
39s12s10s
67s12s10s40s
95s12s10s40s
115s12s10s38s
165s12s9s36s
185s12s8s36s

Playing against Karma

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

1

Karma is strong early but scales poorly — she falls off in effectiveness compared to other supports/mages in the late game.

2

Her RQ is her only real burst: dodge it and she has no offensive threat left.

3

W roots after 2s: break the connection by moving away before it triggers.

4

Focus her in teamfights to prevent her from shielding her entire team with RE.

Source: op.gg + LTL Engine · Patch 16.9.1 · May 9, 2026