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Lore
The earliest account of Swain's existence comes from a Noxian infirmary doctor's notes. According to them, Swain limped into the ward without cry or complaint: his right leg was snapped in half, with bone protruding from the skin. A small, scowling bird seemed affixed to his shoulder. The doctor gawked in horror as the young adolescent answered questions about his health and age with a calm, even stare. Even behind the echoing crack as the sand counterweights reset his tibia, Swain’s measuring gaze never flickered, nor did his eyes twitch from the pop of his fibula. He refused the doctor’s recommendation of magical treatment for the leg’s inoperable damage, requesting only a spare crutch before shuffling away. He next surfaced in documents from the Noxian military, although it is evident that they are incomplete. Normally a crippled boy would be turned away in shame from Noxus’ proud legion, but the records indicate his first designation was that of a ranking officer.
The men who've served under him (and survived) have remained in his charge with unshakable faith and loyalty. He leapt through the High Command's hierarchy, often ascending when superiors requested demotions to join his unit. A cunning strategist, Swain was decorated after every battle he fought, regularly hobbling in contemplation at the front of the assault. His rise to power seemed unceasing until he was suddenly relegated to inactive status prior to the Ionian Invasion - a bewildering decision which reeked of bureaucratic subversion. If Swain was upset by the events which unfolded, he never believed it. His face was so implacable that it was popularly rumored to be a mask, disguising something utterly inhuman beneath. More controversy surrounded the bird that never left his shoulder, whose name he whispered only to it. When Demacia escalated its presence in the League, Swain was immediately returned to active duty.
| “ | "If you haven't yet lost the ability to ask, you may not yet ask for relief." |
| — Swain | |
 |
Swain Seizes Power in Noxus
Jericho Swain defeated Keiran Darkwill in a duel contesting the leadership of Noxus last night, winning the support of High Command. Despite rumors of involvement with the in Kalamanda, Swain has been named Grand General – the highest position in Noxus.
High Command remained divided in support between the two men since Swain returned earlier this month. Keiran Darkwill challenged Swain to a duel to settle the dispute, claiming that such a standstill was a "coward's game." Many members of High Command believed this to be a strong move and expected Keiran, a notoriously skilled duelist, to win. Keiran intially had the upper hand but due to Swain's magical tactics, Keiran surprisingly lost.
The gathered members of High Command unanimously agreed to swear loyalty to the Master Tactician. With none remaining to protest his claim, High Command named Jericho Swain the Grand General of Noxus.While High Command has embraced his rule, Swain's leadership remains controversial in Noxus's lower houses. Some accuse Swain of willing participation in Heywan Relivash's scheme to obtain Kalamanda.
Katarina and Talon arrive in Noxus to witness Swain's coronation as Grand General.
Bridge to the Past
- Excerpts from the journal of
Grand General Swain
A shame Keiran failed to enjoy his father's longevity, not that he'd have been able to enjoy the high office at all had I not designed it. The Grand General's chambers harbor many secrets. My secrets now.
The elder Darkwill was well versed in the art of necromancy. It will take me decades to pore through his library of grimoires, but that will be time I can steal, as he did.
I made a discovery today, one of Boram Darkwill's first dabblings with death magic. It seems he was attempting a resurrection of some sort. But whose return was he seeking?
The previous regime was exacting in its manipulation of the historical record, but there is just as much a story to be told by what's missing from the record as there is by what remains.
I found it. Deep in Old Noxus lies a memorial that speaks of former grandeur and a fall from grace. Therein lies the man Boram Darkwill attempted to rouse from his eternal slumber.
It's still in there, clawing at the walls. I would almost pity it, if I thought it capable of suffering.
The Anchor
LEBLANC: "I haven't had the pleasure of your company for some time, Grand General".
SWAIN: "You have my favor. That is enough".
LEBLANC: "And yet, I suspect you're here to seek the Black Rose's assistance once more".
SWAIN: "The blood of the 
Demacian prince. How much remains"?
LEBLANC: "After the last charade? Enough that you should be very mindful of how you use it. Whatever you intend had best be brief".
SWAIN: "No chicanery this time; my need for subtlety is nearing its end. I must secure my position with bloodshed, and that requires a blunt instrument".
LEBLANC: "It sounds as if you have one in mind".
SWAIN: "Let me show you".
