Swain Doesn’t Have a Cane? Why?

Avocadolivia·1/23/2018, 8:55:49 PM·82 votes·4,221 views

I’m actually really upset that they removed Swain’s cane in the rework. As someone who uses a cane on a daily basis, it was so nice to see a champion who also uses a cane. Representation feels good my dudes. I’m just not sure why they felt it was necessary to remove it? Like I GET his lore changed, and I understand that it’s not ~~cool~~ to have a cane, but I cried tears of happiness when I first found out Swain used a cane, and just don’t understand why they couldn’t have left it in. I know this probably isn’t the most coherent post, but idk this is just really important to me, and I’m sure it’s really important to other people too.

I’m also not sure if this is posted in the right place, so forgive me.

82 Comments

Keepe1/23/2018, 9:48:32 PM40 votes

As much as I love the new Blood Lord Vladamir model, I- What? That's Swain...? No it's not, that's Blood Lord Vladamir- You're not joking? ... Where's his cane? From a sheer design standpoint, you don't make a character, leave him alone for several years, then rework this character to look like some average dude in armor. This feels instead like you ran out of creative ideas for character design and decided to go with a stock model... more than anything, that's disappointing. Especially considering the creativity of past reworks. Looking at you, Sion and Ryze. Both characters who are tweaked, but still the characters they were from a character design standpoint.

H1 H0w are Ya1/23/2018, 8:59:42 PM34 votes

Considering his Cane is a huge part of his lore, I find it ridiculous it was removed. Glad you brought it up

Forhonor3211/23/2018, 10:04:43 PM23 votes

I actually checked Swain on PBE. He does have a cane, it's just tied into his dance.

Rester1/23/2018, 9:02:21 PM12 votes

He probably sucked down on some fetuses and was able to walk again. (I swear if no one gets this reference)

Velasan1/23/2018, 10:36:54 PM10 votes

If I had to guess it's because of his demon arm. If he has a demon arm on one side and a cane on the other you can't emphasize the cane wielding side while also bringing attention to the demon arm.

From an art perspective you can't reliably do both without giving up focus.

Yes Daddy PIease1/24/2018, 2:40:31 AM9 votes

How is it not cool to use a cane? Canes are dope, esp when they have a sword in them

Bjørnetjenesten1/23/2018, 11:26:53 PM8 votes

Ths old cane is always loyal: Nasus

and If you feeling really edgy, there is Kayn

Azir Is another birdman with a cane

Z3Sleeper1/24/2018, 12:43:41 AM7 votes

He... actually does tho.

https://youtu.be/XY1cXx0le2s?t=30

Wînter Fox1/24/2018, 4:54:51 AM5 votes

Who the hell says canes aren't cool? You can't be a true pimp without one

SaltLord4511/23/2018, 9:01:39 PM5 votes

It even says he was crippled in the Ionian wars.

Hovering Hentai1/23/2018, 11:12:50 PM3 votes

He has one in his dance animation but that's it

DragonShea1/24/2018, 3:38:10 PM3 votes

People please. The man still got his cane. He is just hiding it until he wants to dance.

NO FUCKING BULLSHIT! But Swain still has his cane. He just uses it for his cane.

hoganftw1/23/2018, 9:43:06 PM3 votes

Because Nasus has it, duh

D CANE

hazerddex1/24/2018, 2:31:42 AM3 votes

but he does have a cane....[sg-lux-2]

Magícians1/24/2018, 2:35:13 AM3 votes

Tyrant Swain has a cane where his dick is

https://imgur.com/a/w5VsF

SSmotzer1/24/2018, 7:02:02 AM3 votes

From what I know about Riot, whenever they take something from a champion during their rework they reintroduce in a new champion.

Riot wants all of their champions to be visually distinct at first glance, which means Riot must be working on a champion who's main visual indicator is their cane. My money is on Riot making a hunched back old crone of a witch who walks with a cane.

CrazyBigfoot281/24/2018, 6:18:25 AM3 votes

He has a cane when he dances so its kinda a win lose i guess

Otterssoul1/24/2018, 5:05:16 PM3 votes

Hey, my cane is cool! Those posting that Nasus, Azir, and Kayne have canes really don't get it though... For those of us who genuinely have to walk with a cane to get by, the representation of an equally troubled champion felt really good.

Ifneth1/24/2018, 3:23:59 AM2 votes

Give him back his cane!

Skorch1/23/2018, 11:13:09 PM2 votes

Proper spot is probably story/art/sound.

As for the cane he HAS one it just is in his cape, he uses it to dance.

TheGreatRasputin1/24/2018, 12:38:01 AM2 votes

I also enjoyed Swain using a cane, but honestly, I don't see him needing it anymore. Now that he's a warlock who uses blood magic, he might age a little, but overall keep his body in perfect condition. The only thing I see him using the cane for is as a trick, like King Bumi does in Avatar. Making himself look older so he can surprise his opponent. I had to use a cane at one point, too. I know what you're going through, kind of.

NorthernRedStar1/24/2018, 6:01:35 AM2 votes

If you look closely, you can notice his cane has been replaced by supportive armor structures around his right leg. He's clearly sustained more damage than a missing arm - muscle tendons, joints in his leg are implied to have sustained injuries as well.

Zerenza1/24/2018, 1:19:27 PM2 votes

He does still have cane.

SociopathFriend1/24/2018, 8:02:32 PM2 votes

Well for one it always was a bit of a dissonance. I get that the cane was part of his character but it always felt weird that the guy with the cane wasn't moving slowly at all. As a long-time Mordekaiser player- it feels more than a little tilting to watch a guy who literally is crippled can walk away faster than you.

For practical reasons they may have wanted to use his hands more for abilities and emotes in a more exaggerated fashion- which requires him to have said hands free.

theminiom1/24/2018, 8:49:53 PM2 votes

He has a cane in his Dance emote

Oleandervine1/24/2018, 8:56:19 PM2 votes

It's probably from an animation perspective. Someone without a cane, being animation, can look more fluid, and it makes a lot more sense when other speed modifiers are involved. Current Swain looks fucking weird when sped up by someone like Zilean, because it completely breaks your disbelief seeing this guy hobble so much faster when he's clearly needing a cane to walk in the first place. Removing his cane freed up some creative room for him, and prevented this awkward break of your immersion when seeing a cane walker suddenly walk super fast.

Imaginary Hero1/24/2018, 10:27:25 PM2 votes

His dance still uses the cane.

FPS P1 xSolusGod1/27/2018, 4:31:47 AM1 votes

#AllCanesAreEqual

gabetheguy1/23/2018, 9:27:00 PM1 votes

because he doesn't have any leg injuries.

BlakexEkalb1/24/2018, 7:44:38 PM1 votes

If you read the new bio on PBE, it says instead of asking for a cane, he asks for a leg brace.

jocomotion2/4/2018, 5:52:59 AM1 votes

Yeah guys common, the cane was clearly- It was clearly, a very key aspect of Swain's charact... It's like, what if Xayah didn't have her hood?

I can't do this sentence, was the cane really important? Like from the 'old but wise nation leader' standpoint it served as something short of a prop, but why would a tactical leader clearly show his dependence on something so, so unnecessary? I feel like the leg brace makes more sense, because it's a lot more functional than carrying a cane around 24/7.

I'm more upset about Beatrice, and even she didn't do much for Swains character. Heck the fact that he named his favorite raven is a little too cute for a guy who looks like this. Swain

Dead Anime Dad1/25/2018, 12:34:25 AM1 votes

So graves can have his cigar but swain can't have Beatrice or his walking stick?