Skarner

Openingsall within the 475 starting gold

• Hunter's Machete300gPassive: Basic Attacks deal 10 magic damage to monsters On-Hit.Butcher: Damage dealt to monsters increased by 10%.Basic item — no components.5Health Potion35gClick to Consume: Restores 150 Health over 15 seconds. Limited to 5 at one time.Basic item — no components.Yellow Trinket0gActive: s Places an Invisible Stealth Ward that grants vision for 60 seconds.Basic item — no components.

  Machete sustain start — Default jungle start: Hunter's Machete plus five Health Potions gives the safest first clear.

• Hunter's Machete300gPassive: Basic Attacks deal 10 magic damage to monsters On-Hit.Butcher: Damage dealt to monsters increased by 10%.Basic item — no components.3Health Potion35gClick to Consume: Restores 150 Health over 15 seconds. Limited to 5 at one time.Basic item — no components.Sight Ward75gClick to Consume: Places an invisible ward that reveals the surrounding area for 3 minutes.Basic item — no components.Yellow Trinket0gActive: s Places an Invisible Stealth Ward that grants vision for 60 seconds.Basic item — no components.

  Machete ward start — Use this when an early invade, buff steal, or lane-protecting ward matters more than maximum potion sustain.

Corein buy order

• 1Spirit of the Ancient Golem2,000g (450g to combine)Health500Health Regen14 / 5sMana Regen7 / 5sCooldown Reduction10%Butcher: Damage dealt to monsters increased by 30%.Tenacity: Reduces the duration of Stuns, Slows, Taunts, Fears, Silences, Blinds, and Immobilizes by 35%.Recipe

  Spirit of the Ancient GolemSpirit of the Ancient Golem2,000g (450g to combine)Health500Health Regen14 / 5sMana Regen7 / 5sCooldown Reduction10%Butcher: Damage dealt to monsters increased by 30%.Tenacity: Reduces the duration of Stuns, Slows, Taunts, Fears, Silences, Blinds, and Immobilizes by 35%.Recipe2,000gSpirit of the Ancient Golem gives Skarner health, sustain, CDR, jungle damage, and Tenacity in one slot.

• 2Iceborn Gauntlet3,250g (700g to combine)Ability Power30Armor70Mana500Cooldown Reduction10%Spellblade of True Ice: After using an ability, the next Basic Attack (On-Hit) deals bonus physical damage equal to 125% of base Attack Damage to enemies near the target, and creates a field around the target for 2 seconds that Slows enemy Move Speed by 30% (2 second cooldown, half-sized field if ranged).Recipe

  Iceborn GauntletIceborn Gauntlet3,250g (700g to combine)Ability Power30Armor70Mana500Cooldown Reduction10%Spellblade of True Ice: After using an ability, the next Basic Attack (On-Hit) deals bonus physical damage equal to 125% of base Attack Damage to enemies near the target, and creates a field around the target for 2 seconds that Slows enemy Move Speed by 30% (2 second cooldown, half-sized field if ranged).Recipe3,250gIceborn Gauntlet turns Skarner's constant Q casts into repeated Spellblade hits and extra sticking power without buying a second Spellblade item.

• 3Spirit Visage2,750g (500g to combine)Health400Magic Resist55Health Regen4 / 5sCooldown Reduction20%Lifeforce: Increases self-healing, Health Regen, Lifesteal, and Spell Vamp effects by 20%.Recipe

  Spirit VisageSpirit Visage2,750g (500g to combine)Health400Magic Resist55Health Regen4 / 5sCooldown Reduction20%Lifeforce: Increases self-healing, Health Regen, Lifesteal, and Spell Vamp effects by 20%.Recipe2,750gSpirit Visage adds CDR, magic resistance, health, and amplifies Fracture healing and general sustain.

Situationalonly when the game asks for it

• Mercury's Treads1,200g (475g to combine)Magic Resist25Enhanced Movement: 45 Move SpeedTenacity: Reduces the duration of Stuns, Slows, Taunts, Fears, Silences, Blinds, and Immobilizes by 35%.Recipe

  Mercury's TreadsMercury's Treads1,200g (475g to combine)Magic Resist25Enhanced Movement: 45 Move SpeedTenacity: Reduces the duration of Stuns, Slows, Taunts, Fears, Silences, Blinds, and Immobilizes by 35%.Recipe1,200gBuy Mercury's Treads only if you are not finishing Spirit of the Ancient Golem and need Tenacity from boots instead.

• Boots of Swiftness1,000g (675g to combine)Enhanced Movement: 60 Move SpeedSlow Resist: Movement slowing effects are reduced by 25%.Recipe

  Boots of SwiftnessBoots of Swiftness1,000g (675g to combine)Enhanced Movement: 60 Move SpeedSlow Resist: Movement slowing effects are reduced by 25%.Recipe1,000gBuy Boots of Swiftness when slows are the main thing stopping you from reaching Impale range.

