Alistar vs Tahm Kench

Alistar
vs
53.3%

over 617 games

Tahm Kench

Skill matchup

Heavy AP damageVery tankyHigh sustain

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

Health Potion
x2

Core build

Locket of the Iron Solari
1
Zeke's Convergence
2
Knight's Vow
3

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Celestial Opposition
5

Summoner spells

FlashDot48%
FlashHeal30%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Celestial Opposition
Solstice Sleigh
Bramble Vest
Thornmail
Bandlepipes
Protoplasm Harness
Frozen Heart
Kaenic Rookern
Dead Man's Plate
Mikael's Blessing
Heartsteel
Zaz'Zak's Realmspike
Randuin's Omen
Dark Seal
Imperial Mandate
Force of Nature
Shurelya's Battlesong
Oblivion Orb
Abyssal Mask
Stormsurge
Bloodsong
Hextech Rocketbelt
Sunfire Aegis
Redemption
Rod of Ages
Warmog's Armor
Unending Despair
61.5% WR26 games
ResolveResolve
AftershockAftershock
Font of LifeFont of Life
Bone PlatingBone Plating
UnflinchingUnflinching
InspirationInspiration
Hextech FlashtraptionHextech Flashtraption
Cosmic InsightCosmic Insight
Ability HasteHealth ScalingHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Tahm Kench's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

An Acquired Taste (P)

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

LevelQWER
37s21s3s–
66s21s3s0s
95s20s3s0s
115s19s3s0s
165s17s3s0s
185s17s3s0s

Playing as Alistar

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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).

  5. Interrupt his dive

    If you have CC, use it during Abyssal Dive (W): he channels before reappearing, and an immobilizing effect cancels the dive.

Patch 16.21.1