Build Update
13-08-2011
-Added to a little more detail for the roaming build
-moved the Update section
-Added more champs to the Impale Tactics section
-Fixed various grammar errors
-Added zone control section
*Major Guide Update!!!*
-Reworked the jungle section now having two separate routes(Beginner and Expert)
-Made the guide less confusing by separating the Items and spells.
-Fixed the rest of the grammar errors
-Added Alternate Runes.

18/08/2011
-Revampamed build #1
-updated Lane Skarner build for a more consistent setup.

04/11/2011
-Changed item sequence for laning
-Updated guide in general
-SORRY FOR THE LONG WAIT FOR AN UPDATE

Hello everyone this is OpticZeRo giving you guys another guide! This time I will be telling you all about Skarner in the most in-depth way I possibly can. I will cover The 3 ways that Skarner can be played which is Lane,Jungle and Roaming.

In my opinion is very similar to in terms of play style; so essentially the Runner role but with a Brawler aspect to him. Skarner is a Tanky Running Brawler champ that can really disrupt team fights and win a game for the team. Do not be surprised if your scores go a little something like this: 4-2-25

Sit back crack open a beer and enjoy the ride!

+Good skill kit
+Can excel in many roles
+Multidimensional
+Can take a good beating with the right build
+Great Ultimate

-Currently UP
-Can run into Mana problems
-Very squishy early on
-Semi Item dependent
-weak ganker pre lvl 6

Energize- Basic attacks lower the cooldowns of Skarner's abilities by 1 second against champions and 0.5 seconds against non-champions.
Skarner has a great passive this really makes spamming his abilities easy. This kinda promotes auto-attacking in a way but overall a good passive
- Skarner lashes out with his claws, dealing physical damage to all nearby enemies and charging himself with Crystal Energy for 5 seconds.
If he casts Crystal Slash again while empowered by Crystal Energy, he deals bonus magic damage and slows all targets hit for 2 seconds.
This is your most spammable skill you have and your main source of CC. Use this to quickly heal yourself after you use . This is also your main source of damage due to the fact you'll be spamming this while chasing your target.
-Skarner receives a shield for up to 6 seconds. While the shield persists his movement speed and attack speed are increased.
This in itself is your steroid it gives you everything you need to be a Runner; use it for farming and chasing/escaping. In the jungle this gives you a nice shield to take a little more damage
-Skarner summons a blast of crystalline energy which deals damage to enemies struck and marks them for 6 seconds. Any further damage dealt to marked targets by Skarner will allow him to consume the mark to heal himself. Subsequent marks consumed will heal for 50% of the last.
This gives you staying power in the Lane and Jungle. This will keep you at safe amount of health and overall make you farm more. This also makes a good poke; The best way to use it is either aiming it at the minions while their still in a line or while their in a group. This will ensure that you hit the maximum amount of targets in a single cast.
-Skarner suppresses an enemy champion for 1.5 seconds and deals magic damage to it. During this time, Skarner can move freely and will drag his helpless victim around with him. When the effect ends, Skarner's target will be dealt the same amount of magic damage again.
This lovely skill turns the tides in team fights singling out one champ can do a lot of damage to a team in a team fight. In most cases you want to use this on the carry or the Caster and drag them as far away from the fight as possible. When the channel ends unload your skills on the target. Also this skill can be used on those pesky champs who run away with 10HP......now aren't those annoying???

Lane(Build#1) - This offer some much needed movement speed since you'll be chasing after those stragglers. This even helps with escaping most of the time you wont be caught. Best of all these worked great with

- These provide some much needed defense because Skarner is really squishy early on.

Greater Seal of Replenishment-Some much needed mana regain. Helps early on and threw out the entire game

- Some more Armor early on overall these make you stay in a lane longer.

Jungle Build(Build#2) -These give you some great attack speed early on which helps you alot when Jungling.

-Cool down reduction so you can spam your abilities more.

-Dodge chance to really help in the jungle early on. The less hits they get on you the better.

-Magic pen to make your abilities hit for that much more.



Roaming Build(Build#3) -Ok there's been alot of talk about these bad boys; Are they even worth it?? Well in my opinion yes; you won't be killing as many creeps as you regularly would because you'll be somewhere on the map most the time. So the gold has to come from somewhere this way you don't get behind.

