@Meddler, Repetoir - Clarification on why Tahm Kench isn't "Sticky"...

Jasiwel··2 votes·389 views

When his passive has:

  1. No cooldown on other champions
  2. Decays AFTER 7 SECONDS
  3. Proc'd by a wide, long-reaching skillshot with a 30-70% slow (per level) with no decay,
  4. Same skillshot can execute a 1.5 SECOND STUN
  5. All while DEVOUR SUPPRESSES THE TARGET AS IT MOVES THEM ANYWHERE TAHM WANTS
  6. And of course, Regurgitate spitting them any direction Tahm wants (and dealing damage but not the point).

How can this not be defined as sticky? How? Please explain to me what sticky means if it's not inclusive of Tahm having a slow that often cools down before it's even over, the same slow being a more-difficult-than-average skillshot to dodge, a passive that is easy to stack and can easily result in a STUN, and the entire Devour+Regurgitate capacity? I don't understand how those are healthy mechanics.

Tahm's passive needs to at least start decaying SOONER (7s -> 4s), his Q needs to be more narrow (it's almost a pseudo-AoE), and the length needs clarity (its visuals often don't look it). He can be excessively difficult to play against and a lot of the time he feels outright unfair because his mechanics are so one-sided. A massive slow, stun, suppress, and w/e Devour/Regurgitate are classified as that can be charged from a tanky champion just doesn't feel okay.

8 Comments

WalkingInACircle2 votes

You forgot how Tahm's ult lets him teleport right behind you.

Jasiwel2 votes

I mean, at least it's telegraphed and requires a channel. At the same time, his ultimate is the least controversial part of his kit.

Troy2426211 votes

I'm fine with his ultimate. His W and his damage output are what irritates me. I'm even okay with him being super sticky (Skarner though a certain scorpion was nerfed for this,...).

Jasiwel1 votes

I think his damage would be okay if he weren't so sticky on top of being so tanky. His stickiness is a form of DPS because he can keep applying his damage depending on how well he sticks to you. The problem I see here is that the skill floor for his reward is way too low and his skill ceiling is super high. His Q makes it difficult to dodge another Q and most of the time it's outright impossible to outplay him without a friend. Once you're at three stacks he can not only stun you, but Devour you as well. Stacks aren't consumed after being used once and the lack of CD on champions from when they can receive stacks only exacerbates this problem.

He doesn't have to go out of his way to itemize in order to deal a lot of damage, which is a huge issue in itself. He hardly is ever seen building RoA now. He has no reason to buy AP over HP. This difference is a huge problem in his current design and balance because it means Tahm never has to worry about ever actually being behind. He doesn't have to sacrifice anything for damage, which is a really big problem, especially given most people haven't even needed to buy HP/AP items like item 3151 and item 3116 to deal moderate damage.

ChargeItDownMid1 votes

[deleted]

Jasiwel1 votes

I find that to be a case of cherry-picking a definition.

Nasus isn't sticky because he has no consistent way to cling to a target; he only has W....that's it.

Sion isn't sticky because all of his opportunities to CC/stick to a target are one-time bursts; his ultimate is highly telegraphed, his wind-up stun requires his being planted for a good duration, and his potential slow requires minions at appropriate angles.

Taric only has his stun, so it makes sense to consider him not-sticky.

Tahm Kench has a several tools in comparison to remain stuck to a target and even vice-versa. His passive duration is exceptionally long and easy to apply. His slow has a low CD, no decay time, is high magnitude for such an long-ranged-wide skillshot, and can lead to a moderate stun. Devour/Regurgitate cause even more problems because they suppress and displace the target to anywhere Tahm wants to throw them. He also often requires being killed basically a second time due to his ability to create an entire health bar's worth of shielding, so opponents have to pursue him in order to kill him.

Tahm wouldn't be sticky IF his passive decayed sooner, his slow was weaker/decayed, and his slow had a higher CD.

DunkinNoobs1 votes

He has no gap closer, no natural MS boosts, no natural tenacity, and his slow is tied to a skillshot that can be blocked. That's why he's not sticky. You shouldn't expect to get away from him 1v1, but you should easily be able to kite him with allied help.

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