Swain vs Draven
Build vs Draven
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, Plated Steelcaps, 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
Draven's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
Draven gains his fans' Adoration when he catches a Spinning Axe or kills a minion, monster, or tower. Killing enemy champions grants Draven bonus gold based on how much Adoration he has.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 12s | 12s | 16s | – |
| 6 | 10s | 12s | 16s | 1m40 |
| 9 | 8s | 12s | 16s | 1m40 |
| 11 | 8s | 12s | 16s | 1m30 |
| 16 | 8s | 12s | 14s | 1m20 |
| 18 | 8s | 12s | 12s | 1m20 |
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 Draven
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Play hard when he drops an axe
Play hard when he drops a Spinning Axe (Q): without it, he loses his bonus damage and the Blood Rush (W) reset.
- Aim where his axe lands
If you have skillshots, aim where his Spinning Axe (Q) falls: he has to go there to catch it.
- Engage after his Stand Aside
If you can engage, wait until Stand Aside (E) is used: it's his only spell to push you back, on a 16 to 12 second cooldown.
- Don't give him kills
Don't hand him kills: with League of Draven (passive), each champion he kills gives him bonus gold based on his stored Adoration.
- Beware his axes at low health
At low health, beware of Whirling Death (R), which crosses the map: it executes a champion below a threshold that grows with his Adoration.
Other Swain matchups
Patch 16.21.1