
Ultimate Support Guide: Master Tahm Kench - The Protective River King
An invaluable support champion, Tahm Kench excels at protecting allies while disrupting enemies through his unique defensive playstyle. Despite being commonly mistaken for a toplaner or frog, this catfish champion is particularly effective against CC-heavy supports and assassins.
Core Abilities Overview
Tongue Lash (Q)
- Deals damage and slows enemies
- Provides minor healing
- Stuns targets with 3 Exquisite Taste stacks
Dive Into the Abyss (W)
- AOE knockup ability
- Long animation with visible landing spot
- Effective follow-up to Tongue Lash slow
Thick Skin (E)
- Converts damage into "gray health"
- Health regenerates after avoiding damage
- Can be activated for a temporary shield
Devour (R)
- Can swallow enemies with 3 stacks, dealing damage
- Allows ally protection without requiring stacks
- Grants shield to allies upon exit
- Directional spitting available
- Can be combined with W for extended mobility
Optimal Skill Priority
- Tongue Lash (Q)
- Dive Into the Abyss (W)
- Thick Skin (E)
Strategic Positioning
- Maintain medium range in lane
- Stay close to ADC for protection
- Use Q to poke and set up engages
- Combine abilities to maximize CC chain
Core Build Path Starting Items:
- Steel Shoulderguards
- Health Potions
Main Items:
- Locket of the Iron Solari
- Dead Man's Plate
- Warmog's Armor
Situational Items:
- Knight's Vow
- Zeke's Convergence
- Anathema's Chains
Focus on tank items that provide both survivability and team utility, prioritizing items that help protect allies while maintaining strong defensive stats.
Playstyle Tips
- Use Q to poke and slow enemies
- Save R for protecting allies or securing kills
- Coordinate W with team for maximum impact
- Track enemy CC cooldowns before engaging
- Maintain awareness of ally positions for quick saves
Tahm Kench excels in defensive setups but can also enable aggressive plays through proper ability combinations and positioning. His unique ability to protect allies while threatening enemies makes him a valuable support pick in the right team composition.
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