Zaahen vs Tahm Kench

Zaahen
vs
47.8%

over 203 games

Tahm Kench

Skill matchup

Very tankyHeavy AP damageHigh sustainSplit push

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

Doran's Blade
Health Potion

Core build

Trinity Force
1
Stridebreaker
2
Death's Dance
3

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Black Cleaver
5

Summoner spells

FlashDot72%
FlashTeleport25%

Other options

Black Cleaver
Sundered Sky
Maw of Malmortius
Endless Hunger
Blade of The Ruined King
Tiamat
Ravenous Hydra
Executioner's Calling
Sterak's Gage
Eclipse
Serpent's Fang
Overlord's Bloodmail
Guardian Angel
Spear of Shojin
Spirit Visage
44.1% WR34 games
PrecisionPrecision
ConquerorConqueror
TriumphTriumph
Legend: HasteLegend: Haste
Coup de GraceCoup de Grace
ResolveResolve
RevitalizeRevitalize
Bone PlatingBone Plating
Attack SpeedAdaptive ForceHealth

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Tahm Kench's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

An Acquired Taste (P)

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

LevelQWER
37s21s3s–
66s21s3s0s
95s20s3s0s
115s19s3s0s
165s17s3s0s
185s17s3s0s

Playing as Zaahen

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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).

  5. Interrupt his dive

    If you have CC, use it during Abyssal Dive (W): he channels before reappearing, and an immobilizing effect cancels the dive.

Patch 16.21.1