Champions like Karthus
the Deathsinger
Best Karthus Builds & Runes (Patch 26.16)
Exhaust
Slows target enemy champion and reduces their damage dealt.
Smite
Deals true damage to a monster or minion.
Q ➜
E ➜
W
Blackfire Torch
Shadowflame
Rabadon's Deathcap
Massively increases Ability Power
Void Staff
Increases magic damage
Zhonya's Hourglass
Activate to become invincible but unable to take actions
Stormsurge
Dark Harvest
Damaging a low health champion inflicts adaptive damage and harvests a soul from the victim.
Cheap Shot
Deal bonus true damage to enemy champions with impaired movement or actions.
Grisly Mementos
Collect 1 memento on champion takedowns, up to 18 total.Gain 6 Trinket Haste for each collected.
Treasure Hunter
Unique takedowns grant additional gold the first time they are collected.
Presence of Mind
Restore a small amount of mana or energy when damaging an enemy champion. Takedowns restore mana or energy.
Coup de Grace
Deal more damage to low health enemy champions.
Exhaust
Slows target enemy champion and reduces their damage dealt.
Flash
Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
Q ➜
E ➜
W
Blackfire Torch
Shadowflame
Rabadon's Deathcap
Massively increases Ability Power
Void Staff
Increases magic damage
Zhonya's Hourglass
Activate to become invincible but unable to take actions
Stormsurge
Deathfire Touch
Damaging a champion with an ability burns them over time.
Axiom Arcanist
Your Ultimate has increased damage, healing, and shielding. Scoring a takedown on an enemy champion reduces your Ultimate's current cooldown.
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.
Presence of Mind
Restore a small amount of mana or energy when damaging an enemy champion. Takedowns restore mana or energy.
Last Stand
Deal more damage to champions while you are low on health.
Champions Like Karthus – Similar Picks by Role & Playstyle
Ryze
MID
#1
Summoners
Flash
Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
Teleport
After a brief channel, become untargetable and travel to an allied unit. Upgrades into Unleashed Teleport, which significantly increases travel speed.
Spell Order
Q ➜ E ➜ W
Items
Tear of the Goddess
Increases maximum Mana as Mana is spent
Rod of Ages
Seraph's Embrace
Rabadon's Deathcap
Massively increases Ability Power
Zhonya's Hourglass
Activate to become invincible but unable to take actions
Cosmic Drive
Massive amounts of Cooldown Reduction
Runes
Deathfire Touch
Damaging a champion with an ability burns them over time.
Manaflow Band
Hitting an enemy champion with an ability permanently increases your maximum mana by 25, up to 250 mana.After reaching 250 bonus mana, restore 1% of your missing mana every 5 seconds.
Celerity
All Move Speed bonuses are 7% more effective on you and gain 1% Move Speed.
Scorch
Your first damaging ability hit every 10s burns champions.
Bone Plating
After taking damage from an enemy champion, the next 3 spells or attacks you receive from them deal 30-60 (based on level) less damage.Duration: 1.5sCooldown: 55s
Overgrowth
Gain permanent max health when minions or monsters die near you.
Nunu & Willump
JUNGLE
#2
Summoners
Flash
Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
Smite
Deals true damage to a monster or minion.
Spell Order
Q ➜ E ➜ W
Items
Hextech Rocketbelt
Activate to dash forward and unleash a fiery explosion
Stormsurge
Shadowflame
Zhonya's Hourglass
Activate to become invincible but unable to take actions
Mejai's Soulstealer
Grants Ability Power for kills and assists
Dead Man's Plate
Build momentum as you move around then smash into enemies.
Runes
Dark Harvest
Damaging a low health champion inflicts adaptive damage and harvests a soul from the victim.
Cheap Shot
Deal bonus true damage to enemy champions with impaired movement or actions.
Grisly Mementos
Collect 1 memento on champion takedowns, up to 18 total.Gain 6 Trinket Haste for each collected.
Relentless Hunter
Unique takedowns grant permanent out of combat MS.
Celerity
All Move Speed bonuses are 7% more effective on you and gain 1% Move Speed.
Waterwalking
Gain MS and AP or AD, adaptive in the river.
Aurelion Sol
MID
#3
Summoners
Flash
Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
Teleport
After a brief channel, become untargetable and travel to an allied unit. Upgrades into Unleashed Teleport, which significantly increases travel speed.
Spell Order
Q ➜ E ➜ W
Items
Blackfire Torch
Rylai's Crystal Scepter
Abilities slow enemies
Liandry's Torment
Charge up in combat to deal high damage over time, especially against durable enemies
Zhonya's Hourglass
Activate to become invincible but unable to take actions
Rabadon's Deathcap
Massively increases Ability Power
Banshee's Veil
Periodically blocks enemy abilities
Runes
Deathfire Touch
Damaging a champion with an ability burns them over time.
Manaflow Band
Hitting an enemy champion with an ability permanently increases your maximum mana by 25, up to 250 mana.After reaching 250 bonus mana, restore 1% of your missing mana every 5 seconds.
Absolute Focus
While above 70% health, gain extra adaptive damage.
Scorch
Your first damaging ability hit every 10s burns champions.
Bone Plating
After taking damage from an enemy champion, the next 3 spells or attacks you receive from them deal 30-60 (based on level) less damage.Duration: 1.5sCooldown: 55s
Overgrowth
Gain permanent max health when minions or monsters die near you.
Ezreal
CARRY
#4
Summoners
Flash
Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
Barrier
Gain a brief Shield.