The Return
| “ | "We've come full circle: a Grand General in need of a champion, the Black Rose seeking to wind its roots further into High Command, and a fallen warrior starved of battle. This time, it will be different. Boram managed to revive the body successfully, but all he got was a mindless beast with a single instinct: to devour life. I can't fix a thing so broken, but I can rekindle its purpose, and that may be enough for my plans. The ritual is prepared, and the body still hungers.
Drink deep of the blood of your killer, son of Noxus, and live again.". |
| — Swain
| |
|
Quotes
- Upon selection
- Attacking
- Movement
- Taunt
- Taunt when transformed during Ravenous Flock
- Joke
- Joke when transformed during Ravenous Flock
- Laugh
Co-op vs. AI Responses
Match start
- "Bear witness to the strength of Noxus!"
Special (against player Jarvan IV)
- "Pitiful prince!"
Player team victory
- "Your tactics were cunning!"
Player team defeat
- "GG!"
League Judgement
Candidate: Swain
Date: 4 October, 20 CLE
- OBSERVATION
Swain arches his neck toward the words that hang over the massive double doors. “The truest opponent lies within.”
“How quaint.”
Swain’s voice sounds surprisingly robust for such a seemingly frail figure. His uniform – more robe than military dress – is wrapped tightly about him, especially around his face. He stands crookedly; he leans on a cane to support himself, but not overly so. It does not seem out of place to see a strange-looking raven perched on his shoulder. Perhaps this is to whom Swain is speaking.
“Let’s see who the League believes my truest opponent is – shall we?”
The raven nods its head in affirmation.
Swain deftly raps on the double doors with the head of his cane. They split, revealing blackness within. The engraved panthers along either side of the double doors point inward.
There is a slight smirk on his face as he enters.
- REVELATION
The ink on the Noxian and Demacian armistice had been but a few years dry before the first “incident” took place between the powerful city-states. It was right in the midst of that botched mission, at the moment of execution, where Swain now found himself at. He could see the platform where the young prince was standing, his back turned, oblivious to his plight. The poison-bolted hexbow felt heavy in Swain’s hands.
“I am impressed. I didn’t expect it to be so real.”
He scanned the darkened balcony overlooking where the Demacian royals were standing. The cold night air was brisk. Swain breathed, inhaling deeply. “And accurate. This is nearly intoxicating.”
“What is, Swine?” A commanding voice mocked the Noxian. Jarvan IV, the Exemplar of Demacia, Crown Prince of the same, now stood on the balcony. His presence lorded over Swain. Jarvan was no longer the thirteen-year old child prince that Swain had been sent to dispatch. “How’s the leg?”
“You even know about that. Powerful,” Swain commented, raising his cane to his chin, “but, alas, not powerful enough for me, summoner. Enough.”
Jarvan looked stunned, and just a little bit confused.
“I do not play games – I make them. We are both aware of what I think happened during the mission you’re recreating here. You know how I truly feel about my weaknesses. You clearly know who I am, seeing as how you’re so blatantly ransacking my memories.” Swain happily leered at Jarvan. “Unless I am mistaken, this should satisfy half of your prerequisite needs for a champion’s entry into the League.”
“It does?” a less-commanding Jarvan asked. His countenance was considerably less Demacian now. He paused for a moment, and then nodded. “Yes, perhaps it does. We acknowledge your power, Swain of Noxus.”
The Demacian prince was no longer standing before Swain. Where he had stood there was now an older, strikingly beautiful woman in a purple summoner’s robe. The robe was highly ornate, unlike most of the other robes Swain had seen in his time. The female summoner bowed. “We would ask, however, that you please honor the League with a formal acknowledgement.”
Swain chuckled and nodded. “High Councilor Vessaria Kolminye – I am honored. I was not aware that someone of your stature conducted screenings personally. Is there a chance I could expect you to personally summon me into a battle arena?” Swain was clearly enjoying this exchange.
“Charming, as always, Master Tactician.” The High Councilor smiled thinly. “Your formal acknowledgement, if you would be so kind.”
Swain bowed deeply, kicking his cane out with a flourish. “Of course. With all due respect.”
