Talk:Swain/@comment-24823977-20140923170834/@comment-5211662-20140929181419

I prefer to build for damage most of time unless my team is really in need of a tank.

My build most of time (not including boots) is Rod of Ages, Zhonya's Hourglass, Chalice of Harmony, Rabadon's Deathcap, Void Staff, and finally, Athene's Unholy Grail.

EXPLANATION: While on most champions, building both Rod of Ages and Athene's Unholy Grail would be redundant, on Swain it is not, because of the horrendous amounts of mana he has to waste just with his ultimate alone. By building both, I can ensure that I will never run out of mana, or that if I run out of mana, that I will at least be able to regen it quicky. With that said, I buy Chalice of Harmony only, and don't upgrade it to Athene's Unholy Grail until late-game, as purchasing other items will be more useful. If I am really doing well, however, I skip this item, and buy Liandry's Torment. Swain's damage is insane with this item.

If my team is in need of a tank, then I buy Rod of Ages, Frozen Heart, Randuin's Omen, Spirit Visage, and a damage item, usually Liandry's Torment or Abyssal Scepter (more damage) or Rylai's Crystal Scepter (more utility).

I don't usually like purchasing Tear and stacking it because this leaves Swain extremely weak early game and mid-game. He will be very powerful late-game, for sure, but this item just forces me to have an awful early and bad mid game, as well as delaying my other core items.