Karthus - League of Legends Champion
Win Rate
50.5%
Pick Rate
1.4%

Karthusvs Akali

BMage
Patch26.9
Matches514,344
LaneAll Lanes
TierAll Tiers
Last UpdatedMay 9, 2026
MethodologyData Methodology

Karthus vs Akali is a decisive matchup in LoL patch 26.9. Akali wins with a 66.7% win rate (+33.3%) over Karthus based on 6 games. Akali wins the early laning phase while Karthus scales better into the late game. Below you'll find the best Karthus build, runes, laning stats, and strategies for the Karthus vs Akali matchup.

Karthus Matchup Breakdown

Use the dropdown to select an opponent and see a detailed breakdown of how Karthus performs against them. You'll get head-to-head win rates, laning stats, the best build and runes for the matchup, and early vs late game analysis — all based on real ranked data.

Compare against an opponent
Akali - 33.3% win rateAkali(33.3%)
Karthus - 33.3% win rate in this matchup
Karthus
33.3% WR
VS
Akali vs Karthus matchup - 66.7% win rate
Akali
66.7% WR

Who Wins the Karthus vs Akali Matchup?

Akali wins the Karthus vs Akali matchup
Winner
Akali
Matches: 6
33.3%
Win Rate
66.7%
7.3
CS / min
5.7
1,223
DMG / min
1,035
11,674
Gold / game
12,396
65
Heal / min
236
396
DMG Mitigated / min
589
0.4
CC / min
0.1
0.0%
Early Game WR
100.0%
66.7%
Late Game WR
33.3%

Karthus vs Akali Matchup Summary

The Karthus vs Akali matchup is a decisive matchup in League of Legends ranked play. Based on 6 recent matches analyzed, Akali wins with a 66.7% win rate compared to Karthus's 33.3%, giving Akali a 33.3 percentage point advantage. Game phase dynamics play a critical role here: Akali controls the early laning stage, but Karthus outscales as the game goes longer. The matchup shifts dramatically depending on game length — Akali needs to press advantages before Karthus reaches their power spikes, while Karthus should focus on safe farming and hitting key item breakpoints. The most significant statistical gap is in crowd control, where Karthus leads by 0.3s CC/min — a difference that heavily influences the outcome of trades and skirmishes. Akali has a strong advantage in this matchup. Karthus players should play defensively, prioritize safe farming under tower, and look for opportunities created by jungle pressure or Akali overextending. Avoid prolonged trades and wait for team fights where positioning and coordination matter more. Understanding these matchup dynamics is essential for champion select decisions and in-game strategy when facing this lane opponent.

Karthus vs Akali Laning Phase Breakdown

Karthus wins the laning phase against Akali in League of Legends

Karthus is favored during the laning phase against Akali, winning 3 out of 5 key stat categories. Karthus holds advantages in farming, damage and crowd control, making them the stronger laner in this matchup.

Farming
7.3Karthus
5.7Akali
Karthus significantly out-farms Akali by 1.6 CS per minute, accumulating an estimated 23 CS lead by mid game. This substantial farming gap gives Karthus a major gold advantage and earlier item completions. Akali players should prioritize wave management techniques like freezing near tower and using abilities efficiently to minimize the deficit.
Damage
1,223Karthus
1,035Akali
Karthus heavily out-damages Akali by 189 DMG/min, dominating both short trades and all-in fights. Akali should avoid extended combat and instead focus on burst trade patterns — short engages followed by immediate disengagement — to avoid letting Karthus's sustained damage advantage take over.
Economy
11,674Karthus
12,396Akali
Akali earns 722 more gold per game than Karthus, equivalent to roughly one additional component item. This economic edge comes from a combination of better farming, kill participation, and objective control, giving Akali slightly faster item completions.
Utility
0.4Karthus
0.1Akali
Karthus provides 0.3 seconds more crowd control per minute than Akali, offering better gank setup potential and slightly more team fight utility. This CC advantage helps Karthus coordinate with their jungler and control the pace of skirmishes.
Sustain
461Karthus
825Akali
Akali vastly out-sustains Karthus, healing and mitigating 364 more damage per minute. This massive durability gap means Akali can absorb significant punishment and remain in lane while Karthus is forced to recall. Building grievous wounds early is essential for Karthus, and focusing on burst trade patterns rather than sustained fights is critical.

Best Karthus Build Against Akali

Crimson Lucidity is the optimal boots choice against Akali, providing the mobility and stats Karthus needs most in this matchup. The top-performing core items for Karthus against Akali are Morellonomicon, Zhonya's Hourglass and Rabadon's Deathcap. This combination gives Karthus an effective balance of damage, survivability, and utility for the matchup. This build performs exceptionally well, achieving a 100.0% win rate across 1 games — well above average and making it the top item path against Akali. Adjustments may be needed based on team compositions and game state, but this build provides the strongest foundation for the Karthus vs Akali matchup.

