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ARAM · Howling AbyssMatchup guidePatch 16.20.1

Karma vs Vex

Build, runes, abilities and practical pre-game checks in one queue-aware reference.

KarmaVSVex

Matchup guide

Choose the matchup

Search any two champions. ARAM uses one shared lane, so no Rift role selection is required.

VS
FormatOne shared lane

Choose two champions from the list.

ARAM context

One shared lane, one champion-specific plan

The page uses ARAM starting, shopping and teamfight rules. Its internal build source is not shown as a Rift assignment.

Howling Abyss
Review patch unknownRecommendation review pending

These patches track recommendation review, build validation and item lookup separately. Updating item data does not complete a build review.

Recommendation patch
— Data Dragon
Build validation patch
16.19.1 Data Dragon
Item lookup patch
16.20.1 Data Dragon

Howling Abyss rules

Prepare for one shared lane

ARAM removes the normal Rift role map. Build around the champion, the five-player team and the next fight instead.

01
Start together

Review rerolls and the shared bench, then leave with an opening that fits this champion and the team around it.

02
Shop while dead

You cannot Recall to buy. Plan components before leaving the shop and use each death timer deliberately.

03
Share health relics

A relic heals nearby allies after a short delay. Signal it and avoid taking the trigger when a lower-health teammate needs the area.

04
Fight with the wave

Minions create structure pressure and safer space. Clearing first can be more useful than forcing another low-health engage.

ARAM · Howling Abyss

ARAM utility support

Compare the opening with Riot's ARAM Recommended shop before leaving base. After that, purchases happen only while dead; the six usable inventory slots do not increase.

Death-only shopping
S
ARAM opening · separate from item 1

Guardian's Orb

950 gold

An ARAM ability-power starter to compare with the current Recommended shop.

1
Haste Boots

Ionian Boots of Lucidity

900 gold

Adds inexpensive haste and movement for repeated utility casts.

2
Healing and shielding

Moonstone Renewer

2,200 gold

Improves repeated healing and shielding during grouped fights.

3
Team movement

Shurelya's Battlesong

2,200 gold

Helps nearby allies start or leave a fight.

4
Team recovery

Redemption

2,300 gold

Provides a long-range team heal for spread fights.

5
Cleanse option

Mikael's Blessing

2,300 gold

Removes eligible crowd control from one ally; replace it when there is nothing important to cleanse.

6
Final option

Ardent Censer

2,200 gold

Completes the permanent inventory with ally attack speed and on-hit damage when the team can use both.

Buy this only after selling the Guardian starter when all six permanent slots are needed.

Complete build choices

Choose the route before play

Recommendation review pending

AlternativeToo much healingMorellonomicon applies anti-heal. Buy it earlier only when healing is already deciding fights.View full route

Best when: Morellonomicon applies anti-heal. Buy it earlier only when healing is already deciding fights.

  1. Haste BootsIonian Boots of Lucidity
  2. Healing and shieldingMoonstone Renewer
  3. Morellonomicon
  4. Team recoveryRedemption
  5. Cleanse optionMikael's Blessing
  6. Final optionArdent Censer

Buy this only after selling the Guardian starter when all six permanent slots are needed.

AlternativeThey burst meZhonya's stasis can absorb a committed dive or lethal burst window.View full route

Best when: Zhonya's stasis can absorb a committed dive or lethal burst window.

  1. Haste BootsIonian Boots of Lucidity
  2. Healing and shieldingMoonstone Renewer
  3. Zhonya's Hourglass
  4. Team recoveryRedemption
  5. Cleanse optionMikael's Blessing
  6. Final optionArdent Censer

Buy this only after selling the Guardian starter when all six permanent slots are needed.

AlternativeOne spell stops meBanshee's spell shield can protect the first important cast against you.View full route

Best when: Banshee's spell shield can protect the first important cast against you.

  1. Haste BootsIonian Boots of Lucidity
  2. Healing and shieldingMoonstone Renewer
  3. Team movementShurelya's Battlesong
  4. Banshee's Veil
  5. Cleanse optionMikael's Blessing
  6. Final optionArdent Censer

Buy this only after selling the Guardian starter when all six permanent slots are needed.

AlternativeThey stack magic resistVoid Staff becomes valuable when the target has bought meaningful magic resistance.View full route

Best when: Void Staff becomes valuable when the target has bought meaningful magic resistance.

