Swain vs Anivia
You are stronger late game. Farm safe and avoid early trades.
Build vs Anivia
The champion's reference build, for lack of enough games in this matchup
Recommended items for Swain: Blackfire Torch, Rylai's Crystal Scepter, Zhonya's Hourglass, Boots of Swiftness, Liandry's Torment, Spirit Visage, Morellonomicon, Frozen Heart.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Anivia's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
Upon taking fatal damage, Anivia reverts to an egg and is reborn with full health.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 11s | 17s | 4s | – |
| 6 | 9s | 17s | 4s | 4s |
| 9 | 7s | 17s | 4s | 4s |
| 11 | 7s | 17s | 4s | 3s |
| 16 | 7s | 17s | 4s | 2s |
| 18 | 7s | 17s | 4s | 2s |
Playing as Swain
Tips to maximize your impact
- Aim Nevermove past your target
Cast Nevermove (E) past your target: it only roots on the way back, as it returns to you. Then recast it to pull rooted champions to you.
- Poke through the wave
Poke with Death's Hand (Q) even behind minions: its bolts pierce enemies, and its cooldown drops from 7 to 3 seconds.
- Collect Soul Fragments
Hit champions with Vision of Empire (W) and pull them with Nevermove (E): each Ravenous Flock (passive) Soul Fragment heals you and raises your max health.
- Stay close during your ult
During Demonic Ascension (R), stay close to enemy champions: the drain extends your form, and a takedown refills your Demonic Energy.
- Support distant fights with your eye
Cast Vision of Empire (W) on a fight breaking out elsewhere: its range is 5500 to 7500, and a busy or rooted enemy struggles to dodge the hit 1.5 seconds later.
Playing against Anivia
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Sidestep her ice
Dodge Flash Frost (Q) by stepping to the side: without the chill, Frostbite (E) doesn't double its damage.
- Play hard before she hits 6
Push your wave and take trades before she hits level 6: without Glacial Storm (R), she struggles to clear the wave and can't hold an area.
- Drain her mana
Force her to spend her mana: Flash Frost (Q) costs 80 to 100 mana, and Glacial Storm (R) drains some every second.
- Destroy the egg right away
Focus the Rebirth (passive) egg as soon as it appears: if it hatches, she comes back to life at full health.
Other Swain matchups
Patch 16.21.1