Tahm Kench vs Taric

Tahm Kench
vs
Not enough games
Taric
Heavy AP damageVery tankyHeavy CCStrong engage

Build vs Taric

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

Summoner spells

FlashDot100%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Spirit Visage
Unending Despair
Randuin's Omen
Riftmaker
Force of Nature
ResolveResolve
Grasp of the UndyingGrasp of the Undying
Shield BashShield Bash
Second WindSecond Wind
RevitalizeRevitalize
DominationDomination
Ultimate HunterUltimate Hunter
Cheap ShotCheap Shot
Attack SpeedHealth ScalingHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Taric's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Bravado (P)

Spellcasts empower Taric's next 2 basic attacks to deal bonus magic damage, reduce his spell cooldowns, and attack in quick succession.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
33s15s16s–
63s15s16s3m
93s15s16s3m
113s15s16s2m30
163s15s14s2m
183s15s12s2m

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 Taric

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Leave the line of his beam

    Get out of the line of Dazzle (E) as soon as it appears: the beam only bursts and stuns after a short delay, and it can also come from the ally bound to Taric.

  2. Punish him when he steps up to auto

    Take a trade when he steps up to hit: each auto empowered by Bravado (passive) lowers his cooldowns, so he needs those hits.

  3. Kill before his Cosmic Radiance

    When he casts Cosmic Radiance (R), decide fast: kill one of his allies before the invulnerability lands, or back off until the effect ends.

  4. Hit far from Taric during his ult

    During Cosmic Radiance (R), hit an enemy far from Taric and from the ally bound by Bastion (W): only champions near them are invulnerable.

Patch 16.21.1