Tahm Kench vs Pyke

Tahm Kench
vs
Not enough games
Pyke
High burstHeavy AD damageCountered by stasisHeavy CC

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

Doran's Shield
Health Potion

Core build

Heartsteel
1
Dusk and Dawn
2
Thornmail
3

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Spirit Visage
5

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Spirit Visage
Unending Despair
Randuin's Omen
Riftmaker
Force of Nature

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Pyke's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Gift of the Drowned Ones (P)

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

LevelQWER
310s14s15s–
69s14s15s1m40
98s13s15s1m40
118s12s15s1m25
168s10s13s1m10
188s10s11s1m10

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 Pyke

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. 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.

  2. 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).

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

Patch 16.21.1