Tristana vs Swain
Skill matchup
Build vs Swain
Build adapted to this matchup
Recommended items for Tristana: Yun Tal Wildarrows, Infinity Edge, Navori Flickerblade, Berserker's Greaves, Lord Dominik's Regards, Mortal Reminder, B. F. Sword, The Collector.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Swain's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
Swain's ravens collect Soul Fragments that heal him and permanently increase his maximum health.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 7s | 20s | 12s | – |
| 6 | 5s | 20s | 12s | 2m |
| 9 | 3s | 19s | 12s | 2m |
| 11 | 3s | 18s | 12s | 2m |
| 16 | 3s | 16s | 11s | 2m |
| 18 | 3s | 16s | 10s | 2m |
Playing as Tristana
Tips to maximize your impact
- Bomb, then Rapid Fire
Plant Explosive Charge (E), then activate Rapid Fire (Q): the attack speed helps you land the 4 hits that make it explode right away, at full power.
- Keep them at a distance
Hit from range and back off as soon as they come close: Draw a Bead (passive) increases your attack range with each level.
- Chain your jumps
Chain your jumps in teamfights: Rocket Jump (W) resets right away on a champion takedown, or when Explosive Charge (E) explodes at max stacks on a champion.
- Knock back the assassin with your ult
Save Buster Shot (R) for the assassin who jumps on you: the cannonball knocks back your target and nearby enemies, and stuns them.
Playing against Swain
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Dodge Nevermove on its return
Get out of the Nevermove (E) path as it comes back: it only roots on its return to Swain, then he can pull each rooted champion to him.
- Leave the area of his eye
Leave the area as soon as Vision of Empire (W) appears: it strikes and slows 1.5 seconds later, and each champion hit gives him a Soul Fragment.
- Keep your distance during his ult
During Demonic Ascension (R), back off and hit from range if you can: he only drains nearby enemies, and his form ends when he stops draining.
- Cut his healing during his ult
If you have Grievous Wounds, apply it during Demonic Ascension (R): the drain heals him every second, and that healing keeps him alive.
Other Tristana matchups
Patch 16.21.1