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Karthus

Karthus ADC Build

Runes, items & skill order

Mage

Patch 26.20

Customize your build
Role
Win rate53.46%
Pick rate0.54%
Ban rate0.76%
TierB

All servers · Patch 26.20 · 2026-10-15 17:55 UTC · Data sources

Build Karthus Bot

Keystone rune

Deathfire Touch

Sorcery + Precision

Core items

  1. item 2503Blackfire Torch
  2. item 4645Shadowflame
  3. item 3089Rabadon's Deathcap

Skill priority

Q → E → W

View the level-by-level order

Compare win rates by rank

Choose a rank to load its own build and statistics. Win rates describe different player samples; they do not measure how easy a rank is.

RankWin rateCore build sample
Emerald+53.46%1,199
All ranks——
Iron——
Bronze——
Silver——
Gold——
Platinum——
Emerald——
Diamond54.45%373
Master53.32%206
Grandmaster52.24%40
Challenger52.17%9

Karthus Runes

Karthus ADC Build
53.46% WR
Sorcery Primary
Precision Secondary
Stat Shards
Offense
Adaptive Force Attack Speed Ability Haste
Adaptive Force
Flex
Adaptive Force Movement Speed Health Scaling
Adaptive Force
Defense
Health Tenacity and Slow Resist Health Scaling
Health
Summoner Spells 53.46%
Exhaust Exhaust
Flash Flash

Karthus ADC Items

Starting items
item 1056
item 2003
53.02% WR 6,750 matches
Most popular starting combination
Core items
item 2503
→
item 4645
→
item 3089
→
item 3020
52.96% WR 1,199 matches
Popular core combination
Fourth item options
item 3089
Rabadon's Deathcap 56.78% WR 1,032 matches
item 3135
Void Staff 54.49% WR 947 matches
item 3157
Zhonya's Hourglass 54.96% WR 595 matches
item 4646
Stormsurge 59.37% WR 443 matches
item 6653
Liandry's Torment 60.51% WR 428 matches
Fifth item options
item 3135
Void Staff 59.04% WR 586 matches
item 3089
Rabadon's Deathcap 58.05% WR 298 matches
item 3157
Zhonya's Hourglass 57.82% WR 275 matches
item 6653
Liandry's Torment 59.44% WR 180 matches
item 4646
Stormsurge 62.50% WR 120 matches
Sixth item options
item 3135
Void Staff 61.21% WR 116 matches
item 3089
Rabadon's Deathcap 61.47% WR 109 matches
item 6653
Liandry's Torment 61.11% WR 90 matches
item 3157
Zhonya's Hourglass 63.33% WR 90 matches
item 3118
Malignance 64.29% WR 56 matches

Skill priority

Q
→
E
→
W
53.46% WR

Skill order

Most popular ability leveling order · source levels 1–15

Levels 1–5

Ability12345
QQ·Q·Q
W···W·
E·E···
R·····

Levels 6–10

Ability678910
Q·Q·Q·
W·····
E··E·E
RR····

Levels 11–15

Ability1112131415
Q·····
W···WW
E·EE··
RR····
Q Lay Waste
1
3
5
7
9
W Wall of Pain
4
14
15
E Defile
2
8
10
12
13
R Requiem
6
11
P Death Defied

Champion win rate against each opponent, for the selected role and rank. Small samples are less reliable.

Weak against

VladimirVladimir37.50%32 matchesBrandBrand43.75%32 matchesCorkiCorki44.83%58 matchesSyndraSyndra45.90%61 matchesSivirSivir46.48%213 matches

Strong against

SeraphineSeraphine70.59%34 matchesVarusVarus65.08%63 matchesHweiHwei64.29%42 matchesMiss FortuneMiss Fortune62.42%149 matchesAsheAshe61.31%137 matches

Karthus Bot build guide: runes, items and skill order

Read the full Karthus guide

This Karthus Bot build covers League of Legends patch 16.20. Compare the selected runes, starting items and core purchases before the match, then adapt your later purchases to enemy damage and defenses. The source recommendations use the Emerald+ filter across all servers.

For Karthus runes, this setup uses Deathfire Touch with Precision as the secondary path. Check the highlighted stat shards as well: they are part of the rune page, not extra items. Hover or tap a rune to read its effect before deciding whether it suits your matchup.

The displayed Karthus skill order starts with Q and prioritizes Q → E → W. The level-by-level grid covers the first 15 levels supplied by the source. Follow that sequence as a reference while accounting for what your lane or team needs. Item win rates describe completed purchases and should be read alongside their game counts.

Which items should you build on Karthus Bot?

The most popular core items in this Karthus Bot build are Blackfire Torch → Shadowflame → Rabadon's Deathcap. Check starting items and boots separately, then compare later item options against the enemy team. This is a reference for patch 26.20, not a fixed purchase order for every match.

Which runes should you choose for Karthus Bot?

For the selected Emerald+ rank filter, the rune page uses Deathfire Touch with Precision. Review each rune tooltip and the selected stat shards before entering champion select.

How do you compare Karthus builds by rank?

Use the rank selector to view a separate build and win rate for Iron, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Emerald, Diamond, Master, Grandmaster or Challenger. Keep the same role when comparing. A small sample is less reliable, and a higher win rate alone does not prove a better build.

How this build works

Rune choice

This setup pairs Sorcery with Precision and uses Deathfire Touch as its keystone. The highlighted runes and shards belong to this imported setup; inspect an icon to read its effect.

Core purchases

The most popular core combination in the source is Blackfire Torch → Shadowflame → Rabadon's Deathcap. Treat it as a starting point: choose defensive or penetration options for the opponents you are facing.

Read the sample

The core combination has an observed win rate of 52.96% across 1,199 games. These are games that reached this purchase combination, not all games played by the champion. A completed build can appear stronger because winning players can afford more items.

How we select and update builds →

How to play Karthus: combos, tips and builds

Learn Karthus abilities and prepare your first games. Find builds for each supported role.

Read the guide

About Karthus

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.

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