Stat-Stick Skarner Top
CompetitiveSkarner Top by Nyniva — updated Jul 30, 2026
Uhhh, are these numbers correct?
Item Build
Starting Items
you start with 475g
You're going to want the Crystalline Flask sustain for early aggro plays. Skarner also benefits from the mana regen a lot. You could go 
Doran's Ring if you think you might lose the 1v1, but as of this patch, it's pretty much impossible to lose the 1v1 on Skarner level 1.
(I will update this if skarner is gutted, as of right now skarner is still on top)
Core Build
Trinity Force is the builds core, rush 
Sheen first item whenever you can. 
Iceborn Gauntlet I don't think is good even though the stats are ok because you have a superior built in slow in Crystal Slash (Q) . Because of this you benefit much more from the speed that Trinity Force gives you, allowing you to pull farther with Impale (R) and overall superior damage. If you are super far behind and the enemy laner is an AD laner, then I guess Iceborn Gauntlet could be ok.
Now that our damage is solved, the only other choice our tiny scorpion mind needs to make is Frozen Heart or Spirit Visage after trinity.
I trust you'll make the right choice.
Flex Items
Randuin's Omen Probably the most useful armor item we can build after Frozen Heart . Use it to shut down heavy auto attackers even more.
Runic Bulwark A team play that gives good stats, good against magic damage teams especially.
Force of Nature Exceptional mobility and defensive option
Guardian Angel Against teams with heavy burst that will focus you down, this can be a great option to shut them down.
Abyssal Scepter I wouldn't personally recommend it, but if you're having fun, and want MR and AP along with shred for your team, it can be ok.
Spirit of the Ancient Golem Great tenacity option with great stats for a low price, great against teams with heavy CC 
Fiddlesticks 
Morgana 
Taric etc
Zhonya's Hourglass Similar to guardian angel but with a higher skill ceiling and more damage, allows you to negate burst and give your team time to respond and your cooldowns to come back up.
Boots
Boots of Mobility if you will be roaming constantly and fighting in other lanes, very good in classic.
Summoner Spells
Ghost and Ignite are the summoners we will take every match until Riot nerfs this. With these summoners, people will underestimate you level 1 take the all in near middle, and die without a doubt. We also take 
Summoner's Wrath to boost these down below. Later on Ghost and movement speed items allow you to Impale (R) people and drag them far out of position.
Skill Order
(Q)›(W)›(E)| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | |||||||||||||
| W | W | W | W | W | |||||||||||||
| E | E | E | E | E | |||||||||||||
| R | R | R |
Fracture (E) is whatever, don't use it too often after the first few levels, drains mana, heal is pretty small compared to your health pool.
Runes
This every match Runes
9× Mark of Attack Speedmark
9× Seal of Armorseal
9× Glyph of Scaling Magic Resistglyph
3× Quintessence of Movement Speedquint
Quintessence of Movement Speed is the best stat you can build on Skarner , making him hard to catch, and hard to run away from. Attack speed good since it helps him spam abilities with his Energize (P)
Masteries
1/1
3/4
4/4
1/1
4/4
3/3
2/3
2/2
1/1
1/1
1/3
3/3
3/3
1/1
He's just so strong, that defensive stats are all you need lol.
Introduction
Skarner is absolutely disgusting right now.
Unkillable, and insanely damaging.
Top lane in particular is pretty oppressive because most people do not know, and will be caught very very unaware.
Early Game
Level 1, if the enemy champion tries to fight you in the middle of the lane, feel free to trade with him a little and then pop Ignite and Ghost , he will be unable to out run you and will die without a doubt. Make sure to pop your Crystalline Flask .
After your first blood, make sure you move into the middle of the next wave, Crystal Slash (Q) to clear it quickly, and back for your first item. 
Boots of Speed or 
Amplifying Tome. AP is very good on Skarner early on because of how it increases damage and tankiness through Crystalline Exoskeleton (W) shield.
Keep clearing waves quick with your Crystal Slash (Q) and start farming enemy jungle whenever you get far enough ahead.
Pros & Cons
Insane damage with Crystal Slash (Q)
Insanely tanky with Crystalline Exoskeleton (W) , which also increases his damage by a large amount.
Great utility and team fighting with Impale (R)
Matchups
Jax wait out his 
Counter Strike (E) , or don't, your Crystal Slash (Q) still damages him, but if he took Ignite make sure you avoid his stun.
Tryndamere Just kill him
Sion Make sure to pop his shield to avoid the damage
Kayle nothing she can do, just kill
Gangplank try to bait out his orange and then use ult.
Nasus Push him in, kill him, and run around the map stealing enemy jg and killing other laners.
Pantheon If you give him a kill or two, consider building 
Glacial Shroud before finishing trinity. Otherwise you should run him over.
If anything is not here, and is a cheesy mage who is staying far and won't interact, just shove them in, and roam hard into enemy jungle.
Conclusion
Thanks for reading, have had a lot of success with Skarner and I hope you do too. Please like and feel free to comment any questions :)
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