Skarner VGU skins receive backlash from LoL community
The long-awaited VGU of Skarner, League of Legends’ crystalline scorpion champion, has finally been unveiled, bringing a fresh look to this classic character.
However, the update has not been met with universal acclaim, particularly when it comes to the redesigned skins accompanying the rework. Among these, the Guardian of the Sands skin has been a focal point of criticism for its perceived lack of value, despite its relatively high cost of 975RP.
A detailed critique surfaced on a Reddit thread dated March 19, where users delved into the specifics of their disappointment with the Guardian of the Sands Skarner skin. The thread’s original poster, Bubblegum1109, highlighted a particular grievance with the skin’s recall animation.
They lamented the loss of the original skin’s simple yet satisfying recall, criticizing the updated version for merely adding “sand” effects to the base recall animation. This change was seen as indicative of Riot Games’ willingness to “cut corners” on modern skin updates.
The discussion expanded as he drew comparisons between the Guardian of the Sands skin and other skins priced similarly or even lower. They pointed out that skins such as Hextech Galio and Crabgot, both priced at 520RP, received significant upgrades including new particles, sounds, and even voice filters, making Skarner’s update seem lackluster in comparison.
The sentiment that Riot Games had not put forth their best effort with Skarner’s new skins was echoed by many respondents to the thread. Accusations of “pure laziness” were common, with fans expressing their disillusionment, particularly those who had favored the Guardian of the Sands skin prior to its rework.
Furthermore, dissatisfaction was not limited to the Guardian of the Sands skin. Another skin, Earthrune Skarner, was mentioned by players as having been “absolutely robbed” in its transition. The rework transformed this skin from its original Earth Elemental theme to a more robotic appearance, further fueling the disappointment among the Skarner player base.
The rework of Skarner, including these controversial skin updates, is scheduled to be implemented with the upcoming League of Legends Patch 14.7, set to go live on April 3. The community’s feedback has been loud and clear, but whether Riot Games will address these criticisms and make adjustments to the skins in question is still uncertain.