  1. Haste BootsIonian Boots of Lucidity
  2. Healing and shieldingMoonstone Renewer
  3. Team movementShurelya's Battlesong
  4. Void Staff
  5. Cleanse optionMikael's Blessing
  6. Final optionArdent Censer

Buy this only after selling the Guardian starter when all six permanent slots are needed.

Complete build comparison

Complete build comparison

Recommendation review pending

Build review neededARAM utility supportRecommendation review pendingView full route

Recommendation review pending

  1. Haste BootsIonian Boots of Lucidity
  2. Healing and shieldingMoonstone Renewer
  3. Team movementShurelya's Battlesong
  4. Team recoveryRedemption
  5. Cleanse optionMikael's Blessing
  6. Final optionArdent Censer

Buy this only after selling the Guardian starter when all six permanent slots are needed.

AlternativeToo much healingMorellonomicon applies anti-heal. Buy it earlier only when healing is already deciding fights.View full route

Best when: Morellonomicon applies anti-heal. Buy it earlier only when healing is already deciding fights.

  1. Haste BootsIonian Boots of Lucidity
  2. Healing and shieldingMoonstone Renewer
  3. Morellonomicon
  4. Team recoveryRedemption
  5. Cleanse optionMikael's Blessing
  6. Final optionArdent Censer

Buy this only after selling the Guardian starter when all six permanent slots are needed.

AlternativeThey burst meZhonya's stasis can absorb a committed dive or lethal burst window.View full route

Best when: Zhonya's stasis can absorb a committed dive or lethal burst window.

  1. Haste BootsIonian Boots of Lucidity
  2. Healing and shieldingMoonstone Renewer
  3. Zhonya's Hourglass
  4. Team recoveryRedemption
  5. Cleanse optionMikael's Blessing
  6. Final optionArdent Censer

Buy this only after selling the Guardian starter when all six permanent slots are needed.

AlternativeOne spell stops meBanshee's spell shield can protect the first important cast against you.View full route

Best when: Banshee's spell shield can protect the first important cast against you.

  1. Haste BootsIonian Boots of Lucidity
  2. Healing and shieldingMoonstone Renewer
  3. Team movementShurelya's Battlesong
  4. Banshee's Veil
  5. Cleanse optionMikael's Blessing
  6. Final optionArdent Censer

Buy this only after selling the Guardian starter when all six permanent slots are needed.

AlternativeThey stack magic resistVoid Staff becomes valuable when the target has bought meaningful magic resistance.View full route

Best when: Void Staff becomes valuable when the target has bought meaningful magic resistance.

  1. Haste BootsIonian Boots of Lucidity
  2. Healing and shieldingMoonstone Renewer
  3. Team movementShurelya's Battlesong
  4. Void Staff
  5. Cleanse optionMikael's Blessing
  6. Final optionArdent Censer

Buy this only after selling the Guardian starter when all six permanent slots are needed.

Runes and summoner spells

Runes and summoner spellsKarmaHowling Abyss

Aery and Revitalize support repeated ally protection. Exhaust is a manual answer to one committed diver rather than a generic damage spell.

ARAM
Primary tree

Sorcery

Summon AeryManaflow BandTranscendenceGathering Storm
Secondary tree

Resolve

Font of LifeRevitalize
Summoner spells
FlashExhaust
Howling Abyss only

Mark and Clarity are mode-specific choices. Do not copy this pair onto a Summoner's Rift page.

Protect the next fight

Choose the second spell around access, survival and team resources rather than treating every ARAM champion as a diver.

Matchup notes

What changes when Vex is opposite you?

Pre-game kit comparison
Shared-lane interaction

Compare reliable reach and repeatable value

Track which champion can apply damage, control or protection without crossing the enemy team's safe space. ARAM does not turn this kit comparison into a lane-counter claim.

Team context first

Rerolls, allied range, engage and protection can matter more than either champion in isolation.

Your plan

Use the route you prepared

Use the champion-specific ARAM build as a starting reference, then check the current Recommended shop, your five-player composition and the next available death shop.

Ability reminders

Karma reminders

  • Gathering Fire rewards aggressive play. Look to land abilities and basic attacks on your opponent to lower Mantra's cooldown and stay on the offensive.
  • When using Focused Resolve, slow your opponents with Inner Flame or speed yourself up with Inspire if you're having trouble sticking to a target.
  • Don't be too conservative with Mantra. Gathering Fire is strongest in teamfights, making it easy to recharge Mantra multiple times.

