Taric vs Pyke
Favorable matchup
You are stronger late game. Farm safe and avoid early trades.
Build vs Pyke
Build adapted to this matchup
Recommended items for Taric: Tear of the Goddess, Locket of the Iron Solari, Fimbulwinter, Plated Steelcaps, Celestial Opposition, Knight's Vow, Dream Maker, Frozen Heart.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
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 Taric
Tips to maximize your impact
- Two autos after each spell
Weave in two autos after each spell: Bravado (passive) empowers them with bonus magic damage, and each one lowers your cooldowns.
- A second angle with your bound ally
Bind to an ally with Bastion (W): while they stay close, all your spells also cast from them, Dazzle (E) included, which gives you a second stun angle.
- Heal with all your charges
Cast Starlight's Touch (Q) when its charges are full: it consumes them all to heal nearby allies, for the same 60 mana cost.
- Cast your ult before the burst
Cast Cosmic Radiance (R) as soon as the teamfight is coming, not at the last moment: the invulnerability only kicks in after a delay, and only for nearby allies.
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 Taric matchups
Patch 16.21.1