How to Play Ionia Swain
A stage-by-stage plan for Ionia Swain: opener, when to level and roll for Swain, and where to position the board.
- Tier
- F
- Top 4 rate
- 13.3%
- Avg place
- 6.80
- 1st place
- 0.0%
- Playstyle
- Fast 8
- Games
- 15
How to level and roll with Ionia Swain
Fast 8Ionia Swain is a Fast 8 comp: level on the standard curve and roll down at level 8 on stage 4-1 to find Swain. At level 8, each shop slot has a 30% chance to be a 4-cost.
| Stage | Level | Action | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-1 | 4 | Level | Level to 4 and play your strongest pairs; slam an early item if it saves HP. |
| 2-5 | 5 | Level | Level to 5 and keep building interest toward 50 gold. |
| 3-2 | 6 | Level | Level to 6 and save to 50 gold. |
| 3-5 | 7 | Level | Level to 7 while staying on interest. |
| 4-1 | 8 | Roll down | Level to 8 and roll down to find Swain and the 4-cost core. |
| 4-5 | 8 | Save gold | Stop rolling once the board is stable and rebuild your economy. |
| 5-1 | 9 | Push level | Push to 9 when you have the gold to add a 5-cost or extra trait. |
Ionia Swain early game and opener
We don't have enough early-board data for Ionia Swain yet. Play your strongest pairs early and hold units that share traits with Swain.
Rolling odds for Ionia Swain
Swain is easiest to find around level 8. Use the calculator to see your odds of a 2-star for the gold you have.
Rolldown calculator: Swain
Pre-set to this comp's roll level. Change copies owned, copies other players hold and your gold.
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Ionia Swain positioning
A starting board for Ionia Swain. Drag units to adjust it, switch to the anti-assassin layout when the lobby has divers, and copy the Team Planner code into the TFT client.
- Corner Yunara on the back line and put Wukong in front of it.
- Split Yunara and Ahri across the back line so a single area spell can't hit both.
- Wukong, Swain, and Yasuo hold the front line — put the tankiest one opposite the enemy carry.
- Against assassins, step your carries up one row and leave Shen and Yasuo in the back corners as bait.
Positioning board
Drag a unit onto another hex to move it — dropping on a unit swaps them.
When to play Ionia Swain
Strengths
- Two damage threats (Swain and Yunara) make itemizing flexible
- Rarely played, so its units are usually free
Weaknesses
- Average place is worse than 97% of comps of the same board size
- Needs Swain and Yunara at high cost, which can be hard to hit
Strategic Tips
Economy
Stay on interest and save your big roll for level 8 at stage 4-1.
Itemization
Build Warmog's Armor, Spirit Visage, and Giant's Belt on Swain.
When to pivot
Scout at 2-1 and 3-2: if two or more players hold your core units, or you haven't found any by 3-2, move into one of the comps on the Similar Comps tab instead of forcing Ionia Swain.
Get the Winning Edge
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How to play Ionia Swain – FAQ (TFT Set 16)
How do you play Ionia Swain?
Ionia Swain is a Fast 8 comp: level on the standard curve and roll down at level 8 on stage 4-1 to find Swain. Corner Yunara on the back line and put Wukong in front of it. Build Warmog's Armor, Spirit Visage, and Giant's Belt on Swain.
When should I roll down for Ionia Swain?
Roll down at level 8 on stage 4-1. That is when Ionia Swain finds Swain and its core most reliably; save gold before it.
What level do you roll for Swain?
Roll for Swain at level 8. At level 8, each shop slot has a 30% chance to be a 4-cost.
Is Ionia Swain a reroll comp?
No. Ionia Swain is a Fast 8 comp: level up and roll down at level 8 to find your 4- and 5-cost units at 2 stars.
How do you position Ionia Swain?
Corner Yunara on the back line and put Wukong in front of it. Split Yunara and Ahri across the back line so a single area spell can't hit both. Wukong, Swain, and Yasuo hold the front line — put the tankiest one opposite the enemy carry. Against assassins, step your carries up one row and leave Shen and Yasuo in the back corners as bait.
What is the best opener for Ionia Swain?
Ionia Swain has no fixed opener: play your strongest early pairs, keep HP high and hold units that share traits with Swain.