Zaahen vs Tahm Kench
Skill matchup
Build vs Tahm Kench
Build adapted to this matchup
Recommended items for Zaahen: Trinity Force, Stridebreaker, Death's Dance, Mercury's Treads, Black Cleaver, Sundered Sky, Maw of Malmortius, Endless Hunger.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
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 Zaahen
Tips to maximize your impact
- The Darkin Glaive, then recast
Cast The Darkin Glaive (Q) for an auto that strikes twice and heals you, then recast the spell: your next auto knocks your target into the air.
- Pull them in with your stab
Cast Dreaded Return (W) at a target out of your range: the stab damages them, then pulls them toward you for a second hit.
- Hit with the edge of your slice
Place Aureate Rush (E) so your target is at the edge of the slice: at the tip, they take bonus damage based on their max health.
- Build up your Determination
Hit champions with your autos and spells: each Determination stack from Cultivation of War (passive) gives you attack damage, and at max stacks, you can revive.
- Dive in with your ult
Cast Grim Deliverance (R) in the middle of a fight: you take less damage as you rise, then your dive heals you based on the damage dealt to champions.
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 Zaahen matchups
Patch 16.21.1