Mordekaiser vs Tahm Kench
Skill matchup
Build vs Tahm Kench
Build adapted to this matchup
Recommended items for Mordekaiser: Rylai's Crystal Scepter, Riftmaker, Liandry's Torment, Mercury's Treads, Spirit Visage, Thornmail, Dusk and Dawn, Bramble Vest.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
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 Mordekaiser
Tips to maximize your impact
- Hit a lone enemy with your Q
Aim Obliterate (Q) at a lone enemy: if only one enemy is hit, the damage increases.
- Activate your passive, then stay close
Hit champions or monsters three times, then stay close: Darkness Rise (passive) then surrounds you with a damage aura and gives you move speed.
- Pull them into your Q
Pull your targets into the Obliterate (Q) zone with Death's Grasp (E): each spell that hits also counts toward Darkness Rise (passive).
- Tank with Indestructible
Cast Indestructible (W) when you're taking damage: it turns stored damage into a shield, and a recast converts part of it into health.
- Isolate the carry in your R
Cast Realm of Death (R) on their carry, or their jungler near an objective: you isolate them with you, steal part of their stats, and keep them if you kill them.
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 Mordekaiser matchups
Patch 16.21.1