Tahm Kench vs Karma

Tahm Kench
vs
Not enough games
Karma
Heavy AP damageHeavy CCHeavy shieldingHeavy poke

Build vs Karma

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

Recommended items for Tahm Kench: Heartsteel, Dusk and Dawn, Thornmail, Mercury's Treads, Hollow Radiance, Spirit Visage, Dark Seal, Bramble Vest.

Starting items

Doran's Shield
Health Potion

Core build

Heartsteel
1
Dusk and Dawn
2
Thornmail
3

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Hollow Radiance
5

Summoner spells

FlashDot71%
FlashTeleport14%

Other options

Hollow Radiance
Spirit Visage
Dark Seal
Bramble Vest
Unending Despair
Randuin's Omen
Riftmaker
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

Karma's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Gathering Fire (P)

Karma's damaging abilities will reduce the cooldown of Mantra.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
39s12s10s–
67s12s10s40s
95s12s10s40s
115s12s10s38s
165s12s9s36s
185s12s8s36s

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 Karma

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Respect her level 1

    Play carefully at the very start of lane: Mantra (R) is available from level 1, so Karma already has an empowered spell.

  2. Break her tether

    Move away as soon as Focused Resolve (W) tethers you: if the tether holds to the end, you take damage again and get rooted.

  3. Leave the ring of fire

    Quickly leave the ring of fire left by Inner Flame (Q) empowered by Mantra (R): it slows and deals extra damage.

  4. Focus her in teamfights

    If you can reach her, focus her in teamfights: Mantra (R) then Inspire (E) gives a shield and move speed to every ally grouped around her target.

Patch 16.21.1