League of Legends Swarm Map Guide

Swarm, Riot Games’ latest innovation, is set to launch within the week, promising to be one of the most captivating PvE experiences to date. If you’ve enjoyed previous Riot game modes, you’ll find Swarm familiar yet significantly enhanced, offering both solo and cooperative gameplay.

Swarm features nine playable champions: Jinx, Seraphine, Aurora, Illaoi, Leona, Xayah, Yasuo, Riven, and Briar, each bringing unique abilities to the battlefield. Players will navigate through four distinct maps, each presenting its own challenges and bosses, with additional appearances by familiar champions like Aatrox, Yuumi, and Rek’Sai.

This guide aims to detail each map and offer foundational strategies tailored to various gameplay elements, such as your choice of champion, whether you’re playing solo or with friends, and the selected difficulty level.

For those looking to deepen their understanding of Swarm, we’ve also developed a range of content including a Beginner’s Guide and a comprehensive analysis of the game mode. For these resources and more, visit the 1v9 Blog, your go-to destination for all things League of Legends.

How to Play Swarm

Before diving into the specifics of gameplay, it’s important to note that everyone has their unique style, and what works for me may not necessarily suit your preferences. Swarm is flexible in its approach, allowing for various strategies and playstyles. Here’s a general strategy that I’ve found effective in unlocking all champions and maximizing my stats, applicable to most situations regardless of the champion you choose.

At the start of each game in Swarm, the focus should be on gathering as much XP as possible. This is achieved by eliminating as many enemies as you can, which helps you quickly level up. You’ll unlock your E ability at level 3 and your Ultimate at level 6, key tools for enhancing your combat effectiveness.

As you play, make it a point to continually move and rotate around the map, especially around the outer edges where loot boxes tend to be abundant. These loot boxes are crucial as they provide essential resources like gold, XP, and health, aiding in your survival and progression.

When Yuumi’s missions begin to appear, engaging with them can yield valuable bonuses that significantly boost your performance. Also, be ready to tackle mini-bosses as they spawn, defeating them quickly to acquire cards. Depending on your situation, you may choose to use these cards immediately or save them until you’re ready to evolve a weapon.

Additionally, actively participate in Bel’Veth missions whenever they come up, as completing these can offer further advantages in your game. This proactive and resourceful approach to playing Swarm can help you effectively manage challenges and maximize your efficiency throughout the game.

Map Overview

Now that you understand the fundamental strategy and objectives for playing Swarm, let’s delve into a detailed overview of each map. By adhering to these foundational tactics, you’ll position yourself for a strong beginning on any map in the game. This section aims to equip you with specific insights and tips tailored to the unique challenges and opportunities presented by each Swarm map, enhancing your gameplay experience from the start.

Areas to Avoid

For optimal gameplay on the first map of Swarm, it’s advisable to steer clear of narrow, constricted areas, particularly noted around the bottom right section of the map. These tight spaces can significantly hinder your movement and make it difficult to navigate without sustaining damage, especially if you lack weapons equipped with substantial area-of-effect (AOE) capabilities.

Instead, focus on the more open areas, especially around the central fountain. This strategic positioning not only facilitates easier movement and rotation across the map but also provides quick access to the fountain for healing when necessary. Additionally, consider utilizing the top left section of the map during the early stages of the game. This area can be an effective spot for trapping spawning enemies, allowing you to accumulate a significant amount of XP and loot boxes rapidly. This approach ensures a more manageable and efficient gameplay experience, helping you to maximize your performance on this particular map.

The Outskirts

The second map in Swarm, known as The Outskirts, presents a unique challenge with Briar serving as the final boss. This formidable opponent emerges after the 15-minute mark and is notorious for her high damage output. Players must prepare adequately and strategize effectively to overcome her at this critical juncture of the game.

The Outskirts Overview

The Outskirts map features a distinctive gameplay element—a large cannon located at the top of the map. To activate this cannon, players must first acquire a battery that spawns in proximity to it. Once you collect a battery, you can insert it into the cannon to enable its firing mechanism, allowing it to target and attack enemies.

Given the cannon’s lengthy cooldown period, it’s strategic not to activate it too early in the game. Instead, consider holding onto the battery while it remains viable indefinitely. Positioning your gameplay around the cannon’s location can be advantageous, enabling you to make the most of this powerful defensive tool. Ideally, you should activate the cannon when the battle intensifies or when you find yourself overwhelmed by enemies, providing crucial support to regain control of the situation.

Areas to Avoid

On this map, the primary area to be cautious of is the confined space in the bottom right corner. This region should be avoided due to its limited maneuverability, which can quickly become a fatal trap if you’re cornered by enemies.

