Not Updated For Current Season
This guide has not yet been updated for the current season. Please keep this in mind while reading. You can see the most recently updated guides on the browse guides page
x
x

Did this guide help you? If so please give them a vote or leave a comment.
You can even win prizes by doing so!
Vote
Comment
I liked this Guide

I didn't like this Guide




Your votes and comments encourage our guide authors to continue
creating helpful guides for the League of Legends community.
Recommended Items
Runes:
1
2
3
4
Resolve
Precision
Items
Ability Order Normal path
An Acquired Taste (PASSIVE)
Tahm Kench Passive Ability
Threats & Synergies
Extreme
Major
Even
Minor
Tiny
None
Low
Ok
Strong
Ideal
Darius
Sejuani
Ideal
Strong
Ok
Low
None
Sejuani
Introduction

Welcome to my guide for Tahm Kench !
First of all, let introduce myself. So, my name is Chief Kench, I'm currently Platinium IV on EUW, I peaked at Diamond 2 in season 8 but I dropped off. I've been praticing Tahm Kench since his creation. I'm near to reach the 2.000.000 points on him.
This guide is made for everyone who wants to learn about him. I'm not a challenger, but I believe that I can learn you something. If you notice a mistake please make sure to tell me.
Here is my opgg link : http://euw.op.gg/summoner/userName=chiefkench


Positive point:
Tahm Kench is UNKILLABLE in lane The
Abyssal Dive is very strong for escapes and engages.
Tongue Lash gives even more sustain.
Suffers much less against range match up, very easy to get close to the ennemy and follow ganks with
Abyssal Dive
Kill potential really high when reaching level 6
Devour it becomes easier to put an ennemy under tower.
Good to repositionning allies with
Devour
Negative point :
The champion is much less strong in lane. Loss of cheese/bully potential
Lack of damage, lane phase is really frustrating sometimes (due to passive nerf and switching devour from W to an ult (R))
Wave clear is horrific unless you have
Bami's Cinder that means you are less effective against split-pusher.
Roam potential highly reduced.
Tahm Kench is UNKILLABLE in lane The


Suffers much less against range match up, very easy to get close to the ennemy and follow ganks with

Kill potential really high when reaching level 6

Good to repositionning allies with

Negative point :
The champion is much less strong in lane. Loss of cheese/bully potential
Lack of damage, lane phase is really frustrating sometimes (due to passive nerf and switching devour from W to an ult (R))
Wave clear is horrific unless you have

Roam potential highly reduced.
Let's talk about runes.
I'll put everyone in agreement. There is NO perfect runes path, it's all about your playstyle.
Here is my main rune page.

Grasp of the Undying To my mind it's a must to have since he gives you a good sustain and lane durability.
Tahm Kench relies a lot on long trade and auto-attack. So, everytime you hit the ennemy with your auto, you do a ton of damage !
Here is the second main runes page, that is totally viable.

The advantage is that your
Tongue Lashworks perfectly with
Approach Velocity paired with
Iceborn Gauntlet you are very dangerous to catch ennemies and apply your
Devour or
Devour
Nothing hold you to mix these runes pages.
There is a lot of possibilities, it's your playstyle guys !
Legend: Alacrity if some of you like a bit more Attack Speed and wave push
Legend: Tenacity it's cool too if there is an heavy CC comp, allows you to espape easily with
Devour
Coup de Grace Works too, perfect with
Devour
Revitalize a great rune that works on your
Thick Skin and
Spirit Visage a must-have in my opinion
Second Wind a must-have in my opinion, fits your kit
Demolish perfect for more pressure, great for splitpusher
Conditioning a tanky rune, cool too
Overgrowth viable but not better than
Unflinching If you don't want to get kite too much
Approach Velocity is really strong on
Tahm Kench excellent amount of movespeed after hitting a
Tongue Lashor an auto with
Iceborn Gauntlet
Biscuit Delivery better lane phase. Good.
Magical Footwear Well, it's free gold after all
NB : Feel free to change your runes and switch armor runes to Magic resistance
I'll put everyone in agreement. There is NO perfect runes path, it's all about your playstyle.
Here is my main rune page.



Here is the second main runes page, that is totally viable.

