Swain Splash Art
Swain

Swain Top

the Noxian Grand General
Win Rate: All Roles 52.1% | as Top 52.1%
Pick Rate: All Roles 7.3% | as Top 1.0%
Ban Rate: 2.6%
Analyzed: 57933 ranked matches
League: Platinum+
Patch: 15.24 (25.24)
Support Mid ADC Top ARAM

Swain Top Guide

A+ Tier

Swain is incredibly strong in Top with a 52.1% win rate (#5 among Top champions), compared to 52.1% win rate across all roles. Excellent meta pick for ranked. Swain maintains moderate popularity with 7.3% overall pick rate and 1.0% pick rate in Top in Plat+ on patch 15.24 (25.24)**Data may mix with previous patch on the first day of patch release, based on 57933 ranked games. Very niche pick - only 13.6% of Swain's games are in this role. Optimal build starts with Plated Steelcaps, rushing Frozen Heart, Rylai's Crystal Scepter, and Liandry's Torment. Swain has low farm - 6.24 CS/min (#46 among Top champions) and earns 377 gold per minute. Averages 2.3 KDA (#4 among Top champions). Has a 2.6% ban rate (88th place). Swain deals mostly magic damage, ideal for teams lacking AP threats. Recommended runes: Summon Aery, Manaflow Band, Transcendence, Scorch, (Sorcery) + Bone Plating, Overgrowth, (Resolve). When playing, most players max abilities in Q > W > E order.

Swain Roles

Swain
  • Support

    (Support - 47.2%) 27362 games
  • Mid

    (Mid - 22.8%) 13197 games
  • ADC

    (ADC - 16.6%) 9623 games
  • Top

    (Top - 13.6%) 7862 games

ARAM Stats

  • ARAM

    Analyzed 18588 ARAM games

Swain Top Stats

52.1%
Win Rate (Role)
13.6%
Top (Role Rate)
2.6%
Ban Rate
0.0006
Penta/Game
5.1
Kills/Game
5.8
Deaths/Game
8.2
Assists/Game
0.26
Wards/Min
6.24
CS/Min
377
Gold/Min

Damage Type

Physical: 7.4%
Magic: 89.8%
True: 2.78%

Overall Champion Matrix

Swain Top Summoner Spells

Most Popular

Flash
Flash Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
Teleport
Teleport After a brief channel, become untargetable and travel to an allied unit. Upgrades into Unleashed Teleport, which significantly increases travel speed.
50.9% Win Rate 86.6% Pick Rate6811 games

Highest Win Rate

Ghost
Ghost Gain Move Speed and ignore unit collision for the duration.
Ignite
Ignite Deals true damage over time to target enemy champion and reduces healing effects on them for the duration.
62.7% Win Rate 0.1% Pick Rate9 games

Swain Top Item Builds

Most Popular Build

Starting Items
Stealth Ward
Stealth Ward (0 gold) Active (210 - 120s, max 2 charges)
Places an Invisible Stealth Ward that grants vision for 90-120 seconds.
Doran's Ring
Doran's Ring (400 gold) 18 Ability Power
90 Health

Restoration
Restore 1.25 Mana every second. If you can't gain Mana, restore 0.55 Health instead.
Helping Hand
Attacks deal 5 bonus physical damage to minions.
Health Potion
Health Potion (50 gold) Consume
Restores 120 Health over 15 seconds.
52.3% Win Rate 92.1% Pick Rate7239 games
Popular Boots
Plated Steelcaps
Plated Steelcaps (1200 gold) 25 Armor
45 Move Speed

Plating
Reduces incoming damage from Attacks by 10%.
50.0% Win Rate 42.7% Pick Rate3354 games
Mercury's Treads
Mercury's Treads (1250 gold) 20 Magic Resist
45 Move Speed
30% Tenacity

53.8% Win Rate 27.6% Pick Rate2173 games
Sorcerer's Shoes
Sorcerer's Shoes (1100 gold) 12 Magic Penetration
45 Move Speed

52.7% Win Rate 10.0% Pick Rate785 games
Core Build
Glacial Buckler
Glacial Buckler (900 gold) 25 Armor
300 Mana
10 Ability Haste

->
Frozen Heart
Frozen Heart (2500 gold) 75 Armor
400 Mana
20 Ability Haste

Winter's Caress
Reduce the Attack Speed of nearby champions by 20%.
Rylai's Crystal Scepter
Rylai's Crystal Scepter (2600 gold) 65 Ability Power
400 Health

Rimefrost
Damaging Abilities Slow enemies by 30% for 1 second.
Liandry's Torment
Liandry's Torment (3000 gold) 70 Ability Power
300 Health

Torment
Damaging Abilities burn enemies for 2% max Health magic damage per second for 3 seconds.
Suffering
For each second in combat with enemy champions, deal 2% bonus damage, up to 6%.
57.9% Win Rate 3.9% Pick Rate309 games
Final Build
Spirit Visage
Spirit Visage (2700 gold) 400 Health
50 Magic Resist
10 Ability Haste
100% Base Health Regen

