Skarner VGU update coming to LoL after winning fan vote

TL;DR

  • Skarner won VGU poll with 33.4% votes, beating Shyvana (19.6%) and others
  • Complete kit overhaul planned while preserving signature ultimate ability
  • Gothic skins dominated skin line vote with 49.4% support for 2022 updates
  • Shyvana remains strong contender for next VGU despite current loss
  • Both updates expected to significantly impact champion popularity and gameplay

The League of Legends community has spoken through the annual VGU voting process, delivering a decisive victory for Skarner’s comprehensive visual and gameplay update. This marks a significant turning point for the Crystal Vanguard, who has long struggled to find consistent play despite previous rework attempts.

Skarner secured an impressive 33.4% of the total votes, demonstrating overwhelming player support for his modernization. Shyvana trailed significantly with 19.6% support, highlighting the community’s clear preference for prioritizing the scorpion champion’s transformation. The voting margin reveals strong consensus around Skarner’s need for attention over other candidates.

According to Ryan “Reav3” Mireles, the lead champion producer, this VGU represents Skarner’s most substantial overhaul to date. The development team aims to address his chronically low playrate through fundamental changes that will redefine his role on the Rift. Previous updates failed to achieve lasting impact, making this ground-up reconstruction particularly crucial.

“The team is genuinely excited about Skarner’s VGU potential,” Reav3 emphasized. “We recognize his capability to become something extraordinary within League’s diverse champion roster. While we plan to maintain his signature kidnapping ultimate in some capacity, virtually every other aspect of his kit will undergo complete reconstruction from foundational levels.”

What champions may be next after Skarner VGU update?

While Skarner’s victory was decisive, the voting results provide valuable insights into future VGU priorities. Shyvana wasn’t the only champion outperformed in this competitive selection process—Tryndamere, Kog’Maw, and Nocturne all participated but failed to generate sufficient momentum for this development cycle.

Despite her significant loss, Shyvana maintains a promising position for future consideration. Reav3 confirmed she represents a strong contender for subsequent VGU attention, though no concrete commitments can be made at this stage. The half-dragon champion continues to generate substantial community discussion around her outdated kit and visual presentation.

The voting patterns suggest Riot may need to address several champions with aging designs and gameplay mechanics. For players looking to optimize their champion mastery, understanding these potential future updates can inform long-term investment decisions. Strategic players should monitor champion performance metrics and community sentiment to anticipate which characters might receive similar attention.

LoL Gothic skins to receive updates in 2022

Parallel to champion updates, players also determined which skin thematic would receive modernization attention this year. The Gothic skin line emerged as the clear favorite, capturing a remarkable 49.4% of votes against competitors Infernal and Arclight skins.

This decision means iconic Gothic skins for champions like Annie and Orianna will undergo comprehensive visual enhancements. As one of League’s original skin lines dating back to the game’s early years, its continued popularity demonstrates the enduring appeal of dark fantasy aesthetics within the player base.

Riot’s development approach will involve careful analysis of existing Gothic skins’ strengths and identifying the core thematic direction for their modernization. Players can expect these updates to preserve the line’s distinctive gothic horror elements while incorporating modern visual fidelity and animation standards.

For collectors and skin enthusiasts, this represents an opportunity to see classic cosmetics brought up to contemporary quality levels. The update process typically involves enhanced particle effects, updated model textures, and sometimes additional animations that better reflect the skin’s thematic identity.

The combined impact of Skarner’s VGU and Gothic skin updates will create ripple effects throughout the League ecosystem. Players should prepare for potential meta shifts as Skarner’s reworked kit enters the game—historically, comprehensive VGUs have dramatically altered champion popularity and competitive viability.

Strategic preparation involves monitoring PBE updates for early glimpses of both changes. For competitive players, understanding Skarner’s new capabilities early could provide strategic advantages during the initial adaptation period following his release.

Timeline expectations suggest several months before substantial details emerge about either project. During this waiting period, players can optimize their gameplay by mastering current Skarner mechanics that might inform his reworked playstyle, similar to how previous VGU recipients maintained certain core identity elements despite comprehensive changes.

Common mistakes during champion reworks include overcommitting to outdated play patterns and failing to adapt to new strategic opportunities. Advanced players should focus on identifying how Skarner’s updated kit might create new synergies or counter existing meta strategies.

For those interested in broader game knowledge, our Complete Guide offers similar strategic frameworks for understanding major game updates across different titles.

Action Checklist

  • Monitor PBE updates for early Skarner VGU previews and gameplay changes
  • Practice current Skarner mechanics to understand potential carryover elements
  • Review Gothic skin collection and identify potential visual upgrade candidates
  • Analyze Shyvana’s kit for potential future VGU clues and adaptation strategies
  • Study weapon mechanics in our Weapons Unlock guide to understand similar update patterns

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