Swain vs Gnar

Swain
vs
48.1%

over 54 games

Gnar

Skill matchup

Heavy AD damageHeavy CCStrong engageVery tanky

Build vs Gnar

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, Fimbulwinter, Seeker's Armguard.

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

FlashHaste38%
FlashTeleport30%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Liandry's Torment
Frozen Heart
Fimbulwinter
Seeker's Armguard
Rod of Ages
Oblivion Orb
Tear of the Goddess
Spirit Visage
Malignance
Morellonomicon
Randuin's Omen
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

Gnar's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Rage Gene (P)

While in combat Gnar generates Rage. At maximum Rage his next ability will transform him into Mega Gnar, granting increased survivability and access to new spells.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
316s7s22s–
613s7s22s1m30
910s7s22s1m30
1110s7s22s1m
1610s7s17s30s
1810s7s12s30s

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 Gnar

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Play hard against Mini Gnar

    Take your trades when he's Mini Gnar with little Rage Gene (passive): he then has no stun and none of Mega Gnar's defenses.

  2. Dodge his boomerang

    Dodge Boomerang Throw (Q): it slows you, and if he catches it on the way back, its cooldown drops.

  3. Short trades

    Take short trades: on every third auto or ability that hits you, Hyper (W) adds damage based on your max health.

  4. Stay away from walls

    Stay away from walls against Mega Gnar: GNAR! (R) knocks back every nearby enemy, and those who hit a wall are stunned.

Patch 16.21.1