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
2800 Gold
2900 Gold
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
50 Gold
400 Gold
Plated Steelcaps vs AD
Mercury's Treads vs AP
1100 Gold
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.
