Karthusvs Varus
Karthus vs Varus is a decisive matchup in LoL patch 26.9. Karthus wins with a 71.4% win rate (+42.9%) over Varus based on 7 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 Varus 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.
Varus(71.4%)Who Wins the Karthus vs Varus Matchup?
Karthus vs Varus Matchup Summary
The Karthus vs Varus matchup is a decisive matchup in League of Legends ranked play. Based on 7 recent matches analyzed, Karthus wins with a 71.4% win rate compared to Varus's 28.6%, giving Karthus a 42.9 percentage point advantage. Karthus dominates at every stage — from early laning through late game team fights. This consistent advantage makes it difficult for Varus players to find favorable windows, so team-dependent strategies and avoiding solo confrontations are essential. The most significant statistical gap is in crowd control, where Varus leads by 0.5s CC/min — a difference that heavily influences the outcome of trades and skirmishes. Karthus players can confidently pick into Varus and play aggressively from level 1. Look to establish lane dominance early through favorable trades and zone Varus 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 Varus Laning Phase Breakdown
Varus is favored during the laning phase against Karthus, winning 3 out of 5 key stat categories. Varus holds advantages in gold income, crowd control and sustain, making them the stronger laner in this matchup.
Best Karthus Build Against Varus
Spellslinger's Shoes is the optimal boots choice against Varus, providing the mobility and stats Karthus needs most in this matchup. The top-performing core items for Karthus against Varus are Liandry's Torment, Shadowflame and Malignance. This combination gives Karthus an effective balance of damage, survivability, and utility for the matchup. Adjustments may be needed based on team compositions and game state, but this build provides the strongest foundation for the Karthus vs Varus matchup.
Early Game vs Late Game
Karthus100.0%Varus0.0%Karthus66.7%Varus33.3%Karthus dominates the early game (first 15 minutes) with a commanding 100.0% win rate — a 100.0 percentage point lead over Varus. 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 66.7% win rate — 33.3 points above Varus. 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. Varus players should look for outplays, team-dependent strategies, and picks rather than relying on scaling to win this matchup.
Best Karthus Runes Against Varus
Domination
Precision
Running Domination primary with Precision secondary allows Karthus to press their advantage against Varus, amplifying the strengths that make this a favorable matchup.
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.
Opponent | Win Rate | Matches | CS/min | DMG/min | Gold/game | Early WR | Late WR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60.47% | 43 | 1.5 | 1,211 | 14,745 | 46.7% | 67.9% | |
| 59.52% | 42 | 1.4 | 1,146 | 14,120 | 47.6% | 71.4% | |
| 43.59% | 39 | 1.3 | 1,142 | 13,127 | 47.1% | 40.9% | |
| 63.89% | 36 | 6.6 | 1,285 | 14,803 | 41.7% | 75.0% | |
| 45.45% | 33 | 1.5 | 1,230 | 15,245 | 61.5% | 35.0% | |
| 61.29% | 31 | 1.6 | 1,184 | 15,087 | 50.0% | 66.7% | |
