10 Best Champions To Counter Karthus In League of Legends

Karthus can be one of the most frustrating champions to deal with in League of Legends, especially because of his global ultimate, Requiem, which can finish off low-health enemies anywhere on the map. His constant damage output, even after death, makes him a threat in both team fights and the jungle. However, certain champions can effectively shut him down, reduce his impact, and outplay his abilities. Whether you need high burst damage, mobility, or silencing effects, this list highlights the 10 best champions to counter Karthus and keep him from carrying the game.

#10: Akali

Akali is a strong counter to Karthus because of her high burst damage and mobility. She can dodge his skill shots with her Shuriken Flip (E) and Twilight Shroud (W), making it difficult for him to land his Lay Waste (Q). Additionally, Akali can assassinate Karthus quickly before he gets a chance to deal sustained damage. Her Shroud also helps her avoid his passive damage after he dies, giving her time to reposition safely. If played well, Akali can completely shut down Karthus in lane and keep him from scaling into the late game.

#9: Lissandra

Lissandra is a great counter to Karthus due to her strong crowd control and defensive tools. Her Ring of Frost (W) can root Karthus in place, making it difficult for him to land his Lay Waste (Q) effectively. Additionally, her Glacial Path (E) allows her to reposition quickly, avoiding Karthus’ skill shots and escaping his Defile (E) damage zone. The biggest advantage Lissandra has is her Frozen Tomb (R), which she can self-cast to become invulnerable and completely negate Karthus’ Requiem (R). This makes her one of the safest mid-lane picks against him, as she can deny his damage while also locking him down in fights.

#8: Diana

Diana is a strong counter to Karthus because of her burst damage, mobility, and shield. Her Pale Cascade (W) provides a shield that helps mitigate some of Karthus’ persistent damage from Defile (E), while her Lunar Rush (E) allows her to quickly gap-close and eliminate him before he can deal significant damage. Since Karthus is a squishy, immobile mage, Diana can use her Moonfall (R) to burst him down instantly, preventing him from dealing much damage in team fights. Additionally, her natural sustain and magic resist options make her a solid pick to survive Karthus’ Requiem (R) and keep dominating fights.

#7: Ekko

Ekko is an excellent counter to Karthus because of his mobility, burst damage, and survivability. His Phase Dive (E) allows him to quickly engage Karthus and dodge his Lay Waste (Q) skill shots, while Parallel Convergence (W) can provide a shield and stun Karthus if timed correctly. The biggest advantage Ekko has in this matchup is his Chronobreak (R), which allows him to rewind time and heal back lost health, effectively negating Karthus’ Requiem (R) damage. Since Karthus lacks mobility, Ekko can repeatedly harass, burst, and disengage, making it difficult for Karthus to have an impact in lane or team fights.

#6: Yasuo

Yasuo is a strong counter to Karthus due to his Wind Wall (W), which can completely block Karthus’ Lay Waste (Q) and Defile (E) projectiles, significantly reducing his damage output in fights. Yasuo’s mobility from Sweeping Blade (E) allows him to dodge Karthus’ skill shots and reposition quickly, making it hard for Karthus to land consistent damage. Additionally, Yasuo’s high burst damage and all-in potential let him quickly eliminate Karthus before he can deal significant damage. If Yasuo times his Last Breath (R) correctly, he can chain his knock-up effects with his team, preventing Karthus from retaliating. Since Karthus lacks mobility and relies on consistent poke, Yasuo can easily dash in, burst him down, and escape, making him a great pick against the Deathsinger.

#5: Kassadin

Kassadin is a natural counter to Karthus due to his Innate Magic Damage Reduction (Passive), which significantly reduces the impact of Karthus’ magic-based abilities. His Riftwalk (R) allows him to dodge Lay Waste (Q) and escape Defile (E) while also closing the gap to burst Karthus down. Since Karthus is a squishy, immobile mage, Kassadin can easily scale into the late game and assassinate him before he can deal significant damage. Additionally, Kassadin’s Force Pulse (E) slows Karthus, making it even harder for him to reposition effectively. Once Kassadin reaches level 16, he can spam Riftwalk (R) to chase Karthus down, making it almost impossible for him to escape. If played correctly, Kassadin can completely negate Karthus’ presence and shut him down before he becomes a late-game threat.

