Blitzcrank vs Swain
Skill matchup
Build vs Swain
Build adapted to this matchup
Recommended items for Blitzcrank: Locket of the Iron Solari, Zeke's Convergence, Bandlepipes, Boots of Swiftness, Celestial Opposition, Solstice Sleigh, Frozen Heart, Knight's Vow.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Swain's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
Swain's ravens collect Soul Fragments that heal him and permanently increase his maximum health.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 7s | 20s | 12s | – |
| 6 | 5s | 20s | 12s | 2m |
| 9 | 3s | 19s | 12s | 2m |
| 11 | 3s | 18s | 12s | 2m |
| 16 | 3s | 16s | 11s | 2m |
| 18 | 3s | 16s | 10s | 2m |
Playing as Blitzcrank
Tips to maximize your impact
- Grab from a clear angle
Fire Rocket Grab (Q) from a brush or a side angle: it grabs the first enemy hit, so you need a line without minions.
- Power Fist right after the grab
After a successful grab, cast Power Fist (E) right away: your next auto knocks the target into the air and deals double damage.
- Sometimes engage without a grab
Sometimes engage without a grab: rush in with Overdrive (W), knock your target into the air with Power Fist (E), and save Rocket Grab (Q) for when they Flash away.
- Bait with your shield
Use Mana Barrier (passive) to bait: at low health you get a shield based on your mana, enough to make a kill look easy.
- Save your grab for their carry
In teamfights, save Rocket Grab (Q) for their carry and wait for them out of vision: grabbing them before the fight starts often decides it.
Playing against Swain
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Other Blitzcrank matchups
Patch 16.21.1