AP Burn Karthus Build

ARAM Build Guide for champion Karthus and build AP Burn.

AP Burn Karthus build with runes and items. AP Burn Karthus guide offers in-depth how-to play, skill order and tips. Play AP Burn Karthus build in League of Legends Patch 14.21!

Updated: 2024-10-09 ()

TLDR

Starting items
Haunting Guise should be final item in your build.
Quick Skill Order
Karthus ability Lay Waste should be leveled first.
Q
Karthus ability Defile should be leveled second.
E
Karthus ability Wall of Pain should be leveled third.
W
Final items
Sorcerer's Shoes should be final item in your build.
Liandry's Torment should be final item in your build.
Malignance should be final item in your build.
Blackfire Torch should be final item in your build.
Shadowflame should be final item in your build.
Void Staff should be final item in your build.
Quick Runes
Major rune Dark Harvest from Domination tree.
Minor rune Precision.
Summoner spells
Pick Mark as your Summoner Spell.
Pick Flash as your Summoner Spell.

AP Burn Karthus Runes

Domination
Domination major tree Electrocute rune.
Domination major tree Dark Harvest rune.
Domination major tree Hail of Blades rune.
Domination major tree Cheap Shot rune.
Domination major tree Taste of Blood rune.
Domination major tree Sudden Impact rune.
Domination major tree Zombie Ward rune.
Domination major tree Ghost Poro rune.
Domination major tree Eyeball Collection rune.
Domination major tree Treasure Hunter rune.
Domination major tree Relentless Hunter rune.
Domination major tree Ultimate Hunter rune.
Precision
Precision minor tree Absorb Life rune.
Precision minor tree Triumph rune.
Precision minor tree Presence of Mind rune.
Precision minor tree Legend: Alacrity rune.
Precision minor tree Legend: Haste rune.
Precision minor tree Legend: Bloodline rune.
Precision minor tree Coup de Grace rune.
Precision minor tree Cut Down rune.
Precision minor tree Last Stand rune.
Passive
Passive tree Adaptive Force rune (+9 Adaptive Force).
Passive tree Attack Speed rune (+10% Attack Speed).
Passive tree Ability Haste rune (+8 Ability Haste).
Passive tree Adaptive Force rune (+9 Adaptive Force).
Passive tree Move Speed rune (+2 Movement Speed).
Passive tree Health Scaling rune (+10-180 Health (based on level)).
Passive tree Health rune (+65 Health).
Passive tree Tenacity And Slow Resist rune (+10 Tenacity and Slow Resist).
Passive tree Health Scaling rune (+10-180 Health (based on level)).

How it works

General
  1. You play as Mage building Burn items.
  2. You rush Liandry's Torment.
  3. You burn your enemies. With DOTs. And debuffs.

How to play

General
  1. Playing AP Burn Karthus build, your default rush is Liandry's Torment vs. HP, Blackfire Torch vs. squishes. Then get the other item
  2. Adapt to an enemy team. Are they full of tanks, and they rush tons of Magic Resist? You rush Void Staff as #2 or #3 item to counter MR stacking. Their team has champs with lots of healing? Rush Oblivion Orb as #2 item (upgrade to Morellonomicon as 4th or 5th item).
  3. Items like Morellonomicon or Oblivon Orb are extra effective with this build, thanks to damage over time effects from Liandry's Torment.
  4. In some rare cases, when an enemy team has an extremely strong shielding, you can even buy Serpent's Fang. It works with your DoTs, meaning shield reduction lasts longer.
  5. They have lots of melee? Or you just want to kite them? Get Rylai's Crystal Scepter.
  6. Somebody is going after you each fight? Always getting ulted by enemy assassins? Rush Zhonya's Hourglass.
  7. If you are doing well, are ahead and want to have some fun, you can buy The Collector item. It works off your damage over time effects!

Tips and Tricks

General
  1. Late in the game, you can sell boots and go for sixth AP item.
  2. You can stop push by using W on minions.
  3. You can die in strategic positions and prevent an enemy team from pushing/defending turret.
  4. You can start casting your R when somebody is dead and has 2 seconds left, so you will hit him instantly with R (i.e Fizz won't use E to dodge it).
  5. Enemies in your base? Use E before taking portal (frost-gate) - you will damage them on your way!
Riot
  1. Ask your allies to help point out when you should use Requiem to get kills in different lanes.
  2. Lay Waste is very strong at farming minions and harassing enemy champions.

Skill Order

  • Karthus [object Object] ability.
    Q
    Lay Waste
  • Karthus [object Object] ability.
    W
    Wall of Pain
  • Karthus [object Object] ability.
    E
    Defile
  • Karthus [object Object] ability.
    R
    Requiem

Items

Starting items
Haunting Guise item.
Rush this
Liandry's Torment item.
Boots
Sorcerer's Shoes item.
Ionian Boots of Lucidity item.
For mana problems
Tear of the Goddess item.
Seraph's Embrace item.
Rod of Ages item.
Good items
Shadowflame item.
Malignance item.
Horizon Focus item.
Rabadon's Deathcap item.
Blackfire Torch item.
Riftmaker item.
Rylai's Crystal Scepter item.
Situational items
Banshee's Veil item.
Zhonya's Hourglass item.
Morellonomicon item.
Imperial Mandate item.
Against high MR
Additional considerations for these items is advised!
Void Staff item.
Cryptbloom item.
Counter healing
Oblivion Orb item.
Morellonomicon item.
Counter shields
Serpent's Fang item.
Fun item that works with DoTs
The Collector item.
For the last fight
Additional considerations for these items is advised!
Seeker's Armguard item.
Elixir of Sorcery item.
Elixir of Iron item.
Example final build
Sorcerer's Shoes item.
Liandry's Torment item.
Malignance item.
Blackfire Torch item.
Shadowflame item.
Void Staff item.