The root of the problem was found to be a problematic exploit centered around Skarner’s iconic kidnap skill. The rework, which was finally released at the beginning of 2024, transformed the Crystal Scorpion into a formidable presence on Summoner’s Rift.

The champion is now capable of slamming players into walls and dragging enemies around with his ultimate. However, top lane players discovered ways to exploit this ability, leading Phreak to address the issue and discuss the overall success of the champion’s rework.

Phreak, who is in charge of League’s live balance team and led Skarner’s rework, recently admitted in a YouTube video previewing Patch 14.14 that he wished he had done a better job with the champion.

In the video, Phreak went over all the balance changes for Skarner and warned that the champion would be experiencing a lot of changes in this update. The most anticipated change is the removal of the ability to cast his E backwards.

This exploit allowed the scorpion to grab opponents from behind and slam them into walls. With the new changes, Skarner will have to face his enemies directly if he wants to grapple with them, which was how the ability was originally intended to be used.

Until the changes are implemented, players can still chain Skarner’s ultimate and his E to drag enemies into turret range, effectively guaranteeing a free kill in lane. The problematic mechanic had caused his win rates (and ban rates) to spike significantly in the past few months.

With the removal of the playmaking Skarner mechanic, Phreak hopes that players will begin to appreciate the rework of the scorpion and reduce the frequency of banning him in high-level play. Phreak also briefly mentioned that the team is considering other changes to Skarner’s kit but did not provide any specific details.

Skarner’s journey in League of Legends since his rework in Patch 14.7 has been full of ups and downs. He’s gone through three more changes since then, and he’s about to face another nerf in Patch 14.9, which is launching on May 1st.

After his rework, Skarner, known as the Primordial Sovereign, was considered too strong and got nerfed in Patch 14.8 and then again in a hotfix for Patch 14.8 on April 18th. Riot Phroxzon, in charge of balancing the game, confirmed on Twitter on April 22nd that Skarner is getting nerfed again.

When a champion like him is reworked in League of Legends, they can either become too powerful or too weak. In his case, his win rates were low after his rework in Patch 14.7. The only positive was his updated appearance, which included new emotes and even started a meme called Crab Rave.

You might wonder why Skarner is still struggling even after multiple nerfs and changes. It’s because skilled players have figured out how to play him optimally, especially in the jungle with certain items. Once he reaches level 9, he becomes very strong, and the best players are dominating with him.

Riot Phroxzon didn’t specify which abilities or stats will be nerfed, but they aim to make Skarner still viable in the jungle while also being balanced for other roles like top lane.

We’ll have to wait for the full patch details to see how much the champion will be nerfed and if it will change the jungle meta in May. Patch 14.8 coincides with the MSI 2024 tournament, so professional players will have access to him in his current strong state.

Released on April 17, Patch 14.8 immediately bolstered Skarner’s performance following many tweaks to the scorpion champion. However, it seems more changes are in the pipeline, as hinted by League content creator Spideraxe.

Skarner nerfs coming in LoL Patch 14.9

• P health damage reduced from 7% – 12% max HP to 7% – 10%
• Q health ratio reduced from 6% bonus HP to 5%
• W base damage reduced from 50 – 150 to 50 – 130

Shortly after the adjustments went live, Spideraxe discovered additional alterations added to the PBE servers and shared them on X. It appears that Skarner is already lined up for three nerfs, targeting his passive, Q, and W abilities.

Regarding his passive, the health damage it inflicts is set to decrease from 7-12 percent maximum health to 7-10 percent. Consequently, Skarner will deal considerably less damage with his other attacks, which rely on his empowered passive. Additionally, the health ratio of his Q ability has been reduced from six to five percent bonus health, while the base damage of his W ability has been diminished from 50-150 to 50-130.

