Swain vs Xayah

Not enough games

Heavy AD damageSustained DPSHigh burstHeavy CC

Build vs Xayah

The champion's reference build, for lack of enough games in this matchup

Starting items

—

x2—

Core build

1—

2—

3—

Standard

4vs Slow

5—

Anti CC

4vs CC

Other options

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Strength by game phase

Passive, spells and ultimate

Clean Cuts (P)

After using an ability, Xayah's next basic attacks will hit all targets along their path and leave a Feather.

Cooldowns by spell rank

Level	Q	W	E	R
3	10s	18s	12s	–
6	9s	18s	12s	2m20
9	8s	17s	12s	2m20
11	8s	16s	12s	2m
16	8s	14s	10s	1m40
18	8s	14s	8s	1m40

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.

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

Stay out of her feathers' path
Don't stand between Xayah and her feathers on the ground: Bladecaller (E) pulls them back to her, and 3 feathers passing through you root you.
Engage when the ground is clear
If you can engage, go in when she has no feathers on the ground: without them, Bladecaller (E) can't root you.
Wait for her to land
During Featherstorm (R), hold your spells: she's untargetable for 1.5 seconds, then lands, leaving a line of feathers.

Patch 16.21.1