The advantage is that your





Nothing hold you to mix these runes pages.
There is a lot of possibilities, it's your playstyle guys !
Precision





Resolve:








Inspiration






NB : Feel free to change your runes and switch armor runes to Magic resistance




In my opinion, you don't need









However, if your early game is ****ed, (sorry)


One other reason to don't use







This is the path I take in 90% of the match-ups. Max

Level 2 - you should take

Level 3 -


If your jungler is ganking early. Taking

I take at level 1




I always build Tahm Kench, with full HP and full tank since he scales on HP item and his kit is appropriate on this. You can also have fun if you want to go AP or AS it works but according to me it's not the best way if you want to play him efficiently.
AD COMP
I always rush
Bami's Cinder because it gives you a decent wave clear, that's the main
Tahm Kench problem and it scales well on him !
Then I take a bit of Armor and finish the item.
Iceborn Gauntlet definitely a Core Item.
Thornmail against high sustain or high AS champions like
Fiora
Tryndamere
Vayne
Kalista you can still build
Bramble Vest and leave it to have anti-heal.
Anathema's Chains one of my favorite. I run it as a second item.
Randuin's Omen slow and the reduction critical strikes is quite nice !
Dead Man's Plate against AD and CC champion
AP COMP
Spirit Visage Core Item, cause the passive and the stats bonus. I always build it.
Abyssal Mask Aworks really well on
Tahm Kench, I build it once I have a huge advantage.
Situational item
Gargoyle Stoneplate the tankiest item in the game, I build when there is a huge damage comp against me like
Veigar
Brand or on late game
If the key win is my ADC (he is the only fed) I go utilitary :
Knight's Vow isfine and make your ADC stronger.
AD COMP
I always rush


Then I take a bit of Armor and finish the item.










AP COMP



Situational item



If the key win is my ADC (he is the only fed) I go utilitary :


In this chapter I will detail point by point the spells of Tahm Kench and discuss all the possibilities

#1 Use it to harass ennemies, every time an ennemy go for a last hit.
#2 AA+





Example below :
When the jungler is coming, make sure to eat him quickly so he can come !
#3 AA+


or
2.5 seconds CC combo . AA+



Very situationnal :
You can grab an ennemy when an ennemy has 3 marks with :
#4


_______________________________________________________________________________________

#1 Your tool to engage or escape to be used with care because of long CD. You can only be interrupted by a CC.
The spell works like



This spell is very strong because it forces the ennemy to move in the opposite direction.
#2 You can use it to catch the opponent if he overtsteps.
IMPORTANT : You can use

Here is a map of all the spot where Tahm Kench can land with

...
#3 Aggresive use :




2.5 seconds CC combo . AA+



You can chase ennemy really far here is an example :
#4 Escape use :
During your lane phase and especially when your minion wave is pushed, always keep your

There are some ways to avoid getting CC - Using

If there are no CC champion, you use it as soon as possible.
If you cannot dodge a CC, it is better to voluntarily take it and then escape.
Prioritize to use

#5 Use it to go faster in lane.
You can cast twice



_______________________________________________________________________________________

When you use your

If you take short trade, just don't press

So, when you should use

Before dying, you should use

Before taking a crowd control that leads to death. You have to know you can use

When I have to tank a tower shot

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Once you hit level 6 your kill potential is very very high. You can easily put an ennemy under tower. However, the cooldown is very long. You have to use it reasonably.
#1 Agressive use :
If you are sure to kill an ennemy, or set-up a gank, or catch an ennemy.



For the spit







The spit direction is really important.
Spit him at your tower if you can or spit him back to you. (If you spit him at your tower you can last hit the minions that are taking the tower shot)
Except for champion like


You can spit him near a wall, hence ennemy will have less ways to dodge your

If you're engaging a close fight, and you're near a bush, just stay in the brush and spit your ennemy outside, so he can't have the vision and auto you. Otherwise you can use spit the ennemy through a wall and escape.
In addition,

#2 Defensive use :
When you eat someone it provides him to deal damage. So, think twice before eating an ally, especially in a team fight cause you'll lose a very important damage part. First you can't use it on a ennemy and second your ally can't attack too.
It's all about decision-making and it takes time, you have to practice and analyse really quickly which situations his appropriated for a

So when you have to use it

Use

Use

Use


Good things to know :
You can

It cancels a tower shot if you're allied is eaten.

Honestly, I don't think that




#3 Engage use :
Very situationnal, if ennemy are escaping / or you want to engage. You can use



_______________________________________________________________________________________
Here are the common mistakes of a Tahm Kench beginner :

Use his


Use


Cheese strategy - Most of my starts are in the bush.

