MacroMind matchup data: real ranked games, not opinions
Karthus vs Jarvan IV
Karthus vs Jarvan IV in Jungle: who wins more often?
Across 821 ranked games in Jungle, Karthus beats Jarvan IV in 51% of them.
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 Karthus ahead by 417 gold.
Karthus at 15:00
- Gold: +417
- CS: +19
- XP: +749
Typical gap to Jarvan IV, from 817 games that reached 15:00.
Does Karthus counter Jarvan IV?
Even on the count: Karthus lands at 51% over 821 games. Neither pick wins the lane alone, so take the side you play better and use the rows below to see which early spots swing this one, then play your first ten minutes around them.
Your Karthus game plan against Jarvan IV
With a gold lead at 10:00, Karthus wins 59% of 490 games in this matchup. Behind at the same mark, the rate drops to 38% over 331.
| The spot | Win rate | Games |
|---|---|---|
| Ahead in gold at 10:00 | 59% | 490 |
| Behind in gold at 10:00 | 38% | 331 |
| First blood | 57% | 365 |
| +kills at 10:00 | 61% | 297 |
| +CS at 10:00 | 55% | 626 |
| 0 deaths at 10:00 | 56% | 140 |
| 0 deaths at 15:00 | 66% | 41 |
In the median game here, the first death comes near 4:49 and level 6 lands around 6:44. Until your spike is online, treat the all-in window with respect.
Karthus in Jungle: the items that actually get built
Into Jarvan IV specifically, Karthus finishes Blackfire Torch first most often: 53.3% over 291 games of this matchup.
The most-finished core in this exact matchup is Blackfire Torch, Shadowflame, Rabadon's Deathcap: 57.8% across 64 games.
The most-finished Karthus core is Blackfire Torch, Shadowflame, Rabadon's Deathcap: 53.6% across 1,882 games when all three got done. All matchups, patches 26.1-26.12.
Most games start Scorchclaw Pup + Health Potion; the first finished item is usually Blackfire Torch (8,818 games).
Skill plan: Karthus players max Q first and take Q at level 1.