Ziggs vs Karthus
Build vs Karthus
The champion's reference build, for lack of enough games in this matchup
Recommended items for Ziggs: Luden's Echo, Shadowflame, Rabadon's Deathcap, Sorcerer's Shoes, Zhonya's Hourglass, Void Staff, Banshee's Veil.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Karthus's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
Upon dying, Karthus enters a spirit form that allows him to continue casting spells.
Cooldowns
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 |
Playing as Ziggs
Tips to maximize your impact
- Poke with Bouncing Bomb
Poke with Bouncing Bomb (Q): its cooldown drops from 6 to 4 seconds, and a target slowed by Hexplosive Minefield (E) has a hard time dodging it.
- Launch yourself with your charge
Cast Satchel Charge (W) at your feet to escape or chase, even over a wall: the blast knocks you away without damaging you, and knocks back nearby enemies too.
- Join distant fights with your ult
Cast Mega Inferno Bomb (R) on a distant fight or a fleeing target: it reaches 5000 range, and the center of the blast deals more damage than the edge.
- Finish towers with your charge
Siege towers from range, then cast Satchel Charge (W) on a tower that's almost down: below a health threshold, it's destroyed instantly.
Playing against Karthus
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.
Other Ziggs matchups
Patch 16.21.1