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Vladimir vs Karthus

Vladimir
vs
Not enough games
Karthus
Analyze a draft with Vladimir
High burstHeavy pokeCountered by stasisHeavy AP damage

You are stronger late game. Farm safe and avoid early trades.

Build vs Karthus

The champion's reference build, for lack of enough games in this matchup

Recommended items for Vladimir: Stormsurge, Rabadon's Deathcap, Void Staff, Ionian Boots of Lucidity, Hextech Rocketbelt, Zhonya's Hourglass, Dark Seal, Cosmic Drive.

Starting items

Doran's Ring
Health Potion
x2

Core build

Stormsurge
1
Rabadon's Deathcap
2
Void Staff
3

Standard

Ionian Boots of Lucidity
4CDR
Hextech Rocketbelt
5

Summoner spells

FlashDot58%
FlashHaste42%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Hextech Rocketbelt
Zhonya's Hourglass
Dark Seal
Cosmic Drive
Riftmaker
Mejai's Soulstealer
SorcerySorcery
Stormraider's SurgeStormraider's Surge
Nimbus CloakNimbus Cloak
TranscendenceTranscendence
Gathering StormGathering Storm
PrecisionPrecision
Last StandLast Stand
Legend: HasteLegend: Haste
Ability HasteAdaptive 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 Vladimir

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. Save your empowered Transfusion

    After two Transfusion (Q) casts, the next one is empowered for a few seconds: save it for a trade, since it hits harder and heals you based on your missing health.

  2. Farm safely with Transfusion

    Last-hit minions with Transfusion (Q) until your items come in: it deals damage before healing you, and costs you nothing.

  3. Charge Tides of Blood at least 1 second

    Charge Tides of Blood (E) for at least 1 second before releasing: the missiles then also slow, and their damage grows with the charge.

  4. Dodge in your Sanguine Pool

    Save Sanguine Pool (W) to dodge CC or a burst: for 2 seconds, you're untargetable. It costs you part of your current health.

  5. Hemoplague first, burst second

    Cast Hemoplague (R) before your burst: infected enemies take increased damage from all sources, then the blast heals you for each champion hit.

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.

Other Vladimir matchups

Patch 16.21.1