Swain vs Sion
Favorable matchup
You are stronger late game. Farm safe and avoid early trades.
Build vs Sion
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, Rod of Ages, Riftmaker, Frozen Heart.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Sion's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
After being killed, Sion will temporarily reanimate with rapidly decaying Health. His attacks become very rapid, heal him, and deal bonus damage based on his target's maximum Health.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 10s | 15s | 12s | – |
| 6 | 8s | 15s | 12s | 2m20 |
| 9 | 6s | 14s | 12s | 2m20 |
| 11 | 6s | 13s | 12s | 1m40 |
| 16 | 6s | 11s | 10s | 1m |
| 18 | 6s | 11s | 8s | 1m |
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 Sion
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Leave his Smash area
Leave the area while he charges Decimating Smash (Q): past 1 second of charge, the hit applies a knock-up and a stun, for up to 2.25 seconds.
- Break his shield
Break the Soul Furnace (W) shield before he detonates it: he can only trigger it if the shield still holds.
- Dodge his charge sideways
Step to the side of Unstoppable Onslaught (R): he turns poorly once it's launched, and his charge stops on the first champion hit.
- Back off when he comes back to life
Back off as soon as he dies: during Glory in Death (passive), his autos are much faster and deal damage based on your max health, but his health drains fast.
Other Swain matchups
Patch 16.21.1