Kayle vs Tahm Kench Counter Pick

Thick Skin breaks the pattern Kayle depends on. Tahm Kench stores a percentage of the damage he takes, converts it into a temporary shield on cast, and heals from it while out of combat, so the chip damage Kayle accumulates at 175 range with Starfire Spellblade is partly refunded rather than banked. Her 44.6% from 307 games on patch 16.13.1 grows out of that arithmetic.

• An Acquired Taste scales his damage with total health, so defensive items that blunt her also raise his output.
• Tongue Lash damages, slows and heals him when it strikes a champion, punishing the exact spacing she wants to keep.
• Devour removes a champion for several seconds, which can strand her without the ally Divine Judgment was meant to save.

He is the sturdier champion from minute one, with 39 armor and 32 magic resist against Kayle‘s 26 and 22, ending on 118.9 armour and 2,391 health to her 97.4 and 2,234. His damage is listed as magic, which is awkward given that low base magic resist, and both move at 335, so she cannot walk away from Abyssal Dive’s knock-up. Her route is scaling, meaning the attack speed and eventual range from Divine Ascent, with Celestial Blessing covering the interval. He is rated 5 on the difficulty scale against her 7, so the champion asking less of its pilot is the one ahead in the record.