The Noxian Emperor
Build Guide By Banglas
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Swain Build Guide By Banglas
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Recommended Items
Runes: Conq
1
2
3
Precision
Resolve
+9 Adaptive (5.4 AD or 9 AP)
+9 Adaptive (5.4 AD or 9 AP)
+10-180 Bonus Health
Spells:
1
2
3
Splitpusher
![LoL Summoner Spell: Flash]()
![LoL Summoner Spell: Teleport]()
Flash
Teleport
Items
Start
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Core
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Full builds
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Ability Order
Ravenous Flock (PASSIVE)
Swain Passive Ability
Threats & Synergies
Threats
Synergies
Extreme
Major
Even
Minor
Tiny
Show All
None
Low
Ok
Strong
Ideal
Extreme Threats
Ideal Synergies
Blitzcrank
Anything with hook or big cc that can keep enemy stationary is ideal
Synergies
Ideal
Strong
Ok
Low
None
Blitzcrank
Anything with hook or big cc that can keep enemy stationary is ideal
Champion Build Guide
Table of Contents
Introduction
Introduction
Welcome to my guide on
Swain! I'm piestukas, and I've been diving into League of Legends since Season 5. From the first moment I picked up Swain, I was captivated by his unique playstyle and abilities. Now, I'm focused on optimizing him for the top lane—my main role. I genuinely enjoy everything about Swain, and I hope this guide helps you unlock his full potential in your own games. Let's make the most of his power together!
Welcome to my guide on
Swain! I'm piestukas, and I've been diving into League of Legends since Season 5. From the first moment I picked up Swain, I was captivated by his unique playstyle and abilities. Now, I'm focused on optimizing him for the top lane—my main role. I genuinely enjoy everything about Swain, and I hope this guide helps you unlock his full potential in your own games. Let's make the most of his power together!
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Swain, the Master Tactician Swain is a strategic mage with a focus on sustained damage and crowd control, making him a powerhouse in extended teamfights. Utilizing his Demonic Ascension and Nevermove, Swain can dominate the battlefield by draining enemies and locking them down. His Vision of Empire provides valuable vision control, allowing Swain to dictate the flow of fights.With careful positioning and timing, Swain excels at absorbing damage, dishing out AoE abilities, and staying in fights longer than most champions. His combination of healing, zoning, and crowd control makes him a formidable presence in any team composition. |
Tips & Tricks
Tips & Tricks
Tips & Tricks for Playing Swain
- Adaptive Itemization: Don't hesitate to build defensive items like Frozen Heart or full magic resistance items first if the situation demands it.
- Effective Use of 'W' Vision of Empire: Use your 'W' to zone enemies. Opponents often go to great lengths to avoid being hit by it, sometimes even using Flash. This can create opportunities to slow and engage them.
- Summoner Spells: Incorporate Ghost into your summoner spell choices. It enhances your mobility, making it harder for enemies to kite you compared to relying solely on Flash.
Team Composition
Team Composition
Swain thrives in team comps that excel in extended fights and can create space for him to fully utilize his abilities. Here are a few key team synergies and ideal setups for Swain:
These setups make Swain a powerful and sustainable presence in teamfights, letting him leverage his crowd control and healing effectively to carry his team to victory.
Team Composition & Synergies
Swain thrives in team comps that excel in extended fights and can create space for him to fully utilize his abilities. Here are a few key team synergies and ideal setups for Swain:- Frontline Tanks and Disruptors: Swain benefits from having a solid frontline of tanks or bruisers who can initiate and absorb damage. Champions like Malphite, Sejuani, or Ornn create ideal scenarios for Swain to follow up with his crowd control and sustain, allowing him to dive deep into fights without fear.
- Crowd Control and Engage Champions: Swain synergizes well with champions that provide hard CC to lock down enemies. Teammates like Amumu, Rakan, or Leona help him secure targets for his 'E' Nevermove root and ensure his 'Q' Death's Hand and ultimate hit multiple opponents effectively.
- AoE Burst and Zoning Mages: Champions with AoE or zoning abilities, such as Brand, Anivia, or Zyra, pair excellently with Swain by creating chaotic teamfights where he can heal, sustain, and continuously deal damage. These mages help Swain maximize his presence and damage output while reducing the enemy’s ability to escape.
- High Sustain Compositions: Swain shines in comps with sustain champions like Soraka, Nami, or Yuumi. Extra healing and shields prolong his ultimate's uptime and let him stay in fights longer, amplifying his carry potential in extended engagements.
- AD Burst Carries: Swain’s AP-heavy damage pairs well with high burst AD champions such as Jhin, Jinx or Miss Fortune. Swain can help control enemies in fights, while these ADCs bring the physical burst needed to finish off softened targets.
These setups make Swain a powerful and sustainable presence in teamfights, letting him leverage his crowd control and healing effectively to carry his team to victory.