Tahm Kench level 1 is one the best in the game. However you cannot win at level 1 against





Here is an example :
If I had a good trade, I will try to poke and go all-in at level 1-2.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
If you didn't manage to cheese, play very safe until level 3 or 6.
In general :
Poke with your


Level 1: Give Priority to the enemy and let him the 3 first melee minion.
Level 2 : Upgrade


Level 3 : Upgrade your missing skill.
Level 3-6, wait for a gank, engage with

Wave management
Do not expose you at ganks. You want to freeze your wave near your tower or reset the ennemy wave if he is freezing. You want to set up a gank or put the ennemy under tower once you have

If you are pushing make sure to keep your

Level 6 - Your kill potential is really high. Keep freezing your wave near your tower, then engage with




Depending on the situation, after the kill you want to push the wave and take plates or keep freezing if he has

_______________________________________________________________________________________
Teamfight :
As a tank you will have to get in front and engage the team fight.
Depending of the ennemy team comp and the current situation of the game. You will not play the same way.
Let me explain, if you have a carry that needs to be protected against an assassin or a


On the other hand, if you are quite strong and the opponent's composition does not have any dangerous players. You can initiate the fight with

To engage a teamfight




In this chapter I'll tell you how you to handle every Match-up... I've practised a lot and I will show you to cancel the ennemies spell.
I'll sort in ascending order - easy to hard.

You can go really aggressively against him, and trade him at level 1
If you want to play safe, take


You can cancel his dash with

Make sure to


Definitely not a big treat, you can bully him from level 1 to 18.

Play safe until level 3, cause of his

Let him push and freeze the lane near your tower
Harass him and keep distance from his jump and

Once you reach level 3 start to harass him with auto everytime he tries to last-it, it will force him to


Keep the lane frozen near your turret.
Once his


He has a short range so harass with

Don't let him dash on you with


I don't recommend to


Spit him


Avoid the harass until level 3, then you can freely engage her. You can use




Well, you're better than him at any point. The main problem will be is


During team fights, make sure to stick with your carry and peel with


Nothing special to say, trade him once you have all your kit




Poke poke poke,



Same as




I usually freeze the lane near my turret in order to force him taking risk for stacking. Same as

Once he hits level 6, Nasus is a bit more dangerous. You have temporize his ult, stun or escape with


Just smash him, you can take risk, he is pointless against you.
One more thing, you can cancel his



Don't stuck near a wall, and trade at level 3, it will be ok.
Don't forget to poke as much as you can, if she tries to get her

Finally, eat her



A bit tricky on level 1 cause he jumps everytime, which makes difficult to

However, there is no way that you get destroyed, once you have

Of course you can




At first, it seems like



In fact,



You're stronger than him at any level, he has poor range, easy harass with

His only way to escape is




Be safe until level 6. Keep harassing with

Try to stay at range from his stun

Play safe until level 3. Then use


You should definitely don't trade him until level 3.
Make sure to apply 3 marks and denied his



If you follow all the instructions, it should be good, Sion isn't a big treat and can't go for a true 1v1, once you have 3 stacks on him you can cancel his spells.

One of the easiest match-up cause you can counter his ult.
_ Don't let him load his rage bar, everytime he tries to last-hit, auto him.
_ Harass as much as you can.
_ Freeze the lane near your turret, so he can't hit minions. If he comes, just destroy him.
_

_ Keep 3 stacks on him and don't devour him if he doesn't dash yet cause you are at range to stun him with

You can rush a




High poke potential, don't approach him until level 3 or a gank. Try to CS the better as you can. Once you hit

Once you reach level 3 you can


At some point you will just sustain his poke when you have enough items like

The fact that you can hold his poke will make him out of mana really quickly.
Tips:



His


Assassin are useless against

The only thing that she can do is await with his




Play safe until level 3. Then you can fully go aggressive. Keep poking him. Once you have 3 stacks on him you can cancel his ult with




You can't really trade him until your level 3, because he has

So what you can do : Try to zone him, and try poke with

He will be forced to use



Make sure to go agressively if he uses

Once you get close to him, it's pretty over for him.

You can cheese him at level 1, you just have to bait her

However, don't ever gank her if she has her level 6, and don't trade her if you're not fed. I advise you to kite out same as

If your foolish jungler ganks you, save your

Forget to



You can rush a



Start safely cause she will probably **** you with a level 2 trade. Try to freeze the lane near your turret.
Once you get your level 3. It will be much more easier for you.
What you can do is to harass her everytime she



You can cheese him level one if you take

Well, you might not win this if you don't have


Ofc you can cancel his dash out with

You can rush a



Play safe until level 3. If he tries to all in you can pop your


Not a big threat.

You can easily cheese him on level 1. Like most of the champion, sorry if I'm repeating.
I don't have much too say on this match-up. His only escape spell is




Alright, so this dude

Joke aside, his poke

If you can't dodge his


By the way, you cancel his tornado and the




Poke as much as you can
In fact, you just need to don't fight in his zone. Wait that he uses



You can rush a



She pushes faster than you, a level 2 trade can screw your lane and force you to back.
Take the three first minions, and start freezing.
Your main problem is to catch her, because she has high mobility.


