League of Legends Patch 9.9 notes breakdown

Tahm Kench

"Base Stats HEALTH: 540 >>> 600 HEALTH GROWTH: 102 >>> 100 MOVEMENT SPEED: 335 >>> 345"

The buff to his base health certainly outweighs the health growth, considering you build plenty on Tahm whether top or support. The additional movement speed is definitely going to help him as well.

"Passive – An Acquired Taste BONUS DAMAGE: 1.25/1.5/1.75% (based on level) Tahm Kench’s maximum health >>> 1.5% Tahm Kench’s maximum health at all levels"

They really want to take down the damage Tahm does from his passive. Hurts his solo laning more than his support, in my opinion.

"Q – Tongue Lash SLOW DURATION: 1.5 seconds >>> 2 seconds COOLDOWN: 5 seconds at all ranks >>> 8/7/6/5/4 seconds TONGUE RANGE: 800 >>> 900 SLOW: 30/40/50/60/70% >>> 50/55/60/65/70%"

Oh I hate this. Increasing the slow duration, tongue range, and slow overall is going to make top lane Tahm frustrating as everything to play against. I really hope I’m right and his passive makes him unviable top (sorry ADCs).

"W – Devour/Regurgitate [NEW] ALLY DEVOUR: Now grounds and slows Tahm Kench by 95% (same as devouring an enemy champion) [NEW] MANA REFUND: 50% when Tahm Kench devours an enemy champion COST: 60 mana >>> 100 mana COOLDOWN:: 28/25/22/19/16 seconds >>> 20 seconds at all ranks BASE MINION SPIT DAMAGE: 100/150/200/250/300 >>> 100/135/170/205/240 ENEMY CHAMPION DAMAGE: 20/24/28/32/36% (+0.02 per 100 ability power) target’s maximum health >>> 100/135/170/205/240 (5/7/9/11/13% target’s maximum health) (+0.02 per 100 ability power)"

I don’t like that they’re making Tahm unable to flash/move at all while he’s devoured an ally champion. Yes, it was frustrating to play against, but it also showed a lot of skill and really impacted how some professional team comps worked.

I do love how all the other changes, especially the damage, work because it makes top Tahm seem less appealing. That said, not having the free save with his Devour (he’ll have to use it to protect a carry from CC or something) might not make him a viable support.

"E – Thick Skin HEAL: 15/20/25/30/35% Grey Health >>> 20/25/30/35/40% Grey Health SHIELD: 70/75/80/85/90% Grey Health >>> 80/85/90/95/100% Grey Health [REM] COST: No longer costs 50 mana. It’s free."

Giving him more healing and shielding, considering they took away his damage, is fine to me. He’s really pushed now towards playing as that front line tank. Taking away the mana cost altogether, though, is a bit puzzling.

"R – Abyssal Voyage RANGE: 4500/5500/6500 >>> 2500/5500/8500 COOLDOWN: 120/110/100 seconds >>> 140/130/120 seconds"

I love the range increase to the R because it gives him and his team a lot more play-making ability for rotations in the late game. If there’s a change that does keep Tahm in pro play, this could be it.