Pros/Cons
Pros & Cons
Pros and Cons of Playing Swain
Swain
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PROS
+ High sustain in fights with Demonic Ascension+ Powerful crowd control with Nevermove+ Strong AoE damage in extended fights + Great scaling into mid and late game + Zone control using Vision of Empire Swain excels in prolonged fights, using his Demonic Ascension to sustain and dominate opponents. With crowd control from Nevermove and area damage abilities, he thrives in teamfights where he can control the battlefield. His scaling makes him a significant threat in the mid to late game, while his Vision of Empire provides vision and zoning capabilities, adding strategic advantages for his team. |
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CONS
- Limited mobility makes him easy to catch - Relies on skillshots, especially Nevermove- Weak early game without key items - Struggles against ranged and poke-heavy champions - Dependent on extended fights to maximize impact Despite his strengths, Swain has limitations that can be exploited. His lack of natural mobility leaves him vulnerable to high burst or ranged champions, and his reliance on landing skillshots like Nevermove can be a challenge against agile enemies. Swain's weak early game also requires careful positioning and patience until he builds items that boost his sustain and damage. |
Summoner spells
Summoner Spells
For Swain, the choice of summoner spells can vary based on his role and matchup, but here are the primary options:
Swain, the choice of summoner spells can vary based on his role and matchup, but here are the primary options:
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FLASH Swain, providing a way to reposition or escape dangerous situations. Since he lacks natural mobility, Flash allows Swain to engage aggressively or to reposition during teamfights for maximum effectiveness with Demonic Ascension. |
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IGNITE Swain to secure early kills and snowball by applying extra damage over time and reducing enemy healing. |
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TELEPORT Swain players, allowing him to return to lane or join fights across the map. It complements his scaling and teamfight-oriented playstyle, making it a versatile summoner spell. |
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GHOST |
Itemization
Itemization
Core Items for Swain
Swain
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DORAN'S RING Starting with Doran's Ring provides Swain with essential health, ability power, and mana regeneration. This item boosts his early-game presence, allowing him to stay in lane longer while he harasses and farms. It’s an ideal item for Swain’s sustain and early aggression.
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LOST CHAPTER An early Lost Chapter is crucial for Swain, providing mana sustain that supports his poke-heavy playstyle. It allows Swain to continuously use his abilities to control the wave and trade with opponents without frequent recalls, forming the foundation for his core build.
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LIANDRY'S TORMENT Liandry's Torment is a core item for Swain, enhancing his sustained damage with burn effects that scale over time. This item is especially effective in prolonged fights, where Swain can maximize its damage potential against tankier enemies, making it a perfect fit for his playstyle.
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ZHONYA'S HOURGLASS Zhonya's Hourglass provides Swain with a critical stasis active that allows him to survive burst damage and reposition in teamfights. This item is essential for staying alive during Demonic Ascension, giving Swain the durability he needs to sustain and re-engage.
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COSMIC DRIVE Cosmic Drive enhances Swain’s mobility and ability haste, allowing him to stick to enemies more effectively and cycle through his abilities faster. This item is invaluable for extended fights, making Swain more agile and dangerous in prolonged engagements.
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RABADON'S DEATHCAP Rabadon's Deathcap is a great item choice when Swain is looking to maximize his damage output. The bonus ability power from this item amplifies his abilities, allowing him to deal significant burst and sustained damage, especially in teamfights.
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SPIRIT VISAGE Spirit Visage boosts Swain's self-healing, making it a strong option against magic damage-heavy teams. This item synergizes with his Demonic Ascension, allowing him to sustain longer in fights and become even harder to kill.
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ROD OF AGES Rod of Ages is an excellent scaling item for Swain, providing health, mana, and ability power, which enhances his durability and sustain in extended fights. Over time, Rod of Ages grants bonus stats, making Swain even tankier as the game progresses, while its healing effect on level-up helps maintain Swain’s presence in prolonged engagements.
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Abilities
Abilities[/anchor]
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Laning phase
Laning Phase
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LANING PHASE |
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IMPORTANT ITEMS Doran's Ring provides Swain with the health, ability power, and mana regeneration needed for his poke-heavy playstyle. Building toward an early Lost Chapter is crucial, as it provides mana sustain to keep Swain aggressive and active in lane, allowing him to maintain pressure without frequently recalling. |
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LANING STRATEGY Nevermove to poke and control the wave. By positioning carefully, Swain can avoid enemy ganks while maintaining lane dominance. His Death's Hand is useful for securing last hits and harassing enemies when they approach for farm. In favorable matchups, Swain can play aggressively, leveraging his sustain to trade and slowly chip down the opponent's health. Otherwise, he should play safe and farm until he has key items and abilities to influence skirmishes and teamfights. |
Mid Game / Team Fighting
Mid Game
Team Fighting
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LEAVING LANE / GROUPING During the mid game, Swain should look to leave his lane and group with his team once he’s secured his first core item, such as Blacfire Torch or Zhonya's Hourglass. Grouping allows Swain to capitalize on his crowd control and area damage to impact fights and objectives. He can take advantage of skirmishes and teamfights where his abilities shine in extended engagements. Roaming to secure vision control around objectives like Dragon and Rift Herald is also beneficial, as Swain’s zone control with Vision of Empire makes him excellent for catching out-of-position enemies.
