Bot · SwiftplayMatchup chartPatch 16.20.1

Karthus vs Vex

Loadout, runes, tricks and practical pre-battle checks in one queue-aware reference.

Arrr, role fit

BotKarthus

Karthus has a reviewed secondary role here. It be less common aboard than th' primary roles, but it has a recognisable role-specific course.

Arrr, reviewed secondary

Review patch be unknownRecommendations await inspection

These patches keep recommendation review, build checks and item lookup on separate charts, matey. Fresh item data does not finish a build review.

Recommendations’ patch: — Data Dragon
Build check’s patch: 16.19.1 Data Dragon
Item lookup’s patch: 16.20.1 Data Dragon

Arrr, Swiftplay · Bot

Arrr, mage bottom baseline

Follow th' completed-gear order as a pre-battle reference. Components and owned gear do nay create extra inventory slots.

Arrr, reviewed secondary

Swiftplay opening · separate from gear 1

Guardian's Orb

950 doubloons

Adds trick power, hull and mana regeneration fer repeated spell use in Swiftplay; manaless champions receive hull regeneration instead.

First aboard gear

Luden's Echo

2,750 doubloons

Completes th' six-gear inventory wit' movement speed and trick haste fer repeated late-battle spell rotations.

Boots

Sorcerer's Shoes

1,100 doubloons

Adds flat magic penetration agin' targets without meaningful magic resistance.

Arrr, long-range utility

Horizon Focus

2,700 doubloons

Rewards reliably landing a long-range trick afore following wit' th' rest o' th' spell rotation.

Arrr, late power

Rabadon's Deathcap

3,500 doubloons

Multiplies trick power after th' functional spell core be shipshape; move defence or penetration ahead when those problems matter first aboard.

Arrr, vs resistance

Cryptbloom

3,000 doubloons

Adds percentage magic penetration and a takedown heal when foes have meaningful magic resistance and crew fights be frequent.

Arrr, repeated spell rotations

Cosmic Drive

3,000 doubloons

Adds movement speed and trick haste fer repeated late-battle spell rotations after th' core be established.

Buy this only after selling yer Guardian starter, when all six permanent slots be needed, arrr.

Shipshape loadout choices

Pick th' course afore play

Recommendations await inspection

AlternativeArrr, too much healingMorellonomicon applies anti-heal. Buy it earlier only when healing be already deciding fights.

Spy full course

Arrr, best when: Morellonomicon applies anti-heal. Buy it earlier only when healing be already deciding fights.

First aboard gearLuden's Echo
BootsSorcerer's Shoes
Morellonomicon
Arrr, late powerRabadon's Deathcap
Arrr, vs resistanceCryptbloom
Arrr, repeated spell rotationsCosmic Drive

Buy this only after selling yer Guardian starter, when all six permanent slots be needed, arrr.

AlternativeArrr, they burst meArrr, zhonya's stasis can absorb a committed dive or lethal burst window.

Spy full course

Arrr, best when: Arrr, zhonya's stasis can absorb a committed dive or lethal burst window.

First aboard gearLuden's Echo
BootsSorcerer's Shoes
Zhonya's Hourglass
Arrr, late powerRabadon's Deathcap
Arrr, vs resistanceCryptbloom
Arrr, repeated spell rotationsCosmic Drive

Buy this only after selling yer Guardian starter, when all six permanent slots be needed, arrr.

AlternativeArrr, one spell stops meBanshee's spell shield can protect th' first aboard fit fer th' captain's eye cast agin' ye.

Spy full course

Arrr, best when: Banshee's spell shield can protect th' first aboard fit fer th' captain's eye cast agin' ye.

First aboard gearLuden's Echo
BootsSorcerer's Shoes
Arrr, long-range utilityHorizon Focus
Banshee's Veil
Arrr, vs resistanceCryptbloom
Arrr, repeated spell rotationsCosmic Drive

Buy this only after selling yer Guardian starter, when all six permanent slots be needed, arrr.

Arrr, runes and summoner spells

Arrr, runes and summoner spellsKarthusBot

A spell-casting Bot course needs mana and repeated trick contact rather than a marksman attack-speed chart. Heal supports th' shared course.

Arrr, Swiftplay

Arrr, primary tree

Sorcery

Arcane Comet

Manaflow Band

Transcendence

Scorch

Arrr, secondary tree

Precision

Presence of Mind

Cut Down

Arrr, summoner spells

Flash

Heal

Coordinate th' Support

Avoid duplicating th' same defensive spell without a reason. Barrier protects th' user; Heal can protect both nigh th' ship course partners.

Cleanse be specific

Pick Cleanse only when removable crowd control be th' course or fight problem and ye can use it reliably.

Arrr, matchup notes

What changes when Vex is opposite you?

Pre-battle kit comparison

Arrr, kit comparison

Respect th' foe's reliable threat

Track th' cooldown and range o' th' trick that starts their safest trade. Do nay treat this chart as a statistical counter claim.

Yer course

Use th' course ye prepared

Treat Vex as one part o' th' sea chart state. Their Jungler, nigh th' ship waves and which teammates can move determine whether th' same trade or rotation be seaworthy.

Trick reminders

Karthus reminders

Ask yer crewmates to lend a hand point out when ye should use Requiem to get kills in different lanes.
Lay Waste be very strong at farming minions and harassing foe champions.

Arrr, static alternatives

Compare th' problem afore changing th' course

These choices be nay picked from live scores. Use one only after ye identify th' stated clash problem yourself.

Arrr, Only when enemy healing is deciding fights

Oblivion Orb

Arrr, 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.

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

Arrr, they burst me

Zhonya's Hourglass

Arrr, zhonya's stasis can absorb a committed dive or lethal burst window.

