Lamasu + Karnage = Arena Chaos

In the ever-evolving landscape of Raid: Shadow Legends, finding unique champion synergies that don’t require premium pulls is like striking gold. One surprisingly powerful combo making waves right now is the pairing of Lamasu and Karnage—two champions that are technically free to earn through in-game content. Together, they create a high-damage, reset-heavy team that can catch opponents off guard in both classic and live arena settings.

The synergy here is straightforward but highly effective. Karnage plays the role of your primary nuker, built for aggressive damage and battlefield control. He’s capable of applying powerful debuffs like Block Passive and Block Active Skills while also stealing turn meter. On his own, he’s a dangerous threat—but his true potential shines when paired with Lamasu, a support champion who can reset his cooldowns and refill his turn meter almost instantly.
When timed right, Karnage can drop a devastating opening attack, then immediately follow up with a second full round of abilities thanks to Lamasu’s cooldown reset. It’s a tag-team dynamic that feels like cheat mode when executed properly.

Karnage is earned through the Cursed City system and boasts one of the highest base Attack stats in the game. He operates in two distinct forms: Control and Nuke. His Control form allows him to open with a triple-hit ability that applies Block Passives and Block Actives while stealing turn meter—perfect for setting the stage. He also has a passive that spreads debuffs on hit and guarantees a spread on kill, making him effective at setting up or softening teams for his next form.
Once the groundwork is laid, Karnage shifts into his Nuke form. Here, he delivers devastating AoE attacks that bypass shields, ally protection, and even unkillable buffs if the enemy has multiple debuffs. What makes this so lethal is that his damage scales further with each debuff on the target, stacking up to near-complete defense ignore with the right setup. Plus, his abilities scale off accuracy, giving players some build flexibility.
When allowed to execute both forms back-to-back—especially with a reset assist from Lamasu—he can delete an enemy team before they’ve even had a chance to react.

On the surface, Lamasu looks like a typical support, but her kit is built for high-level utility. She’s earned through the Siege game mode and brings several tools to the table: an AoE Decrease Attack on her A1, a strong debuff combo of Block Buffs and True Fear on her A2, and her signature A3, which cleanses an ally, fills their turn meter by 50%, and fully resets their cooldowns.
This reset ability is what makes her indispensable to this combo. It lets Karnage go in twice in quick succession—once in Control Form to set up debuffs and locks, and again in Nuke Form to finish the job. Her resistance to Polymorph and her anti-meta utility (especially against champions like Armanz or Odin) also makes her a solid pick in the current PvP climate.
That said, she isn’t particularly AI-friendly. In auto-battle, she may choose suboptimal targets or even reset herself, so manual control is essential for optimal results.

The combo works best when carefully speed-tuned. A typical setup would have Arbiter or another booster open the fight with increased turn meter. Karnage, in his Control Form, follows up with his triple-hit debuff skill, locking down the enemy team. Lamasu then immediately resets him, filling his turn meter and clearing any potential debuffs. Karnage flips to his Nuke Form and unleashes an AoE finisher that wipes out the team.
The beauty of this combo lies in its tempo. It doesn’t give the enemy a chance to recover, especially if they aren’t prepared for a double hit. The only major threat to this flow is Stone Skin, which can soak or nullify Karnage’s damage. To counter that, bringing a third champion like Komidus or Gizmak—who can strip buffs or apply burns that bypass protection—is a smart move.

For Karnage, the priority is maximum damage. Sets like Lethal, Cruel, Feral, or Merciless are all viable. Aim for high Attack (8.5k+), over 300% Crit Damage, and a reasonable amount of Accuracy to land debuffs in his Control Form. His synergy with DEF Ignore gear, passive bonuses, and relics like Cat’s Gaze makes him an incredibly potent nuker.
Lamasu, on the other hand, should be built for speed. You want her going immediately after your booster and just ahead of Karnage’s second move. Aim for 320–340+ Speed with enough Accuracy (600–700+) to ensure her debuffs land. In PvE, Feral can offer added utility, but for arena, raw Speed is more important.

To round out the team, there are several champions who complement this duo well. Komidus is excellent for stripping Stone Skin with bombs, while Gizmak brings guaranteed burns that work around defensive buffs. Lazarius offers additional Attack boosting and enemy turn meter control, and Arbiter remains a staple for boosting speed and increasing attack for both Karnage and Lamasu.

While this combo is devastating, it’s not without risk. Karnage is fairly squishy—if he fails to secure the kill or is interrupted, he’s vulnerable to counterattacks. Lamasu, as mentioned, isn’t well-suited for auto-play and needs to be manually piloted to reach her full potential. And of course, if your speed tuning is off, the whole strategy can fall apart.

Absolutely. This pairing offers a high-risk, high-reward playstyle that’s not only fun but fully accessible since both champions are earned through in-game systems. For players looking to try something fresh in arena—especially in Siege or 3v3 formats—Lamasu and Karnage offer a creative and explosive option that can punch well above its perceived weight class.
If you’re willing to put in the time to tune and pilot the team, this combo can bring serious results—and a whole lot of chaos to your next arena battle.