Swain vs Viktor

Swain
vs
Not enough games
Viktor
Heavy AP damageHigh burstHeavy CCSustained DPS

Build vs Viktor

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, Boots of Swiftness, Liandry's Torment, Spirit Visage, Morellonomicon, 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

FlashHaste38%
FlashTeleport25%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

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

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Viktor's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Glorious Evolution (P)

Viktor gains Hex Fragments whenever he kills an enemy. With every 100 Hex Fragments he obtains, Viktor permanently augments an active ability. After upgrading all of his basic abilities, he can gather 100 Hex Fragments to augment his ultimate ability.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
39s17s12s–
67s17s12s2m
95s16s12s2m
115s15s12s1m40
165s13s10s1m20
185s13s8s1m20

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 Viktor

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Leave his field before 1.25 seconds

    Get out of Gravity Field (W) right away: the zone slows, and an enemy who stays in it for 1.25 seconds is stunned.

  2. Engage after his Gravity Field

    If you can engage, go in after Gravity Field (W): it's his only stun, on a 17 to 13 second cooldown, and he has no dash.

  3. Play hard before his upgrades

    Get ahead early: for every 100 Hex Fragments he gets from kills, Glorious Evolution (passive) permanently upgrades one of his spells. His staff's glow shows how far along he is.

  4. Leave his storm fast

    Get out of Arcane Storm (R) fast: it hits every second and follows the champions it just damaged on its own.

Patch 16.21.1