MacroMind matchup data: real ranked games, not opinions
Kai'Sa vs Karthus
What is Kai'Sa's win rate vs Karthus?
In ADC, Kai'Sa wins 45% against Karthus across 559 observed ranked games.
Global ranked sample: games from every region and every rank pooled together, not one server's stats. Data runs through patch 26.12; curves updated 2026-08-07.
By 15 minutes the median game has Kai'Sa behind by 312 gold.
Kai'Sa at 15:00
- Gold: -312
- CS: -5
- XP: -407
Typical gap to Karthus, from 557 games that reached 15:00.
Does Kai'Sa counter Karthus?
No, it runs the other way. Karthus takes 55% of 559 ranked ADC games. Kai'Sa can still win it. The rows below show the spots that flip it, so plan your first recall and your trades around them, and play the lane for one of those spots rather than for kills.
How to beat Karthus as Kai'Sa
When Kai'Sa is ahead in gold at 10:00, this matchup runs 54% over 274 games; behind, it drops to 37% over 285.
| The spot | Win rate | Games |
|---|---|---|
| Ahead in gold at 10:00 | 54% | 274 |
| Behind in gold at 10:00 | 37% | 285 |
| First blood | 52% | 328 |
| +kills at 10:00 | 54% | 236 |
| +CS at 10:00 | 55% | 257 |
| 0 deaths at 10:00 | 64% | 91 |
The median first death in this lane comes at 3:36; the level 6 spike lands around 7:38. Respect the all-in window until your spike is online.
What does Kai'Sa build in ADC?
Into Karthus specifically, Kai'Sa finishes Kraken Slayer first most often: 48.9% over 186 games of this matchup.
The most-finished core in this exact matchup is Kraken Slayer, Guinsoo's Rageblade, Dusk and Dawn: 53.8% across 52 games.
The most-finished Kai'Sa core is Kraken Slayer, Guinsoo's Rageblade, Dusk and Dawn: 53.5% across 26,866 games when all three got done. All matchups, patches 26.1-26.12.
Most games start Doran's Blade + Health Potion; the first finished item is usually Kraken Slayer (83,293 games).
Skill plan: Kai'Sa players max Q first and take Q at level 1.