Rune choice
This setup pairs Domination with Sorcery and uses Dark Harvest as its keystone. The highlighted runes and shards belong to this imported setup; inspect an icon to read its effect.
Karthus Jungle Build
Runes, items & skill order
Mage
Patch 26.20
Customize your build
Role
All servers · Patch 26.20 · 2026-10-13 00:41 UTC · Data sources
Build Karthus Jungle
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.
Karthus Runes
Karthus Jungle Build
48.79% WR
Domination
Primary
Dark Harvest
Sorcery
Secondary
Stat Shards
Offense
Adaptive Force
Flex
Adaptive Force
Defense
Health Scaling
Summoner Spells
48.79%
Exhaust
Smite
Karthus Jungle Items
Starting items
48.92% WR
21,783 matches
Most popular starting combination
Core items
51.36% WR
6,162 matches
Popular core combination
Fourth item options
Rabadon's Deathcap
58.41% WR
6,859 matches
Void Staff
54.31% WR
5,450 matches
Zhonya's Hourglass
53.65% WR
3,612 matches
Shadowflame
56.25% WR
2,217 matches
Stormsurge
59.45% WR
1,645 matches
Fifth item options
Void Staff
59.98% WR
3,006 matches
Rabadon's Deathcap
59.71% WR
2,487 matches
Zhonya's Hourglass
57.11% WR
1,476 matches
Stormsurge
58.67% WR
1,176 matches
Malignance
56.85% WR
693 matches
Sixth item options
Stormsurge
63.20% WR
606 matches
Void Staff
60.45% WR
536 matches
Zhonya's Hourglass
54.64% WR
366 matches
Malignance
59.28% WR
361 matches
Liandry's Torment
55.97% WR
293 matches
Skill priority
48.79% WR
Skill order
Most popular ability leveling order · source levels 1–15Levels 1–5
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q |
Q | · | Q | · | Q |
| W |
· | · | · | W | · |
| E |
· | E | · | · | · |
 R |
· | · | · | · | · |
Levels 6–10
| Ability | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q |
· | Q | · | Q | · |
| W |
· | · | · | · | · |
| E |
· | · | E | · | E |
| R |
R | · | · | · | · |
Levels 11–15
| Ability | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q |
· | · | · | · | · |
| W |
· | · | · | W | W |
| E |
· | E | E | · | · |
| R |
R | · | · | · | · |
1
3
5
7
9
4
14
15
2
8
10
12
13
6
11
Champion win rate against each opponent, for the selected role and rank. Small samples are less reliable.
Karthus Jungle build guide: runes, items and skill order
This Karthus Jungle 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 All ranks filter across all servers.
For Karthus runes, this setup uses Dark Harvest with Sorcery 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 Jungle?
The most popular core items in this Karthus Jungle 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 Jungle?
For the selected All ranks rank filter, the rune page uses Dark Harvest with Sorcery. 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
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 51.36% across 6,162 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 to play Karthus: combos, tips and builds
Learn Karthus abilities and prepare your first games. Find builds for each supported role.
Read the guideAbout 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.