Spell Order
Q ➜ E ➜ W
Items
Tear of the Goddess
Increases maximum Mana as Mana is spent
Trinity Force
Tons of Damage
Muramana
Serylda's Grudge
Endless Hunger
Guardian Angel
Periodically revives champion upon death
Runes
Lethal Tempo
Attacking an enemy champion grants you Attack Speed, up to 6 stacks. At max stacks, deal bonus adaptive damage On-Attack.
Presence of Mind
Restore a small amount of mana or energy when damaging an enemy champion. Takedowns restore mana or energy.
Legend: Bloodline
Takedowns on enemies grant permanent Life Steal, up to a cap. Once the cap is reached, increase your max health. Weaker earlier but stronger later game than other Legend Runes.
Coup de Grace
Deal more damage to low health enemy champions.
Magical Footwear
You get free boots at 12 min but you cannot buy boots before then. Each takedown you get makes your boots come 45s sooner.
Biscuit Delivery
Gain a free Biscuit every 2 min, until 6 min. Consuming or selling a Biscuit permanently increases your max health and restores health.
Cassiopeia
MID
#5
Summoners
Flash
Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
Teleport
After a brief channel, become untargetable and travel to an allied unit. Upgrades into Unleashed Teleport, which significantly increases travel speed.
Spell Order
E ➜ Q ➜ W
Items
Tear of the Goddess
Increases maximum Mana as Mana is spent
Rod of Ages
Seraph's Embrace
Zhonya's Hourglass
Activate to become invincible but unable to take actions
Rabadon's Deathcap
Massively increases Ability Power
Cosmic Drive
Massive amounts of Cooldown Reduction
Runes
Deathfire Touch
Damaging a champion with an ability burns them over time.
Manaflow Band
Hitting an enemy champion with an ability permanently increases your maximum mana by 25, up to 250 mana.After reaching 250 bonus mana, restore 1% of your missing mana every 5 seconds.
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.
Presence of Mind
Restore a small amount of mana or energy when damaging an enemy champion. Takedowns restore mana or energy.
Coup de Grace
Deal more damage to low health enemy champions.
Jinx
CARRY
#6
Summoners
Flash
Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
Barrier
Gain a brief Shield.
Spell Order
Q ➜ W ➜ E
Items
Hexoptics C44
Phantom Dancer
Move faster while attacking enemies and gain a shield when on low health.
Infinity Edge
Massively enhances critical strikes
Lord Dominik's Regards
Overcomes enemies with high health and armor
Guardian Angel
Periodically revives champion upon death
Bloodthirster
Grants Attack Damage, Life Steal and Life Steal now overheals
Runes
Lethal Tempo
Attacking an enemy champion grants you Attack Speed, up to 6 stacks. At max stacks, deal bonus adaptive damage On-Attack.
Presence of Mind
Restore a small amount of mana or energy when damaging an enemy champion. Takedowns restore mana or energy.
Legend: Bloodline
Takedowns on enemies grant permanent Life Steal, up to a cap. Once the cap is reached, increase your max health. Weaker earlier but stronger later game than other Legend Runes.
Cut Down
Deal more damage to high health enemy champions.
Cash Back
Get some gold back when you purchase Legendary Items.
Triple Tonic
Upon reaching level 3, gain an Elixir of Avarice.Upon reaching level 6, gain an Elixir of Force.Upon reaching level 9, gain an Elixir of Skill.
Fiddlesticks
JUNGLE
#7
Summoners
Flash
Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
Smite
Deals true damage to a monster or minion.
Spell Order
W ➜ Q ➜ E
Items
Hextech Rocketbelt
Activate to dash forward and unleash a fiery explosion
Shadowflame
Zhonya's Hourglass
Activate to become invincible but unable to take actions
Rabadon's Deathcap
Massively increases Ability Power
Void Staff
Increases magic damage
Banshee's Veil
Periodically blocks enemy abilities
Runes
Electrocute
Hitting a champion with 3 separate attacks or abilities in 3s deals bonus adaptive damage.
Cheap Shot
Deal bonus true damage to enemy champions with impaired movement or actions.
Grisly Mementos
Collect 1 memento on champion takedowns, up to 18 total.Gain 6 Trinket Haste for each collected.
Ultimate Hunter
Unique takedowns grant permanent cooldown reduction on your Ultimate.
Axiom Arcanist
Your Ultimate has increased damage, healing, and shielding. Scoring a takedown on an enemy champion reduces your Ultimate's current cooldown.
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%.
Mel
CARRY
#8
Summoners
Flash
Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
Teleport
After a brief channel, become untargetable and travel to an allied unit. Upgrades into Unleashed Teleport, which significantly increases travel speed.
Spell Order
Q ➜ E ➜ W
Items
Luden's Echo
High burst damage, good against fragile foes
Shadowflame
Rabadon's Deathcap
Massively increases Ability Power
Zhonya's Hourglass
Activate to become invincible but unable to take actions
Void Staff
Increases magic damage
Banshee's Veil
Periodically blocks enemy abilities
Runes
Arcane Comet
Damaging a champion with an ability hurls a damaging comet at their location.
Manaflow Band
Hitting an enemy champion with an ability permanently increases your maximum mana by 25, up to 250 mana.After reaching 250 bonus mana, restore 1% of your missing mana every 5 seconds.
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.
Presence of Mind
Restore a small amount of mana or energy when damaging an enemy champion. Takedowns restore mana or energy.
Coup de Grace
Deal more damage to low health enemy champions.
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