Swain vs Gangplank

Swain
vs
35.3%

over 34 games

Gangplank

Hard matchup

Heavy AD damageSplit pushHigh burstHeavy poke

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

Doran's Ring
Health Potion
x2

Core build

Blackfire Torch
1
Rylai's Crystal Scepter
2
Zhonya's Hourglass
3

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Liandry's Torment
5

Summoner spells

FlashTeleport38%
FlashHaste36%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Liandry's Torment
Frozen Heart
Randuin's Omen
Rod of Ages
Dark Seal
Oblivion Orb
Riftmaker
Spirit Visage
Fimbulwinter
Malignance
Tear of the Goddess
Morellonomicon
PrecisionPrecision
ConquerorConqueror
Presence of MindPresence of Mind
Legend: HasteLegend: Haste
Last StandLast Stand
ResolveResolve
ConditioningConditioning
OvergrowthOvergrowth
Adaptive ForceAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Gangplank's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Trial by Fire (P)

Every few seconds, Gangplank's melee strike will set his opponent on fire.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
34.5s22s0s–
64.5s22s0s2m40
94.5s20s0s2m40
114.5s18s0s2m20
164.5s14s0s2m
184.5s14s0s2m

Playing as Swain

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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

  1. 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.

  2. All-in, he has no dash

    If you can engage, go all-in: his kit has no dash to escape.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

Patch 16.21.1