Tahm Kench is a versatile support champion who excels at protecting allies and disrupting enemies. This comprehensive build guide will help you master him in the bot lane.

Core Build (50.5% Win Rate)

• Summoner Spells: Flash, Ignite
• Starting Items: Steel Shoulderguards
• Core Items: Heartsteel > Mercury's Treads > Unending Despair
• Final Items: Thornmail, Spirit Visage, Kaenic Rookern

Runes

• Primary (Resolve): Grasp of the Undying, Shield Bash, Second Wind, Unflinching
• Secondary (Precision): Triumph, Legend: Alacrity
• Shards: Attack Speed, Health Scaling, Health Scaling

Ability Order: Q > W > E

Strong Synergies

• Twitch (52.7% WR)
• Jinx (52.4% WR)
• Tristana (51.8% WR)
• Aphelios (51.1% WR)

Favorable Matchups

• Mel (62.8% WR)
• Neeko (60.6% WR)
• Xerath (59.7% WR)
• Blitzcrank (55.5% WR)

Challenging Matchups (Avoid)

• Zilean (37.4% WR)
• Sona (38.6% WR)
• Fiddlesticks (39.6% WR)
• Lux (43.0% WR)

Situational Items

• Against Heavy AP: Force of Nature
• Against Heavy AD: Randuin's Omen
• When Ahead: Warmog's Armor
• When Behind: Knight's Vow

Tips for Success

1. Use Q (Tongue Lash) to slow enemies and apply passive stacks
2. Time W (Abyssal Dive) carefully to engage or disengage
3. Save E (Thick Skin) for critical defensive moments
4. Coordinate with your ADC for optimal engage timing
5. Focus on peeling for carries in teamfights

This build is based on analysis of high-elo matches in Emerald+ rankings and provides a solid foundation for playing Tahm Kench effectively in the bot lane position.

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