Gwen vs Swain
Favorable matchup
Build vs Swain
Build adapted to this matchup
Recommended items for Gwen: Dusk and Dawn, Shadowflame, Rabadon's Deathcap, Sorcerer's Shoes, Riftmaker, Nashor's Tooth, Oblivion Orb, Zhonya's Hourglass.
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 Gwen
Tips to maximize your impact
- Land 4 autos before your Q
Land 4 autos before Snip Snip! (Q): each auto adds a snip, on top of the first and the last.
- Hit with the center of your Q
Land the center of Snip Snip! (Q): in the center, part of the damage becomes true damage and each snip applies A Thousand Cuts (passive).
- Mist against poke
Place Hallowed Mist (W) against poke and ranged CC: enemies outside the mist can't target you, except towers.
- Use all three casts of your R
Cast all three Needlework (R) activations within 6 seconds: the first throws one needle, then three, then five, with growing damage.
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 Gwen matchups
Patch 16.21.1