Updated patch 26.18 · 1.5M high-elo games
NeverFF
← All champions
Swain

Swain

Battlemage · magic (AP) damage

51.5%Win rate
0.8%Pick rate
2KGames
ATier · Bot

Swain is a Battlemage that deals magic (AP) damage and brings root, slow. Their hard CC is tenacity-reducible, so Mercury's Treads and tenacity items shorten their lockdown. Below is Swain's highest-win-rate build from high-elo games; open the counter-build tool to tune it against your specific enemy team.

ABILITIES

Ravenous Flock
PassiveRavenous Flock

Swain's ravens collect Soul Fragments that heal him and permanently increase his maximum health.

Death's Hand
QDeath's Hand

Swain unleashes several bolts of eldritch power that pierce through enemies. Enemies hit take more damage for each bolt they are struck by.

Vision of Empire
WVision of Empire

Swain opens a demon eye that deals damage and slows enemies. Champions hit are revealed and also grant Swain a Soul Fragment.

Nevermove
ENevermove

Swain launches a wave of demonic power forward. It then returns to Swain and roots enemies it hits. Swain can then choose to pull all rooted champions closer. This ability has a shorter cooldown during Demonic Ascension.

Demonic Ascension
RDemonic Ascension

Swain transforms into a demon and drains health from nearby enemy champions, minions, and neutral monsters. Swain can cast Demonflare to decimate and slow nearby enemies with a nova of soulfire. This form is indefinite as long as Swain drains enemy champions.

COMBAT PROFILE

Attack2
Defense6
Magic9
Difficulty8
PLAYING ASSwain
  • If you're having trouble rooting an enemy with Nevermove, try throwing it at opponents when they are near their minions so the explosion surprises them.
  • While laning, try to use Death's Hand's piercing damage to damage opponents from a safe distance.
  • Vision of Empire is quite difficult to land on its own, look for skirmishes around the map where enemies may be distracted or crowd controlled so you can land it more easily.
  • Demonic Ascension may make Swain very hard to kill but he's pretty easy to get away from. Try building items that can slow opponents to keep them in range if their mobility is overwhelming.
PLAYING AGAINSTSwain
  • Swain's passive is very potent if you are immobilized. Make sure to be extra careful around enemies who have immobilizing effects.
  • High mobility counters all of Swain's basic abilities: Death's Hand does more damage the closer he is, Vision of Empire has a very long delay and Nevermove must start returning back to him to be dangerous.
  • Buying an item with Grievous Wounds will make Swain much easier to kill during his Demonic Ascension.

CROWD CONTROL

Roottenacity helpsFROME NevermoveSlowignores tenacityFROMW Vision of EmpireR Demonic Ascension

Hover a crowd-control type to see which ability it comes from.

