Support Matchup

Swain vs Alistar

Patch: 15.24 (25.24)
League: Platinum+
Swain

Swain

the Noxian Grand General
Support
Swain Support Overall Win Rate
50.68%

Matchup Win Rate

51.7%
Swain vs Alistar Wins
⚔
48.3%
Alistar vs Swain Wins
Alistar

Alistar

the Minotaur
Support
Alistar Support Overall Win Rate
48.85%

Swain vs Alistar - Support Matchup Guide Patch 15.24 (25.24)

Swain Support vs Alistar Support - Who is stronger?

Swain Support has an advantage against Alistar (51.7% win rate) based on 718 games. The matchup leans toward Swain.

View detailed statistics below: items, runes, and counter builds for Swain Support vs Alistar Support in patch 15.24 (25.24), including win rates and pick rates. With proper study, this can improve your chances of victory up to 70%+ in this matchup.

Statistical Matchup Analysis

With 3.4% popularity, Swain constantly encounters meta-dominant Alistar (4.1%, 16th place out of 52 Support champions). Understanding how to play against this popular champion becomes essential for consistent Swain performance in the current patch. Meta strength confirmed: Swain's superior tier rating (A vs B) translates into a solid 51.7% matchup win rate. This performance explains why Swain ranks 19th in win rate among Support champions. Optimize for consistency: Electrocute paired with Cheap Shot (55.4% win rate, 6.0% popularity) provides the stats you need, while the item sequence Rylai's Crystal Scepter > Liandry's Torment > Zhonya's Hourglass with Sorcerer's Shoes delivers 70%+ win rate against Alistar.

Lane wins, vision lags: While winning the matchup (51.74%), Swain trails in vision control (0.72 vs 0.95 wards/min). Better map coverage could unlock even greater team advantages. Complete superiority: Swain dominates both win rate (51.7%) and damage output (765 vs 340/min, 2nd among Support). The 425 damage/min difference creates massive snowball potential. Skill-based matchup: Identical KDA (2.40) with 51.7% win rate indicates that macro play, team coordination, and clutch moments determine outcomes more than individual mechanics.

Swain vs Alistar - Support Stats Comparison

Swain Support
Swain Support		Versus
Alistar Support
Alistar Support
ATierB
51.7%Matchup Winrate48.3%
50.68%Role Winrate48.85%
#19Winrate Rank#42
3.4%Pickrate4.1%
2.4Average KDA2.4
331Gold per Minute280
0.72Wards per Minute0.95
765Damage per Minute340

How to Beat Alistar as Swain (Support)

While statistically Swain is slightly stronger than Alistar as support, neither champion has an overwhelming advantage in this matchup. The winner is determined by player skill and understanding the intricacies of the confrontation. Studying this guide will improve your chances of success.

The magic damage that Swain deals remains relevant in the late game. Look for opportunities to initiate or counter-initiate. Meanwhile, Alistar deals primarily magic damage (72.43%), additional magic resistance may be required.

Consider the excellent vision control demonstrated by Alistar, ranking 12th (versus 51st for Swain) in ward placement among supports. This means the opponent provides better map vision for their team.

Key aspects of the Swain Support versus Alistar Support matchup

Despite the statistical advantage in the matchup, overconfidence can be the main mistake. It is important for the Swain player to maintain constant pressure on Alistar, not allowing the opponent to safely scale up, and actively use the advantage gained to help their team.

Swain vs Alistar: Support Summoner Spells

Most Popular

Flash
Flash Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
Ignite
Ignite Deals true damage over time to target enemy champion and reduces healing effects on them for the duration.
48.0% Win Rate72.7% Pick Rate

Highest Win Rate

Flash
Flash Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
Heal
Heal Restores Health and grants Move Speed to you and target allied champion.
71.3% Win Rate2.1% Pick Rate

Swain vs Alistar: Support Runes

Most Frequent Runes

Primary Path
Precision
Conqueror
Conqueror Basic attacks or spells that deal damage to an enemy champion grant 2 stacks of Conqueror for 5s, gaining 1.8-4 Adaptive Force per stack. Stacks up to 12 times. Ranged champions gain only 1 stack per basic attack.

When fully stacked, heal for 8% of the damage you deal to champions (5% for ranged champions).

Conqueror

Basic attacks or spells that deal damage to an enemy champion grant 2 stacks of Conqueror…

Presence of Mind
Presence of Mind Damaging an enemy champion restores 6-50 (80% for ranged) mana or 6 energy.

Takedowns restore 15% of your maximum mana or energy.

