Karthus - League of Legends Champion
Win Rate
52.9%
Pick Rate
0.9%

Karthusvs Kayn

SMage
Patch26.14
Matches226,800
LaneAll Lanes
TierAll Tiers
Last UpdatedJul 21, 2026
MethodologyData Methodology

Karthus vs Kayn is a decisive matchup in LoL patch 26.14. Karthus wins with a 61.5% win rate (+23.1%) over Kayn based on 13 games. Karthus holds the advantage in both the early and late game. Below you'll find the best Karthus build, runes, laning stats, and strategies for the Karthus vs Kayn matchup.

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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
Karthus - 61.5% win rate in this matchup
Karthus
61.5% WR
VS
Kayn vs Karthus matchup - 38.5% win rate
Kayn
38.5% WR

Who Wins the Karthus vs Kayn Matchup?

Karthus wins the Karthus vs Kayn matchup
Winner
Karthus
Matches: 13
61.5%
Win Rate
38.5%
1.4
CS / min
0.8
1,268
DMG / min
782
16,483
Gold / game
14,687
272
Heal / min
460
490
DMG Mitigated / min
734
0.6
CC / min
0.4
100.0%
Early Game WR
0.0%
54.5%
Late Game WR
45.5%

Karthus vs Kayn Matchup Summary

The Karthus vs Kayn matchup is a decisive matchup in League of Legends ranked play. Based on 13 recent matches analyzed, Karthus wins with a 61.5% win rate compared to Kayn's 38.5%, giving Karthus a 23.1 percentage point advantage. Karthus dominates at every stage — from early laning through late game team fights. This consistent advantage makes it difficult for Kayn players to find favorable windows, so team-dependent strategies and avoiding solo confrontations are essential. The most significant statistical gap is in CS, where Karthus leads by 0.6 CS/min — a difference that heavily influences the outcome of trades and skirmishes. Karthus players can confidently pick into Kayn and play aggressively from level 1. Look to establish lane dominance early through favorable trades and zone Kayn away from CS whenever possible. Understanding these matchup dynamics is essential for champion select decisions and in-game strategy when facing this lane opponent.

Karthus vs Kayn Laning Phase Breakdown

Karthus wins the laning phase against Kayn in League of Legends

Karthus is favored during the laning phase against Kayn, winning 4 out of 5 key stat categories. Karthus holds advantages in farming, damage, gold income and crowd control, making them the stronger laner in this matchup.

Farming
1.4Karthus
0.8Kayn
Karthus edges out Kayn by 0.6 CS per minute — a moderate farming advantage that adds up to roughly 9 CS over a 15-minute laning phase. This translates to earlier component purchases and slightly faster power spikes for Karthus.
Damage
1,268Karthus
782Kayn
Karthus heavily out-damages Kayn by 486 DMG/min, dominating both short trades and all-in fights. Kayn 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
16,483Karthus
14,687Kayn
Karthus generates a commanding 1,796 more gold per game than Kayn. This substantial economic advantage means Karthus consistently reaches key item breakpoints earlier, creating a compounding lead that grows throughout the game. Kayn should focus on cost-effective item choices and avoid unnecessary deaths to prevent falling further behind.
Utility
0.6Karthus
0.4Kayn
Both Karthus and Kayn provide similar amounts of crowd control (0.2s/min difference), meaning neither has a significant advantage in locking down opponents for ganks or team fights. Lane ganks are equally effective for both sides.
Sustain
762Karthus
1,194Kayn
Kayn vastly out-sustains Karthus, healing and mitigating 432 more damage per minute. This massive durability gap means Kayn 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 Kayn

Sorcerer's Shoes is the optimal boots choice against Kayn, providing the mobility and stats Karthus needs most in this matchup. The top-performing core items for Karthus against Kayn are Liandry's Torment, Zhonya's Hourglass and Malignance. 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 Kayn. Adjustments may be needed based on team compositions and game state, but this build provides the strongest foundation for the Karthus vs Kayn matchup.

Early Game vs Late Game

Early Game
Karthus
100.0%
+100.0% advantage
Karthus early game win rateKarthus100.0%
Kayn early game win rateKayn0.0%
Late Game
Karthus
54.5%
+9.1% advantage
Karthus late game win rateKarthus54.5%
Kayn late game win rateKayn45.5%

Karthus dominates the early game (first 15 minutes) with a commanding 100.0% win rate — a 100.0 percentage point lead over Kayn. This lopsided early game means Karthus 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 54.5% win rate — 9.1 points above Kayn. Extended games heavily favor Karthus, whose kit and scaling make them a dominant force in team fights and objective control.

