Tahm Kench vs Pyke
Build vs Pyke
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, Spirit Visage, Unending Despair, Randuin's Omen, Riftmaker.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Pyke's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
When Pyke is hidden from enemies, he regenerates damage that he has recently taken from champions. Pyke also cannot gain extra Maximum Health from any source, and instead gains Bonus AD.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 10s | 14s | 15s | – |
| 6 | 9s | 14s | 15s | 1m40 |
| 9 | 8s | 13s | 15s | 1m40 |
| 11 | 8s | 12s | 15s | 1m25 |
| 16 | 8s | 10s | 13s | 1m10 |
| 18 | 8s | 10s | 11s | 1m10 |
Playing as Tahm Kench
Tips to maximize your impact
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 Pyke
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Put a minion between you and him
When he charges Bone Skewer (Q), put a minion between you and him or step aside: the hook pulls the first enemy hit.
- Back off when sharks appear
Back off as soon as sharks appear under your feet: it means Pyke is hidden right next to you in Ghostwater Dive (W).
- Leave the line of his phantom
After the Phantom Undertow (E) dash, get out of the line between his starting point and him: the phantom returns to Pyke and stuns champions it passes through.
- Leave his X at low health
Get out of the Death From Below (R) X when you're low: below its health threshold, you're executed there, and above it, you only take part of the damage.
- Focus him as soon as he shows
If you can reach him, focus him as soon as he shows himself: out of your sight, Gift of the Drowned Ones (passive) restores the damage you just dealt him.
Other Tahm Kench matchups
Patch 16.21.1