Kalista vs Karthus Counter Pick

127 games on patch 16.13.1 is a thin foundation, and the resulting 43.3% win rate is better read as a directional signal than a fixed number. The Hard rating is consistent with the kits regardless of how small the sample runs.

Karthus attacks from 450 range, 75 units shorter than Kalista, and 57 attack damage against his 21 base armor is a favorable opening exchange on paper. Trouble starts once he has mana and levels. Lay Waste deals increased damage to isolated enemies, and Kalista spends much of her time repositioning away from the wave through Martial Poise, which is precisely the isolation condition. Wall of Pain then cuts movement speed and magic resistance simultaneously, a compounding problem for a champion already at 330 movement speed against his 335 and already sitting on a flat 30 magic resistance. Defile makes every second spent near him expensive. Kalista’s defensive growth is superb but aimed the wrong way, since 112.4 armor at level 18 does nothing about a fully magic profile, while 2,498 health does help. Death Defied means killing him fails to end the threat, so Fate’s Call is better spent pulling her Oathsworn clear of a Requiem channel than chasing the finish. The Karthus page covers his exact ability behavior.