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Swain vs Varus

Swain
vs
Not enough games
Varus
Analyze a draft with Swain
Heavy AD damageHeavy pokeHeavy CCHigh burst

Build vs Varus

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, Frozen Heart, Spirit Visage, Morellonomicon.

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

FlashHaste55%
ExhaustFlash18%

Other options

Liandry's Torment
Frozen Heart
Spirit Visage
Morellonomicon
Randuin's Omen
SorcerySorcery
Summon AerySummon Aery
Manaflow BandManaflow Band
CelerityCelerity
ScorchScorch
PrecisionPrecision
Cut DownCut Down
Legend: HasteLegend: Haste
Attack SpeedMove SpeedHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Varus's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Living Vengeance (P)

On kill or assist, Varus temporarily gains Attack Damage and Ability Power. This bonus is larger if the enemy is a champion.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
316s40s18s–
614s40s18s1m40
912s40s18s1m40
1112s40s18s1m20
1612s40s14s1m
1812s40s10s1m

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 Varus

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Back off with his Blight on you

    Back off after taking a few autos: each one applies a Blight stack from Blighted Quiver (W), and his spells detonate them for damage based on your max health.

  2. Engage while he charges

    If you can engage, go in while he charges Piercing Arrow (Q): charging slows him, and he has no dash to escape.

  3. Leave his hail of arrows

    Get out of the Hail of Arrows (E) zone fast: the desecrated ground slows you and reduces the healing you receive.

  4. Spread out from the chained ally

    When an ally is caught by Chain of Corruption (R), move away from them fast: the corruption spreads to nearby champions, but dies out if you get far enough in time.

Other Swain matchups

Patch 16.21.1