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Karthus

the Deathsinger

BClassic SRMidJungleMage
Patch 26.19 · updated 2026-09-23

Quick build

AP Control Mage

Full build
MidClassic SR21/0/9 masteries
Max
1–3
FlashTeleport

First buy

Core

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

Loadout

Mid · Standard Karthus AP Runes · 21/0/9 masteries

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Overview

Difficulty
Difficulty 5 of 10
Class
Mage
Released
· original roster

Base stats

Health
465+75
HP regen
1.21+0.11
Mana
331+61
Mana regen
1.42+0.12
Attack
45.45+3.25
Armor
18.5+3.5
MR
30
Move speed
335
Range
450
Attack speed
0.625+2.11%

Abilities

P, Death Defied

Description

Innate: Upon taking fatal damage, Karthus enters a zombie state for 7 seconds, during which he can cast his abilities at no cost. If Defile has been learned, it will remain toggled on for Death Defied's entire duration. Requiem becomes disabled after 4 seconds of the duration have elapsed. While under this state, Karthus becomes untargetable and immune to crowd control as well as prevents all incoming damage, but is also rendered unable to move, declare basic attacks, use summoner spells, and activate items.

Build

Each build as its own page: AP Control Mage (Mid) · AP Burst Mage (Jungle)

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

Matchups

Strong against

  • SionSionSion has to cross the lane to do anything, and Wall of PainWall of PainWActive: Karthus erects a wall of pain at the target location perpendicular to his facing that lasts 5 seconds, granting sight around its pillars and center. Enemies that touch the wall are inflicted with magic penetration and become slowed for 5 seconds, decaying over the duration. This can affect enemies only once per cast. is the length of the corridor he has to cross it in. DefileDefileEPassive: Karthus restores mana whenever he kills an enemy. This passive is disabled when Defile is toggled on. Toggle: Karthus surrounds himself in a necrotic aura that deals magic damage every second to all nearby enemies. Toggling Defile off triggers a final tick of damage. Defile is toggled off automatically if Karthus becomes unable to pay its mana cost. out-damages EnrageEnrageEWhile active, Sion gains Attack Damage, spends Health on each basic attack and permanently gains maximum Health from kills.'s health growth the whole way.Full matchup page
  • NasusNasusLay WasteLay WasteQActive: Karthus conjures a blast at the target location that detonates after 0.5 seconds, granting sight of the area and dealing magic damage to all enemies within, doubled when only one target is struck. farms from outside auto range while Nasus has to stand in the minions for Siphoning StrikeSiphoning StrikeQActive: Nasus empowers his next basic attack within 10 seconds to deal bonus physical damage. If Siphoning Strike kills the target, Nasus permanently gains 3 stacks, increased to 6 if the target is a champion, large minion, or large monster. Siphoning Strike resets Nasus' basic attack timer.. WitherWitherWActive: Nasus ages the target enemy champion for 5 seconds, slowing them by 35% and crippling them by 17.5%, both increasing every second over the duration. is a slow on a champion who was never going to move.Full matchup page

