The earliest account of Swain's existence comes from a Noxian infirmary doctor's notes. According to them, Swain limped into the ward without cry or complaint; his right leg was snapped in half, with bone protruding from the skin. A small, scowling bird seemed affixed to his shoulder. The doctor gawked in horror as the young adolescent answered questions about his health and age with a calm, even stare. Even behind the echoing crack as the sand counterweights reset his tibia, Swain's measuring gaze never flickered, nor did his eyes twitch from the pop of his fibula. He refused the doctor's recommendation of magical treatment for the leg's inoperable damage, requesting only a spare crutch before shuffling away. He next surfaced in documents from the Noxian military, although it is evident that they are incomplete. Normally a crippled boy would be turned away in shame from Noxus' proud legion, but the records indicate his first designation was that of a ranking officer.

The men who've served under him (and survived) have remained in his charge with unshakable faith and loyalty. He leapt through the High Command's hierarchy, often ascending when superiors requested demotions to join his unit. A cunning strategist, Swain was decorated after every battle he fought, regularly hobbling in contemplation at the front of the assault. His rise to power seemed unceasing until he was suddenly relegated to inactive status prior to the Ionian Invasion - a bewildering decision which reeked of bureaucratic subversion. If Swain was upset by the events which unfolded, he never belied it. His face was so implacable that it was popularly rumored to be a mask, disguising something utterly inhuman beneath. More controversy surrounded the bird that never left his shoulder, whose name he whispered only to it. When Demacia escalated its presence in the League, Swain was immediately returned to active duty.

''If you haven't yet lost the ability to ask, you may not yet ask for relief.''

Masters are pretty typical ap caster 9-0-21. Another option though is to get 0-9-21 with 3 in resistance, hardiness and stength of spirit. Strength of spirit is very very useful at times because it increases your champions hp regen by 1% of ur total mana per 5 seconds at lvl 18. It helps so much early game when laning because swain is squishy.

I get the greater glyph of fortitude for early game since Swain is quite squishy without his ROA and rylais. I also get the mana regen and magic pen runes.

There are many summoner spells that work for Swain. I believe that the best ones are flash and ignite. Ignite is amazing because it adds another dot spell at ur disposal. Now he has 3 dot spells. Flash is always usefull for escape when you get caught in a sticky situation. It is best to flash over a wall so they cannot chase you unless they flash too. Other viable summoner spells would be teleport, cleanse, clarity(swain is mana hungry) and ghost can be a replacement for flash.

For items i like to start of with a sapphire crystal and 2 hp pots. Once i get farmed and possibly a kill or 2 i go b for a catalyst and boots. Once i get boots i rush a ROA and finish of boots. I usually get sorc shoes but merc treads may be necassary if they enemy has alot of cc. Then i get a rabadons starting with the large rod. Then i get a rylais. From there if you would like to become more tanky i get a abyssal scepter for the MR and then zhonyas for the armor and passive. Which one to get depends on they enemy comp. If there are more ad champs on there team get zhonyas, if more ap get abyssal. If i were fed and did not need to much armor and MR i would get a archangels and either a zhonyas, guardian angel, or another rabadons for more burst. If the enemy is stacking MR then you may want to get a void staff instead of a abyssal scepter.

For skills i start of with nevermove for the root. After that i get torment. At level 3 i get decrepify. Then i max torment, nevermove then decrepify in that order except for lvl 6, 11, 16 where i get the ult.

Swain is a very good harasser with his E torment. Before lvl 6 though you should not play to aggressive and just farm up. Once you reach lvl 6 then you will be all to take some dmg and still get it back because his ult heals him. His combo is usually W-E-R-Q. You must be able to predict there movement and land a root which may very easily lead to a kill. If you land the root then you can use your torment first then ult and decrepify. Torment is first because it amplifies the damage Swain does. Although Swain is tanky late game, YOU ARE NOT A TANK. That is someone elses job. Late game when you have around 600 ap depending on which items you built, u wil be doing massive dmg. Torment wil do so much dmg alone but combined with the laser bird and ult, you wil be destroyin squishys so quickly. One game my root got about 1/2 of malzahars hp alone.

Getting first blood will help you tremendously. You can get boots right away. To get first blood with swain you will have to have atleast all 3 abilities. Once they are near half hp root, torment, laser bird, and ignite and they should definitely be dead. Although when playing a normal games often ppl give first blood to the enemy by blindly running into bushes before the game even starts. But if no one has first blood by the time you are lvl 6 then you should go for it cuz swain does an amazing amount of dmg.