10 Best Champions To Counter Karma In League of Legends

Karma can be a frustrating champion to play against in League of Legends, thanks to her strong poke, powerful shields, and game-changing crowd control. As a flexible pick that can be played in multiple roles, she excels at controlling fights and keeping her teammates alive. However, she does have clear weaknesses that the right champions can exploit. In this guide, we’ll rank the 10 best champions to counter Karma, whether you’re looking to shut down her poke in lane, punish her lack of mobility, or break through her shields in team fights.

#10: Pyke

Pyke is a great counter to Karma, especially in the support role. Unlike most enchanters, he thrives in aggressive trades and all-ins, which Karma struggles against. His Bone Skewer (Q) can punish Karma’s tendency to poke with Inner Flame (Q) by pulling her into a bad position. Additionally, his Phantom Undertow (E) gives him strong engage and disengage options, making it difficult for Karma to control him with her abilities. Pyke also benefits from his Grey Health passive, allowing him to sustain through Karma’s poke and return stronger trades. If Karma plays too safe, Pyke’s Death from Below (R) can secure kills and snowball the lane.

#9: Morgana

Morgana is an excellent counter to Karma due to her Black Shield (E), which completely nullifies Karma’s Focused Resolve (W) root and Inner Flame (Q) slow. This makes it much harder for Karma to control fights or poke effectively. Morgana’s Dark Binding (Q) is also a deadly tool against Karma, as landing it can lock her down for an extended duration, making her vulnerable to all-ins. Additionally, Morgana’s Tormented Shadow (W) punishes Karma’s tendency to stay in lane and poke, applying constant damage over time. If Karma tries to shield her teammates, Morgana can match that utility while also having a game-changing ultimate, Soul Shackles (R), to turn team fights in her favor.

#8: Taric

Taric is a strong counter to Karma because of his incredible durability and team-wide utility. His Bastion (W) provides a constant shield and bonus armor to an ally, reducing the effectiveness of Karma’s poke from Inner Flame (Q). Additionally, Taric’s Dazzle (E) can stun Karma if she gets too aggressive, making it difficult for her to position safely in fights. His Cosmic Radiance (R) is a game-changer, completely nullifying Karma’s burst potential in extended trades or team fights. Since Karma excels at poke and quick engages, Taric’s ability to mitigate damage and sustain his team makes him a tough matchup for her.

#7: Braum

Braum is a solid counter to Karma due to his ability to block her poke and disrupt her engages. His Unbreakable (E) completely negates Karma’s Inner Flame (Q) and Mantra (R) + Q, preventing her from applying pressure in lane. Additionally, his Winter’s Bite (Q) and passive, Concussive Blows, make it difficult for Karma to freely harass, as any extended trade could result in her being stunned and punished. In team fights, Braum’s Glacial Fissure (R) can disrupt Karma’s positioning, limiting her ability to shield and empower her allies effectively. His defensive toolkit makes him a frustrating matchup for Karma, who thrives on ranged poke and shielding.

#6: Rakan

Rakan is a strong counter to Karma due to his superior mobility and engage potential. While Karma relies on poke and shielding to control the lane, Rakan can quickly close the gap with Grand Entrance (W), forcing Karma into unfavorable trades. His Battle Dance (E) allows him to easily reposition and disengage after poking, making it difficult for Karma to land meaningful harass. Additionally, Rakan’s The Quickness (R) can turn team fights in his favor, as he can charm multiple enemies before Karma has a chance to shield or reposition. His ability to engage and disengage at will makes it hard for Karma to dictate the pace of the lane, giving Rakan and his ADC the advantage in trades and team fights.

#5: Nautilus

Nautilus is one of the best supports to counter Karma due to his high crowd control and engage potential. Unlike Karma, who excels in poke and shielding, Nautilus thrives in all-in fights where he can lock down opponents with Dredge Line (Q) and follow up with Passive – Staggering Blow, immobilizing Karma and preventing her from peeling for her ADC. His Titan’s Wrath (W) grants him a shield, helping him absorb some of Karma’s poke damage, while Riptide (E) slows her down, making it harder for her to escape once engaged. Finally, Depth Charge (R) is an unstoppable lockdown ability that ensures Karma is caught out, disrupting her ability to control the lane with poke and shields. Nautilus’ durability and strong initiation make it difficult for Karma to play her usual safe, poke-heavy playstyle, forcing her into uncomfortable trades.

#4: Thresh

Thresh is a strong counter to Karma because he can disrupt her poke-heavy playstyle and punish her positioning. Unlike Karma, who relies on keeping her distance and shielding allies, Thresh excels at engaging and forcing fights with Death Sentence (Q). Once he lands a hook, Karma has no built-in mobility to escape, making her an easy target for an all-in from his ADC. Flay (E) can also interrupt Karma’s attempt to disengage, preventing her from safely repositioning after poking. Additionally, The Box (R) creates a massive zone of control, slowing Karma and limiting her ability to kite. Even when Karma tries to shield herself and run, Thresh’s Lantern (W) allows his ADC or jungler to follow up on engages, securing kills. His high durability and aggressive playmaking potential make him an excellent pick to shut down Karma’s ability to control the lane with poke and shields.

