Malphite vs Tahm Kench TOP Matchup Guide | LaneStomp

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Tahm Kench

Malphite vs Tahm Kench

Updated Jun 3, 2026

Overview

Prioritize surviving early trades and scaling armor to blunt Tahm Kench's physical damage and sustain.
Maintain a stable lane state with low pressure, focusing on teamfight engage rather than lane dominance.

Trading pattern

Use (E) to reduce Tahm Kench's attack speed and auto-attack damage in trades.
Take low-risk poke trades when your passive shield is up and avoid overcommitting before (R) is available.
Punish Tahm Kench if he overextends after missing (Q) stacks or when his (E) gray health shield is down.

Danger windows

Be cautious when Tahm Kench reaches three passive stacks, as his (Q) can stun and lead to lethal trades.
Avoid extended trades when your passive shield is down, as Tahm Kench's poke becomes more effective.
Respect (R) cooldown and positioning to prevent being isolated or burst down.

Early game

Avoid extended trades before your armor and cooldowns are effective to minimize Tahm Kench's short trade advantage.
Use (Q) sparingly early to poke and slow Tahm Kench, preserving mana for post-level 6 opportunities.
Focus on farming safely and building armor to reduce Tahm Kench's trade efficiency.

Power spikes

At level 6, use (R) to initiate fights or set up kills, forcing Tahm Kench to respect your engage and play cautiously.
After your first armor item, leverage increased durability to blunt Tahm Kench's physical trades and pressure.
Respect Tahm Kench's level 6 (R); avoid being caught when it is off cooldown.

Win conditions

Survive the early lane by minimizing damage and building armor to blunt Tahm Kench's trades.
Use (R) to engage in grouped fights or ganks where your knockup can secure kills or objectives.
Deny Tahm Kench passive stacks and punish his cooldowns to limit his trading effectiveness and control the lane.