While it’s premature to definitively label Skarner as overpowered in solo queue at the time of writing, his initial statistics for Patch 14.8 are certainly impressive. Presently, he boasts a 52.53% win rate in the jungle, according to U.GG, accompanied by a substantial 26.5% ban rate and a 8.2% pick rate. This marks a significant improvement from Patch 14.7, where his win rate languished at 42% by the update’s conclusion.

Given such a substantial climb in the rankings, it’s unsurprising that Riot Games is swift to respond. However, these impending changes should not be taken for granted, as Patch 14.9 is still two weeks away, with a scheduled release date of May 1.

While Riot continues to fine-tune the champion for balance, one particular interaction has emerged, showcasing the devastating synergy between Skarner and Kalista. This newfound wombo combo revolves around Skarner’s ultimate ability and Kalista’s unique mechanics, offering an insane wombo combo that can wreak anyone in teamfights.

Skarner and Kalista insane wombo combo

When Skarner’s ultimate is activated while Kalista initiates her ultimate, allowing her to pull in a bound ally and then launch them toward a target, the result is a formidable crowd control chain reminiscent of hook champions like Blitzcrank and Thresh.

Reddit user Phallanxar recently demonstrated this synergy in action, employing Skarner’s ultimate to capture multiple enemies, then having Kalista pull them even further away from their team.

The effectiveness of this combo is not only attributed to the seamless integration of their ultimates but also to Skarner’s reworked abilities, which now allow him to engage and control multiple opponents while remaining resilient with his usual tankiness.

Despite Skarner’s struggles to find his footing in his traditional role as a jungler post-rework, his newfound potential as a support alongside Kalista opens up exciting possibilities for the champion. While Riot aims to balance his viability in top lane, where players have been exploiting his W max strategy, the bot lane synergy with Kalista presents a promising alternative avenue for Skarner to shine.

As players continue to experiment with this dynamic duo and Riot continues to refine Skarner’s balance, the League community eagerly anticipates how this newfound synergy will impact the meta and redefine Skarner’s role on the Rift.

The rework received a lukewarm response, with his win rate plummeting to an abysmal number on the day of its debut on live servers.

Matt “Phroxzon” Leung-Harrison, the lead gameplay designer for League, shared insights into Skarner’s role dynamics, noting that the champion’s performance varies significantly based on mastery level. While the champion seems to excel in the top lane among less experienced players, he struggles to find success in the jungle, with a win rate of 38.59% after two days in the game.

Skarner’s micropatch buffs

Mana Growth       

• 60 >>> 45

P Monster Damage Cap  

• 75-250 >>> 100-300

Q Monster Damage Cap 

• 100/175/250/325/400 >>> 150/225/300/375/450

W Mana Cost       

• 40/45/50/55/60 >>> 50/55/60/65/70

E Cooldown

• 24/22/20/18/16 >>> 20/19/18/17/16

Despite these challenges, Riot remains optimistic about Skarner’s potential, deeming him “quite strong.” However, they emphasize the importance of mastering his ability combinations, such as prioritizing Q before E, to fully utilize his potential on the Rift.

In response to player feedback and performance data, Riot has implemented changes aimed at balancing Skarner’s abilities. Notable adjustments include reducing the cooldown of his E ability while decreasing his mana growth and increasing the mana cost of his W ability, intended to introduce more strategic decision-making into his gameplay.

Furthermore, Riot acknowledges player concerns regarding the weightiness of Skarner’s Q ability, Shattered Earth, particularly in conjunction with his ultimate ability, Upheaval. They aim to make this ability more impactful while ensuring sufficient counterplay opportunities for opponents, with ongoing adjustments in progress.

While the micropatch aims to address immediate power concerns, Riot plans to implement further adjustments in the next patch to rebalance Skarner’s performance between top lane and jungle roles. This iterative approach reflects Riot’s commitment to refining gameplay experiences and maintaining a healthy balance within the game’s ecosystem.

