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Recommended Items
Spells:
Ignite
Flash
Items
Ability Order
Ravenous Flock (PASSIVE)
Swain Passive Ability
Introduction

Hey everyone and welcome to my

This is my really first giude and I'd like to apologize for my BAD ENGLISH.
I wrote this guide to share with you the true potential (sadly underrated) of this amazing champion.
If you like to have a great early kill potential, lane dominance and a key role in teamfight. Well, you are reading about the right champion!
In this guide I'll explain my personal way to play


I'd like to recieve constructive feedbacks and opinions about the giude, items, runes, masteries and everything else.
And, as always, TEST THAN VOTE. :D
Please be gentle about my english :3
Enjoy.

PROS
+Great early harass potential and lane control especially against melee champions.
+Amazing skirmisher at all stage of the game. +Very durable due to ![]() +2 CC in his kit. + ![]() + ![]() + The enemy jungler will think twice before gank you after level 6. + You will totally dominate teamfights if the enemy team underestimate you. |
|
CONS
- BLUE BUFF DEPENDANT (especially in the early/mid game)
- Really low wave clear potential before 6. - ![]() - ![]() - Baitable by ranged champions with decent escape mechanism. - Needs good positioning in teamfights to be effective. - He moves fast as a stone uphill. - I've already said BLUE BUFF DEPENDANT? |

GOOD CHOICES
![]() |
Another DoT for your kit. It benefits from ![]() |
![]() |
Really nice for escape, chase and to reposition during teamfight. Useful to dodge deadly skillshots. You should pick flash everytime. |
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Really useful if you're playing toplane. Allows you to change the tide of a dragon fight, helping bot or mid lane securing kills or take turretts. |
BAD CHOICES
![]() |
Pretty useless. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
Please. You have all the healing power you need.![]() |
![]() |
Let me say that again: Please. If you manage your spells wisely, you don't need ![]() ![]() |

Runes




Greater Mark of Magic Penetration: early magic penetration in addition to your
Torment ability gives you alot of early damage and lane control.
Greater Seal of Armor: ideal to mitigate some damage from the enemy (especially against AD champions). Also gives you more chance to survive ganks and retaliate.
Greater Seal of Mana Regeneration: a valid choice to mitigate early mana problems and spam your spells a little more.
Greater Glyph of Magic Resist: very nice glyph to mitigate damage from enemy AP champions. Also gives you more potential in the early trades. (It's a lie, there's no trades here. It's only you harassing them :3).
Greater Quintessence of Ability Power: There's no need to explain. We just want MOAR ability power :D

I found 9/21/0 great for ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Last but ABSOLUTELY not least, here we go with ![]() ![]() From the Offense tree ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |

First point in



SKILLS PRIORITY |
SKILLS EXPLANATION
Here's Swain's Ability Wiki for more detailed information about his kit.
![]() |
Carrion Renewal: ![]() It works well with ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
Decripify: Slow the enemy target and deals damage over 3 seconds.
BE WARE:The crow will spawn at ![]() ![]() |
TIPS:
|
![]() |
Nevermove: ![]() |
TIPS:
|
![]() |
Torment: ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
TIPS:
|
![]() |
Ravenous Flock: ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
TIPS:
|

Well well, let's get to the fun part.
I will explain here my opinion about


Build him as a glass cannon it's just a waste of his true potential.
SPAWN
![]() ![]() ![]() |



EARLY
catalyst the protector
![]() ![]() |
Always aim to an early catalyst the protector +

Go for


If you are facing


CORE
![]() ![]() ![]() |
These are my core items on



...but it doesen't care..
The true power of this item it's the activated ability.
Don't forget to use it during a teamfight.
Charge in the middle of the action with your

This allows your team to:
- take a break from the damage (even for you).
- reposition and take an advantage on the enemy team (specially for you ranged carry).
- breach trought the bruisers to focus their carries.


