Karthus Build
the Deathsinger
The harbinger of oblivion, Karthus is an undying spirit whose haunting songs are a prelude to the horror of his nightmarish appearance. The living fear the eternity of undeath, but Karthus sees only beauty and purity in its embrace, a perfect union of life and death. When Karthus emerges from the Shadow Isles, it is to bring the joy of death to mortals, an apostle of the unliving.
The most played Karthus Bot build on patch 26.21 runs Deathfire Touch with Axiom Arcanist, Transcendence and Scorch, plus Presence of Mind and Last Stand from the secondary tree. Take Flash and Exhaust. Start with Doran's Ring and Health Potion, then build Blackfire Torch, Sorcerer's Shoes and Shadowflame, followed by Rabadon's Deathcap, Void Staff, Zhonya's Hourglass and Liandry's Torment. Max Q (Lay Waste) first, then E (Defile), then W (Wall of Pain). It has a 54.0% win rate and a 0.4% pick rate.
Runes
Primary
Deathfire Touch
Damaging a champion with an ability burns them over time.
Deathfire Touch
Damaging a champion with an ability burns them for 3 - 12 based on level (+2.5% AP) (+7% bonus AD) magic damage per second. After burning for 3 seconds, the damage of the burn increases by 75% while they remain on fire. Duration: Single Target: 4s Area of Effect: 2s Damage over Time: 1s
Axiom Arcanist
Your Ultimate has increased damage, healing, and shielding. Scoring a takedown on an enemy champion reduces your Ultimate's current cooldown.
Axiom Arcanist
Your Ultimate has 12% increased damage, healing, and shielding. (AoE damage is reduced to a 8% increase) Scoring a takedown on an enemy champion reduces your Ultimate's current cooldown by 7%.
Transcendence
Gain bonuses upon reaching the following levels: Level 5: +5 Ability Haste Level 8: +5 Ability Haste Level 11: On Champion takedown, reduce the remaining cooldown of basic abilities by 20%.
Transcendence
Gain bonuses upon reaching the following levels: Level 5: +5 Ability Haste Level 8: +5 Ability Haste Level 11: On Champion takedown, reduce the remaining cooldown of basic abilities by 20%.
Scorch
Your first damaging ability hit every 10s burns champions.
Scorch
Your next damaging ability hit sets champions on fire dealing 20 - 40 bonus magic damage based on level after 1s. Cooldown: 10s
Secondary
Presence of Mind
Restore a small amount of mana or energy when damaging an enemy champion. Takedowns restore mana or energy.
Presence of Mind
Damaging an enemy champion restores 6-50 (80% for ranged) mana or 6 energy. Takedowns restore 15% of your maximum mana or energy. Cooldown for damage restoration: 8s
Last Stand
Deal more damage to champions while you are low on health.
Last Stand
Deal 5% - 11% increased damage to champions while you are below 60% health. Max damage gained at 30% health.
Summoner Spells
Flash
Cooldown 300s
Flash
Cooldown 300s
Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
Exhaust
Cooldown 240s
Exhaust
Cooldown 240s
Slows target enemy champion and reduces their damage dealt.
Skill Priority
QLay Waste
Cooldown 0s · 20/25/30/35/40 Mana
Karthus unleashes a delayed blast at a location, dealing damage to nearby enemies. Deals increased damage to isolated enemies.
EDefile
Cooldown 0.5s · 30/42/54/66/78 Mana per Second
Karthus passively steals energy from his victims, gaining Mana on each kill. Alternatively, Karthus can surround himself in the souls of his prey, dealing damage to nearby enemies, but quickly draining his own Mana.
WWall of Pain
Cooldown 15s · 70 Mana
Karthus creates a passable screen of leeching energy. Any enemy units that walk through the screen have their Move Speed and Magic Resist reduced for a period.
Item Build
Full build 19,850gStarting Items
Doran's Ring
400g
Doran's Ring
- 18 Ability Power
- 90 Health
Drain Restore 1 Mana every second, increased to 2 Mana per second for 5 seconds after dealing damage to an enemy champion. If you can't gain Mana, heal for 45% of this value instead. Helping Hand Attacks deal 5 bonus physical damage to minions.
×2Health Potion
2 × 50g
Health Potion
Consume Restores 120 Health over 15 seconds.
Core Build
1Blackfire Torch
2,800g80 AP · 600 Mana · 20 AH
Baleful Blaze · Blackfire
Blackfire Torch
2,800g- 80 Ability Power
- 600 Mana
- 20 Ability Haste
Baleful Blaze Damaging Abilities deals bonus magic damage for 3 seconds. Blackfire For each enemy champion, epic and large monster affected by your Baleful Blaze, gain 4% Ability Power.
2Sorcerer's Shoes
1,100g12 Magic Pen · 45 MS
Sorcerer's Shoes
1,100g- 12 Magic Penetration
- 45 Move Speed
Enhances Move Speed and magic damage
3Shadowflame
3,200g110 AP · 15 Magic Pen
Cinderbloom
Shadowflame
3,200g- 110 Ability Power
- 15 Magic Penetration
Cinderbloom Magic and true damage Critically Strike enemies below 40% Health, dealing 20% increased damage.
4Rabadon's Deathcap
3,500g130 AP
Magical Opus
Rabadon's Deathcap
3,500g- 130 Ability Power
Magical Opus Increases your total Ability Power by 30%.
5Void Staff
3,000g95 AP · 40% Magic Pen
Void Staff
3,000g- 95 Ability Power
- 40% Magic Penetration
Increases magic damage
6Zhonya's Hourglass
3,250g105 AP · 50 Armor
Time Stop
Zhonya's Hourglass
3,250g- 105 Ability Power
- 50 Armor
Time Stop Enter Stasis for 2.5 seconds.
7Liandry's Torment
3,000g60 AP · 300 HP
Torment · Suffering
Liandry's Torment
3,000g- 60 Ability Power
- 300 Health
Torment Damaging Abilities burn enemies for 2% max Health magic damage per second for 3 seconds. Suffering For each second in combat with enemy champions, deal 2% bonus damage, up to 6%.
Abilities & Skill Path
Death Defied
Upon dying, Karthus enters a spirit form that allows him to continue casting spells.
QLay Waste
Cooldown 0s · 20/25/30/35/40 Mana
Karthus unleashes a delayed blast at a location, dealing damage to nearby enemies. Deals increased damage to isolated enemies.
WWall of Pain
Cooldown 15s · 70 Mana
Karthus creates a passable screen of leeching energy. Any enemy units that walk through the screen have their Move Speed and Magic Resist reduced for a period.
EDefile
Cooldown 0.5s · 30/42/54/66/78 Mana per Second
Karthus passively steals energy from his victims, gaining Mana on each kill. Alternatively, Karthus can surround himself in the souls of his prey, dealing damage to nearby enemies, but quickly draining his own Mana.
RRequiem
Cooldown 200/180/160s · 100 Mana
After channeling for 3 seconds, Karthus deals damage to all enemy champions.