Bard vs Tahm Kench Counter Pick
Matchup Summary
What the Data Means
In Support, this is Bard versus Tahm Kench — a support/mage hybrid against a tank/support hybrid. The sample behind this page is 950 games from patch 16.13.1, and Bard wins 46.8% of them. Sitting 3.2 points below the 50% line marks Tahm Kench as a genuine problem pick for Bard.
Neither profile surprises the other: Bard and Tahm Kench are both mixed threats. Level-one bases: Bard 630 HP / 34 armour / 30 MR, Tahm Kench 640 / 39 / 32. Early physical trades read in Tahm Kench’s favour thanks to 5 more armour. Level 18 armour lands at 119 for Bard and 119 for Tahm Kench. Base attack damage is 52 against 56, so Tahm Kench wins the raw auto-attack exchange.
The 500-versus-175 attack range gap means Bard can contest the wave from outside Tahm Kench’s reach. Tahm Kench has to create the opening before the trade maths turn around — a gap-closer, a freeze, or help from the jungle.
Track Caretaker’s Shrine on Bard and Devour on Tahm Kench — the lane swings on those two. Tempered Fate and Devour are the two buttons that end the exchange outright.
Difficulty ratings read 9/10 and 5/10, with Bard on the harder end — worth weighing before trusting the percentage. Treat 950 games as the confidence attached to 46.8%. This lane rebuilds from live ranked data each cycle.
FAQ
No — current data marks this as a counter matchup: Tahm Kench has the statistical edge. Bard wins 46.8% of the recorded games.
46.8% from Bard's perspective, measured on patch 16.13.1.
950 ranked games at Emerald rank and above, across all regions.
The current Bard build — items, runes and skill order from the same data set — is on the Bard build page.