Cooldown for damage restoration: 8s

Presence of Mind

Damaging an enemy champion restores 6-50 (80% for ranged) mana or 6 energy.Take…

Legend: Haste
Legend: Haste Gain 1.5 basic ability haste for every Legend stack (max 10 stacks).

Earn progress toward Legend stacks for every champion takedown, epic monster takedown, large monster kill, and minion kill.

Legend: Haste

Gain 1.5 basic ability haste for every Legend stack (max 10 stacks).Earn progre…

Last Stand
Last Stand Deal 5% - 11% increased damage to champions while you are below 60% health. Max damage gained at 30% health.

Last Stand

Deal 5% - 11% increased damage to champions while you are below 60% health. Max…

Secondary Path
Resolve
Conditioning
Conditioning After 12 min gain +8 Armor and +8 Magic Resist and increase your Armor and Magic Resist by 3%.

Conditioning

After 12 min gain +8 Armor and +8 Magic Resist and increase your Armor and Magi…

Overgrowth
Overgrowth Absorb life essence from monsters or enemy minions that die near you, permanently gaining 3 maximum health for every 8.

When you've absorbed 120 monsters or enemy minions, gain an additional 3.5% maximum health.

Overgrowth

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

Adaptive
Adaptive Force
Adaptive Force Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

Adaptive Force

Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

Adaptive Force
Adaptive Force Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

Adaptive Force

Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

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

Scaling Health

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

48.5% Win Rate40.8% Pick Rate

Best Win Rate Runes

Primary Path
Domination
Electrocute
Electrocute Hitting a champion with 3 separate attacks or abilities within 3s deals bonus adaptive damage.

Damage: 70 - 240 (+0.1 bonus AD, +0.05 AP) damage.
Cooldown: 20s

'We called them the Thunderlords, for to speak of their lightning was to invite disaster.'

Electrocute

Hitting a champion with 3 separate attacks or abilities within 3s deals bonus adaptive da…

Cheap Shot
Cheap Shot Damaging champions with impaired movement or actions deals 10 - 45 bonus true damage (based on level).

Cooldown: 4s
Activates on damage occurring after the impairment.

Cheap Shot

Damaging champions with impaired movement or actions deals 10 - 45 bonus true d…

Grisly Mementos
Grisly Mementos Collect 1 memento on champion takedowns, up to 18 total.

Gain 6 Trinket Haste for each collected. In game modes where vision Trinkets do not exist, instead gain 3 Summoner Spell Haste.

Grisly Mementos

Collect 1 memento on champion takedowns, up to 18 total.Gain 6 Trinket Haste fo…

Ultimate Hunter
Ultimate Hunter Your ultimate gains 6 Ability Haste, plus an additional 5 Ability Haste per Bounty Hunter stack. Bounty Hunter stacks are earned the first time you get a takedown on each enemy champion.

Ultimate Hunter

Your ultimate gains 6 Ability Haste, plus an additional 5 Ability Haste per Bou…

Secondary Path
Inspiration
Cash Back
Cash Back Get 6% Gold back when you purchase Legendary Items.

Cash Back

Get 6% Gold back when you purchase Legendary Items.

Cosmic Insight
Cosmic Insight +18 Summoner Spell Haste
+10 Item Haste

Cosmic Insight

+18 Summoner Spell Haste+10 Item Haste

Adaptive
Adaptive Force
Adaptive Force Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

Adaptive Force

Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

Adaptive Force
Adaptive Force Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

Adaptive Force

Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

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

Scaling Health

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

55.4% Win Rate6.0% Pick Rate

Swain vs Alistar: Support 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.
World Atlas
World Atlas (400 gold)
Health Potion
Health Potion (50 gold) Consume
Restores 120 Health over 15 seconds.
50.8% Win Rate84.5% Pick Rate
Popular Boots
Sorcerer's Shoes
Sorcerer's Shoes (1100 gold) 12 Magic Penetration
45 Move Speed
49.5% Win Rate34.4% Pick Rate
Plated Steelcaps
Plated Steelcaps (1200 gold) 25 Armor
45 Move Speed
Plating
Reduces incoming damage from Attacks by 10%.
51.6% Win Rate29.4% Pick Rate
Mercury's Treads
Mercury's Treads (1250 gold) 20 Magic Resist
45 Move Speed
30% Tenacity
59.6% Win Rate11.8% Pick Rate
Core Build
Blasting Wand
Blasting Wand (850 gold) 45 Ability Power
->
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.
Zhonya's Hourglass
Zhonya's Hourglass (3250 gold) 105 Ability Power
50 Armor

Time Stop
Enter Stasis for 2.5 seconds.
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%.
49.7% Win Rate4.7% Pick Rate
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%.
0.0% Win Rate20.2% Pick Rate

