Sion vs Swain

Sion
vs
39.5%

over 43 games

Swain

Hard matchup

Heavy AP damageHigh sustainSustained DPSHigh burst

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

Doran's Shield
Health Potion

Core build

Hollow Radiance
1
Unending Despair
2
Jak'Sho, The Protean
3

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Titanic Hydra
5

Summoner spells

FlashTeleport92%
HasteTeleport4%

Other options

Titanic Hydra
Heartsteel
Bramble Vest
Thornmail
Kaenic Rookern
Youmuu's Ghostblade
Overlord's Bloodmail
Randuin's Omen
Force of Nature
Serrated Dirk
ResolveResolve
Grasp of the UndyingGrasp of the Undying
DemolishDemolish
ConditioningConditioning
OvergrowthOvergrowth
InspirationInspiration
Cash BackCash Back
Approach VelocityApproach Velocity
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 Sion

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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

  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