Despite the excitement surrounding his overhaul, Runeterra’s beloved scorpion currently boasts the lowest win rate among all champions in the game. At the time of writing, Skarner’s win rate stands at a dismal 38.17% through Platinum ranks and higher, as reported by League statistics site U.GG.

Notably, players have been experimenting with Skarner not only in the jungle role but also in support and top lane positions, yielding similarly disappointing results as they acclimate to his revamped abilities and playstyle.

In Patch 14.7, Skarner underwent a comprehensive transformation, receiving an entirely new skill set and appearance after remaining largely unchanged since his initial release in 2011.

Moreover, despite having been one of the least favored picks in the game, he now boasts 5 unique skins—a significant increase considering his historically low skin count compared to other champions in the League roster. With these updates, Skarner has gained a plethora of new strategies and tactics at his disposal.

However, it’s common for newly reworked champions or those receiving significant updates to experience a period of adjustment upon release. Similar to Briar, who initially struggled with one of the worst win rates in the game before receiving adjustments and eventually finding her place in the solo queue meta, Skarner is expected to require some time to settle into his new role.

While Skarner’s kit may appear formidable at first glance, players are still in the process of mastering his mechanics, including optimal engagement timings, effective use of his ultimate ability, and strategic decision-making to ensure survival.

Achieving a balance between durability to withstand enemy and seizing opportunities to initiate teamfights or secure objectives through strategic positioning remains key for Skarner’s success. Thus, as players continue to familiarize themselves with his updated capabilities, his win rate is anticipated to stabilize and potentially improve.

While all eyes are on the long-awaited Skarner rework, set to take center stage, this April mega update promises a plethora of impactful changes. Among the highlights is a major revamp for Enchanter champions, stirring up excitement and speculation.

Additionally, brace yourselves for a controversial LP swap that’s sure to ruffle some feathers within the competitive scene. But that’s not all; Riot Games is pulling out all the stops for April Fools’ festivities, introducing a slew of whimsical cosmetics guaranteed to inject a dose of laughter and lightheartedness into the Summoner’s Rift.

Scheduled to hit live servers on Wednesday, April 3, according to Riot’s official patch schedule, Patch 14.7 will unleash a wave of champion balance adjustments, alongside the eagerly anticipated Skarner rework.

League of Legends Patch 14.7 notes

Champions

Galio

• Passive ability power ratio increased from 40 percent to 45 percent.
• W base damage resistance increased from 20-40 percent to 25-45 percent.
• E base damage increased from 75-235 to 90-250.

Karma

• R plus E secondary shield increased from 30 percent of E+R to 90 percent of R. This equates to a 22 percent buff. 
• Single target shield and movement speed percentage remain unchanged.
• W root duration increased from 1.4-2 to 1.6-2.

Kayn

• Q bonus attack damage ratio increased from 0.8 to 0.85. This only affects Kayn’s base and Assassin’s form. It does not affect his Darkin form once transformed. 

Lux

• Passive ability power ratio increased from 25 percent to 30 percent. 
• Q ability power increased from 60 percent to 65 percent. 

Nasus

• P lifesteal increased from 11/16/21 percent to 12/18/24 percent.
• Q base damage increased from 30-110 to 40-120.

Olaf

• [NEW] Q monster damage between 5-25.
• W duration increased from four to five seconds, mana cost increased from 30 to 50.
• E cooldown refund increased from one second to one second and two seconds for monsters. 
• R mana cost increased from zero to 100.

Smolder

• Armor increased from 24 to 26.
• Q’s critical strike ratio increased from 30 percent to 50 percent.

Sylas

• Q minion and monster damage increased from 40 percent to 40 percent for minions and 70 percent for monsters.  

Fiora

• Base attack damage reduced from 68 to 65.

Rek’sai

• Passive minion modifier reduced from 50 percent to 20 percent. 
• Passive healing was reduced from 12-20 percent (linear scaling) to 10-20 percent (linear scaling).

