Tahm Kench
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Good (7/10)
Low Investment
Rare Relics OK
Tahm Kench is a specialized defensive champion who excels in specific high-difficulty environments, particularly those involving attrition or round-start damage. While his gameplay is slower than aggressive alternatives, he offers a unique scaling power fantasy where units become virtually indestructible. His score reflects his status as a premier counter-pick for monthly challenges, balanced against the significant time investment required for his playstyle and the necessity of specific relics to achieve high-tier performance.
The Galactic Ramp Juggernaut (Optimal)
This relic acts as a primary trigger for the champion's star powers, damaging allies on play to grant immediate stat increases while providing essential keywords like Overwhelm and Impact.
Provides an additional starting mana gem, significantly accelerating the deck's slow early development and allowing for earlier deployment of control tools.
Offers the necessary +2 health to reach the Titanic threshold for Starforged Gauntlets and provides a mana refill upon leveling up to maintain momentum.
Strategy
This build focuses on overcoming the deck's inherent slowness through mana ramp. By utilizing Jayce's Hextech Battery to reach Titanic status, you secure a mana advantage while Cruel Experiments ensures every unit played immediately scales offensively and defensively. This allows for a much faster transition into the 'Capture' loop that defines the late-game win condition.
The Resilience Engine
- Provides immediate stat scaling on units as they enter the board, turning every summon into a defensive buff.
A fundamental component that converts every instance of combat or self-damage into massive stat growth, ensuring the champion outscales even the most aggressive enemy boards.
Serves as the primary scaling payoff; once the champion reaches 10+ Power through self-damage and combat, he gains Regeneration, Challenger, and Overwhelm to end games independently.
Strategy
This build maximizes his star powers by focusing on raw stat growth. By pairing Cruel Experiments with The Berserker's Buckle, the champion grows at an accelerated rate, eventually reaching the Power threshold required for Chosen by the Stars.
F2P Defensive Scaling (Common/Rare)
- The most effective Rare relic, enabling consistent growth every time the champion survives a strike or a self-damage effect.
Provides vital Regeneration, allowing the champion to survive the damage taken from blocking high-attack enemies or utilizing 'An Acquired Taste'.
Strategy
A reliable setup for players without Epic relics. This build relies on classic endurance: taking damage to grow stats and using Regeneration to ensure the champion remains on the board as a permanent defensive wall.
Other Relic Options
Specifically utilized to prevent high-priority units and the champion from being eliminated by hard removal spells in late-game encounters.
Provides a consistent source of 'An Acquired Taste' by generating a fleeting copy of the champion each round.
Solves potential mana shortages in longer games, allowing for the consistent use of capture spells and defensive combat tricks every round.
While several relics are viable, the primary objective is to address the champion's lack of evasion and vulnerability to hard removal. Relics that facilitate scaling or protect high-stat units are prioritized.
Constellation
Tahm Kench’s constellation reinforces his identity as a defensive juggernaut. While slow to develop, his 3-star core is highly effective for specific mutators. The investment is primarily recommended for players who require a reliable solution for monthly challenges involving constant pings or round-start damage.
Glutton for Punishment
When an ally survives damage, grant it +1|+1.
Long-Term Contract
+1 Starting Mana. When you capture a unit, create a copy of it in hand. It cost 1 less.
Glutton for Punishment II
When an ally survives damage, grant it +2|+2.Review
The 3rd star upgrade is a significant power spike, increasing the stat gain from surviving damage to +2|+2. This increased efficiency is what allows units to outpace the significant stat growth found in high-difficulty enemy encounters.
Gameplay Tips
Leverage Environmental Damage
Tahm Kench is an excellent choice for adventures or monthly challenges featuring mutators that deal damage to all units. These effects act as a board-wide buff for this deck, triggering star powers every round to generate massive stats.
Strategic Capture Management
When using 'An Acquired Taste,' prioritize capturing enemies with high health but low attack power. This minimizes the damage taken while working toward the level-up condition. Exercise caution when capturing units with 'Last Breath' effects unless prepared to obliterate them upon leveling up.
The Regeneration Priority
Because the champion must strike enemies to capture them, health is the most critical resource. If not utilizing 'Warmog's Armor' or 'Chosen by the Stars,' prioritize 'Regeneration' or 'Tough' common powers during an adventure to sustain the board.
Mulligan for Early Stability
In high-difficulty runs, prioritize finding low-cost units to stabilize the board early. The champion is a mid-game play; establishing a presence early allows for the accumulation of star power buffs to serve as blockers while waiting to deploy the champion.
Synergy with Healing Archetypes
Support champions that provide healing, such as Soraka or Vladimir, are highly effective. Healing effects sustain the board through repeated captures and combat, while specific win conditions like 'Star Spring' can provide an alternative path to victory in protracted matches.