Beginner's Guide to Swain: A Murder of Crows and Champs

Anywhere Swain goes, murder always follows; we’re not talking about crows either. This embodiment of desperation and hopelessness doesn’t require mail and edge to spill the blood of his foes. All he demands is the repugnant tones of cadavers being carved by beaks readying for their next meal. No adversary leaves the battleground while the ruler of Noxus holds presence.

Surviving Early Mid
Let’s start this game off fresh with a Sapphire Crystal. Mana is a key component in the workings of Swain. This allows for a longer sustain early game and can progress into an Archangel Staff (a powerful edition to Swains arsenal). Also throw some gold into Mana Potions. Your main focus in lane should be in rushing for your ultimate. Until then just try to survive and devour those creeps.

Also, recalling should not be abused! The longer you’re out of your lane, the less reliable you become to your team. Only practice will endow you with the knowledge needed to generate a perfect strike on your adversary. You’ll need to close in on your opponent, but stay just far enough away to avoid a flurry of their spells. Once your ultimate is available, a rain of pain is advent from this Swain train.

Using Your Ultimate Beneficially
Swain’s strong suit is also  his greatest downfall. Such a robust power has its downside. Mana becomes scarce quickly earlier game, so having control over the field is prime. Aggressive assaults work well when laning against a single opponent. Activate your ultimate when you begin falling low on health. Don’t be shy with it either. Charge into large groups of minions and keep pushing your opponent back.

Keep a close eye on your mana though, for once you run out, you’re defenseless. Having about 1/3 of your mana to spare is important, in case you become overwhelmed or push to far and need a safe fallback. Ravenous Flock is truly a game changer. Keeping a certain amount of fear in your opponent is necessary for an effective game. Building up for your Archangel Staff is advised, but a Rylai’s Crystal Scepter or Rod of Ages are also some alternative. Just be sure to get yourself some nice fitting Sorcerer’s Shoes for a speed bonus.

Don’t Forget Your Other Abilities
Your ultimate is an insanely powerful tool. However, your other abilities should not be taken for granted. To properly defeat the enemy champs, you need to use your abilities in a way to complement each other. I personally start off my assault with Decrepify, to deal a sizable portion of damage. I then activate Ravenous Flock and cast Nevermove on the target, holding them in place while replacing my lost health with theirs. Then I finish off this combo with Decrepify, to slow my beaten and bruised foe while keeping close to finish them off with my basic attacks and Ultimate.

Staying Effective in Team Fights
Now that you can handle a 1 on 1 fight, let’s attack the subject of team fights. You are playing a good champion to initiate a team fight, so start this brawl by focusing down the enemies high priority targets. The next step would be to become a sponge. Ravenous Flock can keep you up in the heat of the battle, and since your crows attack multiple targets, you’ll take a toll on the entire opposing team.

Use Nevermove and Decrepify to slow opponents down, and allow your team to single out heavy hitting rivals. Just be sure to absorb damage that would otherwise be targeted at your more squishy allies. Avoid getting too far away from your team, because without your team’s assistance, you’ll be knocked down very quickly. Stocking up on multiple Rabadon’s Deathcaps is a very nice boost to your AP, especially after you’ve built up your mana.

Ability Sequence
For your abilities, I recommend this order
Decrepify- 1,3,5,7,9
Nevermore- 2,14,15,17,18
Torment- 4,8,10,12,13
Ravenous Flock - whenever possible

Summary
Swain is a beast. It’s as simple as that. He can dish out devastating amounts of damage, while absorbing hits with his challenger’s health. He is a phenomenal addition to a team fight, but can also hold his own in a lane without anyone holding his blood covered hand. Just hang on those first few levels. Once your ultimate comes out, surrender votes will fly.