Karthus holds the advantage at every stage of the game, making this a consistently favorable matchup from lane through late game team fights. Kayn players should look for outplays, team-dependent strategies, and picks rather than relying on scaling to win this matchup.

Best Karthus Runes Against Kayn

Domination rune tree - Karthus primary runes vs KaynDomination
Dark Harvest - best Karthus rune vs KaynCheap Shot - best Karthus rune vs KaynGrisly Mementos - best Karthus rune vs KaynUltimate Hunter - best Karthus rune vs Kayn
Sorcery rune tree - Karthus secondary runes vs KaynSorcery
Axiom Arcanist - best Karthus rune vs KaynGathering Storm - best Karthus rune vs Kayn
50.0% WR

Running Domination primary with Sorcery secondary allows Karthus to press their advantage against Kayn, amplifying the strengths that make this a favorable matchup.


Karthus matchup data for League of Legends patch 26.14. 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 26.14
Opponent
Win Rate
Matches
CS/min
DMG/min
Gold/game
Early WR
Late WR
64.71%171.61,30714,66766.7%64.3%
61.54%131.41,26816,483100.0%54.5%
38.46%131.71,13714,45550.0%33.3%
53.85%131.289010,32966.7%42.9%
66.67%127.01,13812,77283.3%50.0%
50.00%126.81,06013,5260.0%66.7%
66.67%121.21,22315,65033.3%77.8%
54.55%111.493212,47820.0%83.3%
54.55%111.31,25216,58775.0%42.9%
30.00%101.21,05811,5090.0%60.0%
77.78%96.91,58016,28933.3%100.0%
77.78%91.11,46516,15150.0%85.7%
50.00%81.41,36413,21550.0%50.0%
62.50%82.11,29411,38950.0%75.0%
75.00%81.71,19514,4940.0%85.7%
62.50%80.91,03211,64366.7%60.0%
0.00%81.29159,7700.0%0.0%
100.00%81.31,14611,386100.0%100.0%
71.43%75.91,21011,767100.0%60.0%
42.86%73.81,20014,23566.7%25.0%
50.00%61.81,15115,1510.0%60.0%
50.00%66.81,05414,8930.0%60.0%
33.33%65.61,01311,5230.0%100.0%
66.67%66.31,18714,6750.0%80.0%
40.00%50.91,14013,258100.0%25.0%
60.00%56.31,26410,41750.0%66.7%
40.00%50.91,00613,487100.0%25.0%
20.00%55.393411,78633.3%0.0%
40.00%51.21,37916,148100.0%25.0%
20.00%54.39793,1650.0%100.0%
60.00%51.31,04614,377100.0%50.0%
25.00%41.41,38413,8210.0%33.3%
25.00%42.31,12113,8860.0%33.3%
100.00%21.51,21814,599100.0%100.0%

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Karthus vs Kayn - Frequently Asked Questions

How does Karthus do against Kayn in League of Legends?

Karthus wins the Karthus vs Kayn matchup with a 61.5% win rate compared to Kayn's 38.5%, a 23.1 percentage point difference. This data is based on 13 recent ranked games in patch 26.14.

How does Karthus do against Kayn in the early game?

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

How does Karthus do against Kayn in the late game?

In the late game, Karthus takes over the Karthus vs Kayn matchup with a 54.5% win rate compared to 45.5%. Karthus scales better into team fights and objective contests after 25 minutes.

Who wins the Karthus vs Kayn matchup?

Karthus wins the matchup against Kayn with a 61.5% win rate in League of Legends patch 26.14. The 23.1 percentage point advantage means Karthus is significantly favored in this lane matchup based on 13 games analyzed.

What is the best Karthus build against Kayn?

The best Karthus build against Kayn includes Liandry's Torment, Zhonya's Hourglass, Malignance with Sorcerer's Shoes. 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 Kayn?

The best Karthus runes against Kayn use the Domination primary tree with Sorcery secondary. This rune setup achieves a 50.0% win rate in the Karthus vs Kayn matchup. See the full rune breakdown in the matchup comparison above.

Does Karthus counter Kayn?

Yes, Karthus has a favorable matchup against Kayn with a 61.5% win rate. Karthus strongly counters Kayn in lane based on current patch 26.14 data.

How do I play Karthus against Kayn?

When playing Karthus against Kayn, leverage your statistical advantages by trading aggressively during favorable windows. You have early game priority — look for kills and zone control before first recall. Build the recommended items and runes for this specific matchup for the best results.