Swain Guide - S8

Skill Sequence

Passive

Ravenous: Swain can right-click an immobilized enemy champion to pull them towards him, ripping out a Soul Fragment and dealing (20-105 based on level (+30% AP) magic damage (12-6 second cooldown based on level) 

Flock: Enemy champion deaths create a Soul Fragments. Swain can collect Soul Fragments to restore (4%-7% total health) 

Swain can store up to 5 Soul Fragments.

Q

Swain unleashes FIVE bolts of eldritch power that strike the first enemy they hit and pierce through enemies they kill. Enemies hit take 65/85/105/125/145 (+40% AP) magic damage, plus 15/20/25/30/35% per additional bolt. Max Damage: 104/153/210/275/348 (64/72/80/88/96%AP)

Each unit killed by Death's Hand restores 3% of Swain's Maximum Mana. 

W

Swain opens a demon eye up to 3500 range away that deals 100/150/200/250/300 (+70% AP) magic damage and slows for 25/35/45/55/65% for 2.5 seconds. 

Champions hit grant Swain a Soul Fragment and are revealed for 4/5/6/7/8 seconds. 

Damage is reduced by 50% against minions.

E

Swain launches a wave of demonic power, dealing 35/70/105/140/175 (+25% AP) magic damage to enemies it passes through.

Swain then commands the wave to return, detonating it on the first enemy hit. Enemies hit take 35/45/55/65/75 (+25% AP) magic damage and are rooted for 1.5 seconds. 

The target will take a total of 70/115/160/205/250 (+50% AP) magic damage if they are hit both parts of the wave.

R

Swain frees the demon within for 12 seconds, gaining 150/275/400 bonus health. Every second, he drains the 3 closest enemy champions for 35/50/65 (+14% AP) magic damage, healing him for 15/30/45 (+16% AP) health. After draining 150/300/450 health (based on level), Swain gains the ability to cast Demonflare. 

Demonflare: Swain unleashes a nova of soulfire dealing magic damage and ending his transformation. Damage per Soul Fragments: 45/60/75 (+27% AP) for a maximum 225/300/375 (+135% AP) damage with 5 Fragments. 

Swain can drain non-champions to heal for 20% of the normal amount.

Runes

A lot of different rune pages can work on swain. Choose what fits your playstyle, and counters your lane opponent.

Arcane Comet is great on Swain. Some people take Phase Rush for the movement speed but it SUCKS stop taking that garbage rune. I prefer the extra little bit of damage from comet which helps out so much more than you expect in laning phase.

Manaflow Band is absolutely necessary, those extra abilities you are able to get off because you have the mana for them are crucial to applying sustained damage to your opponents.

Transcendence is great for the cooldown reduction, which is vital for Death's Hand constantly spamming.

I prefer Gathering Storm over Scorch because of the late game, but you can take Scorch too which reminds me of death fire touch the old keystone Swain took.

Future's Market allows you to overfarm your opponent without doing anything so it's really beneficial for rushing ROA and getting other items early, like a The Dark Seal. 

Cosmic Insight is absolutely necessary because it looks the same as Vision of Empire a Swain move.

Items

Hold onto a dark seal early on because it will come in handy.

Rod of Ages 

Sorcerer's Shoes 

Liandry's Torment 

Zhonya's Hourglass 

Morellonomicon 

Rabadon's Deathcap