This is my first build on mobafire. It is a build that attempts to focus on creating a powerful swain with some survivability. Utilizing this method, your swain will be good early game, great mid game, and literally unstoppable end game. You will decimate your enemies and rule Noxis. The best way to use this guide, is by going mid. You will have more levels and be able to kill minions easier. This I will be constantly updating this guide. Please after reviewing it leave a comment below. Tell me what you think and how I can improve.

Build two is a recent update and is by far the most viable. At end game I have 700 ap, 3500 life, 150 armor, 80 magic resist, and I have a guardian's angel so I never die. I have noticed that I get way more kills with this build then with regular dps.

First time I implemented it I got 20-3-17, second time 32-9-12, and so forth. It really works. So by far build two is a more viable option!

Pros:

Very strong champion
pushes very well
great mid
great snare
life steal
ultimate has about a 7 second cooldown
Not many cons

Cons:

Squishy before level 6
runs out of mana quickly(especially without tear of the goddess)
Often focused because of massive damage

This is a big area for debate, but I chose these runes because with 5 seals of clarity you have just the right amount of magic regen, so why not get armor? I chose the greater glyphs of warding over glyphs of force(ap) because that magic res is really helpful. You will feel a bunch of magic damage playing with swain. Those Quints of Potency give you the much needed ap at the beginning.

I chose a standard 9/0/21, focusing on more mana in utility rather than experience. It gives ability penetration, more mana, more mana regeneration, and reduced ability cooldowns.

Theoretically, you could go defense and offense tree. You would run out of mana so quickly and be running all the time. The only benefit would be a stronger end game. That assumes that you haven't fed and the game actually makes it that far. If you are willing to try this. Please let me know how it goes!

Start off with a Doran's Ring. If you get 2+/0/ at beginning, grab a mejai's and if the game isn't going good jump right into the boots. After the boots grab a tear of the goddess, this will help you get the extra mana you need for you ultimate and work you towards your Archangels' staff. On your next return grab a sorc boots and grab the health stone. When you come back the next time you will want to get all of your rod of ages and start working towards that guardian's angel. Once the guardian's angel is completed grab an archangles. By this time you've got a lot of damage, you should be able to work up the extra gold needed for that rabadon's and finish it off. If you did not buy mejai's at the beginning, proceed to getting a Zhonya's hourglass.

I chose to get a Guardian's angel because it gives you that extra survivability needed. With the armor and magic resist acting as bonuses to the best part, that revive. Right after you revive you press 'r' and run in the opposite direction or finish the kill. Whichever is more convenient. The best part is that it also gives you mana back. Perfect for your ultimate.

Start off with torment, because it gives +80% ap instead of deceprifies +30%. And it increases attack damage taken, which gives you a higher chance of a first blood. Then continue to put points in everything consistently, unless you have a lot of trouble with your w. Then max q and e first. Do not try and just max one thing at a time. Doesn't work as well as a consistent skill set up on swain.

Q -> W -> R -> E -> ignite -> Q -> E -> W
This one slows them down so they will be trapped in your W. When using your W make sure you put it more towards the area they are going to be running to, in order to guarantee a capture.
W -> Q -> R -> E -> ignite -> Q -> E -> W
This one is more for when the enemy is far away and you need to trap them so you can catch up

I chose Ignite and Flash as the two best, because the flash allows you to jump on your enemy with your ultimate, and ignite, as with other champs, gives you the extra damage to kill someone.
Other Potential spells are

ghost - great get away spell, paired with your ultimate would help make you unstoppable
exhaust - can be used to quiet down the enemy carry
teleport - it is okay for getting around, but other spells are better. If you were in a premade, this would be effective.
clarity - Trick your enemies, right before your mana runs out from your ultimate, pop clarity, and finish them.

Everything is open to debate, but spells like fortify, rally and revive. Just, no.

This is an important part of swain. You have to use your 'W' spell when farming minions. Then quickly press 'R' kill them off and then press 'R' again right as they are dying. This allows you to get your mana back using your passive, and get some gold. Do not attempt to do this if you think your in immediate danger, because you might be ambushed and your ultimate will be on cool-down. That is not a good situation to be in!

*WARNING*
Before starting in ranked play, make sure you have tried out this guide in a normal game. Don't just jump into ranked. Also, be able to use your 'w' rather well. Do not just put it on someone and let them run off it. Put it more in the direction they are going to run towards. This will give it a higher chance of snaring them. Overall Swain in ranked games can do really well. Enjoy it.

This swain guide utilizes a clear motive, to win the game and get the most kills while doing so. By using this guide you should be a successful off-tank/carry thing. Help out your team and participate in ganks. If you chose to thumbs up or down, let me know why, so I can improve this guide. Thank you.