Matchup

Heavy CCStrong engageVery tankyDive threat

Build vs Skarner

Build adapted to this matchup

Starting items

Doran's Ring
Health Potion
x2

Core build

Liandry's Torment
1Mage tank
Riftmaker
2Mage tank
Protoplasm Harness
3Survival

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Rylai's Crystal Scepter
5Mage tank

Summoner spells

4653%
41423%

Anti AD

Plated Steelcaps
4vs AD
Dead Man's Plate
5vs AD

Anti AP

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC
Jak'Sho, The Protean
5vs Hybride
Force of Nature
vs AP

Anti Tank

Bloodletter's Curse
5vs Tank

DPS

Rylai's Crystal Scepter
Mage tank
Cosmic Drive
Mage tank

Other options

Mejai's Soulstealer
Bandlepipes
vs Hybride
100.0% WR2 games
PrecisionPrecision
ConquerorConqueror
TriumphTriumph
Legend: AlacrityLegend: Alacrity
Last StandLast Stand
SorcerySorcery
CelerityCelerity
Nimbus CloakNimbus Cloak
Adaptive ForceMove SpeedHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Early (0-15)
Mid (15-30)
Late (30+)
SingedSinged
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