Grasp can help poke in lane and each grasp stack obtained permanently increases max health and mana. Grasp is a very versatile rune to take on Swain, because during both early game and late game, this rune can be used for both offensive or defensive purposes. Grasp combined with the AP tank build and Swain's passive can create an undying champion. Grasp is especially strong against melee enemies such as Yasuo and Zed. Best time to use grasp to poke is when the enemy has no moves up, or focused on CS'ing. Grasp combined with Swain's E,Pull,W,Q combo can restore up to 25% of his max health and does a decent amounts of damage to the enemy laner.

The secondary runes provide Swain with more mana for the laning phase, and assures he gets the maximum CDR during late game. Swain takes CDR, Armour, and MR for more sustain while engaging enemy champions. CDR over the max CDR limit are translated into AP due to transcendence.

Hourglass is an essential item to have Swain. Hourglass combined with Swain's R can cause devastating damage to all enemies in the area, while healing a portion of Swain's health back freely. Activating hourglass at the perfect time can result in the outcome of a team fight, or who lives and who dies. Hourglass should be the second item Swain builds in lane, after ROA.

Swain's early game isn't amazing nor is it horrible. Swain's base stats can sustain in lane enough until the 1st item, ROA is purchased. Despite early game not being Swain's most predominant stage of the game, it is still crucial to his performance mid and late game. During laning phase, keep track of when your enemy laner used which moves, and when will they have their moves back up. You should trade, poke, or hit combos accordingly to this.

Grasp of the Undying Swain is a rather tanky unit, and one of the best team fight champions. Swain should help out other lanes as much as possible, especially when he reaches level 11. Swain's split pushing isn't very strong, so participate in as many team fights as possible, as Swain's presence can determine the outcome of the game. However, engaging without relevant teammates can have a devastating effect. Do not engage in pointless fights with the enemy team. During team fights be sure to soak up as much damage as you can. Swain's R and passive combined with Hourglass and Grasp can make the ultimate team fight machine.

Swain's combo isn't that hard to learn, ever since Riot made his Q pierce through minions and jungle camps. Start the combo with E. You should be able to tell if your E will root your target as soon as you cast it. If you are confident that you will land your E, place your W accordingly to your target's position. Ultimately, you want to pull your target into your W after you have successfully rooted the target. Finish the combo with your Q, which deals more damage the closer you are to your target. Plan the usage of your Q accordingly to your own health, and if it is worth you to risk your own health to do more damage. Depending on whether or not your Grasp is activated, you can deal even more damage, and heal even more.

If Swain hits a successful full combo on the enemy champion (Including Grasp), Swain should gain 2 soul fragments, and 1 grasp stack. This should increase Swain's max health by 14.

Each of Swains abilities can be used individually in different circumstances.

Swain's Q can be used to poke in lane, or used defensively to tell enemies to back off. Before level 6 when Swain's only source of healing is by soul fragments or pots, he is vulnerable to early game champions. Using Q to poke can send the message that you want your laner to back off.

Swain's W is best used outside of Swain's usual combo when there are multiple enemy champions clustered together, and Swain can obtain more than just 1 soul fragment from 1 W. Swain should also utilise the long cast range of his W, to help out with other lanes, or skirmishes in the jungle. Lastly, his W can be used to slow enemies, and force them into advantageous positions for Swain.

Swain's E can be used to CC and pull in delay enemies. It can be used to catch up to an enemy, or buy him more time to escape from a fed enemy.

Swain's R is the most situational out of all of his moves. His ult can be used for both defensive and offensive purposes. During laning phase, Swain can activate his ult to help kill an enemy, or counter push after your laner tries to kill you. Similarly, his R can be saved to bait enemies to tower dive him, which Swain will activate R to stay alive and kill the cocky tower diver. Knowing when to re-activate Swain's ult is a crucial piece of information to play Swain correctly. Swain's second cast of his ult does more damage the more health he drains from nearby enemies. Using the second cast as a way to execute enemy champions may sometimes result in his death if multiple enemies are nearby.