Swain vs Gangplank
Hard matchup
You are stronger late game. Farm safe and avoid early trades.
Build vs Gangplank
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, Frozen Heart, Randuin's Omen, Rod of Ages.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Gangplank's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
Every few seconds, Gangplank's melee strike will set his opponent on fire.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 4.5s | 22s | 0s | – |
| 6 | 4.5s | 22s | 0s | 2m40 |
| 9 | 4.5s | 20s | 0s | 2m40 |
| 11 | 4.5s | 18s | 0s | 2m20 |
| 16 | 4.5s | 14s | 0s | 2m |
| 18 | 4.5s | 14s | 0s | 2m |
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 Gangplank
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Pop his kegs before he does
Destroy his kegs before he does: a Powder Keg (E) destroyed by an enemy is defused, and each keg loses health over time.
- All-in, he has no dash
If you can engage, go all-in: his kit has no dash to escape.
- Save a CC for after his W
If your team has several CCs, don't use them all at once: Remove Scurvy (W) cleanses all his CC, then has a 22 to 14 second cooldown.
- Get out of his keg zone
In teamfights, get out of his kegs' area: each Powder Keg (E) explosion deals the damage of the attack that set it off, ignores part of your armor and slows you.
Other Swain matchups
Patch 16.21.1