#3: Blitzcrank

Blitzcrank is one of the best counters to Karma because of his ability to completely disrupt her safe, poke-heavy laning phase. Karma thrives on staying at a distance, constantly harassing enemies with Inner Flame (Q) while shielding herself and her ADC with Inspire (E). However, Blitzcrank forces her into fights she doesn’t want by landing a well-timed Rocket Grab (Q). Once Karma is pulled in, she has no escape tools, making her an easy target for an all-in.

Additionally, Power Fist (E) provides a follow-up knock-up, preventing her from using her shields or healing in time to escape. If Blitzcrank uses Static Field (R), he silences Karma, preventing her from casting abilities and further limiting her ability to peel for herself or her ADC. Since Karma is heavily reliant on her abilities for poke, sustain, and disengage, Blitzcrank’s silence and crowd control completely neutralize her effectiveness.

Even in the mid-to-late game, Blitzcrank remains a threat. One good Rocket Grab onto Karma can force her out of a teamfight or lead to an easy pick, completely disrupting the enemy team’s ability to kite and disengage. His aggressive playstyle and ability to punish squishy supports make Blitzcrank a nightmare matchup for Karma.

#2: Alistar

Alistar is a strong counter to Karma because of his incredible tankiness and crowd control, which allows him to shrug off her poke damage and punish her aggression. Karma relies on zoning and harassing enemies with Inner Flame (Q), but Alistar’s natural sustain with Triumphant Roar (Passive) helps him heal through the damage, making her poke far less effective.

When Karma tries to shield herself and disengage with Inspire (E), Alistar can completely ignore it by engaging with Headbutt (W) and Pulverize (Q), forcing her into a bad position. Since Karma lacks mobility, once Alistar locks her down, she has no escape, making her and her ADC easy targets for an all-in. His crowd control combo disrupts her ability to kite and peel, which is one of her biggest strengths.

Alistar’s Unbreakable Will (R) is another huge advantage in this matchup. Even if Karma and her ADC try to focus him down, his ultimate removes all crowd control and reduces incoming damage, allowing him to continue engaging without fear of being bursted down. This makes it extremely difficult for Karma to keep Alistar at bay, as he can soak up damage, engage freely, and create opportunities for his team.

In teamfights, Alistar remains a massive threat, as his ability to disrupt the enemy backline prevents Karma from effectively shielding and supporting her teammates. His tankiness, sustain, and ability to force engagements make him one of the best champions to counter Karma in both lane and late-game fights.

#1: Leona

Leona is the best counter to Karma because of her high-engage potential, tankiness, and lockdown abilities, which completely shut down Karma’s poke-heavy, disengage-focused playstyle. Unlike other engage supports, Leona has multiple ways to lock down Karma, making it nearly impossible for her to escape once caught.

Karma’s biggest strength in lane is her poke damage with Inner Flame (Q), but Leona can tank the poke with her Eclipse (W), which significantly reduces incoming damage. Once Leona reaches level 2, she can completely flip the lane by engaging with Zenith Blade (E) and Shield of Daybreak (Q), stunning Karma before she can react. Since Karma lacks mobility, Leona’s engage forces her into unfavorable trades where she and her ADC are at a huge disadvantage.

Another major reason why Leona is such a strong counter is that her crowd control chain is much longer than Karma’s disengage options. Even if Karma tries to shield and speed up with Inspire (E) to escape, Leona can lock her down again with Solar Flare (R), ensuring a kill for her ADC. This makes Karma’s utility far less effective, as Leona can bypass shields and keep her immobilized for extended periods.

Leona’s tanky nature and engage tools scale well into the late game, making her a persistent threat. In teamfights, she can dive onto Karma and take her out of the fight entirely, preventing her from peeling for her team. Since Karma thrives on keeping her teammates alive, removing her early in fights drastically reduces her team’s survivability.

Overall, Leona completely shuts down Karma’s strengths, making it impossible for her to play safely. Her hard engage, durability, and lockdown potential make her the best counter to Karma in League of Legends.

Conclusion

Karma is a strong support with powerful poke and utility, but the right champions can shut her down and limit her impact. Engage-heavy supports like Leona, Alistar, and Blitzcrank excel at catching Karma off guard and punishing her lack of mobility, while tanky supports like Braum and Taric can mitigate her poke and sustain through trades. Champions with strong crowd control and all-in potential force Karma into defensive playstyles where she can’t dominate the lane, reducing her effectiveness in both early skirmishes and late-game team fights. By picking the right counter, you can neutralize her poke, shut down her shields, and prevent her from dictating the pace of the game.