The Noxian clutched his cane to stand straight. “You would ask of me how it feels to share my mind with a summoner. As you can see, I face little challenge in managing such a relationship. While my secrets are laid bare to the summoner that calls upon me, I know that they would not be used against me by the League. Such a violation of trust is against everything the League stands for... especially in these most tense of times when the League needs the cooperation of its client city-states.”
High Councilor Kolminye nodded approvingly. “Thank you, and yes – the knowledge exchanged in the bond is private between champion and summoner. You have nothing to fear.”
“Nor do you.” Swain bowed again, keeping his eyes locked on the High Councilor.
A tense pause was broken by the High Councilor. “Why do you want to join the League, Jericho Swain?”
Swain took the question in. The slight smug look that he had worn throughout the entire Judgment was gone. He stared straight into High Councilor Kolminye’s eyes. “To become the next ruler of Noxus, of course.” Swain pointed the head of his cane at the High Councilor. “The League will help me accomplish this.”
“The League does not arbitrarily choose sides in the matters of the city-states of Valoran, nor does it –”
Swain put his index finger to his lips. “You know what I mean... don’t you, Vessaria?”
The High Councilor paused once more. “Yes, I do. But you’ll have to earn the influence you need. It won’t come easily.” The High Councilor permitted herself the slightest of sneers. “Especially for you.” Her eyes were as two red embers, flickering intensely. “But that is not all, is it, Master Tactician?”
Swain nodded. “Indeed, it is not. Your Judgment... it is quite the ritual. It is more powerful than I had given you credit for.” He leaned in to the High Councilor’s left ear, a breath’s distance away.
Swain’s voice was soft, but every word hung on the air as he spoke. “I want to kill Jarvan IV, the ‘Exemplar’ of Demacia.” He smiled at the High Councilor, still close to her ear. “I will kill him too, Vessaria.”
High Councilor Kolminye locked eyes with Swain for one last time. She raised her right hand to his cheek. “We shall see, Jericho.”
A flood of light washed over them both, and Swain found himself alone in the chamber. A new set of double doors were in front of him, already opened. The League had found its latest champion.Development
Swain was designed by Coronach.
Champion Sneak Peek
By ByronicHero [1]
Here at Riot Games, we're making every attempt to ensure that we deliver exciting champions to even the most twisted and deviant of human minds. So if you're a budding veterinarian or ornithologist, it's now your turn to start getting excited. Meet Swain, the Master Tactician. In addition to being a distinguished Noxian gentleman of impeccable wealth and taste, Swain also just happens to be a fan of our feathered friends. And like some people who wind up at the League of Legends, well... let's just say that he's much more than meets the eye.
Patch History
- Stats
- Health growth increased to 90 from 78.
- Decrepify
- New Effect: Now executes minions below 10 health.
- Clarity: Tooltip now shows total damage dealt against minions and non-minions.
- Bug Fix: Fixed a bug where spell effects like Rylai's Crystal Scepter and Liandry's Torment weren't applying properly.
- Ravenous Flock
- Healing vs. non-champions changed to 8 / 11 / 13 (+ 3% AP) from 15% damage dealt.
- Healing vs. champions changed to 30 / 45 / 60 (+ 12% AP) from 75% damage dealt.
- New Effect: Now prioritizes targets closest to Swain instead of picking them at random (still prioritizes champions over non-champions).
V6.9 May 9th Hotfix:
- Decrepify
- Damage per second increased to 30 / 50 / 70 / 90 / 110 from 25 / 40 / 55 / 70 / 85.
- Ravenous Flock
- Fixed a bug that caused Ravenous Flock to have a cast time.
V6.9:
- General
- Basic attack missile speed increased to 1800 from 1500.
- Carrion Renewal
- Mana restoration increased to Template:Pp18 from Template:Pp18.
- Decrepify
- Revised Active: Swain commands Beatrice to the fly to the target location, where she remains for 4 seconds. Beatrice will attack enemies within the area, prioritizing the target of Torment, other champions in range and then any target in range. Beatrice's attacks deal magic damage and Template:Cctip.
- Mana cost reduced to 60 / 65 / 70 / 75 / 80 from 60 / 70 / 80 / 90 / 100.
- Cooldown increased to 14 / 13 / 12 / 11 / 10 from 8 at all ranks.
- Duration increased to 4 seconds from 3.
- New Effect: Deals double damage against minions.
