How to beat Swain

Common role: Mid / Support

A battle-mage who roots you, drains health in an AoE, and heals through fights.

What makes Swain dangerous

Swain roots you from range (W/E), and his ultimate is a sustained AoE that drains health from nearby enemies, healing him while he tanks fights. He explodes it for a burst and slow. He wins drawn-out teamfights and sieges by draining a grouped enemy team, becoming very hard to kill.

How to play against Swain

• 1Don't fight grouped inside his ult drain — it heals him per enemy hit. Spread out and don't feed his R.
• 2Dodge his E (a slow returning bolt that roots) — without the root, his combo has no lockdown.
• 3Grievous Wounds cuts his ultimate's healing — anti-heal is a strong answer to his sustain.
• 4He's immobile — burst him or dive him when his E and ult are down. Force short fights, not long drains.

Weaknesses to exploit

• ✓Ult healing cut by Grievous Wounds.
• ✓Immobile with no escape — divable.
• ✓E root is a slow, dodgeable skillshot.
• ✓Spread teams deny his AoE drain value.

Abilities & how to counter them

What each of Swain's abilities does — and how to play around it.

• P
  Ravenous Flock

  Swain's ravens collect Soul Fragments that heal him and permanently increase his maximum health.

• Q
  Death's Hand

  Swain unleashes several bolts of eldritch power that pierce through enemies. Enemies hit take more damage for each bolt they are struck by.

• W
  Vision of Empire

  Swain opens a demon eye that deals damage and slows enemies. Champions hit are revealed and also grant Swain a Soul Fragment.

• E
  Nevermove

  Swain launches a wave of demonic power forward. It then returns to Swain and roots enemies it hits. Swain can then choose to pull all rooted champions closer. This ability has a shorter cooldown during Demonic Ascension.

  Strong: a returning bolt that roots — the setup for his combo. Weak: a slow skillshot; dodge it and he has no lockdown.

• R
  Demonic Ascension

  Swain transforms into a demon and drains health from nearby enemy champions, minions, and neutral monsters. Swain can cast Demonflare to decimate and slow nearby enemies with a nova of soulfire. This form is indefinite as long as Swain drains enemy champions.

  Strong: a sustained AoE drain that heals him per enemy hit. Weak: spread out so it drains fewer targets, and Grievous Wounds cuts the healing.

Itemization

Swain is AP with heavy AoE sustain. Grievous Wounds and magic resist blunt him, spread out to deny his ult drain, and dodge his E root. Force short fights.

This guide covers Swain's core kit and playstyle — advice that holds up across patches.