| 35.48% | 31 | 1.4 | 1,302 | 12,720 | 33.3% | 37.5% | |
| 40.00% | 30 | 1.9 | 1,231 | 13,754 | 50.0% | 33.3% | |
| 58.62% | 29 | 1.3 | 1,152 | 14,889 | 77.8% | 50.0% | |
| 55.17% | 29 | 7.0 | 1,461 | 14,739 | 46.1% | 62.5% | |
| 55.17% | 29 | 6.8 | 1,360 | 14,776 | 53.9% | 56.3% | |
| 64.29% | 28 | 6.8 | 1,500 | 15,246 | 70.0% | 61.1% | |
| 57.69% | 26 | 1.4 | 1,395 | 16,572 | 85.7% | 47.4% | |
| 48.00% | 25 | 1.3 | 1,253 | 14,194 | 50.0% | 47.1% | |
| 44.00% | 25 | 6.7 | 1,351 | 12,583 | 66.7% | 23.1% | |
| 52.00% | 25 | 7.1 | 1,230 | 13,931 | 58.3% | 46.1% | |
| 29.17% | 24 | 1.6 | 1,307 | 15,285 | 16.7% | 33.3% | |
| 68.18% | 22 | 6.2 | 1,393 | 16,201 | 60.0% | 75.0% | |
| 52.38% | 21 | 2.4 | 993 | 13,089 | 37.5% | 61.5% | |
| 38.10% | 21 | 1.6 | 1,039 | 13,125 | 40.0% | 36.4% | |
| 66.67% | 21 | 7.3 | 1,391 | 13,871 | 80.0% | 54.5% | |
| 70.00% | 20 | 1.4 | 1,190 | 14,759 | 62.5% | 75.0% | |
| 42.11% | 19 | 2.6 | 1,067 | 12,406 | 55.6% | 30.0% | |
| 36.84% | 19 | 6.2 | 1,230 | 12,042 | 45.5% | 25.0% | |
| 73.68% | 19 | 5.2 | 1,134 | 12,162 | 76.9% | 66.7% | |
| 50.00% | 18 | 2.2 | 1,194 | 12,682 | 25.0% | 70.0% | |
| 41.18% | 17 | 1.6 | 1,230 | 13,529 | 33.3% | 45.5% | |
| 41.18% | 17 | 2.5 | 1,188 | 14,842 | 60.0% | 33.3% | |
| 47.06% | 17 | 1.9 | 1,262 | 14,046 | 50.0% | 45.5% | |
| 50.00% | 16 | 1.4 | 1,357 | 15,187 | 57.1% | 44.4% | |
| 62.50% | 16 | 6.5 | 1,384 | 15,947 | 71.4% | 55.6% | |
| 50.00% | 16 | 1.6 | 1,041 | 12,145 | 80.0% | 36.4% | |
| 60.00% | 15 | 1.6 | 1,378 | 13,280 | 57.1% | 62.5% | |
| 60.00% | 15 | 2.0 | 1,304 | 16,401 | 50.0% | 63.6% | |
| 60.00% | 15 | 1.2 | 1,155 | 14,707 | 50.0% | 66.7% | |
| 64.29% | 14 | 1.5 | 1,289 | 14,835 | 60.0% | 66.7% | |
| 35.71% | 14 | 1.5 | 1,168 | 11,789 | 37.5% | 33.3% | |
| 46.15% | 13 | 1.2 | 1,215 | 13,640 | 50.0% | 42.9% | |
| 23.08% | 13 | 2.7 | 1,107 | 13,726 | 0.0% | 30.0% | |
| 41.67% | 12 | 1.9 | 1,134 | 13,651 | 20.0% | 57.1% | |
| 41.67% | 12 | 1.3 | 1,432 | 15,342 | 40.0% | 42.9% | |
| 50.00% | 12 | 1.6 | 1,372 | 16,603 | 100.0% | 33.3% | |
| 45.45% | 11 | 3.4 | 1,000 | 14,202 | 33.3% | 50.0% | |
| 70.00% | 10 | 7.4 | 1,308 | 13,519 | 85.7% | 33.3% | |
| 70.00% | 10 | 6.3 | 1,144 | 13,819 | 75.0% | 66.7% | |
| 50.00% | 10 | 1.5 | 1,094 | 14,695 | 40.0% | 60.0% | |
| 66.67% | 9 | 5.3 | 1,275 | 11,167 | 80.0% | 50.0% | |
| 77.78% | 9 | 6.9 | 1,543 | 14,941 | 83.3% | 66.7% | |
| 77.78% | 9 | 6.4 | 1,426 | 17,292 | 100.0% | 75.0% | |
| 55.56% | 9 | 2.0 | 1,055 | 13,614 | 50.0% | 60.0% | |
| 55.56% | 9 | 6.7 | 1,320 | 10,347 | 50.0% | 60.0% | |
| 55.56% | 9 | 7.0 | 1,420 | 15,871 | 0.0% | 83.3% | |
| 87.50% | 8 | 6.0 | 1,209 | 13,528 | 66.7% | 100.0% | |
| 62.50% | 8 | 1.5 | 914 | 11,689 | 60.0% | 66.7% | |
| 75.00% | 8 | 3.3 | 1,181 | 15,187 | 66.7% | 80.0% | |
| 37.50% | 8 | 1.6 | 1,325 | 12,292 | 33.3% | 50.0% | |
| 25.00% | 8 | 1.0 | 1,177 | 9,882 | 40.0% | 0.0% | |
| 37.50% | 8 | 5.9 | 1,294 | 13,438 | 0.0% | 42.9% | |
| 87.50% | 8 | 1.1 | 930 | 11,739 | 100.0% | 66.7% | |
| 37.50% | 8 | 5.1 | 969 | 10,833 | 0.0% | 75.0% | |
| 50.00% | 8 | 4.7 | 1,247 | 15,161 | 25.0% | 75.0% | |
| 37.50% | 8 | 2.1 | 1,248 | 13,000 | 25.0% | 50.0% | |
