Thresh vs Tahm Kench
Skill matchup
Build vs Tahm Kench
Build adapted to this matchup
Recommended items for Thresh: Locket of the Iron Solari, Knight's Vow, Zeke's Convergence, Boots of Swiftness, Solstice Sleigh, Celestial Opposition, Frozen Heart, Bramble Vest.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Tahm Kench's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
Tahm Kench puts the heft of his immense body behind his attacks, gaining extra damage based on his total health. Damaging enemy champions builds stacks of An Acquired Taste. At three stacks, he can use Devour on an enemy champion.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 7s | 21s | 3s | – |
| 6 | 6s | 21s | 3s | 0s |
| 9 | 5s | 20s | 3s | 0s |
| 11 | 5s | 19s | 3s | 0s |
| 16 | 5s | 17s | 3s | 0s |
| 18 | 5s | 17s | 3s | 0s |
Playing as Thresh
Tips to maximize your impact
- Flay first, hook second
Open with Flay (E) before Death Sentence (Q): the slow makes the hook much easier to land.
- Land charged autos
In lane, space out your autos: Flay (E) charges them passively, and the longer you wait between two autos, the more damage they deal.
- Don't jump on every hook
Don't recast Death Sentence (Q) on reflex: the target is already being pulled toward you, and jumping on them often exposes you for nothing.
- Throw your lantern early
Throw Dark Passage (W) toward an ally in trouble before they need it: they can click it to come back to you, with a shield.
- Place your box after the hook
Place The Box (R) right after a successful hook: to escape, the target has to break a wall, and the first wall broken slows them and deals full damage.
Playing against Tahm Kench
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Don't give him three stacks
Back off before he stacks An Acquired Taste (passive) three times on you: Tongue Lash (Q) would stun you, and Devour (R) could swallow you.
- Trade after his shield
Take a trade right after the Thick Skin (E) shield: by activating it, he gives up the healing his stored damage would have given him.
- Get out of his dive zone
Leave the area where Abyssal Dive (W) will make him reappear: the impact knocks every enemy in it into the air.
- Focus him when he swallows an ally
When he swallows one of his allies with Devour (R), focus him: he can't attack or cast any spell other than Abyssal Dive (W).
- Interrupt his dive
If you have CC, use it during Abyssal Dive (W): he channels before reappearing, and an immobilizing effect cancels the dive.
Other Thresh matchups
Patch 16.21.1