Kai'Sa vs Swain

Kai'Sa
vs
44.6%

over 2022 games

Swain

Hard matchup

Heavy AP damageHigh sustainSustained DPSHigh burst

Build vs Swain

Build adapted to this matchup

Recommended items for Kai'Sa: Kraken Slayer, Guinsoo's Rageblade, Terminus, Berserker's Greaves, Nashor's Tooth, Zhonya's Hourglass, Statikk Shiv, Phantom Dancer.

Starting items

Doran's Bow
Health Potion
x2

Core build

Kraken Slayer
1
Guinsoo's Rageblade
2
Terminus
3

Standard

Berserker's Greaves
4AS
Nashor's Tooth
5

Summoner spells

FlashBarrier74%
ExhaustFlash14%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Nashor's Tooth
Zhonya's Hourglass
Statikk Shiv
Phantom Dancer
Infinity Edge
Executioner's Calling
Rabadon's Deathcap
Runaan's Hurricane
Seeker's Armguard
Shadowflame
B. F. Sword
Guardian Angel
Mortal Reminder
Voltaic Cyclosword
Wit's End
The Collector
Dusk and Dawn
Blade of The Ruined King
Yun Tal Wildarrows
Lord Dominik's Regards
Hubris
Jak'Sho, The Protean
Luden's Echo
Quicksilver Sash
Oblivion Orb
Bloodthirster
Banshee's Veil
51.6% WR702 games
PrecisionPrecision
Lethal TempoLethal Tempo
Presence of MindPresence of Mind
Legend: BloodlineLegend: Bloodline
Coup de GraceCoup de Grace
InspirationInspiration
Magical FootwearMagical Footwear
Biscuit DeliveryBiscuit Delivery
Attack SpeedAdaptive 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 Kai'Sa

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. Use Q on an isolated target

    Cast Icathian Rain (Q) on an isolated target: the missiles split between nearby enemies, so a lone target takes them all.

  2. Attack after your ally's CC

    Attack right after your support lands CC: with Second Skin (passive), your allies' immobilizing effects also stack Plasma.

  3. Mark your target before your R

    Before Killer Instinct (R), stack Plasma on your target, from range with Void Seeker (W): the dash needs a marked target and gives you a shield.

  4. Play around your evolves

    Make use of each spell that Second Skin (passive) evolves: Supercharge (E) makes you invisible to get in, and Icathian Rain (Q) fires more missiles at a lone target.

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