Item build path
Doran's Ring + 
Health Potion435 g
Boots of Speed + 3 Health Potions455 gDoran's Ring for wave-clear mana; boots to dodge ganks.
Catalyst the Protector + Boots
Sorcerer's Shoes1,100 g
Rod of Ages2,900 g
Rabadon's Deathcap3,600 g
Zhonya's Hourglass3,300 g
Void Staff2,295 g
Archangel's Staff2,700 g
Skill order & spells
Rune page (Season 3)
Best duos & synergies
Masteries 21 / 0 / 9
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0/1Counters & matchups
Who this pick beats and who beats it — pick your lane with the matchup in mind.
Key combo
Power spike & playstyle
Spikes at 6 with global Requiem and at first item (Athene's/RoA); a scaling farm-heavy mage whose passive lets him keep dealing damage after death.
How to play Karthus in League Classic
Karthus plays for the fight after his death. Farm with precise Q isolation damage, and in every skirmish walk deeper than feels safe — Defile plus passive means your corpse deals more damage than most mages deal alive. Requiem changes every lane on the map from level 6: track low-HP enemies constantly and press R the moment two bars dip red. Ward your own escape paths not to escape, but to choose where you die usefully. Zhonya's converts your death into five extra seconds of Defile.
Karthus in League Classic
What is the best Karthus build in League Classic?
The standard build is AP Karthus: Sorcerer's Shoes, Rod of Ages, Rabadon's Deathcap, Zhonya's Hourglass, Void Staff, Archangel's Staff. Skill order Q > E > W > R, summoner spells Flash + Teleport / Ghost.
What runes and masteries does Karthus use in League Classic?
Marks: Magic Penetration. Seals: Flat Armor. Glyphs: Flat AP. Quintessences: Flat AP. Masteries: 21/0/9 — AoE DPS.
Is Karthus good in League Classic?
Karthus is rated B-tier mid lane in the launch consensus (score 35/100 across 4 published rankings). Strong into Sion, Anivia, Ryze, Veigar, Malzahar; struggles against Kassadin, Sivir, Tryndamere, Ahri, Katarina.
What does Karthus start with and build first in League Classic?
Open with Doran's Ring + Health Potion or Boots of Speed + 3 Health Potions. Doran's Ring for wave-clear mana; boots to dodge ganks. First back: Catalyst the Protector + Boots. Then build in order: Sorcerer's Shoes → Rod of Ages → Rabadon's Deathcap → Zhonya's Hourglass → Void Staff → Archangel's Staff.