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League Classic build

Karthus · AP Control Mage

MidClassic SR21/0/9
Champion page

Build

MidClassic SR
Max
1–3
FlashTeleport

  1. First buy

    Alternative start:
    1. Doran's Ring
    2. Health Potion, 2 of them

    The ring gives 4 mana back per last hit; that stretches the early pool without ever paying for a full Lay Waste.

    Alternative start:
    1. Boots of Speed
    2. Health Potion, 4 of them

    Karthus has no dash at any level, which makes 465 gold of boots and potions his only dodge.

  2. Early

    • Catalyst the Protector
    • Tear of the Goddess

    Ten minutes is what Rod of Ages needs to finish stacking, and Seraph's comes later still; both clocks start with these two buys.

  3. Core

    • Rod of Ages
    • Sorcerer's Shoes
    • Rabadon's Deathcap

  4. Late

    • Seraph's Embrace
    • Zhonya's Hourglass
    • Void Staff

  5. Full build

    • Rod of Ages
    • Sorcerer's Shoes
    • Rabadon's Deathcap
    • Seraph's Embrace
    • Zhonya's Hourglass
    • Void Staff

Situationalswap into the late slots

  • Mejai's Soulstealer
  • Abyssal Scepter
  • Haunting Guise

Runes & masteries

21/0/9 · Mid

Standard Karthus AP Runes

Marks
  • 9× +1 Magic Penetration
Seals
  • 9× +1.3 Health per level
Glyphs
  • 9× 0.1% Cooldown Reduction per level
Quintessences
  • 3× +5 Ability Power

Page total

Ability Power
+15
Cooldown Reduction per level
+0.9%
Health per level
+11.7
Magic Penetration
+9
Summoner's Wrath (1 of 1 ranks)Summoner's Wrath1 / 1 ranksImproves the Summoner Spells Exhaust, Ignite, Ghost, Surge, Rally, and PromoteFuryFuryUp to 4 ranks+1% Attack Speed per rankSorcery (3 of 4 ranks)Sorcery3 / 4 ranks+1% Cooldown Reduction per rankButcherButcherUp to 2 ranksBasic attacks deal 2/4 bonus damage to minions and monsters
DeadlinessDeadlinessUp to 4 ranks+0.166/0.333/0.498/0.664 Attack Damage per levelBlast (4 of 4 ranks)Blast4 / 4 ranks+0.25/0.5/0.75/1 Ability Power per levelDestructionDestructionUp to 1 rankIncrease damage to turrets by 5%
Havoc (3 of 3 ranks)Havoc3 / 3 ranksIncreases damage dealt by 0.67%/1.33%/2%Weapon ExpertiseWeapon ExpertiseUp to 1 rank+8% Armor PenetrationArcane Knowledge (1 of 1 ranks)Arcane Knowledge1 / 1 ranks+8% Magic Penetration
LethalityLethalityUp to 2 ranks+2.5%/5% Critical Strike Damage (5%/10% for melee)Brute ForceBrute ForceUp to 2 ranks+1.5/3 Attack DamageMental Force (3 of 3 ranks)Mental Force3 / 3 ranks+2/4/6 Ability PowerSpellsword (1 of 1 ranks)Spellsword1 / 1 ranksDeals 5% of your Ability Power as magic damage on basic attacks
FrenzyFrenzyUp to 1 rankGrants 10% attack speed for 2 seconds after landing a critical hitSunderSunderUp to 3 ranks+2/4/6 LethalityArchmage (4 of 4 ranks)Archmage4 / 4 ranksIncreases Ability Power by 1.25%/2.5%/3.75%/5%
Executioner (1 of 1 ranks)Executioner1 / 1 ranks · CapstoneIncreases damage dealt by 5% to targets below 50% Health