Early Game vs Late Game

Early Game
Akali
100.0%
+100.0% advantage
Karthus early game win rateKarthus0.0%
Akali early game win rateAkali100.0%
Late Game
Karthus
66.7%
+33.3% advantage
Karthus late game win rateKarthus66.7%
Akali late game win rateAkali33.3%

Akali dominates the early game (first 15 minutes) with a commanding 100.0% win rate — a 100.0 percentage point lead over Karthus. This lopsided early game means Akali can dictate the pace of the lane from level 1, controlling trades, wave state, and river priority.

Karthus is far superior in the late game (25+ minutes), boasting a 66.7% win rate — 33.3 points above Akali. Extended games heavily favor Karthus, whose kit and scaling make them a dominant force in team fights and objective control.

This matchup features a dramatic power shift: Akali must aggressively press their early advantage and close out the game before Karthus reaches their scaling breakpoints. If Karthus survives the laning phase without falling too far behind, the matchup flips in their favor. Dragon and Rift Herald control are pivotal — the team that secures early objectives can snowball or buy time to scale.

Best Karthus Runes Against Akali

Domination rune tree - Karthus primary runes vs AkaliDomination
Dark Harvest - best Karthus rune vs AkaliTaste of Blood - best Karthus rune vs AkaliSixth Sense - best Karthus rune vs AkaliUltimate Hunter - best Karthus rune vs Akali
Sorcery rune tree - Karthus secondary runes vs AkaliSorcery
Manaflow Band - best Karthus rune vs AkaliGathering Storm - best Karthus rune vs Akali
100.0% WR

The Domination and Sorcery rune setup gives Karthus the best tools to compete against Akali in this difficult matchup, compensating for the statistical disadvantages with optimal rune synergies.


Karthus matchup data for League of Legends patch 26.9. The table below shows Karthus's win rate, gold difference, and performance stats against every champion in the current meta. Click any champion name to see a detailed head-to-head breakdown including the best Karthus build, runes, laning stats, and early vs late game analysis for that specific matchup.

Karthus matchup win rates and stats in League of Legends patch 26.9
Opponent
Win Rate
Matches
CS/min
DMG/min
Gold/game
Early WR
Late WR
60.47%431.51,21114,74546.7%67.9%
59.52%421.41,14614,12047.6%71.4%
43.59%391.31,14213,12747.1%40.9%
63.89%366.61,28514,80341.7%75.0%
45.45%331.51,23015,24561.5%35.0%
61.29%311.61,18415,08750.0%66.7%
35.48%311.41,30212,72033.3%37.5%
40.00%301.91,23113,75450.0%33.3%
58.62%291.31,15214,88977.8%50.0%
55.17%297.01,46114,73946.1%62.5%
55.17%296.81,36014,77653.9%56.3%
64.29%286.81,50015,24670.0%61.1%
57.69%261.41,39516,57285.7%47.4%
48.00%251.31,25314,19450.0%47.1%
44.00%256.71,35112,58366.7%23.1%
52.00%257.11,23013,93158.3%46.1%
29.17%241.61,30715,28516.7%33.3%
68.18%226.21,39316,20160.0%75.0%
52.38%212.499313,08937.5%61.5%
38.10%211.61,03913,12540.0%36.4%
66.67%217.31,39113,87180.0%54.5%
70.00%201.41,19014,75962.5%75.0%
42.11%192.61,06712,40655.6%30.0%
36.84%196.21,23012,04245.5%25.0%
73.68%195.21,13412,16276.9%66.7%
50.00%182.21,19412,68225.0%70.0%
41.18%171.61,23013,52933.3%45.5%
41.18%172.51,18814,84260.0%33.3%
47.06%171.91,26214,04650.0%45.5%
50.00%161.41,35715,18757.1%44.4%
62.50%166.51,38415,94771.4%55.6%
50.00%161.61,04112,14580.0%36.4%
60.00%151.61,37813,28057.1%62.5%
60.00%152.01,30416,40150.0%63.6%
60.00%151.21,15514,70750.0%66.7%
64.29%141.51,28914,83560.0%66.7%
35.71%141.51,16811,78937.5%33.3%
46.15%131.21,21513,64050.0%42.9%
23.08%132.71,10713,7260.0%30.0%
41.67%121.91,13413,65120.0%57.1%
41.67%121.31,43215,34240.0%42.9%
50.00%121.61,37216,603100.0%33.3%
45.45%113.41,00014,20233.3%50.0%
70.00%107.41,30813,51985.7%33.3%
70.00%106.31,14413,81975.0%66.7%
50.00%101.51,09414,69540.0%60.0%
66.67%95.31,27511,16780.0%50.0%
77.78%96.91,54314,94183.3%66.7%
77.78%96.41,42617,292100.0%75.0%
55.56%92.01,05513,61450.0%60.0%
55.56%96.71,32010,34750.0%60.0%
55.56%97.01,42015,8710.0%83.3%
87.50%86.01,20913,52866.7%100.0%
62.50%81.591411,68960.0%66.7%
75.00%83.31,18115,18766.7%80.0%
37.50%81.61,32512,29233.3%50.0%
25.00%81.01,1779,88240.0%0.0%
37.50%85.91,29413,4380.0%42.9%
87.50%81.193011,739100.0%66.7%
37.50%85.196910,8330.0%75.0%
50.00%84.71,24715,16125.0%75.0%
37.50%82.11,24813,00025.0%50.0%
12.50%84.596911,57216.7%0.0%
75.00%81.41,01211,30975.0%75.0%
37.50%83.41,28413,665100.0%16.7%
42.86%74.81,05911,2810.0%75.0%
71.43%77.31,47814,622100.0%66.7%
42.86%72.61,21313,76540.0%50.0%
85.71%71.31,06312,33480.0%100.0%
71.43%71.71,2489,768100.0%50.0%
85.71%76.81,1058,88485.7%0.0%
85.71%71.31,63616,296100.0%83.3%
42.86%76.61,34314,33650.0%33.3%
57.14%77.61,4799,02660.0%50.0%
42.86%76.11,30214,16475.0%0.0%
33.33%62.81,36614,33150.0%25.0%
16.67%67.31,71116,7850.0%20.0%
66.67%66.71,18712,81350.0%75.0%
83.33%62.71,18713,78266.7%100.0%
33.33%67.31,22311,6740.0%66.7%
33.33%67.01,50812,64533.3%33.3%
0.00%57.11,77818,0110.0%0.0%
40.00%56.71,0339,56725.0%100.0%
60.00%52.09609,78750.0%100.0%
20.00%56.31,37615,1170.0%33.3%
80.00%52.91,24614,608100.0%0.0%
80.00%51.31,27114,68650.0%100.0%
40.00%51.31,06613,764100.0%25.0%
80.00%57.41,06214,08175.0%100.0%

