Patch 4.9: Karthus Visual Update

[ 6/5 Update: There is also a new bundle, featuring Karthus and his four skins, available for 2621 RP if you need everything. The bundle is available through June 13th ]

Death is a song all will hear  - Patch 4.9 is here and with it comes a visual update for Karthus! The Deathsinger has a ghoulish new model, an entire set of haunting vfx, a new voiceover,
Continue reading for spine tingling look at the Karthus VU, including all of his updated skin, his choir of new champion and item ineractions, the unique VO lines for Pentakill Karthus, and more!

From the official announcement:

"The Karthus Visual Update, after drifting through PBE, has found its way to the live servers! His redesigned model comes replete with new animations, reworked voiceover and spell effects that truly anchor death’s greatest champion to the Shadow Isles. If you’re interested in learning about how we went about updating Karthus or checking out his concept art, head over to our initial PBE announce article.

Excited to bring Karthus’ new visage to the Fields of Justice? Let us know in the comments below!"

Now let's SING!

Karthus, The Deathsinger

New Karthus on the Left, Old Karthus on the right

For this recall and joke, Karthus whips out his trusty grimoire! Different books for each skin.

Living up to his title of The Deathsinger, Karthus' now belts out a shrill cry before rocking out for his dance!

Death Defied ( Passive ) - Karthus sheds his staff/book to casts in this mode, alternate ult animation included.

Lay Waste ( Q )  - initial "grab" left, boom on right.

Team  Indicator for Lay Waste ( Q ) , blue for ally, red for enemy.

Wall of Pain ( W )

Team Indicator for Wall of Pain ( W )

Defile ( E )

Team indicator comparison for Defile ( E )

Requiem ( R ) charging

Requiem ( R ) boom!

New Ability Icons

To go along with his new vfx, Karthus also has new icons for each of his abilities.

New Voiceover & Special Interactions

In addition to his completely new voice over and champion select quote, Karthus also has oodles special item interactions and unique taunts for enemy champions!

Elise

• "You decieve your followers, I will enlighten them"

Hecarim

• "Death's Horse needs no bridle."
• "You are but the herald, Hecarim. Remember who you truly serve."

Leona

• "Your light is but a candle in the infinite dark."

Lucian

• "Abandon your mortality, and find your precious Senna."
• "You can always join her, Lucian; it will be bliss."
• "Lucian! Join her."

Mordekaiser

• "You give the dead purpose, Mordekaiser; I give them meaning."
• "A shell of flesh or a shell of metal; both ring hollow."

Sion

• "Sion, we must free your soul from the prison of flesh."
• "You are only the echo of greatness, but I can give you voice again."

Thresh

• "Death has more meaning than torment alone, Warden."
• "You may shackle the living, but the dead must walk free."

Urgot

• "Urgot.. mmm.. I highly recommend death at this point" [ This one is a joke, not a taunt ]
• "Abomination, you have cheated death too long."

Varus

• "You are on the eve of liberation, Varus."

Items:
These trigger when purchasing items from the shop!

• Angels too, are the messengers of death. [Archangel's Staff]
• Host of angels or murder of crows? [Archangel's Staff]
• It's power grows with time; as does mine. [Rod of Ages]
• A companion for all time. [Rod of Ages]
• A tear of loss, a tear of joy. [Tear of the Goddess]
• A crown for the king of death. [Rabadon's Deathcap]
• It's old master served my patron well. [Rabadon's Deathcap]
• Ah, the song grows. [Rabadon's Deathcap]
• I hear the echo of Rabadon. It is exquisite. [Rabadon's Deathcap]
• None can outrun death. [Rylai's Crystal Scepter]
• When death's grip finds you, it clings tightly. [Rylai's Crystal Scepter]
• This crystal will sing with me.  [Rylai's Crystal Scepter]
• It will turn their mantles to shrouds. [Void Staff]
• No one can hide from the end. [Void Staff]
• What can protect you from the inevitable? [Void Staff]
• The grave has all the time in the world. [Zhonya's Hourglass]
• Freeze that moment, on the threshold of oblivion. [Zhonya's Hourglass]
• The sands slip away like lives. [Zhonya's Hourglass]
• Come, drink of the grail. [Athene's Unholy Grail]

Updated Skins

Of course, no VU would be caught dead without a full set of updated skins!

Grim Reaper Karthus

Statue of Karthus

Phantom Karthus

Pentakill Karthus

Comparison between new and old

As you may have noticed, Pentakill Karthus now has several unique voice over lines!



Interested in how things came to be for the Karthus VU? Lay waste on these posts!

• Karthus VU previewed at PAX East
• Champion Update: The Deathsinger Rises Again
• Karthus VU hits the PBE
• Karthus VU Sculpts