Win Rate: 50.3%
Pick Rate: 0.7%
Ban Rate: 0.6%

Karthus Jungle Build: Items & Boots

Mage

Patch: 26.20
Games: 907
Lane: Jungle
Tier: All Tiers
Last Updated: Oct 13, 2026 UTC
Methodology: Data Methodology
Author: Dakota Chinnick

The most-played Patch 26.20 Karthus build is Sorcerer's Shoes, Shadowflame, Rabadon's Deathcap, Blackfire Torch, Void Staff, Liandry's Torment, Oracle Lens: 8.38% of games, 54.59% win rate. Below are the boots, first items, starting items and summoner spells players pick most, each with its own win rate and game count.

Select a Karthus Build

Most Played

Best Karthus Build - Highest Win Rate Items

Full Build

Early Build Order

Top Summoner Spells

Flash + Smite
50.9%Win Rate52.4%Pick Rate
Exhaust + Smite
51.6%Win Rate29.5%Pick Rate

Build Stats

52.38%Win Rate

+2.10%WR Diff

4.49%Pick Rate

105Matches

This Karthus build focuses on ability power for maximum spell damage. Build the core items first for your power spike, then adapt with situational items based on enemy team composition.

The core items for this Karthus build are Liandry's Torment, Shadowflame, and Blackfire Torch. This item combination achieves a 52.4% win rate across 105 matches analyzed.

At full build, Karthus gains a total of 485 AP, 300 Health, and 50 Armor, giving a strong power profile for magic damage.

Best Karthus Runes

Domination

Sorcery

View full runes

Karthus Abilities

View ability details

Karthus build strength based on the items chosen in the build when compared to all builds across every champion. Strongest in: Gold Efficiency, Magic Damage. Lower in: Magic Resistance, Physical Damage.

Build Deep Dive

The most popular starting items for Karthus are Scorchclaw Pup, Health Potion, Stealth Ward with a 60.0% win rate and 23.8% pick rate.

Scorchclaw Pup

Health Potion

Stealth Ward

60.0%Win Rate

23.8%Pick Rate

These are Karthus's essential core items that you should build in nearly every game. Liandry's Torment (49.4% WR, -0.9% WR diff, 35.5% pick rate) provides 300 Health, 60 AP. Shadowflame (51.9% WR, +1.6% WR diff, 71.2% pick rate) provides 110 AP. Blackfire Torch (51.1% WR, +0.8% WR diff, 73.8% pick rate) provides 600 Mana, 80 AP. Rush these items first to reach your power spike and maximize your impact.

Liandry's Torment S Tier
Liandry's Torment
3,000
49.38%Win Rate
-0.90%WR Diff
35.50%Pick Rate
Shadowflame S Tier
Shadowflame
3,200
51.86%Win Rate
+1.58%WR Diff
71.22%Pick Rate
Blackfire Torch S Tier
Blackfire Torch
2,800
51.12%Win Rate
+0.84%WR Diff
73.76%Pick Rate

MetaBot Desktop

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Test any item combination — even off-meta — against thousands of real Karthus matches. See win rate, KDA, damage, and every item's real impact before you ever lock in.

Any item combo — even off-meta
Thousands of real matches
Win rate by rank & game length

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Build Theorycrafter in the MetaBot Desktop app analyzing a custom League of Legends item build

Karthus players complete Scorchclaw Pup first in 77% of games, winning 51.3% of them. The median first item is finished at 0:06 (25th to 75th percentile: 0:06 to 0:12).

First item

Build	Win Rate	Pick Rate	Done at	Games
Scorchclaw Pup	51.3%	77.2%	0:06	700
Gustwalker Hatchling	46.4%	21.2%	0:12	192
Mosstomper Seedling	53.3%	1.7%	0:12	15

First two items

Build	Win Rate	Pick Rate	Done at	Games
Scorchclaw PupBlackfire Torch	52.4%	59.3%	9:48	515
Scorchclaw PupMalignance	51.1%	15.3%	10:18	133
Gustwalker HatchlingBlackfire Torch	47.5%	11.6%	10:00	101

Three-item core

Build	Win Rate	Pick Rate	Done at	Games
Scorchclaw PupBlackfire TorchLiandry's Torment	57.4%	14.2%	17:54	115
Scorchclaw PupMalignanceLiandry's Torment	65.4%	3.2%	18:48	26
Scorchclaw PupBlackfire TorchShadowflame	50.4%	35.1%	17:54	284

Stages keep purchase order, so "A then B" and "B then A" are counted separately. Completion time is the minute the last item of the stage was bought. Boots are tracked separately.

Fair sampleBased on 907 matches. That is enough matches for these numbers to be a fair guide, though they will still move between patches.

Karthus players max Q > E > W in 97% of games, winning 50.5% of the 863 games that followed that order. The grid shows the most common ability at every level.

Skill priority

Level	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18
Q	1		2		3		4		5
W				1										2	3		4	5
E		1						2		3		4	5
R						1					2					3

Q > W > E: 2% of games, 42.9% win rate
E > Q > W: 1% of games, 25.0% win rate

Fair sampleBased on 886 matches. That is enough matches for these numbers to be a fair guide, though they will still move between patches.

