Sion vs Swain
Hard matchup
Build vs Swain
The champion's reference build, for lack of enough games in this matchup
Recommended items for Sion: Hollow Radiance, Unending Despair, Jak'Sho, The Protean, Mercury's Treads, Titanic Hydra, Heartsteel, Bramble Vest, Thornmail.
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 Sion
Tips to maximize your impact
- Last-hit everything for max health
Last-hit minions and monsters for Soul Furnace (W): each kill permanently gives you max health, more on champions, large minions and large monsters.
- Slow before your Smash
Slow your target with Roar of the Slayer (E) before charging Decimating Smash (Q): they're less likely to get out of the area.
- Charge your Smash for at least 1 second
Charge Decimating Smash (Q) for at least 1 second: below that, the hit only slows, and beyond it, the knock-up and stun last longer the more you charge.
- Keep hitting after you die
After you die, hit the nearest champion: during Glory in Death (passive), your autos are much faster, heal you and deal damage based on their max health.
- Engage or roam from far away
Cast Unstoppable Onslaught (R) from far away to engage or roam: unstoppable for 8 seconds, you stun longer and hit harder after a long charge.
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 Sion matchups
Patch 16.21.1