offense21

Summoner's ResolveSummoner's ResolveUp to 1 rankImproves the Summoner Spells Cleanse, Heal, Smite, Barrier, and FortifyPerseverancePerseveranceUp to 3 ranksGrants up to +2/4/6 Health Regen per 5 seconds based on missing HealthDurabilityDurabilityUp to 4 ranks+1.5/3/4.5/6 Health per levelTough SkinTough SkinUp to 2 ranksReduces damage taken from monsters by 1/2
HardinessHardinessUp to 3 ranks+2/4/6 ArmorResistanceResistanceUp to 3 ranks+2/4/6 Magic ResistBladed ArmorBladed ArmorUp to 1 rankDeals 6 damage to any enemy monster that attacks you
UnyieldingUnyieldingUp to 2 ranksReduces damage taken from enemy champions by 1/2RelentlessRelentlessUp to 2 ranksReduces the effectiveness of slows by 7.5%/15%Veteran's ScarsVeteran's ScarsUp to 1 rank+30 HealthSafeguardSafeguardUp to 1 rankReduces damage taken from turrets by 5%
BlockBlockUp to 1 rankReduces damage taken from champion basic attacks by 3TenaciousTenaciousUp to 3 ranksReduces the duration of crowd control effects by 5%/10%/15%JuggernautJuggernautUp to 3 ranksIncreases your maximum Health by 1.5%/2.75%/4%
DefenderDefenderUp to 1 rankGrants +1 Armor and Magic Resist for each nearby enemy championLegendary ArmorLegendary ArmorUp to 3 ranksIncreases bonus Armor and Magic Resist by +2%/4%/6%Good HandsGood HandsUp to 1 rankReduce time spent dead by 10%Reinforced ArmorReinforced ArmorUp to 1 rankReduce damage taken from critical strikes by 10%
Honor GuardHonor GuardUp to 1 rank · CapstoneReduces damage taken from all sources by 3%

defense0

Summoner's Insight (1 of 1 ranks)Summoner's Insight1 / 1 ranksImproves the Summoner Spells Teleport, Flash, Clarity, Revive, and Clairvoyance.WandererWandererUp to 3 ranksGrants +0.66%/1.33%/2% increased Movement Speed when out of combatMeditation (3 of 3 ranks)Meditation3 / 3 ranks+1/2/3 Mana Regen per 5 secondsImproved Recall (1 of 1 ranks)Improved Recall1 / 1 ranksReduces the cast time of Recall by 1 second
ScoutScoutUp to 1 rankWards gain 25% increased vision range for the first 3 seconds after placing themMastermind (3 of 3 ranks)Mastermind3 / 3 ranksReduces the cooldown of Summoner Spells by 4%/7%/10%Expanded MindExpanded MindUp to 3 ranks+4/7/10 mana per levelArtificerArtificerUp to 2 ranksReduces the cooldown of activated items by 7.5%/15%
GreedGreedUp to 4 ranksGrants an additional +0.5/1/1.5/2 gold every 10 secondsRunic Affinity (1 of 1 ranks)Runic Affinity1 / 1 ranksIncreases the duration of neutral monster buffs by 20%VampirismVampirismUp to 3 ranks+1%/2%/3% Lifesteal and Spell VampBiscuiteerBiscuiteerUp to 1 rankStart the game with a regenerative biscuit that restores 80 Health and 50 Mana over 10 seconds
WealthWealthUp to 2 ranksIncreases starting gold by 40/75AwarenessAwarenessUp to 4 ranksIncreases Experience earned by 1.25%/2.5%/3.75%/5%Strength of SpiritStrength of SpiritUp to 3 ranksUp to +1/2/3 Health Regen per 5 seconds for each 400 Mana you possessExplorerExplorerUp to 1 rankStart the game with an Explorer's Ward.
PickpocketPickpocketUp to 1 rankGrants 5 gold (melee) or 3 gold (ranged) each time you basic attack an enemy champion (5s cooldown)IntelligenceIntelligenceUp to 3 ranks+2%/4%/6% Cooldown Reduction
NimbleNimbleUp to 1 rank · CapstoneGrants 3% increased Movement Speed

utility9

Skill order

Max order››
Skill order by level for AP Control Mage
Lv123456789101112131415161718
Q1Q at level 13Q at level 35Q at level 57Q at level 79Q at level 9
W2W at level 24W at level 410W at level 1012W at level 1213W at level 13
E8E at level 814E at level 1415E at level 1517E at level 1718E at level 18
R6R at level 611R at level 1116R at level 16