Swain vs Gragas

Swain
vs
50.0%

over 54 games

Gragas

Skill matchup

Heavy AP damageStrong engageHeavy CCVery tanky

Build vs Gragas

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, Mercury's Treads, Liandry's Torment, Spirit Visage, Rod of Ages, Frozen Heart.

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

FlashHaste42%
FlashTeleport23%

Other options

Liandry's Torment
Spirit Visage
Rod of Ages
Frozen Heart
Dark Seal
Fimbulwinter
Riftmaker
Tear of the Goddess
Oblivion Orb
Unending Despair
Abyssal Mask
Malignance
Heartsteel
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

Gragas's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Happy Hour (P)

Gragas periodically heals upon using a skill.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
310s5s14s–
68s5s14s1m40
96s5s14s1m40
116s5s14s1m25
166s5s13s1m10
186s5s12s1m10

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 Gragas

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Stay behind your minions

    Stay behind your minions: Body Slam (E) stops on the first enemy it meets, minions included.

  2. Get out of the barrel zone fast

    Get out of the Barrel Roll (Q) area right away: the longer the barrel sits on the ground, the more its explosion hurts and slows.

  3. Step up after a missed E

    Step up when Body Slam (E) hits nobody: its cooldown isn't reduced and stays at 14 to 12 seconds.

  4. Spread out from your allies

    Spread out from your allies: Explosive Cask (R) knocks every enemy away from the impact, which can split you up or send you toward his team.

Patch 16.21.1