Tahm Kench vs Darius

Tahm Kench
vs
55.7%

over 70 games

Darius

Favorable matchup

Heavy AD damageHigh burstSplit pushSustained DPS

You are stronger late game. Farm safe and avoid early trades.

Build vs Darius

The champion's reference build, for lack of enough games in this matchup

Recommended items for Tahm Kench: Heartsteel, Dusk and Dawn, Thornmail, Plated Steelcaps, Bramble Vest, Spirit Visage, Dark Seal, Unending Despair.

Starting items

Doran's Shield
Health Potion

Core build

Heartsteel
1
Dusk and Dawn
2
Thornmail
3

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Bramble Vest
5

Summoner spells

FlashDot62%
FlashTeleport12%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Bramble Vest
Spirit Visage
Dark Seal
Unending Despair
Riftmaker
Warmog's Armor
Randuin's Omen
Hollow Radiance
Sunfire Aegis
Kaenic Rookern
Force of Nature
ResolveResolve
Grasp of the UndyingGrasp of the Undying
Shield BashShield Bash
Second WindSecond Wind
UnflinchingUnflinching
PrecisionPrecision
Legend: AlacrityLegend: Alacrity
TriumphTriumph
Attack SpeedHealth ScalingHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Darius's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Hemorrhage (P)

Darius' attacks and damaging abilities cause enemies to bleed for physical damage over 5 seconds, stacking up to 5 times. Darius enrages and gains massive Attack Damage when his target reaches max stacks.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
39s5s26s–
66.5s5s26s2m
94s5s26s2m
114s5s26s1m40
164s5s21s1m20
184s5s16s1m20

Playing as Tahm Kench

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. Three stacks, then your tongue

    Stack An Acquired Taste (passive) three times on your target, then hit them with Tongue Lash (Q): they're stunned, and the stacks are consumed.

  2. Save Thick Skin for a burst

    Only activate Thick Skin (E) to absorb a burst: otherwise, part of the damage it stores comes back to you as health once you stop taking damage.

  3. Engage with your dive

    Engage with Abyssal Dive (W): you reappear at the target location, 1000 to 1200 range away, and hitting a champion reduces its cooldown.

  4. Swallow your carry to save them

    Swallow your carry in danger with Devour (R): they come out with a shield, and you can take them to safety with Abyssal Dive (W).

Playing against Darius

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Short trades

    Take a short trade, then back off: each of his hits applies a Hemorrhage (passive) stack, and at five stacks he gains a massive AD bonus.

  2. Leave his blade or hug him

    Step out of range or stick to him when he casts Decimate (Q): only the blade, at the edge, heals him and applies Hemorrhage (passive).

  3. Boots early

    Buy your boots early: before he hits level 6, Apprehend (E) is his only spell to get back on you, on a 26 to 16 second cooldown.

  4. Respect his level 6

    Once he hits level 6, don't let him put five Hemorrhage (passive) stacks on you: Noxian Guillotine (R) gains true damage with each stack.

Patch 16.21.1