Talk:Karthus/@comment-210.245.132.41-20120421172134/@comment-4641298-20120421222653

"Early game sustain"

Tear doesn't give health sustain, it gives mana sustain, and Catalyst gives BOTH, while making you more tankier. The cost difference is a few hundred gold.

RoA gives you EVERYTHING you want with Karthus in one item slot

-Health: The longer you live the better

-Mana: Defile chews through mana

-AP: Self explanatory

RoA + Zhonyas and you cannot die in a teamfight, unless they REALLY focus you, which is kind of useless.