AP Karthus Build

AP Karthus Build.

AP Karthus build with runes and items. AP Karthus guide offers in-depth how-to play, skill order and tips. Play AP Karthus build in League of Legends Patch 14.24!

Updated: 2024-11-25 ()

TLDR

Starting items
Lost Chapter should be final item in your build.
Quick Skill Order
Karthus ability Lay Waste should be leveled first.
Q
Karthus ability Defile should be leveled second.
E
Karthus ability Wall of Pain should be leveled third.
W
Final items
Sorcerer's Shoes should be final item in your build.
Horizon Focus should be final item in your build.
Shadowflame should be final item in your build.
Luden's Companion should be final item in your build.
Rabadon's Deathcap should be final item in your build.
Void Staff should be final item in your build.
Quick Runes
Major rune Dark Harvest from Domination tree.
Minor rune Precision.
Summoner spells
Pick Mark as your Summoner Spell.
Pick Flash as your Summoner Spell.

AP Karthus Runes

Domination
Domination major tree Electrocute rune.
Domination major tree Dark Harvest rune.
Domination major tree Hail of Blades rune.
Domination major tree Cheap Shot rune.
Domination major tree Taste of Blood rune.
Domination major tree Sudden Impact rune.
Domination major tree Zombie Ward rune.
Domination major tree Ghost Poro rune.
Domination major tree Eyeball Collection rune.
Domination major tree Treasure Hunter rune.
Domination major tree Relentless Hunter rune.
Domination major tree Ultimate Hunter rune.
Precision
Precision minor tree Absorb Life rune.
Precision minor tree Triumph rune.
Precision minor tree Presence of Mind rune.
Precision minor tree Legend: Alacrity rune.
Precision minor tree Legend: Haste rune.
Precision minor tree Legend: Bloodline rune.
Precision minor tree Coup de Grace rune.
Precision minor tree Cut Down rune.
Precision minor tree Last Stand rune.
Passive
Passive tree Adaptive Force rune (+9 Adaptive Force).
Passive tree Attack Speed rune (+10% Attack Speed).
Passive tree Ability Haste rune (+8 Ability Haste).
Passive tree Adaptive Force rune (+9 Adaptive Force).
Passive tree Move Speed rune (+2 Movement Speed).
Passive tree Health Scaling rune (+10-180 Health (based on level)).
Passive tree Health rune (+65 Health).
Passive tree Tenacity And Slow Resist rune (+10 Tenacity and Slow Resist).
Passive tree Health Scaling rune (+10-180 Health (based on level)).

How it works

General
  1. You play poke oriented Mage.
  2. You rush Luden's Companion.
  3. You build AP items, going full damage.

How to play

General
  1. Playing AP Karthus build, your default rush is Luden's Companion. In cases, when an enemy team is full of tanks and HP stackers, go Liandry's Torment.
  2. Adapt to an enemy team. Are they full of tanks, and they rush tons of Magic Resist? You rush Void Staff as #2 or #3 item to counter MR stacking. Their team has champs with lots of healing? Rush Oblivion Orb as #2 item (upgrade to Morellonomicon as 4th or 5th item).
  3. Somebody is going after you each fight? Always getting ulted by enemy assassins? Rush Zhonya's Hourglass.

Tips and Tricks

General
  1. Late in the game, you can sell boots and go for sixth AP item.
  2. You can stop push by using W on minions.
  3. You can die in strategic positions and prevent an enemy team from pushing/defending turret.
  4. You can start casting your R when somebody is dead and has 2 seconds left, so you will hit him instantly with R (i.e Fizz won't use E to dodge it).
  5. Enemies in your base? Use E before taking portal (frost-gate) - you will damage them on your way!
Riot
  1. Ask your allies to help point out when you should use Requiem to get kills in different lanes.
  2. Lay Waste is very strong at farming minions and harassing enemy champions.

Skill Order

  • Karthus [object Object] ability.
    Q
    Lay Waste
  • Karthus [object Object] ability.
    W
    Wall of Pain
  • Karthus [object Object] ability.
    E
    Defile
  • Karthus [object Object] ability.
    R
    Requiem

Items

Starting items
Lost Chapter item.
Rush this
Luden's Companion item.
Rush this vs. tanks
Liandry's Torment item.
Boots
Sorcerer's Shoes item.
Ionian Boots of Lucidity item.
For mana problems
Seraph's Embrace item.
Rod of Ages item.
Tear of the Goddess item.
Good items
Shadowflame item.
Rabadon's Deathcap item.
Stormsurge item.
Malignance item.
Blackfire Torch item.
Horizon Focus item.
Situational items
Zhonya's Hourglass item.
Banshee's Veil item.
Morellonomicon item.
Against high MR
Additional considerations for these items is advised!
Void Staff item.
Cryptbloom item.
Counter high HP
Liandry's Torment item.
Counter healing
Oblivion Orb item.
Morellonomicon item.
For the last fight
Additional considerations for these items is advised!
Elixir of Iron item.
Elixir of Sorcery item.
Seeker's Armguard item.
Example final build
Sorcerer's Shoes item.
Horizon Focus item.
Shadowflame item.
Luden's Companion item.
Rabadon's Deathcap item.
Void Staff item.