MacroMind matchup data: real ranked games, not opinions
Zed vs Karthus
Zed vs Karthus in Jungle: who wins more often?
Across 511 ranked games in Jungle, Zed beats Karthus 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 Zed ahead by 104 gold.
Zed at 15:00
- Gold: +104
- CS: -10
- XP: -302
Typical gap to Karthus, from 510 games that reached 15:00.
Does Zed counter Karthus?
Even on the count: Zed lands at 51% over 511 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 Zed game plan against Karthus
With a gold lead at 10:00, Zed wins 58% of 273 games in this matchup. Behind at the same mark, the rate drops to 44% over 238.
| The spot | Win rate | Games |
|---|---|---|
| Ahead in gold at 10:00 | 58% | 273 |
| Behind in gold at 10:00 | 44% | 238 |
| First blood | 54% | 365 |
| +kills at 10:00 | 56% | 254 |
| +CS at 10:00 | 59% | 182 |
| 0 deaths at 10:00 | 67% | 139 |
| 0 deaths at 15:00 | 76% | 55 |
In the median game here, the first death comes near 6:29 and level 6 lands around 6:53. Until your spike is online, treat the all-in window with respect.
Zed in Jungle: the items that actually get built
Into Karthus specifically, Zed finishes Voltaic Cyclosword first most often: 62.1% over 87 games of this matchup.
The most-finished Zed core is Voltaic Cyclosword, Axiom Arc, Serylda's Grudge: 51.3% across 1,411 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 Voltaic Cyclosword (9,255 games).
Skill plan: Zed players max Q first and take Q at level 1.