How to Play Bilgewater Tahm Kench
A stage-by-stage plan for Bilgewater Tahm Kench: opener, when to level and roll for Tahm Kench, and where to position the board.
- Tier
- F
- Top 4 rate
- 27.0%
- Avg place
- 5.64
- 1st place
- 2.7%
- Playstyle
- 1-cost reroll
- Games
- 2,110
How to level and roll with Bilgewater Tahm Kench
1-cost rerollBilgewater Tahm Kench is a reroll comp: slow roll at level 5 from stage 3-1, keeping 50+ gold and rolling only the excess until Illaoi reach 3 stars. At level 5, each shop slot has a 45% chance to be a 1-cost.
| Stage | Level | Action | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-1 | 4 | Level | Level to 4 and play your strongest pairs; slam an early item if it saves HP. |
| 2-5 | 5 | Level | Level to 5 and keep building interest toward 50 gold. |
| 3-1 | 5 | Slow roll | Stay at level 5: roll only the gold above 50 each round until Illaoi hit 3 stars. |
| 3-2 | 5 | Slow roll | Stay at level 5: roll only the gold above 50 each round until Illaoi hit 3 stars. |
| 4-1 | 7 | Level | Once your 3-stars are done, level up and add the units that complete your traits. |
| 4-5 | 8 | Level | Level to 8 for 4-cost upgrades and a stronger frontline. |
| 5-1 | 8 | Roll down | Roll for the last upgrades and finish the board around Tahm Kench. |
Bilgewater Tahm Kench early game and opener
We don't have enough early-board data for Bilgewater Tahm Kench yet. Play your strongest pairs early and hold units that share traits with Tahm Kench.
Rolling odds for Bilgewater Tahm Kench
Your 3-star targets are Illaoi. Level 5 gives the best shop odds for them — use the calculator to see how much gold a 3-star costs.
Rolldown calculator: Illaoi
Pre-set to this comp's roll level. Change copies owned, copies other players hold and your gold.
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Bilgewater Tahm Kench positioning
A starting board for Bilgewater Tahm Kench. Drag units to adjust it, switch to the anti-assassin layout when the lobby has divers, and copy the Team Planner code into the TFT client.
- Corner Miss Fortune on the back line and put Tahm Kench in front of it.
- Split Miss Fortune and Fizz across the back line so a single area spell can't hit both.
- Tahm Kench, Nautilus, and Gangplank hold the front line — put the tankiest one opposite the enemy carry.
- Against assassins, step your carries up one row and leave Illaoi and Graves in the back corners as bait.
Positioning board
Drag a unit onto another hex to move it — dropping on a unit swaps them.
When to play Bilgewater Tahm Kench
Strengths
- Big power spike once Illaoi hit 3 stars
- Two damage threats (Tahm Kench and Fizz) make itemizing flexible
- Rarely played, so its units are usually free
- Strong mid game once the reroll units are upgraded
Weaknesses
- Average place is worse than 85% of comps of the same board size
- Needs Tahm Kench and Fizz at high cost, which can be hard to hit
- Falls off hard if someone else is rerolling Illaoi
Strategic Tips
Economy
Reach 50 gold, then slow roll at level 5 with only the excess until Illaoi are 3-starred.
Itemization
Build Thief's Gloves, Jeweled Gauntlet, and Rabadon's Deathcap on Tahm Kench.
When to pivot
Scout at 2-1 and 3-2: if two or more players hold your core units, or you haven't found any by 3-2, move into one of the comps on the Similar Comps tab instead of forcing Bilgewater Tahm Kench.
Get the Winning Edge
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How to play Bilgewater Tahm Kench – FAQ (TFT Set 16)
How do you play Bilgewater Tahm Kench?
Bilgewater Tahm Kench is a reroll comp: slow roll at level 5 from stage 3-1, keeping 50+ gold and rolling only the excess until Illaoi reach 3 stars. Corner Miss Fortune on the back line and put Tahm Kench in front of it. Build Thief's Gloves, Jeweled Gauntlet, and Rabadon's Deathcap on Tahm Kench.
When should I roll down for Bilgewater Tahm Kench?
Bilgewater Tahm Kench doesn't do one big roll down. Slow roll at level 5 from stage 3-1, rolling only the gold above 50 until Illaoi are 3-starred.
What level do you roll for Illaoi?
Slow roll for Illaoi at level 5, where its cost tier shows up most often in the shop. At level 5, each shop slot has a 45% chance to be a 1-cost.
Is Bilgewater Tahm Kench a reroll comp?
Yes. Bilgewater Tahm Kench wants Illaoi at 3 stars, so slow roll at level 5 with gold above 50 until you hit them.
How do you position Bilgewater Tahm Kench?
Corner Miss Fortune on the back line and put Tahm Kench in front of it. Split Miss Fortune and Fizz across the back line so a single area spell can't hit both. Tahm Kench, Nautilus, and Gangplank hold the front line — put the tankiest one opposite the enemy carry. Against assassins, step your carries up one row and leave Illaoi and Graves in the back corners as bait.
What is the best opener for Bilgewater Tahm Kench?
Bilgewater Tahm Kench has no fixed opener: play your strongest early pairs, keep HP high and hold units that share traits with Tahm Kench.