Talk:Swain/@comment-5969046-20141211190022/@comment-5256197-20150114150623

He doesn't need spell vamp since his ult gives him so much of it, I'd much rather build more AP and spell penetration to get more sustain out of it (or Spirit Visage!). Also two of his skills are AOE and have reduced vamp.

Sheen/LB I feel is more for the bursty type of mage (though Swain usually has the time to be auto attacking enemies in team fights), and it scales better with just pure AP glass cannon which Swain can't usually afford building. Many times I've thought about building it when fed, just to get that small burst out in between skills, but ended up getting Rabadon's instead.

The thing is, Swain has so many good core items what he needs before he can think about getting anything fancier.