Do not let her free trade with




One more thing, you should care about her all-in at level 6 especially if you're low and get cc-ed you can't cast

Trick : you can cancel her jump


You should cast



Insane shove potential, ], just try to get close as much as you can if you want to trade, and avoid getting poke by him.
You can rush a



Poke with

He is horrible to kill because of his passive, and he can be dangerous



Good tip : you can cancel his




So early game you will suffer from his hard poke, so stay safe first and farm peacefully with your abilities. When you have your entire kit at level 3, you can start trading.
Make sure to hit your Q first and run into him, please don't place yourself behind him because of his jump.
If you're good enough, you can cancel his jump (you need to cast it perfectly)
Note that Mega Gnar is less dangerous than the little one due to his weak mobility. So don't be scared to trade when he is big.

It's a snowball Match-UP, I advise you to play safe cause he can really be annoying when fed. So a typical

First advice, be aware of his positionning and don't get hit by his first dash. (So he won't dash out)
Second advice, poke - poke - poke when he tries to last hit or charge his rage bar.
Third advice : Temporize his ult ! Avoid eating him when he has his ult you're just recharging his kit and rage bar... just try to stunt him with

Be careful about Ruthless, he breaks your




You can rush a


Try to poke and play safe until level 6. Once you have

If he disengages




You have to wait level 6 to trade
She can be countered if you "hide" your vital point and stick to a wall, it makes hard for her to proc her passive.
Don't overestimate her early game poke, it could turn badly if she go for a level 2 trade. She will constantly poke you with


You have to make unpredictable your stun




Every




Last point at level 6 she has insane health steal with



You can rush a


Kinda annoying, avoid getting hit by

Her





This champion has a better early game on level 1 to 6, don't trade him. He is one of the strongest level 1 champion... his ult can counter your


You can rush a



This guy is just annoying on level 1, since he can shove the wave early on. Just try to take the least damage from his poke.
You can smash him when you're level 6.

I play safe until level 3 at least. Take the least poke from her, try to back out when she will pop

Play around her

Once you hit level 6, it's really easy to catch her and get a kill.
I usually rush


Better pushing, faster than you. Kinda annoying.
First hide in the T2 bush and stay here, just in case if he tries to proxy, you can counter his **** and get a free-kill.
If he doesn't proxy early game, just freeze the lane near your turret and force him to waste his poison. Poke him with


You can trade him when he is Out of mana or when you have hit your

Little tip : Eat him wth



Don't take any trade before level 3 or 6. Keep harassing with


At level 6, when you use


Equal poke on level 1, after that, you beat him over and over so trade him whenever you can maybe not when he reaches level 6 because of

Mundo has an anti-CC passive. You have to land a CC with




This champion can blind you and make impossible to combo. But once you get closed to him it's pretty over for him. So don't try to Auto Attack when you're blind, just keep walking to him or forward him,

You can trade at level 3 and take the less damage as you can early game from his poke.
At level 6 : Buy a pink ward (control ward) that cost 75 gold. Freeze the lane near your turret and place a ward on the lane in order to spot his mushrooms and avoid putting it. Most of

Counter items :



This one can be really tricky because of his 6 and his

I advise you to go really agressive until his level 6. He his like

Here's some tricks : try to bait his


Use



You can't just approach him, high poke, high push. Just be safe and try to bait his big turret. Wait for a gank...
Only trade when you bait



You cannot use




It's gonna be really tricky to catch her if you don't have

Play safe until level 6, wait for a gank. You can only trade when you hit your Q.
Use



Good Darius can 100-0 you easily.
Only thing you can do is harassing with


If the trade goes badly you can use your stun to eascape or use Abyssal Dash (his

Try to stay close to him if he is using [Decimate]], stay at range from him

If you are good enough you can cancel his


I recommend you to rush


That is my ban pick. You cannot apply your stacks, and she out-trades you from level 1-18.
Play very safe until level 6 or wait for your jungler.
Just try to poke with Q, if you manage to put Gwen under tower, then you have a chance to win.




Kitting, side stepping is your best tool
Wave management is crucial, slow pushing or freezing you wave if you free poke
Play behind you minions
Favour short trades and back out
Avoid trading him when you have 3 marks, when he hits level 6, he is very dangerous
If he is trying to escape with

You can outscale him later on.
Build

You must be logged in to comment. Please login or register.