Swain vs Yasuo
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
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Yasuo's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
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
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 4s | 25s | 0.5s | – |
| 6 | 4s | 25s | 0.5s | 1m10 |
| 9 | 4s | 23s | 0.5s | 1m10 |
| 11 | 4s | 21s | 0.5s | 50s |
| 16 | 4s | 17s | 0.3s | 30s |
| 18 | 4s | 17s | 0.1s | 30s |
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 Yasuo
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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).
- 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.
Other Swain matchups
Patch 16.21.1