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Varus vs Swain

Varus
vs
Not enough games
Swain
Analyze a draft with Varus
Heavy AP damageHigh sustainSustained DPSHigh burst

Build vs Swain

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

Recommended items for Varus: Experimental Hexplate, Dusk and Dawn, Riftmaker, Gluttonous Greaves, Statikk Shiv, Shadowflame, Zhonya's Hourglass, Jak'Sho, The Protean.

Starting items

Doran's Bow
Health Potion
x2

Core build

Experimental Hexplate
1
Dusk and Dawn
2
Riftmaker
3

Standard

Gluttonous Greaves
4
Statikk Shiv
5

Summoner spells

ExhaustFlash56%
FlashHaste22%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Statikk Shiv
Shadowflame
Zhonya's Hourglass
Jak'Sho, The Protean
Rabadon's Deathcap
Guardian Angel
Stormsurge
PrecisionPrecision
Lethal TempoLethal Tempo
Absorb LifeAbsorb Life
Legend: AlacrityLegend: Alacrity
Cut DownCut Down
InspirationInspiration
Biscuit DeliveryBiscuit Delivery
Cosmic InsightCosmic Insight
Attack SpeedAdaptive ForceHealth

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Swain's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Ravenous Flock (P)

Swain's ravens collect Soul Fragments that heal him and permanently increase his maximum health.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
37s20s12s–
65s20s12s2m
93s19s12s2m
113s18s12s2m
163s16s11s2m
183s16s10s2m

Playing as Varus

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. Apply Blight, then a spell

    Apply Blight with your autos through Blighted Quiver (W), then detonate it with a spell: each stack deals damage based on max health and, on a champion, lowers your cooldowns.

  2. Fire early at close range

    Against a close target, fire Piercing Arrow (Q) without waiting for a full charge: charging adds damage, but it slows you in the meantime.

  3. Cut their healing with your hail

    Cast Hail of Arrows (E) on enemies who are healing or charging at you: the desecrated ground slows them and applies Grievous Wounds.

  4. Target an enemy near their team

    Cast Chain of Corruption (R) on a champion close to their allies: the corruption then spreads to nearby champions and roots them too.

Playing against Swain

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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 Varus matchups

Patch 16.21.1