Matchup

Heavy CCStrong engageVery tankyDive threat

Build vs Skarner

Build adapted to this matchup

Starting items

Health Potion
x2

Core build

Bandlepipes
1vs Hybride
Knight's Vow
2vs AD
Thornmail
3vs Hybride

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Locket of the Iron Solari
5HP

Summoner spells

41479%
4711%

Anti AD

Plated Steelcaps
4vs AD
Frozen Heart
5vs AD
Randuin's Omen
vs AD

Anti AP

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC
Kaenic Rookern
5vs AP

Other options

Locket of the Iron Solari
HP
Celestial Opposition
HP
Protoplasm Harness
Survival
Bloodsong
HP
Solstice Sleigh
HP
Zeke's Convergence
Tank
Mikael's Blessing
HP
100.0% WR2 games
ResolveResolve
AftershockAftershock
Font of LifeFont of Life
Bone PlatingBone Plating
UnflinchingUnflinching
InspirationInspiration
Biscuit DeliveryBiscuit Delivery
Cosmic InsightCosmic Insight
Ability HasteHealth ScalingHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Early (0-15)
Mid (15-30)
Late (30+)
LeonaLeona
SkarnerSkarner
Neutral
Neutral
Neutral

Skarner's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Threads of Vibration (P)

Skarner's Attacks, Shattered Earth, Upheaval, and Impale, apply Quaking. At max stacks of Quaking, enemies take max Health magic damage over its duration.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
38s10s22s
65.5s10s22s2m
93s9s22s2m
113s8s22s1m45
163s6s20s1m30
183s6s18s1m30

Playing against Skarner

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

1

QSS cancels his R suppression — mandatory for carries.

2

Don't separate from your team: Skarner isolates targets who wander off with R.

3

His E is his only gap-close: if he misses it, he can't reach the carries.

4

Kite him as a team: Skarner is slow without his E and needs to get close for R.

Source: op.gg + LTL Engine · Patch 16.9.1 · May 9, 2026