Get the MetaBot Desktop App

Level up your gameplay with real-time overlays, automatic game detection, and instant stats — all on your desktop.

In-game overlaysAuto game detectionMulti-game supportPersonal dashboard
Download NowFree download
🔍

Help us maintain accuracy! If you notice incorrect stats, missing data, or any issues, your feedback directly improves the quality of our data for the entire community.

Report an Issue

Karthus vs Akali - Frequently Asked Questions

How does Karthus do against Akali in League of Legends?

Akali wins the Karthus vs Akali matchup with a 66.7% win rate compared to Karthus's 33.3%, a 33.3 percentage point difference. This data is based on 6 recent ranked games in patch 26.9.

How does Karthus do against Akali in the early game?

In the early game, Akali has the advantage against Karthus with a 100.0% win rate versus 0.0%. Akali players should look to press their lane advantage through aggressive trades and wave control during the first 15 minutes.

How does Karthus do against Akali in the late game?

In the late game, Karthus takes over the Karthus vs Akali matchup with a 66.7% win rate compared to 33.3%. Karthus scales better into team fights and objective contests after 25 minutes.

Who wins the Karthus vs Akali matchup?

Akali wins the matchup against Karthus with a 66.7% win rate in League of Legends patch 26.9. The 33.3 percentage point advantage means Akali is significantly favored in this lane matchup based on 6 games analyzed.

What is the best Karthus build against Akali?

The best Karthus build against Akali includes Morellonomicon, Zhonya's Hourglass, Rabadon's Deathcap with Crimson Lucidity. This build achieves a 100.0% win rate in the matchup. Check the matchup breakdown above for the full item path and build order.

What are the best Karthus runes against Akali?

The best Karthus runes against Akali use the Domination primary tree with Sorcery secondary. This rune setup achieves a 100.0% win rate in the Karthus vs Akali matchup. See the full rune breakdown in the matchup comparison above.

Does Karthus counter Akali?

No, Karthus struggles against Akali with only a 33.3% win rate. Akali has the advantage in this matchup. Karthus players should focus on safe farming and avoiding extended trades to minimize Akali's lead.

How do I play Karthus against Akali?

When playing Karthus against Akali, play cautiously and avoid Akali's power spikes. Focus on safe farming — you outscale Akali in the late game. Use the matchup-specific build and runes above to optimize your chances.