#4: Talon

Talon is one of the best assassins to counter Karthus due to his high burst damage and exceptional roaming potential. Karthus is a stationary, squishy mage who struggles against high-mobility champions, and Talon takes full advantage of this. With Assassin’s Path (E), Talon can easily jump over walls and reach Karthus in seconds, preventing him from safely farming or positioning for team fights. His Rake (W) slows Karthus, making it difficult for him to kite away, and Noxian Diplomacy (Q) delivers a quick, lethal burst that can one-shot Karthus if he’s not careful.

Since Karthus lacks any form of escape or mobility, Talon can continuously pressure him in lane and roam to other parts of the map to gain an advantage. Even if Karthus tries to play safe, Talon’s ability to quickly clear waves and roam makes it difficult for Karthus to farm without being under constant threat. By snowballing early and shutting down Karthus before he scales, Talon ensures that Karthus never becomes a major threat in the late game.

#3: LeBlanc

LeBlanc is a nightmare for Karthus due to her high burst damage, mobility, and ability to dodge his skillshots. Karthus relies on Lay Waste (Q) to poke and farm, but LeBlanc can easily dodge it using Distortion (W), allowing her to engage and disengage without taking much damage. Her Sigil of Malice (Q) and Ethereal Chains (E) combo delivers a quick burst that can delete Karthus before he has a chance to react.

Since Karthus has no mobility, LeBlanc can constantly harass him in lane without much risk. Even if he tries to farm safely, her roaming potential allows her to impact other lanes, making it hard for Karthus to scale into the late game. Additionally, when Karthus activates Requiem (R) after dying, LeBlanc can use her W to escape or time her passive invisibility to avoid taking damage. By playing aggressively and forcing Karthus out of lane, LeBlanc can completely shut him down before he becomes a late-game threat.

#2: Zed

Zed is one of the best assassins to counter Karthus due to his high burst damage, mobility, and ability to avoid Requiem (R) with Death Mark (R). Since Karthus is extremely squishy and immobile, Zed can easily engage, burst him down, and escape before Karthus can retaliate.

During the laning phase, Zed can poke Karthus with Razor Shuriken (Q) and shadow out of danger with Living Shadow (W) whenever needed. Once Zed unlocks his ultimate, he can all-in Karthus and secure a kill before Karthus has a chance to deal significant damage. The key to shutting down Karthus as Zed is to pressure him early, roam often, and deny him farm, ensuring he doesn’t reach his late-game power spike.

Most importantly, Zed’s Death Mark (R) makes him untargetable, which means he can completely dodge Requiem (R) if timed correctly. This makes Zed one of the most reliable picks to neutralize Karthus and prevent him from becoming a late-game menace.

#1: Fizz

Fizz is the ultimate counter to Karthus due to his high mobility, burst damage, and ability to completely negate Karthus’ ultimate (Requiem) with Playful/Trickster (E). Since Karthus lacks mobility and relies on landing skill shots, Fizz can easily dodge his Lay Waste (Q) and Wall of Pain (W) while closing the gap for an all-in.

Once Fizz reaches level 6, Chum the Waters (R) guarantees a kill on Karthus if landed. Fizz’s burst combo is too fast for Karthus to react, and because of his passive, he takes reduced damage from auto-attacks, minimizing any potential counterplay.

Most importantly, Fizz’s Playful/Trickster (E) makes him untargetable, allowing him to completely avoid Karthus’ Requiem (R). This ability alone makes Fizz one of the hardest counters to Karthus, as he can deny Karthus’ biggest strength while securing kills with ease. If you want to shut down Karthus effortlessly, Fizz is the best champion for the job.

Conclusion

Countering Karthus in League of Legends requires mobility, burst damage, and the ability to negate his Requiem (R). Champions like Fizz, Zed, and LeBlanc excel at shutting him down before he can deal significant damage. Assassins with gap-closing abilities and high burst potential can quickly eliminate Karthus, preventing him from scaling into a late-game menace. Additionally, champions like Yasuo and Kassadin can minimize his damage and make him ineffective in fights. By picking the right counter, you can dominate the laning phase and shut down Karthus before he becomes a major threat.