Why is Skarner pretty much universally hated?

Nagoh Shan·Nov 12, 2014·2 votes·548 views

So I'm looking ahead to my next champion unlock, and I came across Skarner. He looks really cool, and all three of his skins are amazing looking, but he is pretty much hated completely. The only champ IIRC that's used less than him is Galio, and people are still willing to stick up for Galio, saying it's more an outdated kit than anything else that create his issues.

So, anyone want to stick up for Skarner? Or for those who don't, why don't you like him?

I remember when I ducked out of the game a while back, his rework was coming up, and people who played him were nervous, then when I started playing again, I saw that those people were generally right, and his play rate had dropped to virtually nothing.

So, what happened?

11 Comments

ScurvyNaveNov 12, 20145 votes

Skarner got his playing style narrowed like a lot of champions nowadays. You used to be able to deal decent damage with rapid attacks or go a tanky initiating style. Now he's a cc tanky jungler, unfortunately his high mana costs and limiting ganking options mean there are other jungled who do his job better such as Jarvan or Lee Sin who have almost equal cc potential and tank ability but with more mobility and ad options

TheFallenShawNov 12, 20144 votes

Skarner is hated bc you used to be able to grab someone and hit recall and let god turrent kill them

Raja ChachkiNov 12, 20141 votes

OMG imagine doing that to a Teemo, oh sweet sweet vengeance

Earl EulrichNov 12, 20142 votes

Well, he used to deal a lot of dmg...now he´s just a running CC-bot. You can still win games with him, but it just feels meh compared to his former identity. They really had been too afraid of making him overpowered and overnerfed his dmg to make up for the CC he provides, not taking into account that he still has to go close and stay there to do all those things - so he should really get rewarded for dodging/surviving all the kiting/peeling and pull through, which right now he really doesn´t.

He either would need his old self-hela back to increase his survivability - or just a straight buff to his dmg.

SpecterVonBarenNov 12, 20142 votes

He's actually quite good, it's just that his ability to be viable in pro play was kneejerk nerfed with across the board damage nerfs by Riot after one game (Even though he wasn't a big determining factor in the outcome of the game) and now not many people play him anymore. He's still good, it's just that he only really shines late game when he has items, so he has a similar problem to Nautilus.

Too TonNov 12, 20141 votes

ONe R late game wins ur team the game cause u grab the enemy adc, drag more to ur side then adc can;t get away. No counterplay.

Raja ChachkiNov 12, 20141 votes

Because he pretty much universally sucks

lightdragoon88Nov 12, 20141 votes

It because he doesn't have his Battlecast skin yet.

But that will soon change.

SS EnforcerNov 12, 20141 votes

I think skarner is a really effective champion if you have the "strategic" skill to use it. You need to manage your passive, know when to gank, etc. I play a lot of skarner and from low-plat to low-gold it seems really nice.

Love Skarner

MatthevvNov 12, 20141 votes

Mobility creep. Champions whose biggest weakness is kiting are suffering big from mobility creep. Nasus, Sion, Skarner, Udyr etc.. Sure these champions have done well in the past but it is usually when they are overtuned.

The sheer amount of mobility being added onto new champions is making life a nightmare for these guys.

Nagoh ShanNov 12, 20141 votes

Hmm, good to know.

I Think I'll stick with Viktor for my next champ, he was sick to play.

Thanks for the answers.