Last but not least

If you are facing a strong CC enemy team (





OFFENSIVE ITEMS
Items listed here are pretty situational due to your variable role in each game.
I'll give you a brief items exposition and I'll explain when you should buy one instead of another.
I'll give you a brief items exposition and I'll explain when you should buy one instead of another.
![]() |
![]() I suggest to buy this when teamfights are extremely long or you take some time to breach the enemy frontline. If you run out of mana in the middle of the action, you will be killed in no time and your team will probably loose the teamfight. I DON'T suggest to buy this when the enemy team has low chance to take you away from key targets (unefficent bruisers, low CC, etc...). You will probably breach trought them easily and a blue buff is enough to keep your mana pool healty untill you bring them to their death. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() ![]() I suggest to buy this practically everytime. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() I DON'T suggest to NOT buy this. It fits perfectly with ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() I suggest to buy this when the enemy team is stacking Macig Resist or Health to mitigate your damage or you need to shut down key targets faster. I DON'T suggest to buy this when your damage output is enough to burst down key targets. In this case you should spend your gold to become more tanky. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() I suggest to buy this when the enemy team is extremely tanky and the game is going really long. I DON'T suggest to buy this when you can break down the enemies without much effort. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() ![]() I suggest to buy this quite never. You don't really need another full AP expensive item to your build. Build this when you whan to have some fun busting down people in pub games or when you REALLY need to burst down an enemy (maybe a fed ![]() ![]() I DON'T suggest to buy this quite everytime. You have enough burst damage with your Core + ![]() |
![]() |
DEFENSIVE ITEMS
Items listed here are pretty situational due to your variable role in each game.
I'll give you a brief items exposition and I'll explain when you should buy one instead of another.
I'll give you a brief items exposition and I'll explain when you should buy one instead of another.
![]() |
![]() ![]() I suggest to buy this when you need more survivability during teamfights or while facing strong AP champions. It synegize perfectly with your ![]() ![]() I DON'T suggest to buy this when you want to benefit from ability power even with defensive item. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() I suggest to use it when you are the main intiator of your team and when you spend most of the time in the middle of the action during teamfights. Also it helps if you have other AP based champions in your team. BEWARE: if you manage to buy ![]() I DON'T suggest to buy this if anyone else in your team already bought it or you need more health instead of bonus Ability Power. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() I suggest to buy this when you want to benifit both from healt and ability power. Try to buy this for an OFFENSIVE item, because ![]() ![]() I DON'T suggest to buy this when you don't need additional health and want to biuld a stronger ability power item. |
![]() [/colums] |

It's not easy to play
Swain properly.
I'll explain my personal way to play him during all the stages of the game. (supposing you are playing mid lane)

I'll explain my personal way to play him during all the stages of the game. (supposing you are playing mid lane)
LANE PHASE
You'll find yourself in the spawn pool, grab your items and reach the bush behind blue or red buff (according to your jungler's playstyle).
I suggest to place your trinket ASAP to prevent enemy team to invade and ambush you and your team (another good reason to pick a first level in

Help your jungler getting his buff than reach your lane.
Untill 6-7 minutes mark you have to do 2 important things:
- LAST HIT, LAST HIT, LAST HIT!!!: Your Core is expensive, you haven't a great wave clear potential and without a decent Creep Score you won't go far away.
- Harass your enemy whenever you can and zone him: with
Torment you can safely harass your opponent without much effort, its mana cost it's relatively low and with
Carrion Renewal you won't run out of mana just because you are spamming your E.
Keep an eye on the minimap: enemy jungler could invade. You should help your frienldy jungler getting the kill or simply save him from death. You have to farm, it's true, but we don't want to give Fisrt Blood to the enemy, do we?
Don't miss the chance to get an early kill: if your oppenent is low, you should try to kill him.





If you don't kill him, he probably used flash, it's a good thing anyway.
BEWARE: most of the times you will push the lane a bit during early game, a good chance for the enemy jungler to come and try to kill you.
If you get ganked before level 6 DON'T PANIC: most of the times a well placed

Buy a ward, save a life.
If you get ganked AFTER level 6 and you already wear your blue buff, you could even try to get a kill or two. Don't take risks if:
- Enemy in lane has more than 50% HP.
- Enemy in lane has is
Ignite ready.
- You are low on health.
- You can be stunned by both of them.
Don't forget to claim your blue buff: with blue buff and level 6 you can easily push your lane and take a chance to gank other lanes (with the help of your jungler maybe), to take some kill/assist and maybe an early dragon.
MID GAME
Champions leave the lanes, trying to take dragon or turretts.
Don't forget to take an eye on the minimap: your team need you to win a dragon fight, don't AFK farming while they are fighting to take the dragon pool!
Keep farming, help other lanes if your teammates need your help, keep snowballing and again, DON'T FORGET TO CLAIM YOUR BLUE BUFF: without blue buff you'll find yourself in a great disadvantage during early teamfights.
LATE GAMES & TEAMFIGHTS
Some turretts are gone, carries got their cores, teams play togheter to take dragon or Baron Nashor, someone will win, someone will loose... WELCOME TO LATE GAME.
It's time for

Winning a teamfight right now can lead your team to victory. Loosing a teamfight right now can lead your team to defeat.
KEEP IT IN MIND
you are the AP Carry, your purpose is to CARRY your team to victory.