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KEY MID GAME ITEMS By the mid game, Blackfire Torch is a core item for Swain, providing him with burn damage that synergizes well with his prolonged fight style. Additionally, Zhonya's Hourglass becomes critical for survival, allowing Swain to engage aggressively while having the option to enter stasis during Demonic Ascension. Together, these items provide Swain with the durability and sustained damage needed to influence teamfights effectively.
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Team Fighting
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WHEN TO TEAM FIGHT Swain should look to start team fighting once he has acquired key items like Blackfire Torch and Zhonya's Hourglass. These items provide him with the sustain and durability necessary to stay active in fights. Look for opportunities to engage when your team has secured vision control around key objectives like Dragon and Baron, where Swain’s zone control can force enemies into vulnerable positions.
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positioning
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POSITIONING Swain should position in the front line or slightly behind the primary tank, depending on the enemy team composition. His goal is to be close enough to engage with Nevermove and absorb damage while dealing AoE through Demonic Ascension. Swain excels at being in the thick of fights, using his sustain to stay alive while his abilities drain and damage multiple targets. Avoid positioning too deep without support, as Swain lacks natural escape options.
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strategy
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TEAM FIGHT STRATEGY In teamfights, Swain should prioritize hitting multiple targets rather than focusing on a single enemy. Open with Nevermove to root enemies, then activate Demonic Ascension to deal sustained AoE damage and heal. Swain’s goal is to weaken as many enemies as possible, maximizing his impact through area damage and sustain. If possible, target high-priority backliners with Nevermove and disrupt their positioning, making it easier for your team to secure kills.
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objectives
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OBJECTIVES TO SECURE Swain’s strength in teamfights makes him valuable for securing major objectives like Dragons and Baron. His AoE damage and sustain allow him to control areas around these objectives effectively. Ensure vision control is established around these objectives, and look to engage when your team is prepared to fight. Swain is also excellent at zoning enemies away from turrets, allowing your team to siege effectively. |
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map awareness
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MAP AWARENESS Swain should keep an eye on enemy positioning, particularly any flanking threats or assassins that could disrupt his positioning in teamfights. Use Vision of Empire to scout fog-of-war areas or potential hiding spots, especially around jungle entrances. Maintaining map awareness allows Swain to choose optimal engagements and protect himself from surprise attacks.
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Late Game
Late Game
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POSITIONING In the late game, Swain should stay close to his team and avoid moving too far away from key objectives. His goal is to be near the front line but not isolated, ready to engage in fights or defend allies. Avoid pushing alone, as Swain lacks escape options and can be vulnerable to pickoffs by enemy assassins or high-burst champions. |
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IMPORTANT LATE GAME ITEMS Late game items like Rabadon's Deathcap significantly boost Swain’s ability power, maximizing his damage output in teamfights. Spirit Visage can be considered as well if facing heavy magic damage, as it amplifies his healing during Demonic Ascension. These items help Swain scale into a late-game threat that’s difficult to ignore.
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strategy
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TEAM FIGHT STRATEGY Swain's late-game teamfight strategy focuses on maximizing his sustained damage and healing through Demonic Ascension. He should aim to hit multiple targets with his AoE abilities, prioritizing high-impact crowd control with Nevermove. In the late game, it’s crucial for Swain to balance aggression with caution, as dying can lead to a decisive enemy push. Coordinate with your team to make calculated engages and avoid overcommitting unless your team is in a strong position to capitalize.
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KEY OBJECTIVES In the late game, securing objectives like Baron Nashor and enemy inhibitors is critical. Swain’s zone control and AoE damage make him valuable for teamfights around Baron and Elder Dragon, where his presence can force enemies into vulnerable positions. Ensure your team has vision control and be prepared to engage or disengage based on positioning around these objectives.
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map awareness
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MAP AWARENESS Swain must stay vigilant about enemy movement on the map, particularly around key objectives and jungle entrances. Use Vision of Empire to scout dangerous areas or check for ambushes. Late-game decisions often revolve around objective control and minimizing mistakes, so staying aware of enemy positions helps avoid getting caught out and ensures Swain is ready to assist his team.
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Conclusion
Conclusion
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CONCLUSION Swain is a versatile and durable AP champion who thrives in prolonged teamfights, where he can maximize his sustain and area damage. With strategic use of his crowd control and positioning, Swain can be a powerhouse in mid and late-game fights, zoning enemies and dealing consistent AoE damage. By focusing on his core items and adapting to the game’s needs, Swain players can exert tremendous influence over fights and objectives. His strengths lie in his ability to control the battlefield, and with practice, Swain can transform into a high-impact presence that dominates the late game. Remember to stay aware of positioning, utilize Vision of Empire for vision control, and coordinate with your team to secure objectives and push toward victory. |
Banglas
Swain Guide
The Noxian Emperor
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