How to win lane as Vladimir against Swain · 56.82% win rate over 447 Emerald+ games · Updated 2026-07-27
| Stage | Favoured | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Swain | Swain's Death's Hand bolts out-poke your Transfusion at level 1, favouring him. |
| Level 2 | Swain | At level 2 his poke and Nevermove root threat keep the lane his. |
| Level 3 | Swain | Through level 3 his ranged bolts and root combo still beat you. |
| Levels 4-5 | Swain | At level 4 Swain's poke lead persists and he can burst you off a landed root. |
| Level 6 | Even / skill | By level 5 both kits mature and the lane evens to a skill matchup. |
| First item | Even / skill | At 6 Hemoplague answers his Demonic Ascension so the ult trade is even. |
| Two+ items | Vladimir | Late, your Sanguine Pool mobility and AoE ult win the fights he can't land Nevermove in, favouring you. |
Swain wins levels 1-4 outright — Death's Hand bolts out-range your Transfusion (Q) and a landed Nevermove root sets up a Vision of Empire combo that chunks you. Play back, dodge his W, and just farm through it.
The full Vladimir vs Swain 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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Playing the other side? Swain vs Vladimir guide →
All Vladimir top lane matchups →
Also played in: Mid Lane