From runes to items, gameplay tips amd more, we've put together a guide to help you master playing Tahm Kench as support in League of Legends.
Be mindful that there are several ways to build and play a champion, and you'll need to be adaptable as the game and the enemy team progress.
That said, this guide is a good starting point to helping you get to grips with the champion and making an impact in your games.
Runes
Core Items
Build
Frostfire Gauntlet is a great item for tanks, offering sustain, ability haste, damage, and a slow.
Dead Man's Plate will help with mobility and tankiness, especially later in the game.
Other good items include Anathema's Chains, Thornmail, Randuin's Omen, and Spirit Visage - in short, load up with tank items.
Starting Item & Boots
Skill Order
While your choices may differ according to how the game progresses, the typical Tahm Kench skill priority is:
R > Q > W > E
Summoner Spells
These are the summoner spells most typically taken by Tahm Kench in this role. Naturally, this may change depending on match-ups.
Gameplay
Tahm Kench is really slow to get going, so you'll want to play relatively passively in the early game. However, he's a bit of a monstrous tank later on, especially after hitting a couple of items and a powerspike. Roaming will be a key part of your role.
- Level 1 - Take Q - Tongue Lash, for poke and zoning.
- Level 2 - Take W - Abyssal Dive, for lane trade potential and protecting your ADC post-6.
- First Back - Defensive boots are a good option, for more sustain in lane.
Tips & Tricks
- Items or champions that can increase your size will mean Tongue Lash has increased range and speed. Lulu comes to mind here.
- Remember that you can Devour when Tongue Lash applies a third stack of An Acquired Taste.
- Abyssal Dive gives you a lot of map presence, and can be used to defend lanes, challenge enemy champions, and set up surprise ganks. Use it wisely.
- Learning to use Devour well can be key to winning teamfights, whether immobilizing and enemy or protecting your carries.
- As you increase your health pool, your passive will deal more and more damage on auto-attacks. Play aggressively!
- When you spit out a champion, you can send them over the thinner walls of the map.
- Use Abyssal Dive after Devour to transport a champion across the map.
- When you Devour an allied champion, you don't necessarily interrupt an ultimate in progress. This applies to Lucian's Culling, for example.
