Skarner’s Struggles with the Update
Skarner, the Primordial Sovereign, recently received a significant visual and gameplay update in League of Legends. However, despite the excitement surrounding the changes, Skarner is currently facing some challenges in finding success on the live servers.
According to data from U.GG, Skarner has the lowest win rate of any champion in Patch 14.7. Across Platinum ranks and higher, Skarner’s win rate sits at an abysmal 37.3 percent. This poor performance extends beyond the jungle role, as Skarner has also seen lackluster results when played in the support and top lane positions.
The New Skarner Experience
Skarner underwent a complete overhaul in Patch 14.7, receiving a brand new set of abilities and a fresh look. This update marked a significant departure from his original design, which had remained unchanged since his debut in 2011. With this update, Skarner now boasts five unique skins, though this remains one of the lowest skin counts among the entire League of Legends champion roster. Despite his previous lack of popularity, Skarner now offers a multitude of new tricks for players to discover and master.
Adjusting to the New Meta
When champions or reworks are introduced, it is not uncommon for their win rates to initially suffer. This is because players need time to familiarize themselves with the optimal strategies and playstyles associated with these updated characters.
For instance, Briar, a recent addition to League of Legends, initially struggled with a low win rate. However, after several hotfixes and as players became more adept at harnessing her abilities, Briar found her place in the solo queue meta and now boasts a significantly improved win rate. Similarly, Skarner will require time for players to adapt to his new kit and fully understand the best approaches for engaging, utilizing his ultimate, and making crucial decisions in-game.
On the surface, Skarner’s ability set may appear overpowered, but players still need to learn how to effectively engage, utilize his ultimate, and retreat when necessary. Skarner must strike a balance between tankiness and aggression, knowing when to soak up damage and when to seize opportunities to initiate teamfights or make sneaky objective steals by tunneling through walls.
In conclusion, despite the initial struggles Skarner is facing with his update, it is normal for champions to go through an adjustment period. As players become more comfortable with his new playstyle and develop strategies specific to him, Skarner has the potential to carve out a strong position in the ever-evolving League of Legends meta.