Arrr, one spell stops me

Banshee's Veil

Banshee's spell shield can protect th' first aboard fit fer th' captain's eye cast agin' ye.

Trick reference

Arrr, compare both kits

Trick reference Data Dragon 16.20.1

Cooldown / Cost / Range Data Dragon 16.20.1

Karthus

P
Death Defied
Death Defied be th' always-on rule shaping Karthus's normal trading and fight pattern. Watch its in-battle state afore committing.
Q
Lay Waste
Lay Waste contributes damage. Its value changes wit' cooldown, range and target access; recognise th' setup afore moving into its effective area.
Cost 20/25/30/35/40 · Arrr, listed range 875
W
Wall of Pain
Wall o' Pain be part o' Karthus's W pattern. Read its listed effect first aboard, then track th' cooldown and condition that make th' next aboard use valuable.
Cooldown 15 · Cost 70 · Arrr, listed range 1000
E
Defile
Defile contributes damage. Its value changes wit' cooldown, range and target access; recognise th' setup afore moving into its effective area.
Cooldown 0.5 · Cost 30/42/54/66/78 · Arrr, listed range 550
R
Requiem
Requiem contributes damage. Its value changes wit' cooldown, range and target access; recognise th' setup afore moving into its effective area.
Cooldown 200/180/160 · Cost 100 · Arrr, listed range 10000

Vex

P
Doom 'n Gloom
Doom 'n Gloom be an automatic part o' th' kit involving hard crowd control and damage. Track when its condition be active instead o' treating every fight th' same way.
Q
Mistral Bolt
Mistral Bolt be a ranged cast involving its listed effect. Respect its line or target area, and avoid spending it when th' foe can simply step astern afore th' fit fer th' captain's eye exchange.
Cooldown 8/7/6/5/4 · Cost 45/50/55/60/65 · Arrr, listed range 1200
W
Personal Space
Personal Space contributes protection or sustain and damage. Its value changes wit' cooldown, range and target access; recognise th' setup afore moving into its effective area.
Cooldown 16/15/14/13/12 · Cost 75 · Arrr, listed range 475
E
Looming Darkness
Looming Darkness creates setup or area pressure. Place it where th' foe must choose betwixt entering its space, changing course or giving up th' immediate contest.
Cooldown 12 · Cost 70/80/90/100/110 · Arrr, listed range 800
R
Shadow Surge
Shadow Surge be a ranged cast involving movement or repositioning and damage. Respect its line or target area, and avoid spending it when th' foe can simply step astern afore th' fit fer th' captain's eye exchange.
Cooldown 140/120/100 · Cost 100 · Arrr, listed range 2000/2500/3000

Adapt th' course

What to do when th' battle changes

Judge th' whole course or sea chart state, nay only personal kills. Pick th' situation closest to th' present battle.

Even course

Prioritise farm, spacing and coordination wit' Support

Course

Clash th' opposing carry's income and trade when both course partners can participate.

Sea chart play

Finish th' wave afore rotating unless th' fight be immediate and clearly reachable.

Fights

Stand astern o' allied control and loadout damage on reachable targets afore stepping toward th' back aboard line.

Pings, movement and prizes

Karthus Bot sea chart course

Protect income and coordinate wit' Support. Yer movement should follow th' wave, while yer pings make target choice and peril clear th' deck afore th' fight begins.

Ahead

Carry th' lead into th' next aboard seaworthy fight

Ping: Use Target on th' reachable foe, Peril when Support or Jungle be too far across th' waters astern, and On Me Way after th' wave be secured.
Arrr, farm or rotate: Finish th' wave, recall on th' gear timing and rotate wit' protection. Do nay cross river alone to save a few seconds.
Prize: Attack from th' seaworthy side o' th' prize and keep damaging th' nearest reachable threat. Preserving th' shutdown matters more booty than chasing.

Even

Loadout th' gear timing and move together

Ping: Use Target to align wit' Support, Foe Lost overboard when either Bot foe leaves and Peril if an engage begins outside yer seaworthy range.
Arrr, farm or rotate: Rotate after th' wave or when th' prize fight be immediate and reachable. Communicate if staying fer th' wave be th' safer call.
Prize: Enter astern o' vision and allied control. Keep a course astern from th' foe engage afore starting sustained damage.

Behind

Shorten exposure and recover promised doubloons

Ping: Use Retreat afore Support or Jungle forces a fight ye cannae damage, and Foe Lost overboard as soon as th' taking th' victory Bot course leaves.
Arrr, farm or rotate: Avoid being first aboard into river. Move wit' Support after th' seaworthy wave, or trade an unsafe prize fer protected farm.
Prize: Stand beside peel and attack whoever enters seaworthy range. Do nay cross foe control to reach th' opposing carry.

Prize setup

Arrr, four calls, in order

Pings create a shared course; they do nay replace checking waves, vision and who can move.

1
Secure th' wave
Finish seaworthy farm and communicate th' recall or move afore th' prize setup begins.
2
Arrr, enter protected
Walk wit' Support or another ally and choose th' side where foe engage cannae reach ye first aboard.
3
Arrr, set attack space
Keep an exit course and identify th' nearest target ye can damage without crossing foe control.
4
Arrr, stay alive
Continue useful damage without chasing astern from th' prize or donating a shutdown.

Later prizes: Repeat th' same process 'round later major prizes: handle nigh th' ship income, communicate th' course, enter through vision and agree on th' fight afore committing.

Arrr, keep preparing

Use th' champion chart or choose another foe

Th' matchup chart be a pre-battle reference. It does nay predict th' result or alter its recommendation from changing live clash data.

Unfurl full loadout Arrr, compare counter options

Karthus vs Vex

Pick th' matchup

BotKarthus