Tahm Kench vs Malphite

Tahm Kench
vs
42.1%

over 76 games

Malphite

Hard matchup

Strong engageVery tankyHeavy AP damageHeavy CC

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

Build vs Malphite

Build adapted to this matchup

Recommended items for Tahm Kench: Heartsteel, Dusk and Dawn, Riftmaker, Mercury's Treads, Thornmail, Spirit Visage, Bramble Vest, Unending Despair.

Starting items

Doran's Shield
Health Potion

Core build

Heartsteel
1
Dusk and Dawn
2
Riftmaker
3

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Thornmail
5

Summoner spells

FlashDot60%
FlashTeleport28%

Other options

Thornmail
Spirit Visage
Bramble Vest
Unending Despair
Hollow Radiance
Dark Seal
Sunfire Aegis
Kaenic Rookern
Randuin's Omen
Frozen Heart
Force of Nature
55.6% WR9 games
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

Malphite's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Granite Shield (P)

Malphite is shielded by a layer of rock which absorbs damage up to 10% of his maximum Health. If Malphite has not been hit for a few seconds, this effect recharges.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
38s10s7s–
68s10s7s2m10
98s9.5s7s2m10
118s9s7s1m55
168s8s7s1m40
188s8s7s1m40

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 Malphite

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Pop his shield before trading

    Break Granite Shield (passive) with a cheap hit before taking a real trade: it absorbs 10% of his max health and triples his bonus armor.

  2. Lean on magic damage

    If you deal magic damage, lean on it in trades: his only resistances come from Thunderclap (W), which only gives armor.

  3. Trade when his mana runs low

    Trade when his mana runs low: Seismic Shard (Q) costs 70 to 90 mana, and it's his only ranged slow.

  4. Respect his level 6

    Once he hits level 6, only step up if he's visible: Unstoppable Force (R) comes from far away, nothing stops it, and its impact knocks every enemy in the area into the air.

  5. Spread out from your allies

    When he has Unstoppable Force (R), spread out from your allies in teamfights: the impact knocks every enemy in the area into the air.

Patch 16.21.1