Riot to reveal Skarner’s new AoE Ultimate and updates on the champion’s VGU in a new Dev Blog
League of Legends players have been anticipating the new Crystal Vanguard for over a year, ever since Skarner won the most recent fan vote for the next VGU. Although the update for Summoner’s Rift is still in the works, Riot Games have some significant updates and insights for League’s fans, including an early look at what could be Skarner’s new ultimate.
Updates on Skarner VGU
Product manager Lexi “Lexical” Gao has revealed some new details about everyone’s favourite Crystal Scorpion, including the possibility of making Skarner’s ultimate an AoE ability, transforming it from a single target, to a game-changing teamfight ability that can drag and stun every champion.
In the demo video, Skarner’s Impale is no longer a point-and-click ability, but rather a cone-shaped skillshot that freezes any targets in its area of impact and allows him to drag them around like his original ultimate.
He’ll now have a higher chance of flanking enemies and grabbing numerous opponents to start a fight, whereas the enemies will have to remain farther apart to avoid his wide area ability.
Lexi “Lexical” Gao has also written down the gameplay and thematic of Runeterra’s native scorpion in the past and future. Skarner had the fewest distinct players and the fewest games played in a year, making him one of the least popular champions in League in every category that Riot tracks.
Monster champions are typically not as well-known as humanoid champions, and sadly, Skarner has not been a famous champion with distinct markers, instead being known as a simple scorpion.
Furthermore, Skarner’s motif lacks cohesion, making the champion far too odd for the general public to enjoy and respect. The Crystals, for example, are thought to be lovely and magical, whereas scorpions are thought to be sharp, lethal, and menacing.
As a result, Riot’s goal with the forgotten League champion will be to address these problems while still keeping his own identity as Runeterra’s scorpion. More information will be shared with the general player base in the coming months, and many fans are hoping for a firm release schedule shortly.