Champion Stats
| Role | Tank / Fighter |
| Difficulty | |
| Blue Essence | 2400 BE |
Why High-Elo Players Smurf with Skarner
Low elo players cannot react to Skarner's E (Ixtal's Impact) when it comes through a massive wall like Dragon pit or Tri-bush. They ward the river, but you come through the mountain. His Q (Shattered Earth) provides surprising poke and % Max HP damage that shreds tanks and squishies alike. Most importantly, Impale (R) is now an AoE skillshot suppression; catching 3 people in one ult is an instant 'Checkmate' that ends the game on the spot.
The Level 1 Cheese
First Blood Strategy
Start Q (Shattered Earth). Pick up a rock immediately by recasting Q. This empowers your next 3 auto-attacks with speed, range, and AoE damage. Invade the enemy buff with your team. If you hit the enemy jungler with the rock toss (Recast Q), the slow is crippling, forcing a Flash or securing First Blood.
The 'Pay-to-Win' Skin Advantage
'Battlecast Alpha Skarner' is smoother than the base skin and fits the 'unstoppable machine' fantasy. 'Cosmic Sting' offers the best visual clarity on his abilities. 'Earthrune Skarner' (formerly basic) is now a gorgeous high-fantasy option that fits his new lore perfectly. 'Sandscourge' remains the classic 'lobster' meme but looks menacing.
When They Ban Skarner
Backup Pick: If Skarner is banned,
Zac offers similar creative gank angles.
Rammus provides the 'gotta go fast' engage style.
Sejuani for the reliable tank CC profile.
Rune Setup
Best Runes: Phase Rush is the premier smurf choice. It allows you to E -> Stun -> Impale -> Sprint away with the enemy carry at mach speed. Aftershock is the safer, tankier option if you are the solo frontline. Secondary Hextech Flashtraption is mandatory for creating even more creative gank angles over walls when E is down.
Skill Priority
Order:
Q → E → WMax Q first for the clear speed and % HP damage scaling. Max E second for the cooldown reduction, which is vital for maintaining map pressure. W (Seismic Bastion) is a one-point wonder for the slow and shield.
Mastering Skarner's Kit
Q Shattered Earth / Upheaval
Shattered Earth / Upheaval. Skarner rips a boulder from the ground, empowering his next 3 attacks. He can recast to throw the boulder, dealing massive damage and slowing enemies. Always have a rock ready before ganking.
Seismic Bastion. Skarner gains a shield and slams the ground, damaging and slowing nearby enemies. Use this to chain CC after your E stun expires.
Ixtal's Impact. Skarner charges forward, ignoring terrain. If he collides with a champion and a wall, he stuns them. You can steer this charge. It is your primary engage tool.
Impale. Skarner suppresses up to 3 enemy champions in a cone and can drag them around. It has a short cast time. Use it to peel divers or kidnap carries.
Matchup Tips
Impossible. He presses R and ignores your existence. You cannot peel him. You cannot fight him. Avoid at all costs.
Hard Matchup. She runs too fast for you to land E or Q rock. She will kite you to death with burn damage.
Skill Matchup. You can cancel his Q dash with your Impale if timed perfectly. Use E to match his mobility around the map.
The Ego Check
WARNING: Stop missing your Ult! Impale is no longer point-and-click; it has a wind-up time. You cannot just Flash-R instantly. You need to setup with your E stun or wait for the enemy to be locked in an animation. Also, don't charge E into nothing. If you miss the wall slam, you are just a slow scorpion standing in the open.
When to Queue Dodge
Dodge Morgana. Her Black Shield (E) completely nullifies your kit. You cannot E stun or R suppress a shielded target. Olaf ignores your CC with his Ragnarok. Do not pick Skarner into these champions.
Teamfight Role
You are the flanker. Do not run head-first down the lane. Use E (Ixtal's Impact) to drift through a side wall and slam the enemy backline into terrain. Once they are stunned, follow up with Q huge damage. Save R (Impale) for the critical moment to grab their carry or interrupt a diver. Drag them into your team's damage. You dictate where the fight happens.
The 'Disrespect' Build
Heartsteel -> Titanic Hydra -> Overlord's Bloodmail. You become a massive, screen-filling raid boss who deals huge damage based on HP. Drifting through a wall with 6000 HP and slapping a carry for 800 damage with a rock is the ultimate dominance.
Power Windows
Level 6: AoE Impale is a game-changer. Level 3: Unlocking E allows you to gank from angles that no other jungler can replicate. First Item (Heartsteel/Sunfire): Your clear speed and dueling skyrocket.
Tilt Factor
Type 'Get over here!' in all-chat after dragging an enemy across the screen. Spam the 'Skarner Think' emote when you miss an E but they flash anyway. The psychological pressure of knowing you could come through ANY wall makes laners play terrified.
Recent Patch History
| Patch | Date | Type | Changes |
| V14.20 | Oct 9, 2024 | NERF | P nerfed, E nerfed |
| V14.16 | Aug 14, 2024 | BUFF | Q buffed, Base stats buffed |
| V14.15 | Jul 31, 2024 | BUFF | Q buffed, E nerfed, Base stats buffed |
| V14.13 | Jun 26, 2024 | NERF | Q adjusted |
| V14.12 | Jun 12, 2024 | BUFF | P adjusted, Base stats adjusted |
Safety Tips
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