Weak against

  • ShacoShacoDeceiveDeceiveQActive: Shaco instantly blinks to the target location and becomes invisible for up to 3.5 seconds. Shaco's next basic attack within 6 seconds to critically strike for bonus critical damage. puts Shaco on top of Karthus before Wall of PainWall of PainWActive: Karthus erects a wall of pain at the target location perpendicular to his facing that lasts 5 seconds, granting sight around its pillars and center. Enemies that touch the wall are inflicted with magic penetration and become slowed for 5 seconds, decaying over the duration. This can affect enemies only once per cast. matters, and the burst is done before DefileDefileEPassive: Karthus restores mana whenever he kills an enemy. This passive is disabled when Defile is toggled on. Toggle: Karthus surrounds himself in a necrotic aura that deals magic damage every second to all nearby enemies. Toggling Defile off triggers a final tick of damage. Defile is toggled off automatically if Karthus becomes unable to pay its mana cost. pays out.Full matchup page
  • KassadinKassadinRiftwalkRiftwalkRActive: Kassadin blinks toward the target location, dealing magic damage to all nearby enemies upon arrival. He then gains a stack of Riftwalk for 8 seconds, refreshing on subsequent casts and stacking up to 10 times. Riftwalk: For each stack, Riftwalk deals 60 bonus magic damage at an increased 100 mana cost. crosses Wall of PainWall of PainWActive: Karthus erects a wall of pain at the target location perpendicular to his facing that lasts 5 seconds, granting sight around its pillars and center. Enemies that touch the wall are inflicted with magic penetration and become slowed for 5 seconds, decaying over the duration. This can affect enemies only once per cast., which slows and nothing else, and Null SphereNull SphereQActive: Kassadin fires an orb of void energy at the target enemy that deals magic damage and silences them.'s silence stops RequiemRequiemRActive: Karthus channels for 3 seconds, then deals magic damage to all targetable enemy champions upon completion. mid-cast, including the one Death DefiedDeath DefiedPassiveInnate: Upon taking fatal damage, Karthus enters a zombie state for 7 seconds, during which he can cast his abilities at no cost. If Defile has been learned, it will remain toggled on for Death Defied's entire duration. Requiem becomes disabled after 4 seconds of the duration have elapsed. While under this state, Karthus becomes untargetable and immune to crowd control as well as prevents all incoming damage, but is also rendered unable to move, declare basic attacks, use summoner spells, and activate items. was meant to guarantee.Full matchup page
  • AhriAhriCharmCharmEActive: Ahri blows forth a kiss in the target direction that deals magic damage to the first enemy hit, charming and slowing them by 65% for a duration. Charmed enemies take 20% increased damage from Ahri for 6 seconds. interrupts the RequiemRequiemRActive: Karthus channels for 3 seconds, then deals magic damage to all targetable enemy champions upon completion. channel, and Spirit RushSpirit RushRActive: Ahri dashes to the target location and then fires 3 essence bolts at nearby enemies, prioritizing champions, dealing magic damage. Spirit Rush can be recast up to 2 more times within 10 seconds. Recast: Ahri mimics the first cast's effects. covers three times the ground Wall of PainWall of PainWActive: Karthus erects a wall of pain at the target location perpendicular to his facing that lasts 5 seconds, granting sight around its pillars and center. Enemies that touch the wall are inflicted with magic penetration and become slowed for 5 seconds, decaying over the duration. This can affect enemies only once per cast. can slow. Karthus's only defence is a wall Ahri dashes past.Full matchup page
  • KatarinaKatarinaShunpoShunpoEActive: Katarina blinks to the target unit and gains 15% damage reduction for 1.5 seconds. If the target is an enemy, she deals them magic damage. jumps the Wall of PainWall of PainWActive: Karthus erects a wall of pain at the target location perpendicular to his facing that lasts 5 seconds, granting sight around its pillars and center. Enemies that touch the wall are inflicted with magic penetration and become slowed for 5 seconds, decaying over the duration. This can affect enemies only once per cast. and Death LotusDeath LotusRKatarina throws daggers at up to three nearby enemy Champions, dealing magic damage and applying Grievous Wounds. finishes Karthus inside his own DefileDefileEPassive: Karthus restores mana whenever he kills an enemy. This passive is disabled when Defile is toggled on. Toggle: Karthus surrounds himself in a necrotic aura that deals magic damage every second to all nearby enemies. Toggling Defile off triggers a final tick of damage. Defile is toggled off automatically if Karthus becomes unable to pay its mana cost.; his damage needs time she never gives him.Full matchup page
  • VeigarVeigarEvent HorizonEvent HorizonEActive: Veigar forms a cage at the target location that erects after a 0.5 second delay, remaining there for 3 seconds. Enemies that collide with the edges of the cage are stunned for a duration. Event Horizon can affect enemies only once per cast. cages the immobile Karthus and Primordial BurstPrimordial BurstRActive: Veigar sends a primordial burst at the target enemy champion that deals magic damage. one-shots him; the scaling AP duel goes to the one holding a stun.Full matchup page

Classic vs modern9 base-stat shifts

Base-stat shifts9
Base health
Classic: 465Current League: 620
Health per level
Classic: 75Current League: 110
Health regen
Classic: 1.21Current League: 6.5
Base mana
Classic: 331Current League: 467
Mana per level
Classic: 61Current League: 31
Base attack damage
Classic: 45.45Current League: 46
Attack damage per level
Classic: 3.25Current League: 0
Base armor
Classic: 18.5Current League: 21
Armor per level
Classic: 3.5Current League: 4.7

Skins

  • Karthus

  • Phantom Karthus

  • Grim Reaper Karthus

  • Pentakill Karthus

  • Karthus Lightsbane

  • Pentakill III: Lost Chapter Karthus

  • Elderwood Karthus

Karthus has 1 more skin in Classic with no English name, not shown here.

History & Notes

Released 2009-06-12, one of the original forty champions. Classic freezes the kit at patch 3.13.24; the modern game still runs its descendant. Riot's next 3 balance steps after the freeze are listed below.

Changed after 3.13

  1. V4.4
    • Death Defied, Bug Fix: Karthus not benefiting from damage modifiers (Rabadon's Deathcap, Void Staff) while active.
  2. V4.5
    • Stats, Base armor increased to 15 from 11.
  3. V4.9
    • Visual upgrade across all skins.
    • Lay Waste, Added a new indicator that shows the full area of effect.
    • Lay Waste, Added crit-style combat text and a unique sound effect for double-damage Qs.
    • Wall of Pain, Added a visual debuff effect that marks affected enemy champions.
Contributors
Reio