Hey guys, thanks for your replies so far. I've read them and do agree to some points. The abilities could be changed, however I've never really found them to be bad in this order. I guess this particular sequence set in when I was still playing Twisted Treeline alot. I will see what I can update after a few rounds of testing.

Also, I can understand why you would reconsider the boots options. I'm quite a fan of cooldown reduction though. I will edit it a bit, allowing more options for different playstyles.

~Freakierhawk

-edit: I will try to update the items section when I can. Laning opponents section is a good idea, I'll try and add it as soon as I have time. Thanks.

Going R-E-Q-W is definitley the best way to dish out damage. I question the enchantment furor because it's based for single hits not for multiple hitting targets. I suggest instead either alacrity or homeguard my favorite in opinion.You also need to include the order in which you build your items it confuses me what to build first, if I was to be a new player I would have trouble finding what to build. Also as a swain player you need to list your counters such as Fizz and Katarina.

Couldn't agree more. But just remember, if someone has sorc's and a guise: buy a cloak to drastically reduce their damage.

Yes, I know there's a cap to flat and a point where %Mpen becomes more effective. But I supposed Sorc's would be better than Ionian at that point in the game simply because the enemy's MRes normally wouldn't be that high (unless they forced it). Then there's the fact that ninja tabi or merc's reduction of damage (+ merc's tenacity) will probably serve you better than reducing the CD of Swain's abilities.

Not flat. The damage reduction formula is 100 / (100 + resistance) so a tiny about of mres drastically increases reduction at low values. Removing it at low values does the opposite. Hence if we stack a lot of mres, we reduce the effectiveness of the enemy's mpen.

And isn't mres countered by getting mpen?

His logic doesn't make any sense but neither does yours. Mpen is countered by stacking mres.

So the meta with the bruisers that carry MR demands CDR instead of boots that bypass part of that MR?

Logik

The boots work crazy good on twisted treeline. Trust me I used swain with those boots for the first time on TT it was simply a matter of me running out of mana while I was feasting on the corpses of everyone trying to kill mesh. On summoner s rift thou they fail to many people trying to jump you before yougetanything good built.

^don't listen to him; he upvotes all the random **** he can find.

Your guide at least looks good which makes me seem to think you have potential. Sadly, the cheat sheet is all wrong. Skilling order should be R > E > Q > W. W can be maxed out second in some situations though.
Items are pretty terrible as well; for example the CDR boots are not great at all.

I'd advise you to archive it and do some more research on swain before releasing it again.

The guide is great.

As a Swain player I must agree with Cantagallo above me ^

But it is still a great guide, which is worth +1 for me :D

Well done,
-Meiyjhe

Sorry but i disagree with abilities' order, i've read your reasons and them have not satisfied me. I still believe that R - E - Q - W is the best ability order, prioritizing damage from E and slow from Q ( this will boost your damage anyway ). Harrass with E + Q ... save W to escape ganks or to finish the enemy laner.

No one have voted your build yet but ,except the abilities, you've made a good work. So i'm giving you a +1. (Force comment to vote).
Keep on working if you want to get an high score : more BBC code, Counter list and much more.
GL.