Karthusvs Zaahen
Karthus vs Zaahen is a moderate matchup in LoL patch 26.3. Karthus wins with a 52.2% win rate (+4.3%) over Zaahen based on 23 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 Zaahen 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.
Zaahen(52.2%)Who Wins the Karthus vs Zaahen Matchup?
Karthus vs Zaahen Matchup Summary
The Karthus vs Zaahen matchup is a moderate matchup in League of Legends ranked play. Based on 23 recent matches analyzed, Karthus wins with a 52.2% win rate compared to Zaahen's 47.8%, giving Karthus a 4.3 percentage point advantage. Karthus dominates at every stage — from early laning through late game team fights. This consistent advantage makes it difficult for Zaahen players to find favorable windows, so team-dependent strategies and avoiding solo confrontations are essential. The most significant statistical gap is in sustain, where Zaahen leads by 1,252 HP/min — a difference that heavily influences the outcome of trades and skirmishes. Karthus has a statistical edge, but the margin is close enough that respecting Zaahen's strengths is important. Trade when cooldowns are favorable, track the enemy jungler, and build toward your strongest item spikes to convert the slight advantage into a decisive lead. Understanding these matchup dynamics is essential for champion select decisions and in-game strategy when facing this lane opponent.
Karthus vs Zaahen Laning Phase Breakdown
Karthus is favored during the laning phase against Zaahen, winning 3 out of 5 key stat categories. Karthus holds advantages in farming, damage and gold income, making them the stronger laner in this matchup.
Best Karthus Build Against Zaahen
Sorcerer's Shoes is the optimal boots choice against Zaahen, providing the mobility and stats Karthus needs most in this matchup. The top-performing core items for Karthus against Zaahen are Shadowflame, Rabadon's Deathcap and Blackfire Torch. 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 4 games — well above average and making it the top item path against Zaahen. Adjustments may be needed based on team compositions and game state, but this build provides the strongest foundation for the Karthus vs Zaahen matchup.
Early Game vs Late Game
Karthus55.6%Zaahen44.4%Karthus50.0%Zaahen50.0%Karthus dominates the early game (first 15 minutes) with a commanding 55.6% win rate — a 11.1 percentage point lead over Zaahen. This lopsided early game means Karthus can dictate the pace of the lane from level 1, controlling trades, wave state, and river priority.
Late game (25+ minutes) is equally balanced, with Karthus at 50.0% win rate — only 0.0 points ahead of Zaahen. Team fight execution and macro play determine the winner at this stage, not champion matchup advantage.
Karthus holds the advantage at every stage of the game, making this a consistently favorable matchup from lane through late game team fights. Zaahen players should look for outplays, team-dependent strategies, and picks rather than relying on scaling to win this matchup.
Best Karthus Runes Against Zaahen
Domination
Sorcery
Running Domination primary with Sorcery secondary allows Karthus to press their advantage against Zaahen, amplifying the strengths that make this a favorable matchup.
Karthus matchup data for League of Legends patch 26.3. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 56.25% | 96 | 1.4 | 1,123 | 14,388 | 59.0% | 54.4% | |
