How do you play Karma these days

Catastrop·5/17/2015, 8:10:07 PM·2 votes·1,184 views

All I really want to know is how people play her compared to me as I'm not new to her or anything but I can definitely use some pointers. I play her exclusively as a Mid Lane Utilimage, so maxing Q first is a given but I always max E second because as it has a lot of uses. I take to rushing item 3174 as early as possible along with upgraded item 3259 so I can spam it(E) on myself and teammates, the alacrity boost helps to provide more mobility so I get there in time to save a teammate and give them a few more seconds to either take the kill or get away. I choose not to go for item 3158 because I prefer the magic pen from mage boots and with Grail alone Inner Flame is on a 3 second cooldown while everything is like 7-9 seconds. After I've gotten those 2 items I get item 3089 then build according to how the game is going. This way I end up as support that hits like a truck late game and by this I mean I usually come with like 25+ assists and never go above 15 kills(and even if I do it's pretty rare). Deaths are not really a problem as thanks to EW/WE(usually followed up by a Q) combo I usually come out safe from skirmishes and in teamfights. Also on the topic of teamfights, I make it a point to land W on someone while I cast RE so Mantra is back up to be used just in time for an RQ on any stragglers or chasers if the fight went awry. So yeah, that's about it.

23 Comments

aaronautumn5/17/2015, 8:17:23 PM2 votes

i take w first and max it, especially when against someone melee. i don't usually poke much with q so that i can save mana and skip getting a mana item.

Healurownbum5/17/2015, 8:19:48 PM2 votes

With the new changes it see whats what after those changes. Cause by the looks of it she will be support mostly W heal nerf is going to hurt her alot.

Cindikle5/17/2015, 8:31:12 PM2 votes

Depends on the teams needs. She's very flexible in this way.

  • Full AP(Dcap, sorc boots, Void, Hourglass, Ludens, Athene/Morello)
  • AP bruiser(Abyssal, Liandry's, Athene/Morello, sorc boots, Hourglass or Omen+situational last time) You mostly want some more HP on your last item depending on if you got Omen.
  • AP tank(not after PBE changes though since she loses the %missing hp heal). Fairly general tank build, but you'll want Liandry's mixed in. Mostly played in jungle more than lane.
jDVL20eCYs5/17/2015, 8:45:34 PM2 votes

vs ap you go ludens rush if you get 1600 gold at your first or second back. if not then you go double doran> mpen boots > athean > d cap >void > ludens >zhonya/liandr. in lane you poke with q and auto. you trade with e into w and then land point blank mantra q. in tema fights you try hit there back line with mantra q while you peel fro you adc or someone that needs it with e and w.

and next pathc they buffed ap karma mid since your e w menta q combo got a 30% ratio buff. DONT LISTEN TO ANYONE TAHT SAY NEW KARMA GET NERFED SHE GOT ONLY BUFFED THANKS. no one used mantra w and e for damage. you almost never used them. now its a purpose for them at least. but yeah just e w mantra q peoepl for tard damage. once you learn her mechanics she is broken in lane and have solid poke late and mid game

SSLRranma5/17/2015, 8:45:39 PM2 votes

wouldn't item 3003 be better over item 3174 be better because of the AP? your giving up some CDR but Karma has low Cooldowns anyway. Besides you can get item 3165 for cooldown after a item 3089 or item 3285 .

Vistha Kai5/17/2015, 8:46:46 PM2 votes

Skill order: Q->E->W Build: RoA, Athene, Rabadon, Void Staff, Sorcs, Zhonya/Liandry's

I only ever use RW for heal, snare is secondary, damage is even lower priority. Once I get some points into E I walk into the middle of a wave RE then finish melees with a Q. Sometimes use it on the front line to shield them while getting refunds from Gathering Fire. RQ in any other situation.

PBE changes give me cancer.

IGotScuttleCrabs5/17/2015, 9:44:05 PM1 votes

item 3285 > item 3165 > item 3259 > item 3089 > item 3157 > item 3151 // item 3135 basically I aim to blow the adc down to 25% in one Mantra Q. Sometimes swap item 3048 in for item 3165 and run some scaling cdr runes if I feel safe.

SnugglePuggle945/18/2015, 1:48:26 AM1 votes

My build for her is item 3285 item 3152 item 3089 along with what ever defensive item that goes well against the fed enemy champ, and another AP item or too. If I'm behind, I go with item 3020 , if I'm ahead and fed, I go with item 3158 as it helps me to be able to spam my spells more.