Wukong vs Swain
Hard matchup
Build vs Swain
The champion's reference build, for lack of enough games in this matchup
Recommended items for Wukong: Trinity Force, Black Cleaver, Death's Dance, Mercury's Treads, Executioner's Calling, Eclipse, Sundered Sky, Profane Hydra.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
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 Wukong
Tips to maximize your impact
- Nimbus Strike, then Crushing Blow
Engage with Nimbus Strike (E), then Crushing Blow (Q): the dash gives you attack speed, and Crushing Blow shreds your target's armor before your Cyclone (R).
- Stay in close
Stay in close when you fight: Stone Skin (passive) increases your armor and health regen as long as you're fighting champions or monsters.
- Vanish to escape or dodge
Cast Warrior Trickster (W) to escape or dodge a key spell: you dash and turn invisible for a moment, and your clone stays in place to fool the enemy.
- Recast your Cyclone
Recast Cyclone (R) right after the first: the spell can be cast twice, and each spin knocks nearby enemies into the air again.
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 Wukong matchups
Patch 16.21.1