MacroMind matchup data — real ranked games, not opinions
Karthus vs Kai'Sa
How often does Karthus beat Kai'Sa in ADC?
Karthus into Kai'Sa in ADC: 55% observed win rate across 559 ranked games. Counted from real matches, and every number here shows its sample size.
By 15 minutes the median game has Karthus ahead by 312 gold.
Does Karthus counter Kai'Sa?
The numbers say yes: across 559 ranked ADC games into Kai'Sa, Karthus takes 55% — past the noise band for this sample. Read from Kai'Sa's side, the same games give the mirror rate, and every number here shows the games behind it.
Beating Kai'Sa: the Karthus game plan
A 300-gold lead at 10:00 puts Karthus at 64% across 285 games. Flip the lead and Karthus falls to 46% across 274.
| The spot | Win rate | Games |
|---|---|---|
| 300 gold up at 10:00 | 64% | 285 |
| 300 gold down at 10:00 | 46% | 274 |
| First blood | 60% | 241 |
| +kills at 10:00 | 64% | 233 |
| +CS at 10:00 | 64% | 296 |
| 0 deaths at 10:00 | 56% | 50 |
Someone usually dies here around 3:20 in the median game, and level 6 lands near 7:18. Until your spike is online, respect the all-in.
Karthus's ADC build, with receipts
Into Kai'Sa specifically, Karthus finishes Blackfire Torch first most often: 51.9% over 237 games of this matchup.
The most-finished core in this exact matchup is Blackfire Torch, Shadowflame, Rabadon's Deathcap: 53.8% across 65 games.
The most-finished Karthus core is Blackfire Torch, Shadowflame, Rabadon's Deathcap: 58.3% across 949 games when all three got done. All matchups, patches 16.1-16.12.
Most games start Doran's Ring + Health Potion + Health Potion; the first finished item is usually Blackfire Torch (3,479 games).
Skill plan: Karthus players max Q first and take Q at level 1.