As always you need to adjust your item build according to how the game's going so don't take it as a rule to get Rylai's as a last item, grab whatever you need for the situation.

Also, the seals are really open for whatever you like. I'd recommend either armor or hp/level seals if you don't use the ap/level ones =)

Like the build, only a few issues. Is it that good to get a Rylais that late in the game? By then the game should have been at least 40-50 minutes in and im not sure if a getting a rylais so late is worth it rather than getting something else. Also would it be possible to get different seals? The ap per level doesnt give a lot and i find something like flat armour even to be a lot more beneficial.
Other than that, its a good detailed guide and well done. :P +1

Very nice guide. I was looking for a new build and this have been great so far.

In the four games I have played with this build I am 55-6 and won them all!

Hay!

1. It's true that the build doesn't include any cooldown reduction at all. The only CD reduction I got is from the masteries, the rest I get from the blue buff (which you basically want all the time on Swain) and Elixir of Brilliance.

2. Included in the guide was just a general build which isn't optimal for every scenario. Grab the Haunting Guise if the laning phase is coming to an end as you'll be attacking different targets than your opposing mid champion (or buy it if your opponent grabs a null talisman early on). You always want to adjust your build to counter what the opponents do, so you're absolutely right that it's not always the best choice to grab a Haunting Guise and blindly follow the build order in the guide. I for example usually buy a Negatron Cloak early on if I'm having a hard time mid and later in the game upgrade it. If i'm getting heavily focused during team fights I get my Zhonya's before Rabadon's etc. Knowing what to buy and when to buy it comes with experience and is fairly hard to read off a guide =)

Also, cheers for the comments! I hope this cleared things out a bit.

Greetings Sir Whale,

Pretty interesting read, but I have two comments.

1. You keep talking about having 40% Cool Down Reduction (it's even in your first graphic), but you have no CDR items or runes, so that means the most CDR you'll have is 9% from Masteries. I'm not sure if this is left over from your first guide, but you may want to clarify/correct this.

2. Since most champs start with 30 Magic Resist and often don't get any more for a good part of the game, isn't ~9 Magic Pen from runes and 20 from Sorc. Shoes coupled with the 15% from Masteries going to pretty much zero out anyone? (Keeping in mid that MPen doesn't go negative, only MReduction) The 20 from Haunting Guise is just going to waste. Now, of course, if everyone on their team buys a Banshee's Veil then it'll kick in, but I would think that Void Staff later game would be a better counter to that as it has a big effect vs. tank types too.

Just my $0.02, well written guide overall.

Thanks,
TGnome57

Good guide. +1

Swain is so going to be my new AP Main. I rarely see him in games. Haven't seen him in my last 30 or so. I like that because not many people know how to counter Swain cause there aren't that many people playing him.

Super good build, i pubstomp with it :) +1

Tried this build last night and it was the best game I have ever played with Swain! +1

Fantastic build, carried so hard with it!

The durability and AP progression worked great!

It won't let you down. Latest game: 13 - 2 - 3 at 1700 ELO =P

The build keeps getting troll voted, i.e. downvoted but no comments as to why. Kinda lame.

I'm going to try this build out, Hoping its better than the other guide, his guide is good, but I don't think its good enough to carry. High hopes for this one

The first nerf (that Swain's ultimate heals for the actual damage dealt, i.e. magic resistance has been taken into consideration) didn't affect the build too much thanks to the early magic penetration. Your spells almost do true damage unless people start to stack up on magic resist in which case a void staff will get important.

I'm kinda excited for the next change to Swain, I wouldn't really call it a nerf. It reduces his lane control a bit but he becomes a lot stronger during the 5v5 fights where no minions are nearby. Hopefully the 25% heal from minions won't ruin his laning phase, I just believe we have to play slightly more careful and we'll be fine.