Hello and welcome to Karthus: Consistent Domination; a Karthus build guide of a different color!
I'm Gramps Tewks, and I'll be your curator as we explore the possibilities of playing with the Undead King of the Swamps!



Here's jjgrover9's Fan-Made Champion Spotlight, in which he highlights Karthus's abilities, playstyle, and possible builds:



Please comment and rate in the comments section below; share your experiences playing with or against Karthus and/or put in your criticism about the guide itself.

As always, endless kudos upon kudos to the incomparable JhoiJhoi for the template, which you can find here.

Onward, then!

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Pros + Spammable harass ( Lay Waste) + Fantastic duelist! + Unreal farm. + THE Ultimate!!! Requiem

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Cons - Mana and Map-awareness are of the highest priority! - Karthus is a slow Shaman indeed. - If you Requiem, they will QQ :3

The Offensive Tree suits Karthus splendidly, while the Defensive Masteries negate his squishiness quite effectively!

Executioner deals extra damage to your Requiem targets :3

• Greater Mark of Magic Penetration: Magic Penetration is extraordinarily powerful in the early-game; even a slight advantage there can easily shape the entire match.
  
  
• Greater Seal of Armor: Synergy with Hardiness for 18.7 Armor base!
  
  
• Greater Glyph of Magic Resist: Synergy with Resistance for 19.4 MR base!
  
  
• Greater Quintessence of Health: When you consistently survive ganks with under 100 Health left, you'll wonder what you did before these.

Flash: There's a really good reason that pro tournament matches always feature 10 Flash. Try it, master it, love it. It'll save your life.

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Teleport: Excellent for mid-laning! Karthus is also quite slow, so Teleport helps keep him in the action.

• Death Defied: Defy death and demoralize your opponents!
  
  
• Lay Waste (Q): This is the reason why you can farm like a demon.
  This is the reason why you can control a lane.
  This is the reason why you can fully charge a Tear of the Goddess!
  
  
• Wall of Pain (W): Great for trapping people in your Defile and Lay Waste barrage! Wall of Pain also serves as a great escape alternate to Flash.
  
  
• Defile (E): Mini- Crowstorm on a stick! Careful usage is required, due to the Mana-drain.
  
  
• Requiem (R): In discussion for Most-OP-Ultimate!
  Always watch the map for kills and coordinate with your teammates!

• : Karthus needs the ability to stay in lane to farm, and Regrowth Pendant absolutely delivers!
  People often question your "tank" item, but their tune changes when they realize that you JUST DON'T DIE.
  
  
• philosopher's stone: Philosopher's Stone boosts the three resources with which you make in-game transactions!
  
  Significantly.
  
  You will have better items, lanestay, and experience than others, which WINS GAMES.
  
  
• : An excellent buy with philosopher's stone on your first trip back!
  
  
• : Oh-so-good! Spam Lay Waste CONSTANTLY.
  You need this baby fully-charged for Archangel's Staff!
  
  
• : Standard caster fare that boosts your damage and synergizes with Greater Mark of Magic Penetration!
  
  
• : Three sources of Mana Regen is where you want to be! CDR rocks with Requiem.
  
  
• : Karthus needs a massive AP boost after establishing his Mana base!
  
  
• catalyst the protector: A healthy dose of Mana and Health after Rabadon's Deathcap~
  
  
• : Collect on your Tear of the Goddess investment and boost your damage through the roof!
  With the Gold from philosopher's stone and good farm (with Karthus, always!), you'll get it. :3
  
  
• : The perfect item for Karthus! I don't rush it because with Karthus, Damage > Survival.
  
  I know other options- such as Rylai's Crystal Scepter- intuitively seem better for a late-game item, and by all means get 'em if you want!
  
  Rod of Ages is the only item that provides Health, Mana, and Ability Power, and it works wonders for me!
  Now it's just a matter of trust ;)
  
  
• : Excellent Fiendish Codex upgrade.
  
  
  This is your core build:
  
  philosopher's stone
  
  When buying a final item to replace philosopher's stone, you have a host of options!
  
  
• : The enemy will most likely stack MR against you, so negate it with Void Staff!
  Sell Sorcerer's Shoes for Mobility Boots in this case.
  
  
• : Need Magic Resist? Abyssal Mask is the coolest cat in town :3
  
  
• : Need Mana and Armor?
  
  
• : Need Spell Vamp and a sweet Aura?!
  
  
• : Warp in and out of the time-space continuum for the win!
  Credit: Metalsonic ^^

Early-Game

Karthus was pretty much custom-made for solo mid. He takes practice, but is fantastic when played well.

Your early goal is to FARM all day and night. Auto-attack and Lay Waste the **** outta minions for $$$!
Remember that Defile restores 20 Mana per minion ^^

You need Rabadon's Deathcap online as soon as humanly possible.
If you can, catch your opponent off-guard with a Wall of Pain-> Defile-> Lay Waste combo!
When executed correctly, this will do MASSIVE DAMAGE.

FARM.

Rainbow!



Mid-Game

Karthus' Mid-Game begins when he's farmed out Rabadon's Deathcap!

If you K.O. your Caitlyn, Veigar, or whoever (and have over 1/2 health), go find a lane to gank and rack up some Shaman-induced kills!
Push your turret, farm, and help your teammates.

Late-Game

Push the the Nexus with your teammates!
Let the tougher ones initiate, then unleash unliving anguish upon the enemy!

Karthus is de bomb-diggity Diable Tonnere, with skills that can't be matched and Paket Kongo from a higher astral plane~

Just press R to get your kills!

~Gramps Tewks