Skarner is a vanguard tank who grabs an enemy with R and drags them to their death. His kit is built for one thing: pick the enemy carry, drag them to your team, and watch them die.
Abilities
Skills Overview
P
Threads of Vibration
Passive
Skarner's Attacks, Shattered Earth, Upheaval, and Impale, apply Quaking. At max stacks of Quaking, enemies take max Health magic damage over its duration.
Passive applies stacks to enemies. At 3 stacks, basic abilities stun. Track your stacks.
Q
Shattered Earth / Upheaval
AoE · Slow
Skarner rips a boulder from the earth that empowers his attacks and can be thrown as a powerful projectile.
CD: 8/6.75/5.5/4.25/3 · Cost: 30
Q is AoE damage + slow. Use for clear and in fights after engaging.
W
Seismic Bastion
Shield · MS
Skarner gains a shield and creates an earthquake whose shockwave damages and slows foes.
CD: 10/9/8/7/6 · Cost: 60/65/70/75/80
W gives a shield and MS burst. Use before engaging for the movement speed.
E
Ixtal's Impact
Dash · Stun
Skarner charges forward and passes through terrain. If he collides with a champion or large monster, he'll slam them into the next wall he hits to damage and stun them.
CD: 22/21/20/19/18 · Cost: 50/55/60/65/70
E is a dash that can stun if passive is stacked. Use for engage or escape.
R
Impale
Suppress · Drag
Skarner's tails lash forward to suppress enemy champions. Once suppressed, the victims will be dragged along by Skarner as he moves around.
CD: 120/105/90 · Cost: 100
R suppresses a target and drags them with you. Walk them into your team. The most powerful single-target CC in the game.
Skill Leveling Order — Max Q first, then W, then E · R at 6 / 11 / 16
| Level | Q | W | E | R | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Take Q — AoE clear | ||||
| 2 | Take W — shield + MS | ||||
| 3 | Take E — dash | ||||
| 4 | Level Q | ||||
| 5 | Level Q | ||||
| 6 | R — Impale | ||||
| 7 | Level Q | ||||
| 8 | Level W | ||||
| 9 | Q maxed ✓ | ||||
| 10 | Level W | ||||
| 11 | R rank 2 | ||||
| 12 | Level W | ||||
| 13 | Level W | ||||
| 14 | W maxed ✓ | ||||
| 15 | Level E | ||||
| 16 | R rank 3 | ||||
| 17 | Level E | ||||
| 18 | E maxed ✓ |
Itemization
Recommended Builds
Core Build
Trinity Force
Sheen proc on Q spam. MS + AD + HP.
3333g
Plated Steelcaps
Armor.
1100g
Randuin's Omen
Crit reduction + slow.
2700g
Spirit Visage
MR + increased W shield.
2900g
Situational
Thornmail
Grievous wounds.
2700g
Force of Nature
MR + MS.
2800g
Gargoyle Stoneplate
Massive shield in fights.
3200g
Trinity Force for damage, then full tank. You need to survive long enough to R the carry back to your team.
Runes
Resolve Primary
Aftershock
Procs on E stun and R suppress.
Font of Life
CC marks for ally healing.
Conditioning
Free resistances.
Unflinching
Tenacity when low.
Precision Secondary
Triumph
Heal on takedown.
Legend: Tenacity
Tenacity stacking.
Shards
Ability Haste · Armor · Health
Gameplay
How to Play Skarner
01
Early Game
Farm, Gank with E
- Start Blue → Gromp → Wolves → Raptors → Red → Krugs.
- Level 3 ganks with E dash + passive stun are decent.
- W shield + MS helps survive ganks and chase.
- Avoid 1v1s vs strong duelists. You're a team fighter.
- Build fury passive stacks on camps to prepare for fights.
02
Mid Game
R the Carry
- R is your win condition. Flash → R the enemy carry → drag them to your team.
- E dash → passive stun → R suppress is your full CC chain.
- Force objectives. Your R wins smite fights by suppressing the enemy jungler.
- W before engaging for the shield and MS. You need to reach the target.
- In dragon fights, R the enemy jungler away from the pit.
03
Late Game
Drag and Delete
- Flash → R is the most devastating pick in the game. The carry dies every time.
- In teamfights, R the most dangerous enemy and walk them into your team.
- Q spam for AoE damage while tanking.
- W shield + tank items make you extremely hard to kill.
- If behind, R is still game-changing. One good R wins any fight regardless of gold deficit.
Teamfighting
How to Teamfight as Skarner
Skarner's teamfight is simple: R the carry, drag them to your team, they die. Everything else is secondary.
1
Approach — W + Flash
Getting in range
01
W for shield + MS.
02
Flash if needed to reach the carry.
03
R immediately.
R has short range. You MUST be right next to the target. Flash → R is usually required.
2
Drag — R Suppress
The grab
01
R suppresses for 1.75 seconds.
02
Walk back toward your team.
03
Q for damage during drag.
3
Kill — Team Follow-Up
The execution
01
Your team kills the dragged target.
02
E stun the next enemy.
03
Q AoE for ongoing damage.
R goes through QSS — wait, it doesn't. If the enemy has QSS, bait it with E stun first, THEN R.
Tips & Tricks
Advanced Mechanics & Hidden Tech
Advanced mechanics for Skarner.
Basic
Flash R
Flash → R is your bread and butter. It's nearly impossible to react to. Practice the timing.
Intermediate
R Direction
After R, walk BACK toward your team. The suppressed enemy is dragged with you. Don't stand still.
Basic
QSS Counter
QSS (Quicksilver Sash) cleanses your R. Track who has QSS and consider R-ing a different target.
Intermediate
W Before Engage
W gives shield and MS. Always activate it before running in to reach R range.
Advanced
R Smite Deny
R the enemy jungler during Baron/Dragon to suppress them. They can't Smite during suppression.
Basic
E Engage
E is a dash that helps close distance. Use E → R for a gap-close into suppress.
Matchups
Counters & Matchups
Skarner struggles against champions with QSS/cleanse and mobile champions he can't reach. He excels against immobile carries.
Click any matchup to expand tips & how to play against them
Loses Against
Kindred Q-kites you and her R prevents the kill after you drag someone.
R Kindred's teammates, not her. She can't R save someone you're dragging away.
Graves E-dashes away from your R range and kites you.
Flash → R is required. He can't dash during suppress.
Lee Sin's mobility and kick make it hard to reach your R target.
Wait for Lee Sin to engage first. Counter-engage with R on whoever he kicks forward.
Wins Against
Karthus has no escape from R. Drag him into your team = instant death.
R Karthus. He dies. Simple.
Amumu can't escape R and your CC chain outlasts his.
R Amumu before he can R your team. Counter-engage wins.
Evelynn is squishy and R suppression prevents her escape ult.
R Evelynn when she's visible. She can't R escape during suppression.