Swain ARAM Build
Drain tank, land pulls, never die
Swain in ARAM is an unkillable drain tank. Pop your ult in the middle of their team and watch your HP bar refuse to move. He's got poke with Q, a pull with E, and his R turns him into a raid boss. The more enemies around you, the more you heal. ARAM is literally designed for this champion.
Swain ARAM Stats
Best Runes for Swain ARAM
Primary (Sorcery):
- Phase Rush — speed boost after landing E, helps you kite or chase
- Manaflow Band — mana sustain for constant poke
- Transcendence — ability haste at level 8
- Gathering Storm — scales into late game monster
Secondary (Resolve):
- Conditioning — bonus resistances at 12 minutes
- Overgrowth — stacks HP from nearby minion deaths
Stat Shards: Ability Haste, Adaptive Force, Health
Phase Rush lets you land E, run in with R, then kite back out. You're not a full tank, you're a drain tank — you need to dodge stuff while healing.
Conqueror is fine, but Phase Rush gives you way more outplay potential. You can engage, drain, then disengage before they blow you up. Swain's weakness is getting kited — Phase Rush fixes that.
Core Items
1. Liandry's Anguish
Burn damage, ability haste, and the passive shreds tanks. Your Q applies it to everyone, so you're burning their whole team.
2. Rylai's Crystal Scepter
Slows on every ability. Your Q becomes a perma-slow, making it impossible for enemies to escape your ult.
3. Spirit Visage
Increases all healing by 25%. Your ult heals way more, and you become unkillable. Essential third item.
Full Build Path: Liandry's Anguish → Sorcerer's Shoes → Rylai's Crystal Scepter → Spirit Visage → Zhonya's Hourglass → Demonic Embrace
You're building AP bruiser. Enough damage to threaten squishies, enough tankiness to survive in the middle of their team.
Situational Items
- Zhonya's Hourglass — if they have burst damage you need to dodge (Zed R, Syndra R)
- Thornmail — if they have heavy AD and lifesteal (Yasuo, Yone, ADCs)
- Morellonomicon — if they have insane healing (Soraka, Yuumi, Mundo)
- Randuin's Omen — if they have crit-heavy ADCs (Jinx, Caitlyn, Tristana)
Ability Priority
Max Order: Q → W → E
Your Q is your main damage and waveclear. Max it first. W second for more damage and vision. E last since it's mainly for the pull, not the damage.
How to Play Swain in ARAM
Swain has two phases: poke phase and drain tank phase. Before your ult, you're poking with Q and fishing for E pulls. Once you hit R, you walk into their team and become unkillable.
Combo:
- Engage: E (pull) → W (root) → Q → R → keep hitting Q
- Poke: Q through minions → W on grouped enemies
- Execute: R2 (recast) when they're low for massive AoE damage
Your E is a skillshot that pulls the first enemy hit toward you. If you land it, you can auto them to root them in place (passive). Then W on top of them for guaranteed damage.
Don't pop R too early. Wait for them to commit to the fight. If you ult and they back off, you wasted it. Ult when they're locked in and can't escape.
ARAM-Specific Tips
Stand in the middle of fights. Your ult heals based on how many enemies are near you. The more, the better. Don't be scared — you're tanky.
Use W for vision. Your W reveals an area. Drop it in bushes or over walls to spot enemies. Free vision wins fights.
Pull priority targets. Land E on their ADC or mage, not their tank. Pull the squishy, root them, delete them.
Recast R for executes. Your R2 does damage based on how much HP you drained. Wait until you've been draining for a few seconds, then recast for a massive AoE nuke.
Build tanky, not full AP. You're not a burst mage. You're a drain tank. Spirit Visage and Zhonya's keep you alive longer, which means more healing and more damage.
Swain's Worst Matchups in ARAM
- Long-range poke — Xerath, Ziggs, Vel'Koz. They outrange you and chunk you before you can engage.
- Grievous Wounds — If they stack healing reduction, your ult heals way less. Annoying but not unbeatable.
- Percent HP damage — Vayne, Kog'Maw, Fiora. They shred tanks, and you're building HP.
Swain's Best Matchups in ARAM
- Melee-heavy comps — They have to walk into your ult range. Free healing all day.
- Grouped enemies — Your Q and R hit everyone. The more they group, the more you heal.
- Low mobility squishies — Lux, Veigar, Ashe. Easy E targets, easy kills.
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Browse League AccountsWhy Swain Works in ARAM
Constant 5v5 teamfights = constant ult value. You're always in the middle of multiple enemies, which means maximum healing. Plus, the narrow lane makes your E way easier to land.
He's tanky, does damage, and never dies. Perfect ARAM champion.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best rune for Swain in ARAM?
Phase Rush. Speed boost after landing E lets you engage and kite. Way more outplay potential than Conqueror.
Should I max Q or E first on Swain in ARAM?
Max Q first for damage and waveclear. W second. E last.
What items should I build on Swain in ARAM?
Liandry's Anguish → Rylai's Crystal Scepter → Spirit Visage. Spirit Visage increases your ult healing by 25%. Build AP bruiser, not full AP.
When should I use Swain's ult in ARAM?
When enemies are committed and can't back off. Don't pop it too early. Ult when you're in the middle of multiple enemies for max healing.
Is Swain good in ARAM?
Yeah, 54.1% win rate. Constant 5v5s = constant ult value. He's unkillable with Spirit Visage.
How do I land Swain's E in ARAM?
Aim for squishies, not tanks. Narrow lane makes it easier. After pulling, auto to root, then W for guaranteed damage.
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