Rell 

• All monster modifiers removed.
• Magic resistance increased from 30 plus 1.85 to 30 plus 2.05.

Volibear

• Q critically strikes for total Attack Damage instead of total Ability Damage. 
• R Cooldown increased from 140-100 to 160-110.

Camille

• Q movement speed increased from 30-40 percent to 30-50 percent, cooldown reduced from 9-6 seconds to 9-5 seconds. 
• W outer cone damage increased from 5-7 percent of her maximum health to 6-8 percent of her maximum health.
• E damage was reduced from 80-200 to 60-180.
• Bloodsong nerfed (core item for Camille).

Nami

• W damage adjusted from 60-220 plus 55 percent to 60-200 plus 50 percent, heal increased from 55-135 plus 25 percent to 55-155 plus 40 percent, bounce ratio adjusted (to buff) from 15 percent plus 7.5 percent of the ability power percent to -10 percent plus 10 percent of the ability power percent. 
• E damage reduced from 20-80 to 20-60.

Nunu

• Receiving adjustments via items. 

Sona

• Q plus passive damage amplifier increased from 40 percent to 50 percent, aura ability power ratio reduced from two to one.  
• W heal and ability power ratio increased from 0.15 to 0.3. 
• E ally movement speed increased from 10-14 percent to 10-18 percent.

Items

Bloodsong

• Spellblade’s base attack damage ratio was reduced from 150 to 100 percent.

Imperial Mandate

• Current health damage was reduced from 12 percent health damage to 10 percent.

Statikk Shiv

• Price increased from 2,700 to 2,900.

Za’Zak’s Realmspike

• Void Explosion damage reduced from 20 plus 20 percent of the ability power plus four percent of the target’s maximum health to 10 plus 20 percent of the ability power plus three percent of the target’s maximum Health. 
• Cooldown increased from 8/7/6 to 10 (no more scaling).

Skins

This long-awaited update brings a fresh suite of abilities and a revitalized visual design to the champion, promising to breathe new life into his gameplay experience. Players can look forward to exploring the intricacies of Skarner’s revamped kit as they adapt to his enhanced capabilities.

In addition to Skarner’s rework, this patch introduces significant adjustments to the support role, particularly focusing on itemization. Several support items are slated for nerfs, while certain enchanter supports receive buffs, aiming to rebalance the support meta and promote diversity in champion choices.

League of Legends Patch 14.7 is scheduled to go live on April 3, 2024, aligning with Riot’s patch schedule.

League of Legends patch 14.7 early notes

Champions

Karma

E: Inspire

• Secondary targets of ult shield will gain 80% of the bonus shield instead of 30%

Nami

W: Ebb and Flow

• Base damage reduced: 60-220 >>> 60-200
• AP ratio reduced: 55% >>> 50%
• Base heal increased: 55-135 >>> 55-155
• Heal AP ratio increased: 25% >>> 40%
• Bounce reduction reduced: 15% >>> 10%
• Bounce reduction AP ratio increased: 7.5% per 100 AP >>> 10% per 100 AP

E: Tidecaller’s Blessing

• Base damage reduced: 20-80 >>> 20-60

Skarner

• Click here for the full details of Skarner Rework

Sona

Passive: Power Chord

• Q Passive damage increased: 28-336 + 28% AP >>> 30-360 + 30% AP

Q: Hymn of Valor

• On-hit AP ratio reduced: 20% >>> 10%

W: Aria of Perserverance

• Heal AP ratio increased: 15% >>> 30%

E: Song of Celerity

• Base movement speed increased: 10-14% >>> 10-18%

Items

Bloodsong

• Spellblade base AD ratio reduced: 150% >>> 100%

Imperial Mandate

• Damage reduced: 12% current HP >>> 10%

Zaz’Zak’s Realmspike

• Base damage reduced: 20 >>> 10
• Health damage reduced: 4% max HP >>> 3% max HP
• Cooldown increased: 8-6 seconds >>> 10 seconds flat

Encountering Yone in League of Legends often elicits frustration among players, especially when he goes in and out of combat with his Soul Unbound ability. However, with the recent rework of Skarner, this crystalline arachnid now possesses formidable tools capable of countering Yone.