• Guardian Angel2,750g (1,310g to combine)Armor50Magic Resist40Guardian's Intervention: Upon taking lethal damage, restores 30% of maximum Health and Mana after 4 seconds of stasis (5 minute cooldown).Recipe

  Guardian AngelGuardian Angel2,750g (1,310g to combine)Armor50Magic Resist40Guardian's Intervention: Upon taking lethal damage, restores 30% of maximum Health and Mana after 4 seconds of stasis (5 minute cooldown).Recipe2,750gBuy Guardian Angel when you are the primary engage and one revive can decide late-game Baron or inhibitor fights.

• Wit's End2,150g (850g to combine)Attack Speed40%Magic Resist25Feedback Loop: Basic Attacks deal 42 bonus magic damage On-Hit and increase your Magic Resist by 5 for 5 seconds (stacks up to 4 times.)Recipe

  Wit's EndWit's End2,150g (850g to combine)Attack Speed40%Magic Resist25Feedback Loop: Basic Attacks deal 42 bonus magic damage On-Hit and increase your Magic Resist by 5 for 5 seconds (stacks up to 4 times.)Recipe2,150gBuy Wit's End when ahead against magic damage and you can stay in melee long enough to use the attack speed and on-hit damage.

• Shurelya's Reverie2,100g (550g to combine)Health250Health Regen10 / 5sMana Regen10 / 5sCooldown Reduction10%Active: 60s Grants nearby allies 40% Move Speed for 3 seconds.Recipe

  Shurelya's ReverieShurelya's Reverie2,100g (550g to combine)Health250Health Regen10 / 5sMana Regen10 / 5sCooldown Reduction10%Active: 60s Grants nearby allies 40% Move Speed for 3 seconds.Recipe2,100gBuy Shurelya's Reverie when your team needs a hard engage button to start fights before Skarner can Flash-Impale.

Openingsall within the 475 starting gold

• Doran's Shield440gHealth100Health Regen10 / 5sShieldwall: Blocks 8 damage from champion Basic Attacks.Basic item — no components.Yellow Trinket0gActive: s Places an Invisible Stealth Ward that grants vision for 60 seconds.Basic item — no components.

  Doran's Shield start — Default into basic-attack bruisers and ranged poke; the health, regen, and attack block keep Skarner stable until Q ranks come online.

• Crystalline Flask345gReplenishment: Holds 3 charges and refills upon visiting the shop.Active: Consumes a charge to restore 120 Health and 60 Mana over 12 seconds.Basic item — no components.3Health Potion35gClick to Consume: Restores 150 Health over 15 seconds. Limited to 5 at one time.Basic item — no components.Yellow Trinket0gActive: s Places an Invisible Stealth Ward that grants vision for 60 seconds.Basic item — no components.

  Flask sustain start — Use into mana-taxing or poke lanes where repeated Q/W/E use and long lane stays matter more than early combat stats.

• Cloth Armor300gArmor15Basic item — no components.5Health Potion35gClick to Consume: Restores 150 Health over 15 seconds. Limited to 5 at one time.Basic item — no components.Yellow Trinket0gActive: s Places an Invisible Stealth Ward that grants vision for 60 seconds.Basic item — no components.

  Cloth armor start — Best into heavy physical all-in tops where early armor and five potions beat Doran's Shield's smaller sustain window.

Corein buy order

• 1Trinity Force3,628g (3g to combine)Attack Damage30Ability Power30Attack Speed30%Critical Strike Chance10%Health250Mana200Move Speed8%Rage: Basic Attacks grant 20 Move Speed for 2 seconds On-Hit. Kills grant 60 Move Speed for 2 seconds.Spellblade of Tons of Damage: After using an ability, the next Basic Attack deals bonus physical damage equal to 200% of base Attack Damage On-Hit (2 second cooldown).Recipe

  Trinity ForceTrinity Force3,628g (3g to combine)Attack Damage30Ability Power30Attack Speed30%Critical Strike Chance10%Health250Mana200Move Speed8%Rage: Basic Attacks grant 20 Move Speed for 2 seconds On-Hit. Kills grant 60 Move Speed for 2 seconds.Spellblade of Tons of Damage: After using an ability, the next Basic Attack deals bonus physical damage equal to 200% of base Attack Damage On-Hit (2 second cooldown).Recipe3,628gTrinity Force is the main Season 3 bruiser spike: Skarner procs Spellblade constantly with low-cooldown Q and uses the movement speed to stick.