Boundless Vitality
Heals and Shields on you are increased by 25%.
56.5% Win Rate 13.4% Pick Rate1054 games

Best Win Rate Build

Starting Items
Stealth Ward
Stealth Ward (0 gold) Active (210 - 120s, max 2 charges)
Places an Invisible Stealth Ward that grants vision for 90-120 seconds.
Dark Seal
Dark Seal (350 gold) 15 Ability Power
50 Health

Glory
Takedowns grant Glory, up to 10. 5 Glory is lost on death.
Gain 4 Ability Power per Glory.
Refillable Potion
Refillable Potion (150 gold) Active (2 charges)
Restores 100 Health over 12 seconds.
Refills upon visiting the shop.
84.6% Win Rate 0.2% Pick Rate13 games
Highest Winrate Boots
Ionian Boots of Lucidity
Ionian Boots of Lucidity (900 gold) 10 Ability Haste
45 Move Speed

Ionian Insight
Gain 10 Summoner Spell Haste.
61.6% Win Rate 3.2% Pick Rate252 games
Mercury's Treads
Mercury's Treads (1250 gold) 20 Magic Resist
45 Move Speed
30% Tenacity

53.8% Win Rate 27.6% Pick Rate2173 games
Boots of Swiftness
Boots of Swiftness (1000 gold) 60 Move Speed
Fleetfooted
Reduce the effectiveness of Slows by 25%.
53.0% Win Rate 10.1% Pick Rate796 games
Core Build
Lost Chapter
Lost Chapter (1200 gold) 40 Ability Power
300 Mana
10 Ability Haste

Enlighten
Levelling up restores 20% max Mana over 3 seconds.
->
Blackfire Torch
Blackfire Torch (2800 gold) 80 Ability Power
600 Mana
20 Ability Haste

Baleful Blaze
Damaging Abilities deals bonus magic damage for 3 seconds.
Blackfire
For each enemy champion, epic and large monster affected by your Baleful Blaze, gain 4% Ability Power.
Liandry's Torment
Liandry's Torment (3000 gold) 70 Ability Power
300 Health

Torment
Damaging Abilities burn enemies for 2% max Health magic damage per second for 3 seconds.
Suffering
For each second in combat with enemy champions, deal 2% bonus damage, up to 6%.
Rylai's Crystal Scepter
Rylai's Crystal Scepter (2600 gold) 65 Ability Power
400 Health

Rimefrost
Damaging Abilities Slow enemies by 30% for 1 second.
63.5% Win Rate 1.9% Pick Rate149 games
Final Build
Jak'Sho, The Protean
Jak'Sho, The Protean (3200 gold) 350 Health
45 Armor
45 Magic Resist

Voidborn Resilience
After 5 seconds of champion combat, increase your bonus Armor and Magic Resist by 30% until end of combat.
70.7% Win Rate 5.1% Pick Rate400 games
Other Items
Zhonya's Hourglass
Zhonya's Hourglass (3250 gold) 105 Ability Power
50 Armor


Time Stop
Enter Stasis for 2.5 seconds.
57.6% Win Rate 11.7% Pick Rate921 games
Riftmaker
Riftmaker (3100 gold) 70 Ability Power
350 Health
15 Ability Haste

Void Corruption
For each second in combat with enemy champions, deal 2% bonus damage, up to 8%. At maximum strength, gain Omnivamp.
Void Infusion
Gain 2% of your bonus Health as Ability Power.
63.0% Win Rate 11.7% Pick Rate917 games
Morellonomicon
Morellonomicon (2950 gold) 75 Ability Power
350 Health
15 Ability Haste

Grievous Wounds
Dealing magic damage to champions applies 40% Wounds for 3 seconds.
59.4% Win Rate 8.8% Pick Rate689 games
Jak'Sho, The Protean
Jak'Sho, The Protean (3200 gold) 350 Health
45 Armor
45 Magic Resist

Voidborn Resilience
After 5 seconds of champion combat, increase your bonus Armor and Magic Resist by 30% until end of combat.
70.7% Win Rate 5.1% Pick Rate400 games
Randuin's Omen
Randuin's Omen (2700 gold) 350 Health
75 Armor

Resilience
Receive 30% less damage from Critical Strikes.
Humility
Slow nearby enemies by 70% for 2 seconds.
66.0% Win Rate 4.3% Pick Rate340 games
Bloodletter's Curse
Bloodletter's Curse (2900 gold) 60 Ability Power
350 Health
15 Ability Haste

Vile Decay
Dealing magic damage with abilities or passives to champions reduces their Magic Resist by 5% for 6 seconds, up to 30%.
57.7% Win Rate 3.9% Pick Rate304 games

Swain Top Runes

Most Frequent Runes

Primary Path
Sorcery
Summon Aery
Summon Aery

Summon Aery

Damaging enemy champions with basic attacks or abilities sends Aery to them, dealing 10 -…