Best Win Rate Build

Starting Items
Oracle Lens
Oracle Lens (0 gold) Active (160 - 100s, max 2 charges)
Reveals enemy Stealth Wards and traps around you for 6 seconds.
World Atlas
World Atlas (400 gold)
Health Potion
Health Potion (50 gold) Consume
Restores 120 Health over 15 seconds.
59.0% Win Rate9.5% Pick Rate
Highest Winrate Boots
Mercury's Treads
Mercury's Treads (1250 gold) 20 Magic Resist
45 Move Speed
30% Tenacity
59.6% Win Rate11.8% Pick Rate
Plated Steelcaps
Plated Steelcaps (1200 gold) 25 Armor
45 Move Speed
Plating
Reduces incoming damage from Attacks by 10%.
51.6% Win Rate29.4% Pick Rate
Sorcerer's Shoes
Sorcerer's Shoes (1100 gold) 12 Magic Penetration
45 Move Speed
49.5% Win Rate34.4% Pick Rate
Core Build
Giant's Belt
Giant's Belt (900 gold) 350 Health
->
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%.
Zhonya's Hourglass
Zhonya's Hourglass (3250 gold) 105 Ability Power
50 Armor

Time Stop
Enter Stasis for 2.5 seconds.
100.0% Win Rate2.4% Pick Rate
Final Build
Unending Despair
Unending Despair (2800 gold) 400 Health
25 Armor
25 Magic Resist
10 Ability Haste
Anguish
Every 4 seconds while in combat with champions, deal magic damage to nearby enemy champions and heal for 250% of the damage dealt.
100.0% Win Rate19.6% Pick Rate
Other Items
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.
0.0% Win Rate19.9% Pick Rate
Unending Despair
Unending Despair (2800 gold) 400 Health
25 Armor
25 Magic Resist
10 Ability Haste
Anguish
Every 4 seconds while in combat with champions, deal magic damage to nearby enemy champions and heal for 250% of the damage dealt.
100.0% Win Rate19.6% Pick Rate

Swain vs Alistar: Support 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
Death's Hand Swain unleashes several bolts of eldritch power that pierce through enemies. Enemies hit take more damage for each bolt they are struck by.
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
W
W
Vision of Empire Swain opens a demon eye that deals damage and slows enemies. Champions hit are revealed and also grant Swain a Soul Fragment.
W
W
W
W
W
E
E
Nevermove 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.
E
E
E
E
E
R
R
Demonic Ascension 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.
R
R
R
Max Order: Q > W > E
53.8% Win Rate47.4% Pick Rate

Highest Win % Skill Order

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
R
Q
Death's Hand Swain unleashes several bolts of eldritch power that pierce through enemies. Enemies hit take more damage for each bolt they are struck by.
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
R
W
Vision of Empire Swain opens a demon eye that deals damage and slows enemies. Champions hit are revealed and also grant Swain a Soul Fragment.
W
W
W
W
W
R
E
Nevermove 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.
E
E
E
E
E
R
R
Demonic Ascension 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.
R
R
R
Max Order: Q > W > E
90.8% Win Rate1.0% Pick Rate

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 Alistar

  • Alistar is very disruptive but very tough - try to target more fragile damage dealers.
  • Watch out for the Pulverize-Headbutt combo when around turrets.
  • When Alistar uses his ultimate, it's often better to move back and wait until the effect wears off before attacking him.

Swain Support other Matchups

Swain
+4.9%
Leona

Swain vs Leona

Swain
+4.1%
Rakan

Swain vs Rakan

Swain
+3.7%
Nautilus

Swain vs Nautilus

Swain
+2.8%
Rell

Swain vs Rell

Swain
+2.7%
Blitzcrank

Swain vs Blitzcrank

Swain
+2.0%
Bard

Swain vs Bard

Swain
+1.3%
Thresh

Swain vs Thresh

Swain
+1.2%
Braum

Swain vs Braum

Swain
0.0%
Senna

Swain vs Senna

Swain
-1.5%
Pyke

Swain vs Pyke

Swain
-1.7%
Karma

Swain vs Karma

Swain
-1.8%
Soraka

Swain vs Soraka

Swain
-1.9%
Lux

Swain vs Lux

Swain
-2.5%
Morgana

Swain vs Morgana

Swain
-2.6%
Lulu

Swain vs Lulu

Swain
-2.8%
Milio

Swain vs Milio

Swain
-4.4%
Nami

Swain vs Nami

Swain
-5.6%
Yuumi

Swain vs Yuumi