Matchup

Heavy CCStrong engageVery tankyDive threat

Build vs Skarner

Build adapted to this matchup

Starting items

Doran's Blade
Health Potion

Core build

Yun Tal Wildarrows
1DPS
Infinity Edge
2DPS
Navori Flickerblade
3DPS

Standard

Berserker's Greaves
4AS
The Collector
5vs Tank

Anti AD

Plated Steelcaps
4vs AD
Guardian Angel
5vs AD

Anti Heal

Mortal Reminder
6vs Hybride

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Anti Tank

The Collector
5vs Tank
Lord Dominik's Regards
vs Tank

DPS

Bloodthirster
DPS
Hexoptics C44
DPS

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Early (0-15)
Mid (15-30)
Late (30+)
TristanaTristana
SkarnerSkarner
Aggressive
Careful
Careful

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