Matchup

Heavy CCStrong engageVery tankyDive threat

Build vs Skarner

Build adapted to this matchup

Starting items

Doran's Ring
Health Potion
x2

Core build

Tear of the Goddess
1
Liandry's Torment
2Mage tank
Fimbulwinter
3Survival

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Riftmaker
5Mage tank

Summoner spells

41456%
41238%

Anti AD

Plated Steelcaps
4vs AD
Unending Despair
5vs AD
Randuin's Omen
vs AD

Anti AP

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC
Spirit Visage
5vs AP

Anti Tank

Shadowflame
5vs Tank

DPS

Riftmaker
Mage tank
Malignance
Mage
Rabadon's Deathcap
Mage
Cosmic Drive
Mage tank

Other options

Jak'Sho, The Protean
vs Hybride
100.0% WR2 games
ResolveResolve
Grasp of the UndyingGrasp of the Undying
Shield BashShield Bash
Second WindSecond Wind
RevitalizeRevitalize
InspirationInspiration
Biscuit DeliveryBiscuit Delivery
Approach VelocityApproach Velocity
Adaptive ForceAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

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