Skarner's rework has been overdue, with Riot having postponed it several times during the development process. He convincingly won the Season 12 VGU poll with over a third of the vote, and fans of the Brackern can look forward to a comprehensive overhaul, including revamped abilities, updated visuals, and a new lore.
It's been a while since we received news about Skarner's VGU (Visual and Gameplay Update), but a recent developer blog has unveiled some exciting details about the rework. While a full reveal is pending, we now have more insight into what Skarner's rework will encompass, from his abilities to his overall appearance.
Although some information is still under wraps, the majority of the rework has been shared, with the caveat that it remains subject to change before the projected 2024 release.
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Release Date
The rework of Skarner has faced significant delays and is now expected to launch in early 2024. While an exact release date remains unconfirmed, players will have to wait a bit longer to experience the revamped Skarner in action.
Skarner's Reworked Abilities in League of Legends
While Skarner's kit is still in development and may undergo changes, all of his abilities have been showcased.
Here's what we know about Skarner's reworked abilities:
Skarner's New Q
Skarner's new Q will empower him to hurl a massive rock towards his enemies, causing area-of-effect damage and slowing them down. Interestingly, he can retain the rock for some time and decide when to release it. The duration of this "rock-holding" ability remains unclear.
Skarner's New W
Skarner's W introduces a substantial damage field that grants him a shield. It appears somewhat similar to his current W, though it's uncertain whether the reworked ability will provide the same attack speed benefits that non-reworked Skarner enjoyed. Furthermore, it's unclear whether this ability includes crowd control effects.
Skarner's New E
Skarner's E is the freshest addition to his abilities. This skill enables him to traverse through walls, drifting towards his target and, upon collision with an obstacle, applying crowd control effects to the opponent. How this ability interacts with other champions and whether it goes through multiple enemies remains unconfirmed.
Skarner's new R
While Riot developers had previously confirmed that Impale would still be part of Skarner's kit, the new version allows him to apprehend multiple enemies at once, in contrast to the single-target nature of the previous version. However, it is now possible for enemies to evade this ability, and it features two stages of damage. Escaping from Impale results in only half the damage being dealt. This new iteration of the ability adds complexity and impact to Skarner's gameplay.
In the rework, Skarner's crystal theme has been replaced entirely with a scorpion motif, complete with three stingers. While early concept art featured three stingers, the in-game model deviates slightly from the original designs.
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Skin Reworks
Skarner's rework extends to his skins, which are receiving substantial updates. Several of his skins have not been refreshed since his release in 2011, making this update long overdue.
The skins set for transformation alongside the rework are:
- Earthrune Skarner (520 RP)
- Sandscourge Skarner (975 RP)
- Guardian of the Sands Skarner (975 RP)
- Cosmic Sting Skarner (1350 RP)
- Battlecast Alpha Skarner (1820 RP)
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