Static alternatives

Compare the problem before changing the plan

These choices are not selected from live scores. Use one only after you identify the stated match problem yourself.

Only when enemy healing is deciding fights

Oblivion Orb

Oblivion Orb supplies healing reduction without committing to a completed Morellonomicon. Skip both when healing is not the problem or an ally already covers your target reliably. Healing reduction does not reduce shields.

Conditional component, not a core item. Complete Morellonomicon only when its stats and slot efficiency justify delaying another purchase.
They burst me

Zhonya's Hourglass

Zhonya's stasis can absorb a committed dive or lethal burst window.

One spell stops me

Banshee's Veil

Banshee's spell shield can protect the first important cast against you.

They stack magic resist

Void Staff

Void Staff becomes valuable when the target has bought meaningful magic resistance.

Ability reference

Compare both kits

Ability reference Data Dragon 16.20.1

Cooldown / Cost / Range Data Dragon 16.20.1

Karma

  1. P
    Gathering Fire

    Gathering Fire is the always-on rule shaping Karma's normal trading and fight pattern. Watch its in-game state before committing.

  2. Q
    Inner Flame

    Inner Flame contributes damage. Its value changes with cooldown, range and target access; recognise the setup before moving into its effective area.

    Cooldown 9/8/7/6/5 · Cost 40/50/60/70/80 · Listed range 950
  3. W
    Focused Resolve

    Focused Resolve contributes hard crowd control and protection or sustain. Its value changes with cooldown, range and target access; recognise the setup before moving into its effective area.

    Cooldown 12 · Cost 50/55/60/65/70 · Listed range 675
  4. E
    Inspire

    Inspire contributes protection or sustain and damage. Its value changes with cooldown, range and target access; recognise the setup before moving into its effective area.

    Cooldown 10/9.5/9/8.5/8 · Cost 60/65/70/75/80 · Listed range 800
  5. R
    Mantra

    Mantra changes a following cast rather than acting as an isolated button. Choose the version needed before committing, then check the current tooltip for each upgraded effect.

    Cooldown 40/38/36/34 · Listed range 1100

Vex

  1. P
    Doom 'n Gloom

    Doom 'n Gloom is an automatic part of the kit involving hard crowd control and damage. Track when its condition is active instead of treating every fight the same way.

  2. Q
    Mistral Bolt

    Mistral Bolt is a ranged cast involving its listed effect. Respect its line or target area, and avoid spending it when the opponent can simply step away before the important exchange.

    Cooldown 8/7/6/5/4 · Cost 45/50/55/60/65 · Listed range 1200
  3. W
    Personal Space

    Personal Space contributes protection or sustain and damage. Its value changes with cooldown, range and target access; recognise the setup before moving into its effective area.

    Cooldown 16/15/14/13/12 · Cost 75 · Listed range 475
  4. E
    Looming Darkness

    Looming Darkness creates setup or area pressure. Place it where the opponent must choose between entering its space, changing route or giving up the immediate contest.

    Cooldown 12 · Cost 70/80/90/100/110 · Listed range 800
  5. R
    Shadow Surge

    Shadow Surge is a ranged cast involving movement or repositioning and damage. Respect its line or target area, and avoid spending it when the opponent can simply step away before the important exchange.

    Cooldown 140/120/100 · Cost 100 · Listed range 2000/2500/3000

Adapt the plan

What to do when the game changes

Judge the whole lane or map state, not only personal kills. Choose the situation closest to the current game.

Even plan

Trade around health, range and the next wave

1
Wave

Let the team clear without spending every important cooldown at once.

2
Map play

Track the shared lane, brush control and available relics rather than looking for a Rift rotation.

3
Fights

Use the champion's reliable range, protection or control before forcing a low-percentage engage.

Shared-lane plan

Karma on Howling Abyss

Read health, range, wave position and respawn timing together. ARAM has no side-lane rotation, neutral-objective setup or normal ward-control loop.

ARAM only
1
Before the fight

Clear or escort the wave, check which allies are alive and preserve enough health to use the champion's reliable range, protection or engage.

2
During the fight

Use the nearest safe target and the team's reachable follow-up. Do not cross the whole enemy formation for a single low-health champion.

3
After the fight

Push with surviving minions, take the safe structure damage available and reset only through a real death rather than donating one alone.

Keep preparing

Stay with Howling Abyss information

Open the complete ARAM build or compare another champion. Rift role counters are intentionally kept out of this page.

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