Zeri vs Karthus

Zeri
vs
Not enough games
Karthus
High burstHeavy pokeCountered by stasisHeavy AP damage

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

Build vs Karthus

Build adapted to this matchup

Recommended items for Zeri: Yun Tal Wildarrows, Runaan's Hurricane, Infinity Edge, Gluttonous Greaves, Lord Dominik's Regards, Stormrazor, Bloodthirster, Mercurial Scimitar.

Starting items

Doran's Bow
Health Potion
x2

Core build

Yun Tal Wildarrows
1
Runaan's Hurricane
2
Infinity Edge
3

Standard

Gluttonous Greaves
4
Lord Dominik's Regards
5

Summoner spells

FlashBarrier77%
BoostFlash8%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Lord Dominik's Regards
Stormrazor
Bloodthirster
Mercurial Scimitar
Immortal Shieldbow
Guardian Angel
Mortal Reminder
45.5% WR11 games
PrecisionPrecision
Lethal TempoLethal Tempo
TriumphTriumph
Legend: BloodlineLegend: Bloodline
Cut DownCut Down
InspirationInspiration
Triple TonicTriple Tonic
Cash BackCash Back
Attack SpeedAdaptive ForceHealth

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 Zeri

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. Aim every Burst Fire

    Aim each Burst Fire (Q): it's your main attack, reaching 700 range and hitting the first enemy in its line.

  2. Fire your laser at a wall

    Aim Ultrashock Laser (W) at a wall: the pulse becomes an area laser that slows and critically strikes champions.

  3. Vault over walls

    Aim Spark Surge (E) at a wall: you vault over it, much farther than with the dash alone, and your Burst Fire pierces for a few seconds afterward.

  4. Hit a champion, then back off

    Cast Lightning Crash (R) near a champion: hitting them gives you attack speed and move speed, and each hit on a champion extends the effect. Attack while backing off.

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