Swain vs Viktor
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
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Viktor's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
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
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 9s | 17s | 12s | – |
| 6 | 7s | 17s | 12s | 2m |
| 9 | 5s | 16s | 12s | 2m |
| 11 | 5s | 15s | 12s | 1m40 |
| 16 | 5s | 13s | 10s | 1m20 |
| 18 | 5s | 13s | 8s | 1m20 |
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 Viktor
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Other Swain matchups
Patch 16.21.1