-you can have enough defense

Greater Mark of Desolation-along with hitting creeps for full damage this provides some nice damage to champs as well every extra bit helps.

Greater Seal of Replenishment-some extra mana regain early on to ensure you always have enough mana to use your skills. Skarner has mana issues so these come in handy.


Alternate Runes
Lane
Jungle
Roaming
*Details on each coming next update*

Lane(Build#1)
19-6-5
For laning I choose a very odd setup for masterys; basically only getting everything I really need in all the trees.Since you will be Runner/Tank/Brawler you need some investment in every tree.

Jungle(Build#2)
10-11-9
This is another odd setup I use for Jungling; improved smite is a must. You need Offensive Mastery to deal more damage to minions and Defensive Mastery to take less damage from the. This makes Jungling alot safer for Skarner.

Roam(Build#3)
11-6-13
As you can see another odd setup; Again only grabbing everything you need in each tree.


Since Skarner is fitting in to so many roles you need to have odd setups(I Find) The generic 21-9-0,9-21-0,etc.... just don't work they don't give you enough; every mastery point is precious to Skarner since he is fulfilling so much. To me this is the only way to be successful.

*I will do some more testing with different mastery setups and if they work ill make Alt setups for all builds!*

- This really secures kills for you if you have the odd runner getting away. Also this shuts down Champs like and .
- This is a must you need speed to catch/escape enemies. This will keep you in close range of your target always.
-This is an essential Jungle spell it speeds up your jungling a hell of a lot. Although by late game its kinda useless expect for when your team is getting Baron it is still a must have spell.
- Flash has so many uses its not funny. Its a get out of jail free card and really helps you survive when you get stuck. Flash really helps with positioning which you need when your a roaming.


*The Rest of the Summoner Spells*
-This is a great alternate spell in place of I don't really like it because you have but Exhaust really shuts down the enemy teams DPS. Take it if you like its a fine choice.

- Tanks usually get this Skarner shouldn't.

- Great for 1v1 combat but Skarner isn't about that.

- Like I said in my Yi guide I've seen some amazing things happen when Revive is used but honestly I think it relies on Teleport to work.

- I actually Like Teleport its great for Lane Skarner for travelling across the map. If you were able to pick 3 summoner spells then this would be the best choice.

- Supports get this it offers great map awareness but Skarner doesn't need it

-oh wait........ :'( No actually this is getting re-implemented in Dominion when it get's released. SO YA!

These Items I believe are core Items on Skarner so in every build I have them

- This gives you Life steal and Spell vamp along with a very nice active for sniping those runners or dropping it on those carrys in team fights. This is overall a great Hybrid item that is a core item on Skarner.
- Health,Armor and 35 damage per second. This gives you survivablity and offence all in one item. The best of both worlds :)
-Blocks a single CC ability used on you which is what really makes this shine. On top of that your getting Health,Mana and MR oh ya and the Mana adds more damage with
This is a great item on Skarner and in my eyes a core item but it just doesn't fit in Lane build because you need to be tad more tanky. It gives you so much that its just hard to pass up. Your Q will do 100% more AD and your attacks may slow your target. Its a great item.

If you are one of the people choosing Lane Skarner then you have alot to learn. Skarner as said above cover alot of roles well at least in my build. Your job is to secure kills for your team you will chase down those runners and bring them all the way back to their demise with . Your goal is to make sure no one gets away.


In a lane as Skarner you want to play it kinda safe because you are very squishy early so just try and farm up and harass when you see fit. A big thing you should remember is don't spam your abilities because early on Skarner is hindered by mana problems. Also Skarner sucks at Solo lanning its very hard to hold a 1v2 lane as him and even a 1v1 depending who the opponent is. What ever you do don't take a solo lane.

Skarner actually excels at jungling and he's one of the fastest at it. Although his ganks aren't strong until he gets

Here is the jungle order for beginers
Blue Buff-Wolves-Wraiths-Small Golems-Recall-Red Buff-GANK

All Credit for this awesome Jungle route pic goes to TheSoupKitchen make sure to check out his guides!!



Blue Buff
You want to get a leash from your mid laner or Top solo. Make sure you pop a health pot and spam your Q. Smite him at 500HP or so

Wolves
This is easy you spam Q and use to heal.

Wraiths
Pop a health Pot spam Q and use when its up

Small Golems
This is another Easy one Q,W and E when ever its up.

