JUNGLE · EMERALD+ · RANKED SOLO

Karthus iconD

How to Play KarthusJungle Build, Emerald+Patch 26.16

The recommended Karthus Jungle build for LoL Patch 26.16, from rune set to skill order to item path, based on MOBA Trainer's merged Emerald+ data.

Last updated

Death DefiedPLay WasteQWall of PainWDefileERequiemR
Patch 26.16 · Emerald+ · Ranked Solo
TierTier down since last patchD#53of 62 Jungle champions
Win rate50.3%vs 51.6% role avg
Pick rate1.2%45th most picked Jungle
Ban rate0.9%

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Karthus Jungle Build (Patch 26.16)

Highest win rate build path (1.2% pick rate, 46.7% win rate). Stats aggregated from Emerald+ ranked.

Runes

46.7% WR
DominationPRIMARY
Dark HarvestKEYSTONE
Cheap Shot
Grisly Mementos
Ultimate Hunter
SorcerySECONDARY
Axiom Arcanist
Gathering Storm
SHARDS

Summoner spells

ExhaustExhaustSmiteSmite

Skill order

Lay WasteQDefileEWall of PainWMax Q first
Lay Waste13579
Wall of Pain41415
Defile28101213
Requiem611

Item build

1.2% pick
StartingScorchclaw PupHealth PotionScorchclaw Pup + Health Potion
Core buildBlackfire TorchBlackfire TorchShadowflameShadowflameZhonya's HourglassZhonya's Hourglass
BootsSorcerer's ShoesSorcerer's Shoes
SituationalBlackfire TorchBlackfire TorchShadowflameShadowflameRabadon's DeathcapRabadon's DeathcapZhonya's HourglassZhonya's HourglassLiandry's TormentLiandry's TormentVoid StaffVoid Staff

Karthus Jungle meta analysis (Patch 26.16)

Karthus holds a 50.3% win rate in the Jungle role on Patch 26.16, 1.4 points below the Jungle role average of 51.6%. That is the 53rd highest win rate of 62 Jungle champions tracked at Emerald+ this patch. With a 1.2% pick rate (45th most played in the role) and a 0.9% ban rate, Karthus rarely gets banned, so the pick is almost always available in champion select.

Karthus Jungle slipped from C to D tier in Patch 26.16. A drop like this usually traces back to direct nerfs, item changes, or a meta shift toward unfavorable matchups, so respect the counter picks more than you did last patch. At D tier, Karthus is a mains-only pick this patch: expect to out-knowledge opponents rather than out-stat them.

Champion select decides a lot of Karthus Jungle games. The hardest matchups this patch are Kayn (44.8% win rate for Karthus) and JarvanIV (45.6% win rate for Karthus): consider banning one or holding your pick until the opponent locks in. On the other side, Sylas (52.9%) and Graves (50.3%) are the matchups to look for, where Karthus wins the lane more often than not at Emerald+.

Other Jungle champions at a similar power level in Patch 26.16:

Frequently asked questions

Is Karthus good in Patch 26.16?

Karthus is D tier Jungle in Patch 26.16 with a 50.3% win rate, 1.2% pick rate, and 0.9% ban rate over merged Emerald+ data from u.gg and op.gg. MOBA Trainer rescored Karthus Jungle after Patch 26.16 using win rate, pick rate, and ban rate within the Jungle role.

What is the best build for Karthus Jungle?

The best Karthus Jungle build in Patch 26.16 uses Blackfire Torch, Shadowflame, Zhonya's Hourglass with the Dark Harvest keystone from op.gg build data merged into MOBA Trainer. Karthus Jungle is D tier with 50.3% win rate this patch.

Who counters Karthus?

Champions that counter Karthus in Patch 26.16 include Kayn (44.8% Karthus win rate), JarvanIV (45.6% Karthus win rate), LeeSin (48.4% Karthus win rate), based on matchup win rates from merged Emerald+ data. See the counters section for full matchup stats.