- Revised Active: Swain commands Beatrice to the fly to the target location, where she remains for 4 seconds. Beatrice will attack enemies within the area, prioritizing the target of
- Nevermove
- Mana cost reduced to 80 / 85 / 90 / 95 / 100 from 80 / 90 / 100 / 110 / 120.
- Torment
- Base damage reduced to 50 / 80 / 110 / 140 / 170 from 75 / 115 / 155 / 195 / 235.
- AP ratio increased to 100% AP from 80% AP.
- Damage amplification increased to 20% at all ranks from 8 / 11 / 14 / 17 / 20%.
- Ravenous Flock
- Cooldown increased to 10 seconds from 8.
- Mana cost increased per second reduced to 5 at all ranks from 5 / 6 / 7.
- Number of ravens increased to 5 from 3.
- Heal from minions reduced to 15% from 25% of damage dealt.
- New Effect: Ravenous Flock cannot select the same target twice in a row.
- Nevermove
- Template:Cctip duration reduced to 1 / 1.25 / 1.5 / 1.75 / 2 seconds from 2 at all ranks.
- Stats
- Base mana increased to 374 from 324.
- Mana growth reduced to 47 from 50.
V4.5:
- Stats
- Base armor increased to 16 from 12.
- Carrion Renewal
- Now additionally restores 9% of maximum mana on champion kill/assist.
- Stats
- Base movement speed increased to 335 from 310.
- Stats
- Basic attack range increased to 500 from 480.
- Decrepify
- Range increased to 625 from 600.
- Slow increased to 20 / 25 / 30 / 35 / 40% from 20 / 23 / 26 / 29 / 32%.
- Ravenous Flock
- Cooldown reduced to 8 seconds from 10.
- Decrepify
- Fixed a bug with Swain's skins that caused the game to hitch on the first time cast.
- General
- Basic attack frame speed increased.
- Ravenous Flock
- Upkeep cost reduced to 5 / 6 / 7 mana from 5 / 7 / 9.
- Ravenous Flock
- Fixed a bug where Swain had reduced mana regeneration while active.
- Ravenous Flock
- Now prioritizes champions instead of choosing targets randomly.
- Ravenous Flock
- Now heals Swain for 75% of the damage dealt versus champions and 25% versus minions instead of 50% regardless of the target.
- Ravenous Flock
- Now heals Swain for 50% of the actual damage dealt to enemies (instead of 50% of the raw damage the ability deals).
- Heal is no longer reduced if the damage dealt is absorbed by shields.
- Carrion Renewal reworked
- New passive: Restores Swain a flat amount of mana equal to 9 (+1 per level) after killing an enemy unit.
- Old passive: Increases Swain's base mana regeneration by 300% by 5 seconds after killing an enemy unit.
- Decrepify
- Leash range slightly increased.
- Torment
- Range increased to 625 from 600.
- Ravenous Flock
- Cooldown decreased to 10 seconds from 15.
- Updated Swain's recommended items.
- Carrion Renewal
- Mana regeneration bonus increased to 300% from 250%.
- Decrepify
- Ability power ratio increased to (+90% AP) from (+75% AP).
- Fixed a bug where it would slow through Highlander or Ragnarok.
- Fixed a bug where the damage portion sometimes would not stop after breaking the leash.
- Torment
- Base damage increased to 75 / 115 / 155 / 195 / 235 from 72 / 110 / 148 / 186 / 224.
- Ability power ratio increased to (+80% AP) from (+60% AP).
- Nevermove
- Ability power ratio increased to (+70% AP) from (+50% AP).
V1.0.0.102: Added. (Original Stats)
- Carrion Renewal (Innate)
- Swain gains increased mana regeneration for 5 seconds upon killing a unit.
- Decrepify (Q)
- Swain sets his raven to cripple an enemy. Over the next three seconds, the target takes damage over time and is slowed.
- Nevermove (W)
- Swain marks a target area. After a short delay, mighty talons grab hold of enemy units dealing damage and rooting them.
- Torment (E)
- Swain afflicts his target, dealing damage to them over time and causing them to take increased damage from Swain's attacks.
- Ravenous Flock (Ultimate)
- Toggle: Swain transforms into the form of a raven, during this time up to 3 lesser ravens strike out at nearby enemies each second. Swain is healed for half the damage dealt by the ravens.
References
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