Swain vs Yasuo

Swain
vs
Not enough games
Yasuo
Heavy AD damageSustained DPSHigh burstDive threat

You are stronger late game. Farm safe and avoid early trades.

Build vs Yasuo

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, Frozen Heart, Liandry's Torment, 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
Frozen Heart
5

Summoner spells

FlashTeleport38%
FlashHaste38%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Frozen Heart
Liandry's Torment
Spirit Visage
Morellonomicon
Randuin's Omen
PrecisionPrecision
ConquerorConqueror
Presence of MindPresence of Mind
Legend: HasteLegend: Haste
Last StandLast Stand
ResolveResolve
ConditioningConditioning
OvergrowthOvergrowth
Adaptive ForceAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Yasuo's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Way of the Wanderer (P)

Yasuo's Critical Strike Chance is increased. Additionally, Yasuo builds toward a shield whenever he is moving. The shield triggers when he takes damage from a champion or monster.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
34s25s0.5s–
64s25s0.5s1m10
94s23s0.5s1m10
114s21s0.5s50s
164s17s0.3s30s
184s17s0.1s30s

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 Yasuo

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Pop his shield first

    Hit him with a cheap attack to trigger the Way of the Wanderer (passive) shield, then start the real trade: otherwise, it absorbs your best damage.

  2. Wait for his Wind Wall

    If you have projectiles, save them for after Wind Wall (W): it blocks them all for 4 seconds, on a 25 to 17 second cooldown. Other spells go through it.

  3. Don't give him minions

    Don't stand right behind your minions: each one gives him a target for Sweeping Blade (E), and he gets closer to you with every dash.

  4. Dodge his whirlwind

    Get out of the line of his whirlwind, the third Steel Tempest (Q): without a knock-up, he can't cast Last Breath (R).

  5. Judge him by his crit items

    Judge his threat by his crit items more than his level: Way of the Wanderer (passive) raises his critical strike chance, so each crit item does more for him.

Patch 16.21.1