Matchup
Hard matchup
You are stronger late game — farm safe and avoid early trades.
Build vs Swain
Build adapted to this matchup
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
84%
7%Anti AD
Anti Heal
Anti AP
Anti Tank
DPS
Other options
Precision
Lethal Tempo
Triumph
Legend: Alacrity
Cut Down
Sorcery
Axiom Arcanist
Gathering Storm
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Twitch
SwainSwain'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 | 22s | 12s | – |
| 6 | 5s | 22s | 12s | 2m |
| 9 | 3s | 21s | 12s | 2m |
| 11 | 3s | 20s | 12s | 2m |
| 16 | 3s | 18s | 11s | 2m |
| 18 | 3s | 18s | 10s | 2m |
Playing against Swain
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
Stay out of his R drain range — if you can't burst him, back off and wait for R to expire.
His E root triggers on the RETURN: dodge the returning projectile, not the outgoing one.
Grievous Wounds reduces his R drain and passive heals — buy it early.
Swain is vulnerable to long-range champions who can poke him without entering his drain zone.
Source: op.gg + LTL Engine · Patch 16.9.1 · May 9, 2026