Top situational items for Karthus include Zhonya's Hourglass, Rabadon's Deathcap. These can be swapped out depending on the enemy composition and team needs.

Zhonya's Hourglass S Tier
Zhonya's Hourglass
3,250
50.00%Win Rate
-0.28%WR Diff
21.17%Pick Rate
Rabadon's Deathcap S Tier
Rabadon's Deathcap
3,500
55.31%Win Rate
+5.03%WR Diff
44.65%Pick Rate

The best boots for Karthus are Sorcerer's Shoes. Adjust based on enemy team comp.

Sorcerer's Shoes S Tier
Sorcerer's Shoes
1,100
51.28%Win Rate
+1.00%WR Diff
77.62%Pick Rate

The recommended trinket for Karthus is Oracle Lens for vision control and map awareness.

Oracle Lens S Tier
Oracle Lens
0
49.66%Win Rate
-0.62%WR Diff
48.18%Pick Rate

Combined statistics from all items in this Karthus build.

Movement Speed:45
Health:300
Ability Power:485
Mana:600
Armor:50

Build Comparison

Best WR

Most Played

Speed

Health

300

475

485

Mana

600

Armor

When facing Karthus's top counters like Graves, Talon, Shyvana, consider adjusting your situational items to increase survivability and match their damage output. If counter champions are building high damage, prioritize magic resistance items against AP threats in your situational item slots to reduce burst damage and improve trading potential. Your core build provides strong damage output. Against tanky counter picks, consider penetration items or percentage-based damage from your situational options to maintain kill pressure. Adapt your final build slots with items like Zhonya's Hourglass or Rabadon's Deathcap based on which counter champions you're facing and their itemization patterns. Monitor enemy builds and adjust accordingly for optimal Karthus performance.

Graves
31.0%Win Rate
-19.25%WR Diff
Counter Items
- Zhonya's Hourglass
Talon
29.4%Win Rate
-20.87%WR Diff
Counter Items
- Zhonya's Hourglass
Shyvana
36.8%Win Rate
-13.44%WR Diff
Counter Items
- Zhonya's Hourglass

burst mageFirst Power Spike3,000gScorchclaw Pup at 0:06 (median)

This Karthus burst mage build is optimized for players looking to maximize their impact in League of Legends. Its 52.4% win rate comes from only 105 games, so treat it as an observation rather than a proven edge. The build's key strengths include devastating ability power scaling with 485 total AP. Choose this build when your team needs magic damage, especially if teammates are primarily AD-focused. Karthus with this build can punish teams that stack armor. Consider the enemy team composition when finalizing your situational items to maximize Karthus's effectiveness. However, be aware that this build no built-in sustain for extended fights and limited ability haste may result in longer cooldowns. With a total gold cost of 16,850, this Karthus build scales into the late game. Focus on farming efficiently and reaching your Liandry's Torment, Shadowflame, and Blackfire Torch power spike before taking major fights. For optimal results with this Karthus build, focus on proper itemization timing, positioning in teamfights, and adapting your situational items based on the specific challenges each game presents.

Strengths

Devastating ability power scaling with 485 total AP

Weaknesses

No built-in sustain for extended fights
Limited ability haste may result in longer cooldowns

Champions with Similar Builds to Karthus

Karthus Jungle Boots, Starting Items & Summoner Spells (Patch 26.20)

881 games

Most Karthus Jungle players rush Scorchclaw Pup first (77% of games), finished at a median of 0.1 minutes. Sorcerer's Shoes are the usual boots (80%). The standard summoner spells are Exhaust + Smite (52%). The game usually starts with Scorchclaw Pup + Health Potion + Stealth Ward.

Karthus boots

Option	Players	Win Rate	Games
Sorcerer's ShoesMost played	79.9%	51.3%	704

Karthus starting items

Option	Players	Win Rate	Games
Scorchclaw Pup + Health Potion + Stealth WardMost played	25.5%	53.3%	225
Scorchclaw Pup	20.9%	51.1%	184
Scorchclaw Pup + Stealth Ward	13.2%	50.0%	116
Scorchclaw Pup + Health Potion	8.2%	48.6%	72

Karthus summoner spells

Option	Players	Win Rate	Games
Exhaust + SmiteMost played	51.9%	47.7%	457
Flash + Smite	37.2%	52.7%	328
Smite + Ignite	9.2%	55.6%	81

Every option is listed with its own pick rate, win rate and game count from ranked games this patch. Options under 40 games are left out.

Karthus First Item and Core Build Timing

Which item Karthus players finish first and which three-item core they build, with the median completion minute and the middle 50% of games — the timing to beat if you want to spike before your opponent.