Recall back home pick up your Razor or boots(I prefer boots). With the extra money either buy Health Pots or a few Sight Ward. Or save the money.

Red Buff
Pop a health Pot and Spam your skills. Smite it when its at low health something around 500-600HP

GANK!!

Place your ward in the river somewhere I usually place it somewhere near dragon. Generally I go to Top or Mid. make sure before you commit use your Q first this way the slow is proceed when you use it again. If you can secure a kill that's ok keep trying in whatever lanes that need help.

Dragon I would get help with that around the lvl 8 area but make sure you get it every time its up.

Expert Jungle Route
Blue Buff-Wolves-Wraiths-Small Golems-Red Buff-GANK!!!
*More Details Coming Soon!*


Here's the Unique items you'll be getting as Jungle Skarner

-This gives you a free Ward which makes it so awesome. The damage and Armor are bonus. Get it most of the time but if there's a Champ with a lot of health like then get .

-You have 2 options for boots these give you some added protection against CC which will shut you down so the less time it affects you the better.

- This gives you more attack speed to help in the jungle and land more auto attacks.

Jungling is not my cup of tea and I'm not the best jungler in the world but I can hold my own if I need to jungle for a team. Thankfully I can actually jungle with Skarner so making this was kinda easy.

Roaming Skarner? Your damn right hes actually a great roamer. What you want to do is lane until lvl 6 I do this because that's when Skarners ganks are at his strongest. Then you'll be roaming but be sure to get Philosopher's Stone and before you start roaming this will give you everything to roam efficiently.

Roaming is all about positioning and will provide you with all the tools you need to get into the proper position to use

Here's the unique items you'll be getting when you build roaming Skarner

-this will help you get you to the lanes faster and this will overall make roaming a lot more effective

- this item will provide you with mana regain which will keep you from running out of mana. the active will get you and your teammates to the locations on the map alot faster as well as catching/escaping enemies.

-this provides you with everything you need to effetively tank for your team and provides you with a useful active that will slow opponents movement speed and attack speed by a whopping 35%. you should use the active when ganking and in team fights before you use

/Philosopher's Stone-These really help with keeping up in the gold department because as a roamer you wont be killing as many creeps as you usually would;so you need to find some sort of income somewhere. Thats where these come in along with giving you some much needed stats that will help you early on; they give you 5 gold per10 seconds. So every 10 seconds you will be making an income of 13 gold per 10 seconds just from these items and your 3 Along with the assists/kills you get this makes quite an impact.

Roaming Skarner takes a while to get a hang of because it is dependent heavily on Ganking and positioning. SO don't be discouraged if you do horrible the first time out.

Zone control is very important in League of Lgendds knowing a little about can impact a game greatly heres a little guide by RIOT Games very own Shurelia
Play Video

Here is a list of all the threats you should use on in a team fight.,

-HE IS DANGEROUS!!! The faster you remove him from the fight the better. But be careful because when the channel end on your ult he will be pissed
-Another burst champ that an cause alot of havoc on the battle field;You need to work fast or else
-When he uses his ult and you use yours his ult still procs but removing him is key; you don't want him to knock up your team.
He has alot of CC he is the only tank I would consider removing from play.
-He can decimate your team if hes building DPS and even worse so as AP.
-He's a little less threatening because he a major 1v1 burst champ; Hes really good at singling out one target with and first up on his chopping block is your carry.
-He's only one of the best innaters in the game; so removing him before he uses or the better.
-She has an AoE slow which needs to be avoided in team fights. All the more reason to pull her out of it completely.
- she will kill an entire team with a press of one button. You have 2 choices on how to deal with her 1.Before she uses or 2.At the beginning of
-Once he pops stealth you know whats coming although he was nerfed heavily hes still dangerous. Try and get him right at the beginning of spray and pray. This will be difficult because hes usually sitting in the back so to him and SHOW HIM YOUR STING!

Some times getting the right champ is hard because some sit in the back or some are right in the middle of the fight. is the best solution for getting into position but not every build runs flash so you need to be that much more aware of where you are.

*More to come!*

Thanks for reading my guide I hope it covered all the aspects you were looking for. If i'm missing something please point it out and Ill be sure to add it.

Don't forget to comment and vote and check back for updates.

Have fun!