Gnar vs Swain
Hard matchup
Build vs Swain
Build adapted to this matchup
Recommended items for Gnar: Trinity Force, Black Cleaver, Sterak's Gage, Mercury's Treads, Wit's End, Randuin's Omen, Executioner's Calling, Bramble Vest.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
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 Gnar
Tips to maximize your impact
- Poke and catch your boomerang
As Mini Gnar, poke and kite with Boomerang Throw (Q): it slows, and catching it on the way back lowers its cooldown.
- Three hits on the same target
As Mini Gnar, land three hits on the same target: Hyper (W) then adds damage based on their max health and gives you move speed.
- Engage at almost full Rage
Engage when your Rage Gene (passive) bar is almost full: your next ability turns you into Mega Gnar, tankier and with new spells.
- Send them into a wall
Cast GNAR! (R) to send enemies into a wall: those who hit it are stunned and take more damage, the others are only knocked back.
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 Gnar matchups
Patch 16.21.1