First completed item

Items	Finished	Players	Win Rate	Games
Scorchclaw Pup	0.1 min 0.1-0.2 min	77.3%	51.2%	681
Gustwalker Hatchling	0.2 min 0.1-0.3 min	21.1%	45.7%	186

Three-item core

Items	Finished	Players	Win Rate	Games
Scorchclaw Pup → Blackfire Torch → Shadowflame	17.9 min 16.4-19.7 min	35.1%	50.4%	284
Scorchclaw Pup → Blackfire Torch → Liandry's Torment	17.9 min 16.3-19.7 min	14.2%	57.4%	115
Scorchclaw Pup → Malignance → Shadowflame	19.1 min 17.4-20.4 min	8.0%	50.8%	65

Every Karthus Jungle Item by Win Rate

The completed items Karthus players build most this patch, with the share of games each one appears in and its win rate. Situational items sit low in pick rate for a reason — read the win rate next to the game count.

Option	Players	Win Rate	Games
Blackfire TorchMost played	75.9%	51.1%	669
Shadowflame	73.3%	51.9%	646
Rabadon's Deathcap	46.0%	55.3%	405
Liandry's Torment	36.5%	49.4%	322
Malignance	34.5%	48.0%	304
Void Staff	25.0%	54.1%	220
Zhonya's Hourglass	21.8%	50.0%	192
Stormsurge	21.3%	55.3%	188
Mejai's Soulstealer	4.7%	90.2%	41

Karthus Build Planner

Plan a build

Start from Karthus's most common core and swap items to see the total gold and stats. When your picks contain a three-item core players actually build, its recorded win rate shows up.

Karthus's most-built items

Your build (3/6)

Total gold7,100

No recorded three-item core in this build yet — it may be off-meta.

Total stats from items

Ability Power: 190
Ability Haste: 20
Magic Pen: 27
Mana: 600
Move Speed: 45

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Karthus Build - Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best Karthus build?

The best Karthus build in this patch includes Liandry's Torment, Shadowflame, and Blackfire Torch. This build has a 52.38% win rate and is picked 4.49% of the time.

What are Karthus's core items?

Karthus's core items are Liandry's Torment, Shadowflame, and Blackfire Torch. These items provide the best stats and synergies for Karthus's kit and playstyle in League of Legends.

What are the best boots for Karthus?

Sorcerer's Shoes are the best boots for Karthus. These boots provide optimal mobility and stats for Karthus's playstyle. They are included in 4.5% of Karthus builds.

What is the best trinket for Karthus?

Oracle Lens is the best trinket for Karthus. This trinket provides optimal vision control and map awareness. Using Oracle Lens helps Karthus maintain vision around objectives and track enemy movements.

Are there alternative Karthus builds?

Yes, alternative Karthus builds include options like Shadowflame, Rabadon's Deathcap, and Blackfire Torch. Different builds can be more effective depending on team composition and matchups.

Where does MetaBot source build data for Karthus?

MetaBot sources its build data for Karthus directly from the Riot Games API, provided to developers for ingesting game data from League of Legends. MetaBot analyzes hundreds of thousands of matches daily to help it determine build statistics.

How does MetaBot determine what the best Karthus builds are?

MetaBot only counts Karthus games that reached a completed build (boots plus at least three finished items), groups them by their three core items, and ranks the groups by a confidence-adjusted win rate (Wilson lower bound) so a build with a handful of lucky games cannot outrank a well-played one. A build is only presented as the highest win rate once it has at least 50 games and a tenth of Karthus's build sample; otherwise the most-played build is shown.

Karthus Jungle Build: Items & Boots

Select a Karthus Build

Best Karthus Build - Highest Win Rate Items

Full Build

Early Build Order

Top Summoner Spells

Build Stats

Best Karthus Runes

Karthus Abilities

Build Strengths

Karthus Starting Items

Best Karthus Core Items - Build These First

Liandry's Torment

Shadowflame

Blackfire Torch

Theorycraft Your Next Karthus Build

Karthus Build Path & Item Timing

First item

First two items

Three-item core

Karthus Skill Order

High Win Rate Situational Items for Karthus

Zhonya's Hourglass

Rabadon's Deathcap

Karthus Boots

Sorcerer's Shoes

Karthus Trinket

Oracle Lens

Complete Karthus Build Item Stats

Build Comparison

Karthus Counter Build Advice

When Should You Play This Karthus Build

Strengths

Weaknesses

Champions with Similar Builds to Karthus

Karthus Jungle Boots, Starting Items & Summoner Spells (Patch 26.20)

Karthus boots

Karthus starting items

Karthus summoner spells

Karthus First Item and Core Build Timing

First completed item

Three-item core

Every Karthus Jungle Item by Win Rate

Karthus Build Planner

Plan a build

Karthus Build - Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best Karthus build?

What are Karthus's core items?

What are the best boots for Karthus?

What is the best trinket for Karthus?

Are there alternative Karthus builds?

Where does MetaBot source build data for Karthus?

How does MetaBot determine what the best Karthus builds are?

See Also

Karthus Build - Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best Karthus build?

What are Karthus's core items?

What are the best boots for Karthus?

What is the best trinket for Karthus?

Are there alternative Karthus builds?

Where does MetaBot source build data for Karthus?

How does MetaBot determine what the best Karthus builds are?