HIGHEST WIN-RATE BUILD
SKILL PRIORITY
Death's Hand (Q)Swain unleashes several bolts of eldritch power that pierce through enemies. Enemies hit take more damage for each bolt they are struck by.Q→Vision of Empire (W)Swain opens a demon eye that deals damage and slows enemies. Champions hit are revealed and also grant Swain a Soul Fragment.W
51.5% WR1,449 matches
SKILL PATH leveling order
Death's Hand (Q)Swain unleashes several bolts of eldritch power that pierce through enemies. Enemies hit take more damage for each bolt they are struck by.QDeath's Hand
2
4
5
7
9
Vision of Empire (W)Swain opens a demon eye that deals damage and slows enemies. Champions hit are revealed and also grant Swain a Soul Fragment.WVision of Empire
3
8
10
12
13
Nevermove (E)Swain launches a wave of demonic power forward. It then returns to Swain and roots enemies it hits. Swain can then choose to pull all rooted champions closer. This ability has a shorter cooldown during Demonic Ascension.ENevermove
1
14
15
17
18
Demonic Ascension (R)Swain transforms into a demon and drains health from nearby enemy champions, minions, and neutral monsters. Swain can cast Demonflare to decimate and slow nearby enemies with a nova of soulfire. This form is indefinite as long as Swain drains enemy champions.RDemonic Ascension
6
11
16
Conqueror keystone
Precision
Press the AttackPress the Attack
Lethal TempoLethal Tempo
Fleet FootworkFleet Footwork
ConquerorConqueror
Absorb LifeAbsorb Life
TriumphTriumph
Presence of MindPresence of Mind
Legend: AlacrityLegend: Alacrity
Legend: HasteLegend: Haste
Legend: BloodlineLegend: Bloodline
Coup de GraceCoup de Grace
Cut DownCut Down
Last StandLast Stand
Sorcery
Summon AerySummon Aery
Arcane CometArcane Comet
Stormraider's SurgeStormraider's Surge
Deathfire TouchDeathfire Touch
Axiom ArcanistAxiom Arcanist
Manaflow BandManaflow Band
Nimbus CloakNimbus Cloak
TranscendenceTranscendence
CelerityCelerity
Absolute FocusAbsolute Focus
ScorchScorch
WaterwalkingWaterwalking
Gathering StormGathering Storm
SUMMONER SPELLS
BUILD PATH · win rate by item
STARTING
Doran's Ring18 Ability Power 90 Health Drain Restore 1 Mana every second, increased to 2 Mana per second for 5 seconds after dealing damage to an enemy champion. If you can't gain Mana, heal for 45% of this value instead. Helping Hand Attacks deal 5 bonus physical damage to minions.Cost: 400Health PotionConsume Restores 120 Health over 15 seconds.Cost: 50
Best opening
BOOTS
Plated Steelcaps25 Armor 45 Move Speed Plating Reduces incoming damage from Attacks by 10%.Cost: 1200 · 600 to build
Most common
CORE
Malignance90 Ability Power 600 Mana 15 Ability Haste Scorn Gain 20 Ultimate Ability Haste. Hatefog Damaging a champion with your Ultimate burns the ground beneath them for 3s, dealing magic damage per second and reducing their Magic Resist.Cost: 2700 · 650 to build→Rylai's Crystal Scepter65 Ability Power 400 Health Rimefrost Damaging Abilities Slow enemies by 30% for 1 second.Cost: 2600 · 450 to build
Build every game
3RD ITEM
Liandry's Torment60 Ability Power 300 Health Torment Damaging Abilities burn enemies for 2% max Health magic damage per second for 3 seconds. Suffering For each second in combat with enemy champions, deal 2% bonus damage, up to 6%.Cost: 3000 · 800 to build52.3% WR325 games
Zhonya's Hourglass105 Ability Power 50 Armor Time Stop Enter Stasis for 2.5 seconds.Cost: 3250 · 450 to build51% WR249 games
What players go
4TH ITEM
Zhonya's Hourglass105 Ability Power 50 Armor Time Stop Enter Stasis for 2.5 seconds.Cost: 3250 · 450 to build53.2% WR694 games
Liandry's Torment60 Ability Power 300 Health Torment Damaging Abilities burn enemies for 2% max Health magic damage per second for 3 seconds. Suffering For each second in combat with enemy champions, deal 2% bonus damage, up to 6%.Cost: 3000 · 800 to build59% WR324 games
What players go
5TH ITEM
Zhonya's Hourglass105 Ability Power 50 Armor Time Stop Enter Stasis for 2.5 seconds.Cost: 3250 · 450 to build54.1% WR231 games
Liandry's Torment60 Ability Power 300 Health Torment Damaging Abilities burn enemies for 2% max Health magic damage per second for 3 seconds. Suffering For each second in combat with enemy champions, deal 2% bonus damage, up to 6%.Cost: 3000 · 800 to build47.5% WR204 games
Spirit Visage400 Health 50 Magic Resist 10 Ability Haste 100% Base Health Regen Boundless Vitality Heals and Shields on you are increased by 25%.Cost: 2700 · 650 to build52.2% WR67 games
What players go

Based on 2418 games · 51.5% win rate · challenger+grandmaster+master+emerald-diamond+platinum-emerald · patch 16.18.1.

Counter-build Swain vs your enemies →

MORE MAGE CHAMPIONS

NamiNamiSyndraSyndraLuluLuluSeraphineSeraphineViktorViktorLuxLuxKarmaKarmaMalphiteMalphiteVladimirVladimirXerathXerathMilioMilioJannaJanna
Swain Build & Counters | NeverFF