Alistar vs Swain

Alistar
vs
46.8%

over 1647 games

Swain

Skill matchup

Heavy AP damageHigh sustainSustained DPSHigh burst

Build vs Swain

Build adapted to this matchup

Recommended items for Alistar: Locket of the Iron Solari, Zeke's Convergence, Knight's Vow, Boots of Swiftness, Celestial Opposition, Solstice Sleigh, Bramble Vest, Thornmail.

Starting items

Health Potion
x2

Core build

Locket of the Iron Solari
1
Zeke's Convergence
2
Knight's Vow
3

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Celestial Opposition
5

Summoner spells

FlashDot54%
FlashHeal27%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Celestial Opposition
Solstice Sleigh
Bramble Vest
Thornmail
Bandlepipes
Protoplasm Harness
Kaenic Rookern
Frozen Heart
Shurelya's Battlesong
Randuin's Omen
Oblivion Orb
Dark Seal
Hextech Rocketbelt
Abyssal Mask
Imperial Mandate
Mikael's Blessing
Zaz'Zak's Realmspike
Dead Man's Plate
Bloodsong
Force of Nature
Stormsurge
Heartsteel
Mejai's Soulstealer
Jak'Sho, The Protean
Cosmic Drive
Zhonya's Hourglass
Spirit Visage
55.9% WR59 games
ResolveResolve
AftershockAftershock
Font of LifeFont of Life
Bone PlatingBone Plating
UnflinchingUnflinching
InspirationInspiration
Hextech FlashtraptionHextech Flashtraption
Cosmic InsightCosmic Insight
Ability HasteHealth ScalingHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Swain's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Ravenous Flock (P)

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

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
37s20s12s–
65s20s12s2m
93s19s12s2m
113s18s12s2m
163s16s11s2m
183s16s10s2m

Playing as Alistar

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. Pulverize during your charge

    Cast Pulverize (Q) during the Headbutt (W) charge: it's your core engage, and the target takes a knock-up as soon as you arrive.

  2. Stay in melee range during Trample

    Stay in melee range during Trample (E): each pulse that hits a champion gives you a stack, and at max stacks your next auto stuns.

  3. Knock them toward your team

    Get behind your target, then cast Headbutt (W) toward your team: the charge knocks them back along your path, straight into your allies.

  4. Cast your R when you get focused

    Cast Unbreakable Will (R) when you dive under a tower or get focused: it removes all CC on you and reduces the damage you take.

Playing against Swain

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Dodge Nevermove on its return

    Get out of the Nevermove (E) path as it comes back: it only roots on its return to Swain, then he can pull each rooted champion to him.

  2. Leave the area of his eye

    Leave the area as soon as Vision of Empire (W) appears: it strikes and slows 1.5 seconds later, and each champion hit gives him a Soul Fragment.

  3. Keep your distance during his ult

    During Demonic Ascension (R), back off and hit from range if you can: he only drains nearby enemies, and his form ends when he stops draining.

  4. Cut his healing during his ult

    If you have Grievous Wounds, apply it during Demonic Ascension (R): the drain heals him every second, and that healing keeps him alive.

Patch 16.21.1