| 12.50% | 8 | 4.5 | 969 | 11,572 | 16.7% | 0.0% | |
| 75.00% | 8 | 1.4 | 1,012 | 11,309 | 75.0% | 75.0% | |
| 37.50% | 8 | 3.4 | 1,284 | 13,665 | 100.0% | 16.7% | |
| 42.86% | 7 | 4.8 | 1,059 | 11,281 | 0.0% | 75.0% | |
| 71.43% | 7 | 7.3 | 1,478 | 14,622 | 100.0% | 66.7% | |
| 42.86% | 7 | 2.6 | 1,213 | 13,765 | 40.0% | 50.0% | |
| 85.71% | 7 | 1.3 | 1,063 | 12,334 | 80.0% | 100.0% | |
| 71.43% | 7 | 1.7 | 1,248 | 9,768 | 100.0% | 50.0% | |
| 85.71% | 7 | 6.8 | 1,105 | 8,884 | 85.7% | 0.0% | |
| 85.71% | 7 | 1.3 | 1,636 | 16,296 | 100.0% | 83.3% | |
| 42.86% | 7 | 6.6 | 1,343 | 14,336 | 50.0% | 33.3% | |
| 57.14% | 7 | 7.6 | 1,479 | 9,026 | 60.0% | 50.0% | |
| 42.86% | 7 | 6.1 | 1,302 | 14,164 | 75.0% | 0.0% | |
| 33.33% | 6 | 2.8 | 1,366 | 14,331 | 50.0% | 25.0% | |
| 16.67% | 6 | 7.3 | 1,711 | 16,785 | 0.0% | 20.0% | |
| 66.67% | 6 | 6.7 | 1,187 | 12,813 | 50.0% | 75.0% | |
| 83.33% | 6 | 2.7 | 1,187 | 13,782 | 66.7% | 100.0% | |
| 33.33% | 6 | 7.3 | 1,223 | 11,674 | 0.0% | 66.7% | |
| 33.33% | 6 | 7.0 | 1,508 | 12,645 | 33.3% | 33.3% | |
| 0.00% | 5 | 7.1 | 1,778 | 18,011 | 0.0% | 0.0% | |
| 40.00% | 5 | 6.7 | 1,033 | 9,567 | 25.0% | 100.0% | |
| 60.00% | 5 | 2.0 | 960 | 9,787 | 50.0% | 100.0% | |
| 20.00% | 5 | 6.3 | 1,376 | 15,117 | 0.0% | 33.3% | |
| 80.00% | 5 | 2.9 | 1,246 | 14,608 | 100.0% | 0.0% | |
| 80.00% | 5 | 1.3 | 1,271 | 14,686 | 50.0% | 100.0% | |
| 40.00% | 5 | 1.3 | 1,066 | 13,764 | 100.0% | 25.0% | |
| 80.00% | 5 | 7.4 | 1,062 | 14,081 | 75.0% | 100.0% | |
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Karthus vs Varus - Frequently Asked Questions
How does Karthus do against Varus in League of Legends?
Karthus wins the Karthus vs Varus matchup with a 71.4% win rate compared to Varus's 28.6%, a 42.9 percentage point difference. This data is based on 7 recent ranked games in patch 26.9.
How does Karthus do against Varus in the early game?
In the early game, Karthus has the advantage against Varus 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 Varus in the late game?
In the late game, Karthus takes over the Karthus vs Varus 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 Varus matchup?
Karthus wins the matchup against Varus with a 71.4% win rate in League of Legends patch 26.9. The 42.9 percentage point advantage means Karthus is significantly favored in this lane matchup based on 7 games analyzed.
What is the best Karthus build against Varus?
The best Karthus build against Varus includes Liandry's Torment, Shadowflame, Malignance with Spellslinger's Shoes. Check the matchup breakdown above for the full item path and build order.
What are the best Karthus runes against Varus?
The best Karthus runes against Varus use the Domination primary tree with Precision secondary. This rune setup achieves a 100.0% win rate in the Karthus vs Varus matchup. See the full rune breakdown in the matchup comparison above.
Does Karthus counter Varus?
Yes, Karthus has a favorable matchup against Varus with a 71.4% win rate. Karthus strongly counters Varus in lane based on current patch 26.9 data.
How do I play Karthus against Varus?
When playing Karthus against Varus, 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.