YOUR PURPOSE is to break the enemy frontline: your ultimate can keep you alive while damaging everything around you.
[*]Use your

PLAY AGGRESSIVE, DON'T BE SCARED.
I won't say it enough:

You have to reach the enemy backline, snare carries, focus and shut them down.
IMPORTANT: Don't chase enemies during teamfights!!!
Please don't do that, NEVER. Don't give them a chance to bait you down.
The enemy

Well. One less between you and their backline!.
Your





Sadly she casts barrier and

YOU DID IT!: she's alive but she has no chance to come back, because your team will kill her with a blink of an eye.
Switch your attention to another target and so on, untill there's none left to kill.
SUMMARIZING
Swain is a skirmisher, your place is in the middle of the action.
- Play aggressive, don't be scared.
Ravenous Flock gives you a lot of survivability. Don't forget to use
Zhonya's Hourglass if you get hard focused.
- Your purpose is to break the enemy frontline and reach enemies key targets.
- NEVER,NEVER,NEVER chase enemies. Your place is in the middle of the fight, nowhere else.
- Use
Nevermove wisely. Use it to prevent enemies from reaching your backline, reposition or run away from the rest of your team.

Welcome to the Matchups section! Here's a list of Champions you'll usually find midlane. I'll give you a brief explanation of their abilities and help you deal with them during lane phase.
If I've skipped some champions, it's because I've not enough informations/games against them or I've never played against them before (yes

![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
MEDIUM
|
![]() ![]() ![]() |
It's not a great matchup. Stay behind your minions to avoid ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Keep zoning and harassing her. She has to pay for any single creep and if you have a chance to grab a kill, take it. BEWARE: enemy jungler could babysitt midlane. ![]() When ![]() If a gank comes true, don't let ![]() ![]() After level 6, if you don't make any mistake, ![]() But you have to pay attention: ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Place your trinket/wards in both side of midlane to prevent a bad time. If she's behind, she could try to gank other lanes: you should help your team in this case, call MIA's and if you can, don't allow her to leave the lane. |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
EASY
|
![]() ![]() ![]() |
Really easy lane. ![]() Your purpose is to negate farm. If she's able to get creeps only with ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Before level 6 you will dominate the lane, afret level 6 you will dominate the lane too. You can easily trade with ![]() After level 6 ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() How to counter this? Easy: ![]() ![]() ![]() There's nowhere to hide now and she's too close to back off safely without flash. If you are quick enough with your combo and she has no time to flash, she will hardly survive. Congratulations, you have countered ![]() Don't forget to buy some ward, there's no reason to take risks. |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
HARD
|
![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Prepare to have a bad time.![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Before level 6 you should focus last hitting and dodge ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() If possible, ask your jungler for an ealry gank: ![]() ![]() After level 6 things go south. ![]() ![]() ![]() Don't try to get close!!! The closer you are, the easier for ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Keep playing conservative, use your ![]() ![]() Stay alive, farm and it'll be ok. Keep asking for ganks, ![]() Don't forget to Ward your lane, you don't need trouble from the enemy jungler, you have yours already. |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
MEDIUM
|
![]() ![]() ![]() |
This lane is a coin flip. ![]() ![]() During the early stage of lane phase ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Break down this combo is pretty easy: anytime ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ...after level 6 things become more complicated. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Buy some extra health after catalyst the protector to increase your survivability and try to activate ![]() ![]() ![]()
Don't forget to Ward your lane: enemy jungler could gank you, for the same reason your jungler could gank ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
MEDIUM
|
![]() ![]() ![]() |
Let's play with fire again! Another coin flip here. A good ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() If ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() You have to be careful with ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Keep in mind: ![]() ![]() After level 6 mark any mistake leads to death most of the times (from both sides). Don't forget you have ![]() ![]() ![]() Ask for ganks to get the upper hand and don't forget to ward your lane too. ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
HARD
|
![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
You won't find her beautiful at all.![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() You have to farm and dodge, strike back if you have a chance but don't take risks, you are very vulnerable before level 6 mark. Ask for ganks whenever you can, a little babysitting isn't that bad. Above level 6 mark you can take a breath. You have more sustain and trade potential right now, keep dodge ![]()
TURN YOUR BACK!!!
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Keep farming, dodging and harassing whenever you can. Ask for ganks and ward your lane as always. GOOD LUCK!!! |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
EASY
|
![]() ![]() ![]() |
This lane is a piece of cake.![]() ![]() ![]() Harass and zone. ![]() After level 6 mark be careful about ganks. ![]() ![]() ![]() If you are ahead you could even try to take the double but don't take any unecessary risk (aka ![]() Ward your lane and don't bother your jungle (unless he wants an easy assist ineed :3). Nothing more to say, easy peasy. |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
MEDIUM
|
![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
Many players think ![]() ![]() ![]() As well as ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Beating ![]() What is the best, fastest, easiest and safest way to win against ![]() Harass him as if it was the last thing you'll do in your whole life!!!. It's not just spamming ![]() ![]() Sometimes ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Don't forget to ward your lane!!! You'll push a lot, you are susceptible to ganks. Above level 6 mark, let's suppose you've just harassed him (he's behind in CS obviously), without taking or giving kills. In short, he's just behind a little. This is the algorithm in this scenario:
![]()
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Keep warding to prevent ganks from enemy jungler (he will gank you trust me). |
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