| 46.30% | 54 | 1.2 | 1,046 | 13,663 | 47.8% | 45.2% | |
| 46.81% | 47 | 1.4 | 1,151 | 14,433 | 53.3% | 43.8% | |
| 45.00% | 40 | 1.8 | 1,330 | 16,932 | 33.3% | 48.4% | |
| 43.24% | 37 | 1.4 | 1,108 | 13,388 | 40.0% | 45.5% | |
| 45.95% | 37 | 1.4 | 1,170 | 14,401 | 31.3% | 57.1% | |
| 38.24% | 34 | 1.6 | 1,222 | 14,114 | 28.6% | 45.0% | |
| 50.00% | 32 | 1.3 | 1,138 | 14,415 | 25.0% | 65.0% | |
| 72.41% | 29 | 1.4 | 1,101 | 14,191 | 76.9% | 68.8% | |
| 58.62% | 29 | 1.3 | 1,228 | 14,696 | 53.9% | 62.5% | |
| 39.29% | 28 | 1.5 | 1,371 | 13,926 | 35.7% | 42.9% | |
| 38.46% | 26 | 1.6 | 1,291 | 13,753 | 40.0% | 37.5% | |
| 42.31% | 26 | 1.5 | 1,036 | 13,595 | 50.0% | 35.7% | |
| 52.17% | 23 | 1.5 | 1,303 | 14,687 | 55.6% | 50.0% | |
| 69.57% | 23 | 1.5 | 1,136 | 14,474 | 40.0% | 92.3% | |
| 47.83% | 23 | 1.3 | 1,207 | 15,146 | 66.7% | 35.7% | |
| 45.45% | 22 | 1.7 | 1,167 | 14,951 | 45.5% | 45.5% | |
| 59.09% | 22 | 1.5 | 1,302 | 14,322 | 45.5% | 72.7% | |
| 45.00% | 20 | 1.5 | 1,082 | 11,909 | 22.2% | 63.6% | |
| 65.00% | 20 | 1.7 | 1,282 | 14,302 | 55.6% | 72.7% | |
| 50.00% | 20 | 1.7 | 1,408 | 17,299 | 40.0% | 53.3% | |
| 42.11% | 19 | 2.4 | 1,112 | 13,026 | 42.9% | 41.7% | |
| 47.37% | 19 | 1.4 | 1,211 | 15,488 | 28.6% | 58.3% | |
| 27.78% | 18 | 1.9 | 1,281 | 13,726 | 40.0% | 12.5% | |
| 72.22% | 18 | 2.3 | 1,144 | 12,932 | 70.0% | 75.0% | |
| 70.59% | 17 | 2.4 | 1,607 | 17,271 | 42.9% | 90.0% | |
| 41.18% | 17 | 1.3 | 1,227 | 14,284 | 50.0% | 33.3% | |
| 52.94% | 17 | 7.2 | 1,228 | 15,411 | 71.4% | 40.0% | |
| 56.25% | 16 | 1.6 | 1,041 | 14,835 | 66.7% | 50.0% | |
| 46.67% | 15 | 1.9 | 1,131 | 13,765 | 50.0% | 42.9% | |
| 66.67% | 15 | 1.6 | 1,068 | 14,086 | 80.0% | 40.0% | |
| 53.33% | 15 | 6.7 | 1,103 | 12,959 | 57.1% | 50.0% | |
| 46.67% | 15 | 1.4 | 1,150 | 13,290 | 42.9% | 50.0% | |
| 35.71% | 14 | 6.6 | 1,279 | 17,083 | 50.0% | 33.3% | |
| 50.00% | 14 | 2.3 | 1,277 | 14,490 | 66.7% | 37.5% | |
| 28.57% | 14 | 1.4 | 907 | 11,392 | 28.6% | 28.6% | |
| 35.71% | 14 | 7.1 | 1,117 | 12,358 | 80.0% | 11.1% | |
| 50.00% | 14 | 6.5 | 1,420 | 16,709 | 60.0% | 44.4% | |
| 71.43% | 14 | 7.1 | 1,367 | 15,437 | 100.0% | 42.9% | |
| 42.86% | 14 | 1.5 | 1,057 | 12,743 | 55.6% | 20.0% | |
| 38.46% | 13 | 1.4 | 1,062 | 14,135 | 28.6% | 50.0% | |
| 38.46% | 13 | 2.6 | 1,159 | 14,332 | 0.0% | 55.6% | |
| 46.15% | 13 | 6.1 | 1,345 | 15,154 | 0.0% | 75.0% | |
| 69.23% | 13 | 4.7 | 1,280 | 14,357 | 80.0% | 62.5% | |
| 30.77% | 13 | 3.7 | 1,314 | 15,308 | 20.0% | 37.5% | |
| 66.67% | 12 | 1.3 | 1,237 | 16,245 | 100.0% | 55.6% | |
| 33.33% | 12 | 7.2 | 1,340 | 13,728 | 33.3% | 33.3% | |
| 50.00% | 12 | 1.0 | 1,115 | 14,307 | 0.0% | 54.5% | |
| 75.00% | 12 | 6.4 | 1,418 | 17,222 | 75.0% | 75.0% | |
| 25.00% | 12 | 1.7 | 1,113 | 15,763 | 50.0% | 20.0% | |
| 54.55% | 11 | 7.0 | 1,196 | 14,834 | 25.0% | 71.4% | |
| 27.27% | 11 | 1.7 | 1,289 | 15,848 | 33.3% | 25.0% | |
| 45.45% | 11 | 1.7 | 1,163 | 12,134 | 40.0% | 50.0% | |
| 60.00% | 10 | 3.4 | 1,324 | 17,426 | 33.3% | 71.4% | |
| 50.00% | 10 | 5.9 | 1,245 | 15,553 | 100.0% | 44.4% | |
| 50.00% | 10 | 3.2 | 937 | 10,452 | 37.5% | 100.0% | |
| 40.00% | 10 | 1.1 | 1,114 | 13,922 | 60.0% | 20.0% | |
| 44.44% | 9 | 1.4 | 1,131 | 14,567 | 25.0% | 60.0% | |
| 55.56% | 9 | 3.1 | 1,435 | 13,235 | 75.0% | 40.0% | |
| 44.44% | 9 | 3.7 | 1,254 | 14,037 | 40.0% | 50.0% | |
