Lucian vs Swain
Hard matchup
Build vs Swain
Build adapted to this matchup
Recommended items for Lucian: Essence Reaver, Navori Flickerblade, Infinity Edge, Gluttonous Greaves, Mortal Reminder, Lord Dominik's Regards, B. F. Sword, Executioner's Calling.
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 Lucian
Tips to maximize your impact
- Weave an auto between spells
Weave an auto between each spell: Lightslinger (passive) turns it into a double shot, and each shot that hits lowers the cooldown of Relentless Pursuit (E).
- Attack after your support helps
Attack right after an ally's heal or shield, or a nearby enemy getting immobilized: Lightslinger (passive) then empowers your next 2 autos.
- R on an immobilized target
Cast The Culling (R) on a target your team has immobilized: each shot hits the first enemy in its path, and you can use Relentless Pursuit (E) while firing.
- Get ahead early
Look for trades and kills early on: Lucian is strongest early, and his impact drops once the other marksmen have their items.
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 Lucian matchups
Patch 16.21.1