If I'm playing Karthus against Zed, is RoA or Zhonyas better to get first?

Strawberrycocoa·Mar 19, 2015·2 votes·1,199 views

I've found myself in a Karthus v Zed match up twice now (I mostly play team builder, so no counterpicking options. Probably wouldn't pick Karthus at all if I knew the enemy was using Zed). The first one went okay, Q-bombed him so much he was afraid to engage, but the second one was aggravating as FUCKING HELL because even after Q-Bombing him down to about 1/4 health he was still able to dive me for a 100-0 then run the hell away before I could finish him, all while he's sitting in my Defile AND I'm dropping Qs on top of him.

I think I got Zhonyas third on that fist guy because he wasn't that much of a threat, but the second guy I started building RoA to get the charges rolling before realizing Zhonyas or even Armguard might have been a better idea for the first item.

Thoughts?

9 Comments

AquifnMar 19, 20153 votes

If you're karthus against zed, don't let him engage. Turn it into a farm lane and making warding a part of your game to help your team. You automatically bring pressure to other lanes with your ult. Zed has to roam for that. If he roams, you can take his tower with your impressive pushing power. Sometimes winning your lane, means not engaging your lane. Karthus into Zed is one of those times

Sinister SnailMar 19, 20151 votes

{quoted}

If you're karthus against zed, don't let him engage. Turn it into a farm lane and making warding a part of your game to help your team. You automatically bring pressure to other lanes with your ult. Zed has to roam for that. If he roams, you can take his tower with your impressive pushing power. Sometimes winning your lane, means not engaging your lane. Karthus into Zed is one of those times

This a billion times. Karth's damage and bulk spikes so hard once he finishes RoA, then Seraphs, that you need to farm hard to get to it ASAP, and you need a real good reason to get any items that delay that build path. (boots excluded, ofc)

StrawberrycocoaMar 19, 20151 votes

{quoted}

This a billion times. Karth's damage and bulk spikes so hard once he finishes RoA, then Seraphs, that you need to farm hard to get to it ASAP, and you need a real good reason to get any items that delay that build path. (boots excluded, ofc)

So I wouldn't want Rabbadon's after RoA? Christ maybe that's my problem. XD

AquifnMar 19, 20151 votes

{quoted}

So I wouldn't want Rabbadon's after RoA? Christ maybe that's my problem. XD

You want to get it 3rd or 4th depending on if you're ahead and the MR of the enemy team. He does enough damage off his core to not require rushing it. That being said, if you're just taking names go ahead and grab that third. I've found a lot of times the void staff is more important to get first.

There is also that brand new 120 ap item that I'm still trying to decide if Karthus wants it or not.

StrawberrycocoaMar 19, 20151 votes

{quoted}

You want to get it 3rd or 4th depending on if you're ahead and the MR of the enemy team. He does enough damage off his core to not require rushing it. That being said, if you're just taking names go ahead and grab that third. I've found a lot of times the void staff is more important to get first.

There is also that brand new 120 ap item that I'm still trying to decide if Karthus wants it or not.

Hmm, I forgot about Luden's Echo honestly. Move speed to keep up with people trying to run from your Q-bombs would be nice, and if Requiem will utilize all it's charges on each enemy hit instead of picking one enemy at random to be the "main" target, all the better to nail those jerks that escape with 2 health.

Very Hard EngageMar 19, 20151 votes

roa to q farm more and just generally stay back more. youll also be able to take a bit more of his poke damage with the bonus health. zhonyas would be better to negate his ult and prevent him from 100-0 you.

id go with roa for the sustain, if you're far enough back he shouldn't be able to get to you without playing very aggressive and making him open to ganks

StrawberrycocoaMar 19, 20151 votes

{quoted}

roa to q farm more and just generally stay back more. youll also be able to take a bit more of his poke damage with the bonus health. zhonyas would be better to negate his ult and prevent him from 100-0 you.

id go with roa for the sustain, if you're far enough back he shouldn't be able to get to you without playing very aggressive and making him open to ganks

Hmm, so engaging him even with a health percentage advantage is a bad idea then, try to make it a farm lane?