Gragas vs Swain

Gragas
vs
50.0%

over 54 games

Swain

Skill matchup

Heavy AP damageHigh sustainSustained DPSHigh burst

Build vs Swain

Build adapted to this matchup

Recommended items for Gragas: Lich Bane, Shadowflame, Rabadon's Deathcap, Sorcerer's Shoes, Rod of Ages, Seraph's Embrace, Oblivion Orb, Cosmic Drive.

Starting items

Doran's Ring
Health Potion
x2

Core build

Lich Bane
1
Shadowflame
2
Rabadon's Deathcap
3

Standard

Sorcerer's Shoes
4Magic pen
Rod of Ages
5

Summoner spells

FlashTeleport72%
FlashDot27%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Rod of Ages
Seraph's Embrace
Oblivion Orb
Cosmic Drive
Hextech Rocketbelt
Fimbulwinter
Imperial Mandate
Stormsurge
Tear of the Goddess
Dark Seal
Zhonya's Hourglass
Luden's Echo
Void Staff
83.3% WR6 games
SorcerySorcery
Stormraider's SurgeStormraider's Surge
Manaflow BandManaflow Band
TranscendenceTranscendence
ScorchScorch
InspirationInspiration
Biscuit DeliveryBiscuit Delivery
Cosmic InsightCosmic Insight
Adaptive ForceAdaptive ForceHealth 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 Gragas

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. Let your barrel charge

    Let Barrel Roll (Q) charge before detonating it: damage and slow grow the longer it sits on the ground, and if you don't recast it, it explodes on its own.

  2. Drink before you engage

    Drink Drunken Rage (W) before engaging: drinking takes 1 second, then you take less damage and your next auto hits every nearby enemy.

  3. Charge through a clear path

    Engage with Body Slam (E) through a path without minions: you stop on the first enemy you meet, and hitting reduces its cooldown.

  4. Send them toward your team

    After Body Slam (E), cast Explosive Cask (R) behind your target: the blast knocks enemies away from the impact, sending them toward your team.

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