Alright, the update I promised has come. I have modified this build to be a Support DPS CC Swain build, focusing on AP, CDR, and additional CC via Rylai's.

Please let me know what you think of the new build!!!

I will probably be redoing this build since we are expecting some changes to Swain in the next big patch.

Personally I do not think a Hybrid swain is all that amazing. It may look good on paper but you have to realize you are against other people. You will not get to do the things you calculate out in a real match, ESPECIALLY as squishy.

I would suggest either full AD swain or a tankish/AP swain(that is my favorite as of now).

I updated the item order and the parts of the build that talk about items.

I think Rylai's is really important for this guy. It makes landing Nevermore easy. Since Nevermore is really one of his most solid all purpose skills, it makes sense to get Rylai's earlier. And then the Hextech Gunblade. I think this item is stronger on him than Guinsoo's. It gives spellvamp, lifesteal, hefty AP and AD, and an active that gets boosted by Torment just like DFG.

Let me know what you all think about these changes! Thanks.

So I've tried this build out a few times and have always went positive. Against heavy phy carries you get chewed up but that is expected for a mage. I had to just wait and plan my attacks.

I haven't really tried full ability power yet so I wanted to try that and compare. Usually with full ability power like soulstealer, staff etc. I get at least 2 defense items. I would think even though I wont be hitting as hard late game I can survive longer and be able to do my combo more times. Thanks for the guide though!

Lich Bane could be good. Id say it would depend on wether or not you need the survivability rylai's gives you.

What if you switch out Rylai's for Lich Bane? You get the same amount of ability power, movement speed, mana, magic resist plus the next attack dealing 100% of ability power.

Cost difference: 365 gold.

You gain way more damage, movement speed and you lose the slow but ... you have your laser bird for that which you will also be at 40% cooldown reduction so that should be up always.

Well if you take a look at the damage output for all his skills, they are pretty similar. Considering decrepify requires they stay in range all 3 seconds for full damage, it makes sense to level Nevermore or Torment first. Then, considering that Nevermore is AoE and when leveled up makes for great creep farming combined with ur ult, it makes sense to get it early to get farmed better. I have seen a lot of people play Swain, but not many have I seen farm well. Torment is second because it synergizes with AD so well. Im afraid the slow component of Decrepify doesnt really get substantially better each level (only improving 3% per lvl), so I level it last. All his spells do similar damage per cast.

As for the focus on AS, it is somewhat coincidental, but also purposeful :). You want max CDR, and Nashors gets you there perfectly. It also provides mp5 and AP. Manamune i think is a no brainer for AD and getting that big mana pool that synergizes with Raven Form. And Guinsoo's is one of the most gold efficient items in the game, not to mention being perfect on a spellspammer like Swain. The more attacks you can get in on them in the short amount of time you have to attack them, the better. The first three items are relatively cheap too (2110, 2465, 2235). With them, you will have +90 ap and up to +48 from guinsoo's for a total of 138. I feel that 100 - 200 AP is a good target range for this character in his current form.

This seems good. I also run with a hybrid swain, but yours focuses on AS more. I haven't tried it yet, but I have one question. can you explain your skilling order? It would seem that your items reflect your skilling order so I would like to know why you level nevermore first/decripify last.

Thanks!

Hmm..the items are pretty cheap compared to the staves most builds use. I was thinking about it though, and you could definitely get rylais before guinsoos.

I tested the build and granted i prolly played it wrong. i felt that i was ineffective while waiting on items. just feedback as i didnt read anything describing use of the character.