Swain is a drain-tank mage. R drains HP from ALL nearby enemies, making him nearly unkillable in extended teamfights. Walk into the enemy team with R active and they can't kill you.
Abilities
Skills Overview
P
Ravenous Flock
Passive
Swain's ravens collect Soul Fragments that heal him and permanently increase his maximum health.
Ravenous Flock: pull CC'd enemies toward you with right-click. Collect soul fragments for permanent HP.
Q
Death's Hand
AoE · Multi-bolt
Swain unleashes several bolts of eldritch power that pierce through enemies. Enemies hit take more damage for each bolt they are struck by.
CD: 7/6/5/4/3 · Cost: 40/45/50/55/60
Q fires 5 bolts in a cone. Close range = all 5 hit = massive damage.
W
Vision of Empire
Long Range · AoE · Vision
Swain opens a demon eye that deals damage and slows enemies. Champions hit are revealed and also grant Swain a Soul Fragment.
CD: 22/21/20/19/18 · Cost: 60/65/70/75/80
W reveals and damages in a long-range AoE. Global-ish range. Use for vision + damage.
E
Nevermove
Root · Pull
Swain launches a wave of demonic power forward. It then returns to Swain and roots enemies it hits. Swain can then choose to pull all rooted champions closer. This ability has a shorter cooldown during Demonic Ascension.
CD: 12/11.5/11/10.5/10 · Cost: 50/55/60/65/70
E fires a claw that returns and roots enemies hit. Root → passive pull for guaranteed CC.
R
Demonic Ascension
Toggle · Drain · AoE
Swain transforms into a demon and drains health from nearby enemy champions, minions, and neutral monsters. Swain can cast Demonflare to decimate and slow nearby enemies with a nova of soulfire. This form is indefinite as long as Swain drains enemy champions.
CD: 120 · Cost: 100
R drains HP from all nearby enemies. R2 detonates for burst. Stay in the middle of fights.
Skill Leveling Order — Max Q first, then E, then W · R at 6 / 11 / 16
| Level | Q | W | E | R | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Take Q | ||||
| 2 | Take E — root | ||||
| 3 | Take W | ||||
| 4 | Level Q | ||||
| 5 | Level Q | ||||
| 6 | R — Demonic Ascension | ||||
| 7 | Level Q | ||||
| 8 | Level E | ||||
| 9 | Q maxed ✓ | ||||
| 10 | Level E | ||||
| 11 | R rank 2 | ||||
| 12 | Level E | ||||
| 13 | Level E | ||||
| 14 | E maxed ✓ | ||||
| 15 | Level W | ||||
| 16 | R rank 3 | ||||
| 17 | Level W | ||||
| 18 | W maxed ✓ |
Itemization
Recommended Builds
Core Build
Rylai's Crystal Scepter
R drain perma-slows. Enemies can't escape.
2600g
Sorcerer's Shoes
Magic pen.
1100g
Demonic Embrace
Burn + HP. Stacks with R drain.
3000g
Zhonya's Hourglass
Stasis while R keeps draining.
3250g
Situational
Spirit Visage
Increases R drain healing by 25%.
2900g
Rabadon's Deathcap
AP when ahead.
3600g
Void Staff
Magic pen.
2800g
Rylai's → Demonic → Zhonya's. R drain + Rylai's slow = unkillable drain tank.
Runes
Sorcery Primary
Phase Rush
E root + Q procs Phase Rush for MS to stick.
Manaflow Band
Mana.
Transcendence
CDR.
Gathering Storm
AP scaling.
Resolve Secondary
Bone Plating
Survive burst.
Overgrowth
Bonus HP + soul fragment HP stacking.
Shards
Adaptive Force · Adaptive Force · Health
Gameplay
How to Play Swain
01
Early Game
E Root, Q Burst
- E root → passive pull → Q close range for burst trades.
- W for vision and damage on side lanes. Assist from mid.
- Passive soul fragments give permanent HP. Collect them.
- Farm with Q bolts. All 5 hit close range.
- E root sets up ganks for your jungler.
02
Mid Game
R Drain Tank
- R toggle on in fights. Drain HP from all nearby enemies.
- Walk into the middle of the enemy team with R active.
- Zhonya's while R drains. Invulnerable + draining.
- R2 detonation for burst when enemies are low.
- Rylai's + R = permanent AoE slow. Nobody escapes.
03
Late Game
Unkillable Demon
- R in the middle of 5 enemies = unkillable drain tank.
- Spirit Visage increases R drain by 25%. Obscene healing.
- Zhonya's + R = invulnerable while draining. The ultimate bait.
- R2 detonation finishes low-HP enemies in AoE.
- More soul fragments = more permanent HP. You get tankier every game.
Teamfighting
How to Teamfight as Swain
Swain walks into the enemy team with R active, draining everyone while Zhonya's keeps him alive.
1
Engage — E Root + R
Drain on
01
E root a target.
02
Passive pull them closer.
03
R toggle — drain all nearby.
R drains mana over time. Don't toggle too early — R when enemies are near.
2
Drain — Walk Into Team
Unkillable
01
Walk into the middle of enemies.
02
R drains HP from ALL of them.
03
Q close range for burst.
3
Stasis — Zhonya's + R
Invulnerable drain
01
Zhonya's when focused.
02
R KEEPS DRAINING during stasis.
03
R2 detonation when stasis ends.
R drains HP during Zhonya's stasis. You're invulnerable while still healing. The ultimate drain tank play.
Tips & Tricks
Advanced Mechanics & Hidden Tech
Advanced mechanics for Swain.
Basic
E → Passive Pull
E roots → right-click the rooted enemy to pull them toward you with passive. Guaranteed CC chain.
Intermediate
R Drain
R drains HP from ALL nearby enemies. More enemies = more healing. Fight in the middle, not the edge.
Basic
Zhonya's + R
R keeps draining during Zhonya's stasis. You're invulnerable while healing.
Advanced
R2 Detonation
R2 detonates R zone for burst damage. Use when enemies are low from drain.
Basic
Soul Fragments
Passive collects soul fragments for permanent HP. Pull CC'd enemies for fragments.
Intermediate
W Vision
W reveals an area from long range. Use to scout objectives or assist side lanes.
Matchups
Counters & Matchups
Swain struggles against long-range poke that prevents him from engaging and grievous wounds. He excels in extended fights where R drain sustains him.
Click any matchup to expand tips & how to play against them
Loses Against
Outranges you. E push keeps you away.
Farm safely. R at 6 engage.
Pokes from screen distance.
Roam. Can't reach Xerath.
W zone blocks your engage.
Bait W, then E → R engage.
Wins Against
E root catches his dashes. R drains him in melee.
E root → R. He dies in your drain zone.
E root cancels her R. R drains her dive.
E root her R channel. R drain.
R drain sustains through his burst. E root his dive.
E root → R drain → he can't kill you.