Tahm Kench/Trivia

		This article is a compilation of the trivia sections found across Tahm Kench's articles and is provided as a courtesy for readers who enjoyed our previously dedicated champion-trivia articles. The information found on this page cannot be edited from here - please follow the provided links to the source articles. This page will automatically reflect changes made elsewhere.

Development

Tahm Kench is voiced by Pat Duke.
He was in production for seven months, time during which he was called Fish Tank, Fez Tank, Twocoats and Two Koats.^[1]
There is a version of Tahm Kench's theme with vocals and lyrics sung by Tahm Kench, but was scrapped before release.^[2]
His Devour was inspired from early explorations of Cho'Gath's Feast's.
Before Tahm Kench's release his laughter could be heard if a champion in turn laughed while standing in Summoner's Rift's river (only once per match and only by the champion laughing).

Tahm Kench represents the foibles of mankind, an individual's inner flaws. His name and appearance change from culture to culture, person to person. His current name come from a Bilgewater gambler who appears in his teaser video while his in-game appearance is based on how people from Bilgewater see him as he is more culturally important and relevant here. He has no real name, no form of his own, only those he takes.
- There is a Freljordian demigod who is suspiciously similar to him, who may be the River King itself or at least shares the same source of energy.^[3]
- Tahm Kench's names, like Aatrox's battles, have been carved into Runeterran history but he, unlike the Darkin Blade, is too much of a gentleman to make a fuss about it.
- Tahm Kench refers to himself as a "monstrous siren ", referencing chimeric songstresses who sweetly and sorrowfully lulled sailors into underwater dangers, just like Tahm Kench who deceptively brought desperados to short-term pleasantries but would utterly ruin their lives afterwards.
Tahm can eat whatever he wants, but his specific appetites are only sated when he strikes a bargain.
The River King would view the newly flowing rivers in Shurima as a new market opening up for fresh deals with naive mortals.

Tahm Kench is one of the few champions who can apply crowd control on themselves (the others being Blitzcrank, Caitlyn, Lissandra, Rumble, Sion, Varus, Vi, Vel'Koz, Xerath, and Ziggs).
At first it was thought the gambler and his bride were Tobias and Evelynn ( Twisted Fate's cards went blank and featured an unknown cursive script in his official champion page; however, Twisted Fate and the original Tahm Kench, whose identity the malevolent River King usurped, are not the same.^[4]
Tahm Kench's dance has him play the tune he hums in 'The River King' with his tongue ( Rift Scuttler will join him if he dances near her).
Tahm Kench's design and playstyle may be loosely based on the Banderhobb, a toad-like creature from the Forgotten Realms universe which kidnaps unsuspecting victims by swallowing them alive and carrying them to its master's lair.
In VALORANT on the Ascent map (Mid Bottom), there is a park bench crafted with his likeness. This is most likely a reference to the "Unbench the Kench" meme.

Tahm Kench has a unique interaction for 48 champions, the most out of any champion in the game.
- The champions that Tahm Kench did not have a unique interaction for at the time of his release were:

The scene depicted has him offering the viewer to go on an Abyssal Voyage on his boat.
When joking he will spit out a boot or a Heart of Gold (among other things).
Devour's shield is decorated with 5 Jack's contract to Tahm, first seen in his 4level-up animation.

A caged Poro can be seen in the background while he prepares a meal out of a Rift Scuttler in the foreground.
He is the second skin referencing the colorful carps nishigikoi (the first being Koi Nami).
When joking he will spit out a croissant, a piece of sushi, a cheeseburger, or a dumpling (among other things).
He was inspired by Quina Quen from Final Fantasy IX, Adjudicator from Demon's Souls, Jiro Ono from Jiro Dreams of Sushi, and Iron Chef.
- Coincidentally, by looking at the name of the skin, his name references MasterChef, a show first created in the United Kingdom in July 1990. It was later reproduced in other countries.

He was released in celebration of April Fools' Day 2016 ( Draven Day) along with:
He impersonates Urf.

Coin Emperor Tahm Kench
Chromas: Amethyst, Aquamarine, Obsidian, Pearl, Rose Quartz, Ruby

His theme might be inspired by Liu Hai - an ancient Chinese spirit of chance & fortune. Liu Hai is described as a "luck vampire", a demon that feeds off the luck of others, thereby absorbing their fortune and abusing it for his own benefit.
His design might be inspired by Jin Chan - a mythical toad said to appear during the full moon, near houses or businesses that will soon receive good news (most of the time, the nature of this good news is understood to be wealth-related). Jin Chan represents a popular Feng Shui charm for prosperity.
He was released in celebration of Lunar Revel 2019 (Year of the Pig) along with:

Arcana Tahm Kench
Chromas: Amethyst, Citrine, Emerald, Obsidian, Pearl, Rose Quartz, Ruby, Sapphire

High Noon Tahm Kench
Chromas: Amethyst, Catseye, Emerald, Nomad, Obsidian, Pearl, Rose Quartz, Ruby, Sapphire

Shan Hai Scrolls Tahm Kench
Chromas: Citrine, Obsidian, Pearl, Peridot, Rose Quartz, Ruby, Sandstone, Tanzanite