The Primordial Sovereign has made his debut on League’s PBE testing server, where players are actively experimenting with various combos and interactions on Summoner’s Rift.

During testing, players stumbled upon a revelation: Skarner can disrupt the second phase of Yone’s Soul Unbound ability using his own E ability, Ixtal’s Impact. Yone’s Soul Unbound empowers him to temporarily forsake his physical form, traversing the battlefield in spirit form to pursue adversaries. In this state, Yone gains unique advantages, such as unit passage, the ability to attack, and access to his skills. Yet, upon the ability’s conclusion, Yone swiftly returns to his original location, resuming his corporeal form.

Traditionally, once Yone initiates the return phase of his Soul Unbound ability, he becomes unstoppable. However, the revamped Skarner now possesses a potent tool to halt Yone’s momentum dead in its tracks. Ixtal’s Impact not only grants the reimagined scorpion the ability to traverse all terrain but also enables him to seize and suppress any enemies he encounters.

In a video demonstration, Skarner is seen using Ixtal’s Impact to charge forward, intercepting Yone’s trajectory as he reverts to his physical form. Instead of allowing Yone to pass through him unhindered, Ixtal’s Impact seizes Yone mid-animation, thrusting him back into the fray and nullifying the sanctuary of his original body’s location.

This newfound tactic serves as a potent countermeasure against Yone players accustomed to exploiting the safety net of their Soul Unbound ability. Skarner’s positioning along Yone’s return path can abruptly terminate his dash, ensnaring him in a vulnerable state.

Whether utilized as a specialized mid-lane deterrent against Yone or as a formidable jungler, Skarner has quickly demonstrated his potential to reshape the meta in League of Legends.

The long-awaited VGU of Skarner, League of Legends’ crystalline scorpion champion, has finally been unveiled, bringing a fresh look to this classic character.

However, the update has not been met with universal acclaim, particularly when it comes to the redesigned skins accompanying the rework. Among these, the Guardian of the Sands skin has been a focal point of criticism for its perceived lack of value, despite its relatively high cost of 975RP.

A detailed critique surfaced on a Reddit thread dated March 19, where users delved into the specifics of their disappointment with the Guardian of the Sands Skarner skin. The thread’s original poster, Bubblegum1109, highlighted a particular grievance with the skin’s recall animation.

They lamented the loss of the original skin’s simple yet satisfying recall, criticizing the updated version for merely adding “sand” effects to the base recall animation. This change was seen as indicative of Riot Games’ willingness to “cut corners” on modern skin updates.

The discussion expanded as he drew comparisons between the Guardian of the Sands skin and other skins priced similarly or even lower. They pointed out that skins such as Hextech Galio and Crabgot, both priced at 520RP, received significant upgrades including new particles, sounds, and even voice filters, making Skarner’s update seem lackluster in comparison.

The sentiment that Riot Games had not put forth their best effort with Skarner’s new skins was echoed by many respondents to the thread. Accusations of “pure laziness” were common, with fans expressing their disillusionment, particularly those who had favored the Guardian of the Sands skin prior to its rework.

Furthermore, dissatisfaction was not limited to the Guardian of the Sands skin. Another skin, Earthrune Skarner, was mentioned by players as having been “absolutely robbed” in its transition. The rework transformed this skin from its original Earth Elemental theme to a more robotic appearance, further fueling the disappointment among the Skarner player base.

The rework of Skarner, including these controversial skin updates, is scheduled to be implemented with the upcoming League of Legends Patch 14.7, set to go live on April 3. The community’s feedback has been loud and clear, but whether Riot Games will address these criticisms and make adjustments to the skins in question is still uncertain.