Swain Support Build

Swain Champion Guide

Role: Mage

Lane: Support

Swain Support performs best with a build featuring Zaz'Zak's Realmspike, Sorcerer's Shoes, Rylai's Crystal Scepter, Liandry's Torment, and Zhonya's Hourglass. The most effective rune setup for Swain Support includes Electrocute, Cheap Shot, Grisly Mementos, and Ultimate Hunter in the primary tree, paired with Coup de Grace and Presence of Mind in the secondary tree.

Swain Champion Abilities

Ravenous Flock

Swain collects soul fragments from Vision of Empire, Nevermore, and enemy champion deaths. Soul fragments restore 3-6% max health and permanently grant Swain 15 max health (depending on level). P

Death's Hand

Swain unleashes eldritch bolts, dealing 60 / 90 / 120 / 150 / 180 (+45% of ability power) magic damage plus 25% magic damage per bolt past the first damage. Q

Vision of Empire

Swain opens a demon eye, revealing a location for 1.5 seconds, then deals 70 / 105 / 140 / 175 / 210 (+60% of ability power) magic damage and slows by 50 / 55 / 60 / 65 / 70% for 1.5 seconds. Champions hit grant Swain a Soul Fragment and are revealed for 6 seconds. W

Nevermove

Swain launches a wave of demonic power that returns, detonating on the first enemy hit to deal 80 / 120 / 160 / 200 / 240 (+70% of ability power) magic damage and root enemies in the area for 1.5 seconds.

Rooting a champion allows Swain to reactivate this ability to pull all champions rooted by Nevermove toward him, gaining a Soul Fragment for each. E

Demonic Ascension

Swain frees the demon, which deals 15 / 25 / 35 (+5% of ability power) magic damage and drains 15 / 30 / 45 (+5% of ability power) (+1.5% bonus health) health per second from nearby enemies. His Demonic Energy depletes over time but can be recharged indefinitely by draining enemy champions and is fully restored on champion takedowns.

Recast: After 2 seconds and every 8 seconds thereafter, Swain can cast Demonflare while transformed, which deals 150 / 250 / 350 (+50% of ability power) magic damage and slows enemies by 75%, decaying over 1.5 seconds. R

Swain Summoner Spells

Flash

Flash is a location-targeted summoner spell that causes your champion to blink to the location in range of your cursor.

Exhaust

Exhaust is a unit-targeted summoner spell that slows an enemy champion's movement speed and reduces their damage dealt for a few seconds.

Swain Runes

Swain Items

Swain Ability Order

Swain Matchups Overview

Strong against

Blitzcrank

Nautilus

Sylas

Alistar

Sona

Rakan

Weak against

Lulu

Milio

Karma

Zilean

Soraka

Janna

Swain Tips and Tricks

After landing your E on a target, reactivate it to pull them closer. Swain’s Root E will only trigger on the closest enemies hit upon its return, so aim carefully to limit the enemy’s ability to dodge. When a fight begins, activate your R immediately to maximize your chances of coming out on top and surviving the encounter.

Swain Best Build, Runes, Items

Most Popular

For the most popular Swain Support build, take Flash and Ignite as your Summoner Spells. Select Electrocute as your keystone, with Cheap Shot, Grisly Mementos, and Ultimate Hunter in the primary tree, and Coup de Grace and Presence of Mind in the secondary tree. Rune shards should include Adaptive Force in offense, Adaptive Force in flex, and Health Scaling in defense, depending on the matchup. Start with Zaz'Zak's Realmspike, followed by Sorcerer's Shoes and Rylai's Crystal Scepter. Finish with Liandry's Torment, Zhonya's Hourglass, and Spirit Visage. Max abilities in the order of Q - W - E.

Optional

An alternative build for Swain Support also uses Flash and Ignite as Summoner Spells, with Conqueror as your keystone, Presence of Mind, Legend: Haste, and Last Stand in the primary tree, and Conditioning with Overgrowth in the secondary tree. Rune shards should be Adaptive Force in offense, Adaptive Force in flex, and Health Scaling in defense. Start with Zaz'Zak's Realmspike, followed by Sorcerer's Shoes and Rylai's Crystal Scepter. The rest of the build includes Liandry's Torment, Zhonya's Hourglass, and Spirit Visage. Max abilities in the order of Q - W - E.

Alternative

If you're looking for another variation, use Flash and Ignite as your Summoner Spells, with Conqueror as your keystone, Presence of Mind, Legend: Haste, and Last Stand in the primary tree, and Conditioning with Overgrowth in the secondary tree. Rune shards should include Adaptive Force, Adaptive Force, and Health Scaling. Start with Celestial Opposition, followed by Plated Steelcaps and Rylai's Crystal Scepter. Finish with Winter's Approach, Unending Despair, and Spirit Visage. Max abilities in the order of Q - W - E.

Off-Meta

For an off-meta Swain Support build, use Flash and Ignite as Summoner Spells. Take Glacial Augment, Magical Footwear, Biscuit Delivery, and Approach Velocity in the primary tree, and Font of Life with Bone Plating in the secondary tree. Rune shards should be Ability Haste, Health Scaling, and Health Scaling. Start with Solstice Sleigh, followed by Boots of Swiftness and Rylai's Crystal Scepter. The final items are Winter's Approach, Unending Despair, and Vigilant Wardstone. Max abilities in the order of Q - W - E.

Situational Swain Runes and Items

Depending on the situation, matchup, and enemy champions, you may need to adjust your runes or item build. For example, when selecting rune shards, you may want to take Armor or Magic Resist based on the enemy you're facing. Be sure to evaluate your team, the enemy team, and the game state before finalizing your build.