Manaflow Band
Manaflow Band

Manaflow Band

Hitting an enemy champion with an ability permanently increases your maximum ma…

Transcendence
Transcendence

Transcendence

Gain bonuses upon reaching the following levels:Level 5: +5 Ability Haste Level…

Scorch
Scorch

Scorch

Your next damaging ability hit sets champions on fire dealing 20 - 40 bonus mag…

Secondary Path
Resolve
Bone Plating
Bone Plating

Bone Plating

After taking damage from an enemy champion, the next 3 spells or attacks you re…

Overgrowth
Overgrowth

Overgrowth

Absorb life essence from monsters or enemy minions that die near you, permanent…

Adaptive
Adaptive Force
Adaptive Force

Adaptive Force

Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

Adaptive Force
Adaptive Force

Adaptive Force

Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

Scaling Health
Scaling Health

Scaling Health

Increases health from 10 to 180 HP across levels 1-18

50.5% Win Rate 46.3% Pick Rate3636 games

Best Win Rate Runes

Primary Path
Sorcery
Summon Aery
Summon Aery

Summon Aery

Damaging enemy champions with basic attacks or abilities sends Aery to them, dealing 10 -…

Manaflow Band
Manaflow Band

Manaflow Band

Hitting an enemy champion with an ability permanently increases your maximum ma…

Transcendence
Transcendence

Transcendence

Gain bonuses upon reaching the following levels:Level 5: +5 Ability Haste Level…

Scorch
Scorch

Scorch

Your next damaging ability hit sets champions on fire dealing 20 - 40 bonus mag…

Secondary Path
Inspiration
Cash Back
Cash Back

Cash Back

Get 6% Gold back when you purchase Legendary Items.

Triple Tonic
Triple Tonic

Triple Tonic

Upon reaching level 3, gain an Elixir of Avarice.Upon reaching level 6, gain an…

Adaptive
Scaling Cooldown Reduction
Scaling Cooldown Reduction

Scaling Cooldown Reduction

+8 Ability Haste

+2% Move Speed
+2% Move Speed

+2% Move Speed

+2% Move Speed

Scaling Health
Scaling Health

Scaling Health

Increases health from 10 to 180 HP across levels 1-18

58.7% Win Rate 3.0% Pick Rate237 games

Swain best with

Swain Top Skill (abilities) Orders

Most Frequent Skill Order

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
W
W
W
W
W
W
W
E
E
E
E
E
E
E
R
R
R
R
R
Max Order: Q > W > E
50.5% Win Rate 38.7% Pick Rate3041 games

Highest Win % Skill Order

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
W
W
W
W
W
W
W
E
E
E
E
E
E
E
R
R
R
R
R
Max Order: Q > W > E
58.2% Win Rate 1.0% Pick Rate75 games

Countered by Swain

Swain Counterpicks

Swain Top Lane Matchups

Swain lore:

Jericho Swain is the visionary ruler of Noxus, an expansionist nation that reveres only strength. Though he was cast down and crippled in the Ionian wars, his left arm severed, he seized control of the empire with ruthless determination… and a new, demonic hand. Now, Swain commands from the front lines, marching against a coming darkness that only he can see—in glimpses gathered by shadowy ravens from the corpses all around him. In a swirl of sacrifice and secrets, the greatest secret of all is that the true enemy lies within.

Swain tips:

  • If you're having trouble rooting an enemy with Nevermove, try throwing it at opponents when they are near their minions so the explosion surprises them.
  • While laning, try to use Death's Hand's piercing damage to damage opponents from a safe distance.
  • Vision of Empire is quite difficult to land on its own, look for skirmishes around the map where enemies may be distracted or crowd controlled so you can land it more easily.
  • Demonic Ascension may make Swain very hard to kill but he's pretty easy to get away from. Try building items that can slow opponents to keep them in range if their mobility is overwhelming.

Playing Against Swain

  • Swain's passive is very potent if you are immobilized. Make sure to be extra careful around enemies who have immobilizing effects.
  • High mobility counters all of Swain's basic abilities: Death's Hand does more damage the closer he is, Vision of Empire has a very long delay and Nevermove must start returning back to him to be dangerous.
  • Buying an item with Grievous Wounds will make Swain much easier to kill during his Demonic Ascension.

Swain abilities description:

Ravenous Flock
P
Ravenous Flock (passive)
Swain's ravens collect Soul Fragments that heal him and permanently increase his maximum health.
Death's Hand
Q
Death's Hand (Q)
Swain unleashes several bolts of eldritch power that pierce through enemies. Enemies hit take more damage for each bolt they are struck by.
Vision of Empire
W
Vision of Empire (W)
Swain opens a demon eye that deals damage and slows enemies. Champions hit are revealed and also grant Swain a Soul Fragment.
Nevermove
E
Nevermove (E)
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.
Demonic Ascension
R
Demonic Ascension (R)
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.

Swain Skins and Splash Arts