Not about him, for him. I'm worried he's gonna end up like Rek'Sai.
Rek: had an incontestable vision tool and some hard cc that made her 100% must-pick in pro. Pro play overuse then saw her nerfed and nerfed and nerfed until she had to be mini-reworked.
Swain: has an incontestable vision tool and some hard cc...
Rito, if Vision of Empire makes him a must-pick in pros due to how valuable on-demand long range vision is, please don't obliterate him.
Electro5222 votesThing is, there is plenty of difference between Swain and Rek'sai.
Rek'sai's tremor sense can see through walls, and has a much wider range than the average vision range. Swain's W has a very short vision range (think of what your vision range is during a Nocturne ult), is heavily telegraphed, and has a significant CD.
As for their CC, Rek'sai's is essentially unavoidable, because it happens on her auto attack. You can flash, auto anyone, and they have no way to counter it at all unless they somehow predict your flash. For Swain, his CC is on a skillshot that you need to hit on the return. It's like trying to hit the return on Ahri's Q every single time, except you don't have a movement speed boost to help you. Not to mention how easy it is to screw it up, since it can also snare minions and monsters. Also, if someone is in your face, it actually longer to snare them, since the ability has to go all the way out, and come all the way back in.
I doubt Vision of Empire will make him mandatory. Instead, it will make him useful like Ashe. just like her hawkshot, Vision of Empire is a very useful tool to have, but it won't be the sole reason as to why Swain is picked.
