How to win lane as Swain against Master Yi · 42.86% win rate (182 Emerald+ games, lolalytics, sampled July 2026) · Matchup data reviewed on patch 26.15
Read from Swain's seat: which stage windows this plan plays for against Master Yi.
| Stage | Favoured | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Swain | Your Q poke and root threat out-pressure his level-1 approach. |
| Level 2 | Swain | At 2 your Death's Hand bolts keep chipping him before he scales. |
| Level 3 | Even / skill | Level 3 evens: Alpha Strike goes untargetable through Nevermove — 20s. |
| Levels 4-5 | Master Yi | By 4-5 Wuju Style's true damage beats your poke and your MR — his stage. |
| Level 6 | Master Yi | At 6 Highlander is 85s and slow-immune — your W and Demonflare stop him. |
| First item | Master Yi | At first item his true damage out-races your sustain — bring anti-heal. |
| Two+ items | Master Yi | At 2+ items he out-duels and out-splits your drain-tank kit solo — only grouped play answers it. |
Take the first two levels for everything: Q poke and the root threat out-pressure his empty kit, and Death's Hand bolts chip him at every wave. By 3 the lane evens — Alpha Strike is 20s and carries him untargetable through Nevermove, and his attacks shorten it — so bank your damage early and stop forcing.
Pooled Emerald+ win rates from Swain's side, sampled July 2026.
The full Swain vs Master Yi report continues with the mid-game plan, the late-game and teamfight plan, every power spike to play around, and the win conditions for both sides — plus cooldown tracking and the live enemy-jungle tracker inside the app.
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Master Yi — Swain wins only 42.86% of 182 games, so Swain plays this as the disadvantaged side.
Not really — Master Yi holds a real statistical advantage (57.14% win rate), so Swain is the one working uphill.
No — Master Yi counters Swain (Swain wins only 42.86% of games). Play it as the disadvantaged side and lean on the windows in the plan.
Playing the other side? Master Yi vs Swain guide →
All Swain top lane matchups →
More Swain top lane matchups: vs Lucian · vs Malphite · vs Maokai · vs Mel · vs Mordekaiser · vs Nasus