Alistar vs Tahm Kench
Skill matchup
Build vs Tahm Kench
Build adapted to this matchup
Recommended items for Alistar: Locket of the Iron Solari, Zeke's Convergence, Knight's Vow, Boots of Swiftness, Celestial Opposition, Solstice Sleigh, Bramble Vest, Thornmail.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Tahm Kench's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
Tahm Kench puts the heft of his immense body behind his attacks, gaining extra damage based on his total health. Damaging enemy champions builds stacks of An Acquired Taste. At three stacks, he can use Devour on an enemy champion.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 7s | 21s | 3s | – |
| 6 | 6s | 21s | 3s | 0s |
| 9 | 5s | 20s | 3s | 0s |
| 11 | 5s | 19s | 3s | 0s |
| 16 | 5s | 17s | 3s | 0s |
| 18 | 5s | 17s | 3s | 0s |
Playing as Alistar
Tips to maximize your impact
- Pulverize during your charge
Cast Pulverize (Q) during the Headbutt (W) charge: it's your core engage, and the target takes a knock-up as soon as you arrive.
- Stay in melee range during Trample
Stay in melee range during Trample (E): each pulse that hits a champion gives you a stack, and at max stacks your next auto stuns.
- Knock them toward your team
Get behind your target, then cast Headbutt (W) toward your team: the charge knocks them back along your path, straight into your allies.
- Cast your R when you get focused
Cast Unbreakable Will (R) when you dive under a tower or get focused: it removes all CC on you and reduces the damage you take.
Playing against Tahm Kench
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Don't give him three stacks
Back off before he stacks An Acquired Taste (passive) three times on you: Tongue Lash (Q) would stun you, and Devour (R) could swallow you.
- Trade after his shield
Take a trade right after the Thick Skin (E) shield: by activating it, he gives up the healing his stored damage would have given him.
- Get out of his dive zone
Leave the area where Abyssal Dive (W) will make him reappear: the impact knocks every enemy in it into the air.
- Focus him when he swallows an ally
When he swallows one of his allies with Devour (R), focus him: he can't attack or cast any spell other than Abyssal Dive (W).
- Interrupt his dive
If you have CC, use it during Abyssal Dive (W): he channels before reappearing, and an immobilizing effect cancels the dive.
Other Alistar matchups
Patch 16.21.1