Matchup

Heavy AP damageHigh sustainSustained DPSHeavy CC

Build vs Swain

Build adapted to this matchup

Starting items

Mosstomper Seedling

Core build

Liandry's Torment
1Mage tank
Sunfire Aegis
2vs AD
Abyssal Mask
3vs AP

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Thornmail
5vs Hybride

Summoner spells

411100%

Anti AD

Plated Steelcaps
4vs AD
Thornmail
5vs Hybride
Randuin's Omen
vs AD
Frozen Heart
vs AD

Anti AP

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC
Jak'Sho, The Protean
5vs Hybride
Kaenic Rookern
vs AP
PrecisionPrecision
ConquerorConqueror
TriumphTriumph
Legend: HasteLegend: Haste
Last StandLast Stand
DominationDomination
Ultimate HunterUltimate Hunter
Cheap ShotCheap Shot
Attack SpeedAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Early (0-15)
Mid (15-30)
Late (30+)
AmumuAmumu
SwainSwain
Neutral
Neutral
Favorable

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
37s22s12s
65s22s12s2m
93s21s12s2m
113s20s12s2m
163s18s11s2m
183s18s10s2m

Playing against Swain

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

1

Stay out of his R drain range — if you can't burst him, back off and wait for R to expire.

2

His E root triggers on the RETURN: dodge the returning projectile, not the outgoing one.

3

Grievous Wounds reduces his R drain and passive heals — buy it early.

4

Swain is vulnerable to long-range champions who can poke him without entering his drain zone.

Source: op.gg + LTL Engine · Patch 16.9.1 · May 9, 2026