• 2Spirit Visage2,750g (500g to combine)Health400Magic Resist55Health Regen4 / 5sCooldown Reduction20%Lifeforce: Increases self-healing, Health Regen, Lifesteal, and Spell Vamp effects by 20%.Recipe

  Spirit VisageSpirit Visage2,750g (500g to combine)Health400Magic Resist55Health Regen4 / 5sCooldown Reduction20%Lifeforce: Increases self-healing, Health Regen, Lifesteal, and Spell Vamp effects by 20%.Recipe2,750gSpirit Visage gives health, MR, cooldown reduction, and stronger self-healing from Fracture marks and sustain effects.

• 3Randuin's Omen3,125g (1,000g to combine)Health500Armor70Cold Steel: When hit by Basic Attacks, reduces the attacker's Attack Speed by 15% and Move Speed by 10% for 1 seconds.Active: 60s Slows nearby enemy units by 35% for seconds.Recipe

  Randuin's OmenRanduin's Omen3,125g (1,000g to combine)Health500Armor70Cold Steel: When hit by Basic Attacks, reduces the attacker's Attack Speed by 15% and Move Speed by 10% for 1 seconds.Active: 60s Slows nearby enemy units by 35% for seconds.Recipe3,125gRanduin's Omen supplies the armor and health needed to front line, and its active helps hold targets after Impale or Q slows.

Situationalonly when the game asks for it

• Ninja Tabi1,000g (375g to combine)Armor25Ninja Footwork: Blocks 10% of the damage from Basic Attacks.Enhanced Movement: 45 Move SpeedRecipe

  Ninja TabiNinja Tabi1,000g (375g to combine)Armor25Ninja Footwork: Blocks 10% of the damage from Basic Attacks.Enhanced Movement: 45 Move SpeedRecipe1,000gBuy Ninja Tabi instead of Mercury's Treads against mostly physical teams or auto-attack top/jungle pressure with limited crowd control.

• Frozen Mallet3,300g (950g to combine)Attack Damage30Health700Icy: Basic Attacks Slow the target's Move Speed for 1.5 seconds On-Hit (40% Slow for Melee Attacks, 30% Slow for Ranged Attacks). "We brought it back just for you."Recipe

  Frozen MalletFrozen Mallet3,300g (950g to combine)Attack Damage30Health700Icy: Basic Attacks Slow the target's Move Speed for 1.5 seconds On-Hit (40% Slow for Melee Attacks, 30% Slow for Ranged Attacks). "We brought it back just for you."Recipe3,300gBuy Frozen Mallet when your team lacks follow-up crowd control and you need every auto after Impale to keep a target pinned.

• Frozen Heart2,900g (550g to combine)Armor95Mana400Cooldown Reduction20%Aura - Frostbite: Reduces the Attack Speed of nearby enemies by 20%.Recipe

  Frozen HeartFrozen Heart2,900g (550g to combine)Armor95Mana400Cooldown Reduction20%Aura - Frostbite: Reduces the Attack Speed of nearby enemies by 20%.Recipe2,900gBuy Frozen Heart into double AD or attack-speed carries when the aura and cooldown reduction are more valuable than Randuin's health.

• Banshee's Veil2,750g (875g to combine)Health450Magic Resist55Intangibility: Grants a Spell Shield that blocks the next enemy ability. This Shield refreshes after no damage is taken from enemy champions for 25 seconds.Shadow Mending: Grants 9 Health Regen per 5 for up to 10 seconds after taking damage from an enemy champion or when the Spell Shield breaks.Recipe

  Banshee's VeilBanshee's Veil2,750g (875g to combine)Health450Magic Resist55Intangibility: Grants a Spell Shield that blocks the next enemy ability. This Shield refreshes after no damage is taken from enemy champions for 25 seconds.Shadow Mending: Grants 9 Health Regen per 5 for up to 10 seconds after taking damage from an enemy champion or when the Spell Shield breaks.Recipe2,750gBuy Banshee's Veil against pick comps or single crucial spells that stop your Flash or Ghost into Impale engage.

• Maw of Malmortius3,200g (975g to combine)Attack Damage60Magic Resist40Feeding Frenzy: Grants 1 Attack Damage for every 2% of missing Health, up to a maximum of 35 Attack Damage.Lifeline: Upon taking magic damage that would reduce Health below 30%, grants a Shield that absorbs 400 magic damage for 5 seconds (90 second cooldown).Recipe

  Maw of MalmortiusMaw of Malmortius3,200g (975g to combine)Attack Damage60Magic Resist40Feeding Frenzy: Grants 1 Attack Damage for every 2% of missing Health, up to a maximum of 35 Attack Damage.Lifeline: Upon taking magic damage that would reduce Health below 30%, grants a Shield that absorbs 400 magic damage for 5 seconds (90 second cooldown).Recipe3,200gBuy Maw of Malmortius against burst AP lanes or double AP compositions when you still need AD for Q and autos.