Swain Tips?

Fat Bastard GOD·Jan 27, 2016·1 votes·460 views

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/3bFIAIXIi7I/maxresdefault.jpg

So I finally bought Swain... I've played him before on the free week select, and I had a ton of fun. I played a custom game and tried out a a tanky Swain build, and I thought it was amazing. How do you Swain players build him? Full AP? Bruiser? This was the build I found quite powerful: Gives 30% CDR (40% with runes), plenty of magic penetration, tons of tankiness, and utility. Do you take him top or mid? I also heard he is going to be updated Any ideas? Post your KNOWLEDGE!

10 Comments

No flash no lifeJan 27, 20162 votes

I usually replace that rylai with seraph. Two of your skills already apply movement hindrance, so rylai still helps but you don't benefit as much. It's just more hp and ap. Seraph benefits from both your RoA and FH, giving you way more ap, way tankier when you use the active shield, and a lot more mana at your expense - tho that may be unnecessary.

Might also replace SV with zhonya if I'm facing 5 ad opponents in aram, but that's about it.

Fat Bastard GODJan 27, 20161 votes

[{quoted}](name=No flash no life,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=Eg7EQAGn,comment-id=0001,timestamp=2016-01-27T00:44:12.552+0000)

I usually replace that rylai with seraph. Two of your skills already apply movement hindrance, so rylai still helps but you don't benefit as much. It's just more hp and ap. Seraph benefits from both your RoA and FH, giving you way more ap, way tankier when you use the active shield, and a lot more mana at your expense - tho that may be unnecessary.

Might also replace SV with zhonya if I'm facing 5 ad opponents in aram, but that's about it.

I do think the SE is a very powerful item, and it synergizes well with RoA. I find the Rylai's CC amazing on his ult and teamfighting. You do mention the SE being so strong, but it takes quite a bit to scale, and this meta is pretty darn quick. I'll be sure to try SE on him. Thanks.

No flash no lifeJan 27, 20162 votes

[{quoted}](name=Fat Bastard GOD,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=Eg7EQAGn,comment-id=00010000,timestamp=2016-01-27T01:02:58.491+0000)

it takes quite a bit to scale, and this meta is pretty darn quick.

Indeed, even more so in aram - stay away from tears, it's the biggest gold sink in aram since it has little to no impact to the game until it's too late. I only consider going SE if it's normals summoner rift and I know the game'll drag on.

Also you don't have to agree with me. Everyone plays differently and you might not be comfortable with what works for me. Most yi players go full dmg, but I generally do bad on squishies so I go half tank half dmg and I perform much better with that instead of straight up dying after eating one cc in full ad itemization build.

XilburJan 27, 20161 votes

I do not play a lot of swain, but from the things I gathered from other swain players this is what I found.

Full AP works great on him with his e (I think you mx e first) and q. You want to be kind of like a nunu, a little tanky but focused more on ap. That build work great since item 3151 will help your with your q and item 3116 's slow helps with fleeing enemies and helps further with your w.

Mandang0Jan 27, 20161 votes

His ult's heal is actually based on the damage you deal (unlike Vlad's heal), so penetration is super helpful. Defense also will scale the HP you heal, so an item that has both is great. item 3001

Also, you heal while in Zhonya's.

DehitayJan 27, 20161 votes

While that build does make Swain an incredible pain to kills, I personally think more AP would be in your favor unless your team just doesn't have a tank otherwise. Because the more AP you have, the more your ult heals you. And while it's easier for the enemy to burst you with less defenses, if you have Zhonya's you can still heal from your ult while untargetable and get back a ton of health while your enemies are losing life around you. My personal Swain build is Rod of Ages Sorc Shoes Zhonya's Rylai's Abyssal Liandry's

Fat Bastard GODJan 27, 20161 votes

{quoted}

While that build does make Swain an incredible pain to kills, I personally think more AP would be in your favor unless your team just doesn't have a tank otherwise. Because the more AP you have, the more your ult heals you. And while it's easier for the enemy to burst you with less defenses, if you have Zhonya's you can still heal from your ult while untargetable and get back a ton of health while your enemies are losing life around you. My personal Swain build is Rod of Ages Sorc Shoes Zhonya's Rylai's Abyssal Liandry's

WAIT.... SWAIN HEALS IN ZHONYA'S? I did not know that! Damn thats awesome!

lightdragoon88Jan 27, 20161 votes

Most don't do this, but I really like item 3174 on Swain.

It passive restores 30% of your max mana on kills/assist and Swain's passive restores 9%. When teamfights happens, you will be able to stay in Ult during the entire time.

It second passive restore 2% of his missing mana. So the more mana you have and are missing (like after clearing a wave or a small teamfight) it can restore your mana quickly as well.

As for what to replace with the Grail...that is up to you.

Fat Bastard GODJan 27, 20161 votes

{quoted}

Most don't do this, but I really like on Swain.

It passive restores 30% of your max mana on kills/assist and Swain's passive restores 9%. When teamfights happens, you will be able to stay in Ult during the entire time.

It second passive restore 2% of his missing mana. So the more mana you have and are missing (like after clearing a wave or a small teamfight) it can restore your mana quickly as well.

As for what to replace with the Grail...that is up to you.

That item seems like it would wreck in teamfights thanks to its ultra mana regen. Unfortunately, it's a very lackluster item in my opinion. Mages want damage and a good mana supply, and Athene's gives little damage. I'd rather take SE, but it takes a while to stack and this meta is FAST. I'd take Athene's in very situational cases. Swain's ultimate cost also increases exponentially, so I don't know if the mana regen would be all the best.

lightdragoon88Jan 27, 20161 votes

Yes the mana cost of his ult increases as you stay in it, but remember that the more mana you have lost, the more mana Athene is restoring per second.