Lane edge
Win rate vs Cassiopeia
Lane opponent
How to play
Rank
All ranks
Patch 16.16.19–16.20
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How to play Swain
Read the full guide
Play the way back of E: fire it past them, walk with it to bend the return line, place W on their retreat, then drag late so one catch turns into a full trade instead of a quick root
Rylai's is the support Swain spike because it turns your kit from “I hit you” into “you still haven’t left,” which is why the report treats him as a sticky-fight support rather than a poke mage
When the game gets rough, become anti-dive Swain—play near the carry they have to touch and make the fight stay on your body, because recent data says Swain gains more from surviving the first CC wave and cashing in immobilizations than from trying to play a roam-first support game
Press R when the fight has already become local enough that someone has to stay near you for a few seconds. The cleanest triggers are after your E-W pattern lands, when an engage support or diver has already crossed into your ADC, or when two enemy bodies are committed through the same space. If you press it from max range just to start walking, you often get no drain time and no real threat. In lane, think of R as the button that punishes a committed trade, not the button that creates one from neutral. A half-second of patience usually gives you a much better ult.
Swain's ravens collect Soul Fragments that heal him and permanently increase his maximum health.
Swain unleashes several bolts of eldritch power that pierce through enemies. Enemies hit take more damage for each bolt they are struck by.
Swain opens a demon eye that deals damage and slows enemies. Champions hit are revealed and also grant Swain a Soul Fragment.
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.
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.
