User blog comment:Krufix/Tanks for all the Fish/@comment-24087642-20140602081153/@comment-24792363-20140624185737

i agree with krufix

swain's damage depends on being dealt over a period of time, this lack of immediate burst in his kit along with the short range of most of his spells forces him to buy more defensive items than other casters, and believe it or not, he can be an intimidating presence with a full tanky build.

since his spells are largely dots or aoe-ticks, he can proc liandry's on multiple targets, applying the full 6% health burn with two as they provide some measure of cc/slow. with a ryali's of course all of his spells can deal the %6 as the slow is applied at the debuffed rate with each tic. even without a full-mage build these dots can be applied liberally within a short period of time, and the more that are applied the more overall damage swain can deal, which can easily match his potential to burst

swain may not reach the invincibility as some beefier tanks are able, but can be build as a tank to be an incredibly powerful off-tank to disrupt and deal steady damage over time to the whole enemy team, able to bait or initiate with ease