Viego vs Karthus

50.8%

over 256 games

Skill matchup

High burstHeavy pokeCountered by stasisHeavy AP damage

Build vs Karthus

Build adapted to this matchup

Starting items

—

Core build

1—

2—

3—

Standard

4vs Slow

5—

Summoner spells

100%

Other options

—

56.7% WR60 games

Domination

Hail of Blades

Sudden Impact

Sixth Sense

Treasure Hunter

Precision

Legend: Alacrity

Triumph

Strength by game phase

Passive, spells and ultimate

Death Defied (P)

Upon dying, Karthus enters a spirit form that allows him to continue casting spells.

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

Tips to maximize your impact

An auto after each spell
Weave in an auto after each spell: thanks to Blade of the Ruined King (Q), your first attack on an enemy damaged by an ability strikes twice and heals you.
Fully charge Spectral Maw
Charge Spectral Maw (W) when you have time: the longer the charge, the longer the first enemy hit stays stunned, but you're slowed in the meantime.
Strike from the Mist
Cast Harrowed Path (E) on a wall near your target: inside the Mist, you're camouflaged and gain move speed and attack speed.
Hit the wraith to possess the champion
After a kill, hit the wraith to trigger Sovereign's Domination (passive): you restore health and take their basic spells and items, but not their ult.
Finish with Heartbreaker
Cast Heartbreaker (R) to finish: you leave the possessed body and strike the champion with the lowest health percentage, with damage based on their missing health.

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.

Patch 16.21.1