Matchup

Heavy AP damageHigh sustainSustained DPSHeavy CC

Build vs Swain

Build adapted to this matchup

Starting items

Gustwalker Hatchling
Health Potion

Core build

Liandry's Torment
1Mage tank
Riftmaker
2Mage tank
Zhonya's Hourglass
3vs AD

Standard

Sorcerer's Shoes
4Magic pen
Rylai's Crystal Scepter
5Mage tank

Summoner spells

411100%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Anti Tank

Bloodletter's Curse
5vs Tank

DPS

Rylai's Crystal Scepter
Mage tank
Rabadon's Deathcap
Mage
Cosmic Drive
Mage tank
100.0% WR1 games
PrecisionPrecision
ConquerorConqueror
TriumphTriumph
Legend: HasteLegend: Haste
Coup de GraceCoup de Grace
InspirationInspiration
Magical FootwearMagical Footwear
Cosmic InsightCosmic Insight
Adaptive ForceAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Early (0-15)
Mid (15-30)
Late (30+)
LilliaLillia
SwainSwain
Neutral
Neutral
Neutral

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
37s22s12s
65s22s12s2m
93s21s12s2m
113s20s12s2m
163s18s11s2m
183s18s10s2m

Playing against Swain

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

1

Stay out of his R drain range — if you can't burst him, back off and wait for R to expire.

2

His E root triggers on the RETURN: dodge the returning projectile, not the outgoing one.

3

Grievous Wounds reduces his R drain and passive heals — buy it early.

4

Swain is vulnerable to long-range champions who can poke him without entering his drain zone.

Source: op.gg + LTL Engine · Patch 16.9.1 · May 9, 2026