Just starting Skarner

WoodenIncubus·Dec 10, 2014·1 votes·692 views

Hey guys, I was planning on getting into Skarner as a tank. Is there anything I need to know as a "must do" with him? Or are there better ways to use Skarner, or should I just give up entirely and begin someone else?

11 Comments

Lumus AvatarDec 10, 20143 votes

In 4.2, I played him as a full AP bruiser, ability power enforced both his damage and his tankiness.

Now, his shield is on such a long cooldown that you can't really rely on it for more than a hit or two until rank 5. But you can't just pump all your levels into his shield and get by anymore.

As someone who uses Skarner a lot, I recommend leveling Crystalline Exoskeleton and Crystal Slash together. Increasing Fracture's rank improves the slow %, but 1 rank is sufficient, in my opinion - I leave it at 1 until everything else is maxed.

If you want to do stupid big damage, skarner benefits more from AD than AP now with his passive so Trinity Force is the way to go.

Because his shield is less reliable than it used to be, you need some HP or you'll die fast. Skarner will always benefit from attack speed, so why not combine that with sustain and get yourself a BOTRK? I recommend a Randuins and/or a Spirit Visage for HP and Armor/MR. I see people do well with Warmog's for the pure HP and regen.

I, personally, will never let go of AP bruiser Skarner. I'm the only one I know who builds him that way so I won't bore you with my strange build.

When it comes down to it, there are many ways to play Skarner. What matters is being comfortable with the way you choose to play him. He's a mobile champ, so use that to your advantage. Unless you've build yourself up to be a spell-blading, big damage duelist, you're going to rely on your team or your positioning to capitalize on your ultimate. You can move while suppressing the enemy, but you cannot auto-attack. This means no CDR on Crystal Slash. At best, you'll be able to get off a Crystal Slash and a Fracture while the enemy is encased. Focus more on positioning them so that you are between them and their escape (this means practicing how Skarner moves, especially during the ult), and try to drag the either to your team or snag them close to your turret and "introduce" them to it.

After Tank, CDR is your best friend. Max it. Remember that Spirit Visage gives MR, HP, Regen, and CDR. Let me know if I haven't been clear.

WoodenIncubusDec 10, 20142 votes

Holy cow. Thanks. And I'm always looking for essentric builds. I used to build ADC annie for a while since she has a long basic attack range and a free tank/stun.

Lumus AvatarDec 10, 20141 votes

No problem. Don't be surprised if people come in and start saying this or that build idea is just dead wrong - many people think there is only one good way to build a champ. This is wrong. If you're having fun and doing as well as you feel you should be, then your build is right.

Everyone swears by Trinity Force. I use a Lichbane instead because it gives more AP even though the burst is less. People also swear by DFG on Ahri - I use a lichbane on her, too and get my big damage by weaving spells - Lux-style - and getting 3-6 Spellblade procs per combo.

Just play Skarner, have fun, and find what works for you. If you're lucky, it will be unique. There's also nothing actually wrong with doing what everyone else is doing - I just don't like to.

WoodenIncubusDec 10, 20141 votes

Lol. Same dude. Everyone has been doing WW jungle... I'm looking for someone to counter out that crap. I did the same when Feral Flare Udyr became a thing.

WoodenIncubusDec 11, 20141 votes

Aram, but still worked.

Lumus AvatarDec 11, 20141 votes

Haha! That's pretty close to my old AP bruiser build, Nashor's and all. In ARAM unless you're keeping back and poking with your Fracture a lot, you'll probably want more HP than that build gave you. You might find some success swapping the Twin Shadows for a Spirit visage.

Good job! I bet your shield was beautifully huge. 0.8 AP ratio, ya know.

Ooh. Try a hextech gunblade on him at some point and tell me what you think.

City of TorontoDec 10, 20142 votes

Again, I don't know about new Skarner but old Skarner benefited from triforce even more than the other champs that do. Irelia benefits from tri force, but Skarner used to WRECK FACE as soon as he got trinity force. The synergy was insane.

City of TorontoDec 10, 20141 votes

I'm no expert on Skarner but you'd be surprised at how much Skarner benefits from triforce (and everything else tank).

At least it was before his rework, I'm not sure how he's different now.

WoodenIncubusDec 10, 20141 votes

It seems a lot of champions I've gotten into benefit from triforce. I had just learned Irelia as well and she is pretty null until she finishes triforce.