For safer and more strategic gameplay, it’s advisable to navigate primarily around the map’s center. This area offers ample space, reducing the likelihood of being overwhelmed by enemy swarms. Additionally, the central location is advantageous for accessing the battery spawns, which are typically situated near walls and close to the cannon. Staying central allows for quick retrieval and utilization of the battery, enabling you to activate the cannon effectively during critical moments of the game.

Subterranean Lab

The third map in Swarm, known as the Subterranean Lab, presents a formidable challenge. To successfully conquer this map, players must endure 15 minutes of intense gameplay, facing off against numerous mobs before engaging in a climactic battle with the final boss, Bel’Veth. This demanding sequence requires both endurance and strategic prowess to navigate and overcome.

Subterranean Lab Overview

The Subterranean Lab map is distinguished by its two unique freeze zones that can immobilize enemies upon activation. To activate these zones, players simply need to remain within the designated area for a short duration. While early rounds may not necessitate the use of these zones, they become critically important as the game progresses and the frequency and density of enemy spawns increase.

As the challenges intensify in later rounds, don’t hesitate to utilize these freeze zones. Their strategic importance cannot be overstated, as they provide a crucial advantage by slowing down enemy advances and giving players much-needed breathing room to regroup or launch counterattacks.

Areas to Avoid

On the Subterranean Lab map, it’s wise to be cautious around the top right corner. This area offers limited maneuverability, which can become particularly challenging as the game progresses. While this section can be beneficial for gathering XP in the early game—especially if you possess AOE weapons—it’s advisable to steer clear later on as the density of enemy spawns increases, making it a hotspot for getting overwhelmed.

Consistent with strategy on other maps, maintaining a position in open areas is crucial, allowing you freedom to move and better manage incoming enemy waves. Additionally, being strategically positioned near the freeze zones can be a lifesaver, enabling you to immobilize advancing foes when necessary. Effective rotation is key on this map; for instance, if you’ve activated the bottom freeze zone, consider shifting your focus to the top side of the map while it recharges. This tactic ensures that you can continuously manage the battlefield effectively, utilizing the environment to your advantage.

The Beachhead

The Beachhead serves as the climactic final map in Swarm and is arguably the most challenging. To conquer this map and unlock the matchmaking game mode, players must endure 15 minutes of intense action before facing off against Aatrox multiple times. Successfully navigating this map requires a blend of resilience, strategy, and skill, making it a fitting finale to the game’s rigorous PvE challenges.

The Beachhead Overview

The Beachhead map features two key strategic assets that can significantly aid in combat. On the left side of the map lies the city where Miss Fortune can be found. She plays a crucial role by targeting and eliminating enemies from above, allowing players to collect XP from the foes she dispatches. To the right of Miss Fortune and along the beach, there are cannons strategically placed to provide consistent artillery support against the advancing enemies, aiding in their defeat.

Players may choose their tactical approach based on the champion they are playing and their personal gameplay style. Some may prefer to align with Miss Fortune in the city for a more direct combat experience, while others might find the consistent support from the beachside cannons more advantageous. This flexibility allows players to maximize their strengths and preferences on this challenging final map.

Areas to Avoid

On The Beachhead, the final map in Swarm, it's advisable to be cautious about the paths leading to the beach and the left side of the map, especially in the later stages of the game. These areas can become choke points where enemies swarm in large numbers, making them risky locations for getting overwhelmed.

To optimize your chances of survival, it is generally safer to position yourself in more open areas. These provide ample space to maneuver and escape from encroaching enemies. The map offers two primary strategies for positioning:

1. Beach Strategy: Staying near the beach can be advantageous, particularly for melee champions. The cannons along the beach provide valuable support by bombarding enemies, helping to thin out their ranks and making them easier to manage.

2. City Strategy: Alternatively, positioning within the city and utilizing Miss Fortune's assistance from above can be beneficial, especially for ranged champions. Miss Fortune helps in clearing out enemies from a distance, allowing you to focus on strategic movements and attacks from safer positions.

Ultimately, the choice between beach and city should align with your champion's capabilities and your personal gameplay style. Both strategies have their merits, and effectively leveraging the environmental aids, whether it's cannons or Miss Fortune's covering fire, can be key to mastering this challenging map.

Conclusion

Mastering the various maps in League of Legends’ Swarm mode requires a deep understanding of each map’s unique features and strategic points. From navigating the intricate paths of The Beachhead to leveraging key assets like Miss Fortune and beachside cannons, each map presents its own set of challenges and opportunities. By carefully choosing your positioning based on your champion type—whether melee or ranged—and adapting to the evolving dynamics of the game, you can significantly enhance your gameplay effectiveness. Remember, the key to success in Swarm lies in utilizing the environment to your advantage, managing enemy swarms effectively, and choosing strategies that align with your strengths. With these insights and tactics, you’re well-equipped to face the challenges of Swarm and emerge victorious.