| 37.50% | 8 | 2.2 | 1,273 | 16,626 | 0.0% | 75.0% | |
| 62.50% | 8 | 3.5 | 1,304 | 14,080 | 80.0% | 33.3% | |
| 62.50% | 8 | 6.4 | 1,263 | 13,515 | 33.3% | 80.0% | |
| 25.00% | 8 | 2.1 | 1,134 | 15,683 | 33.3% | 20.0% | |
| 37.50% | 8 | 1.3 | 1,156 | 15,606 | 75.0% | 0.0% | |
| 37.50% | 8 | 6.6 | 970 | 13,206 | 0.0% | 50.0% | |
| 50.00% | 8 | 1.8 | 1,450 | 16,953 | 100.0% | 42.9% | |
| 37.50% | 8 | 5.8 | 1,373 | 14,972 | 50.0% | 33.3% | |
| 42.86% | 7 | 4.7 | 1,113 | 13,286 | 0.0% | 60.0% | |
| 42.86% | 7 | 6.9 | 1,002 | 11,113 | 42.9% | 0.0% | |
| 85.71% | 7 | 1.1 | 1,287 | 13,266 | 100.0% | 75.0% | |
| 42.86% | 7 | 1.3 | 1,020 | 11,407 | 40.0% | 50.0% | |
| 66.67% | 6 | 4.9 | 1,004 | 10,984 | 50.0% | 100.0% | |
| 50.00% | 6 | 7.5 | 1,234 | 15,711 | 66.7% | 33.3% | |
| 83.33% | 6 | 1.1 | 1,145 | 12,338 | 66.7% | 100.0% | |
| 50.00% | 6 | 3.0 | 1,015 | 12,347 | 66.7% | 33.3% | |
| 66.67% | 6 | 3.7 | 1,348 | 14,141 | 33.3% | 100.0% | |
| 83.33% | 6 | 6.5 | 1,409 | 15,494 | 100.0% | 75.0% | |
| 40.00% | 5 | 4.1 | 1,249 | 15,222 | 0.0% | 50.0% | |
| 40.00% | 5 | 6.1 | 1,175 | 13,261 | 0.0% | 50.0% | |
| 40.00% | 5 | 6.6 | 1,316 | 17,045 | 0.0% | 40.0% | |
| 40.00% | 5 | 7.1 | 1,391 | 13,093 | 0.0% | 66.7% | |
| 40.00% | 5 | 7.2 | 1,048 | 12,415 | 40.0% | 0.0% | |
| 60.00% | 5 | 5.8 | 1,344 | 12,696 | 33.3% | 100.0% | |
| 80.00% | 5 | 6.1 | 1,507 | 16,550 | 50.0% | 100.0% | |
| 40.00% | 5 | 6.9 | 1,075 | 13,235 | 50.0% | 33.3% | |
| 20.00% | 5 | 6.3 | 1,276 | 14,780 | 0.0% | 25.0% | |
| 40.00% | 5 | 6.5 | 1,033 | 12,141 | 50.0% | 33.3% | |
| 40.00% | 5 | 4.6 | 964 | 11,019 | 50.0% | 0.0% | |
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Karthus vs Zaahen - Frequently Asked Questions
How does Karthus do against Zaahen in League of Legends?
Karthus wins the Karthus vs Zaahen matchup with a 52.2% win rate compared to Zaahen's 47.8%, a 4.3 percentage point difference. This data is based on 23 recent ranked games in patch 26.3.
How does Karthus do against Zaahen in the early game?
In the early game, Karthus has the advantage against Zaahen with a 55.6% win rate versus 44.4%. 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 Zaahen in the late game?
In the late game, Karthus takes over the Karthus vs Zaahen matchup with a 50.0% win rate compared to 50.0%. Karthus scales better into team fights and objective contests after 25 minutes.
Who wins the Karthus vs Zaahen matchup?
Karthus wins the matchup against Zaahen with a 52.2% win rate in League of Legends patch 26.3. The 4.3 percentage point advantage means Karthus is moderately favored in this lane matchup based on 23 games analyzed.
What is the best Karthus build against Zaahen?
The best Karthus build against Zaahen includes Shadowflame, Rabadon's Deathcap, Blackfire Torch 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 Zaahen?
The best Karthus runes against Zaahen use the Domination primary tree with Sorcery secondary. This rune setup achieves a 100.0% win rate in the Karthus vs Zaahen matchup. See the full rune breakdown in the matchup comparison above.
Does Karthus counter Zaahen?
Yes, Karthus has a favorable matchup against Zaahen with a 52.2% win rate. Karthus has a solid advantage over Zaahen in lane based on current patch 26.3 data.
How do I play Karthus against Zaahen?
When playing Karthus against Zaahen, 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.