What will the Skarner VGU look like?

The community has spoken, and League of Legends players have selected Skarner for the next comprehensive Visual Gameplay Update. After an extensive voting period, Riot Games confirmed the crystal scorpion champion will receive a complete overhaul in 2023.

This transformation represents one of the most anticipated updates in recent League history, addressing years of thematic inconsistencies and gameplay frustrations. Players can expect significant changes to both his appearance and abilities while preserving his core identity as the last living Brackern.

Understanding the scope of these changes requires examining Riot’s design philosophy for champion updates. The development team focuses on modernizing outdated champions while respecting their original fantasy and maintaining gameplay familiarity for existing mains.

Riot’s design team identified Skarner’s current visual presentation as problematic, describing his “generic fantasy” as belonging to “a bygone age of League of Legends.” This acknowledgment signals a fundamental shift toward embracing his monstrous characteristics.

The rework will push Skarner further into monstrous territory with reduced anthropomorphic features. Expect significant changes to facial structure, body proportions, and movement animations that better reflect his crystalline scorpion nature. Many players have expressed excitement about this direction, lamenting the current shortage of non-humanoid champions in the roster.

Hextech integration represents another crucial visual element. Since Hextech crystals power numerous Piltover champions’ equipment—including Camille’s enhancements, Jayce’s hammer, Vi’s gauntlets, and Ekko’s Zero Drive—Skarner’s abilities will likely incorporate modern Hextech visual effects. These crystals are canonically the condensed essences of deceased Brackern, creating deep lore connections that the update will emphasize.

Voice acting and sound design will also receive substantial updates. The new direction aims to capture the ancient, mystical nature of the Brackern race while maintaining the character’s recognizable personality traits.

Despite receiving a previous rework, Skarner’s gameplay has never fully captured his thematic potential. Riot’s approach this time focuses on his identity as a “giant crystalline monster” rather than specific elements of his current kit. This suggests comprehensive ability changes beyond simple number adjustments.

The development team acknowledges that Skarner’s current mechanics feel outdated compared to modern champion designs. His update will address fundamental gameplay issues while maintaining his role as a bruiser or juggernaut—the only confirmed elements surviving the redesign.

Impale, Skarner’s ultimate ability, stands as his most iconic skill and appears most likely to remain through the transformation. However, players should expect significant modifications to his basic abilities and passive, potentially including new mechanics that better represent his crystalline nature and Brackern heritage.

The redesign process follows Riot’s established pattern for successful VGUs: identify the champion’s core fantasy, preserve their most beloved elements, and modernize everything else. This approach balances innovation with respect for existing player investment.

The Brackern represent one of Runeterra’s most ancient and mystical races, with Skarner being their last known survivor. This lore element provides rich narrative potential that the VGU will explore more deeply.

Hextech crystals’ true nature as condensed Brackern essences creates profound ethical implications within the League universe. Champions who utilize Hextech technology essentially wield the souls of Skarner’s ancestors—a connection that will likely receive greater emphasis in his updated storyline.

The update may introduce new lore elements explaining how Skarner survived when his entire race perished, and what his current motivations are regarding the widespread use of Hextech crystals.

This lore expansion connects Skarner more meaningfully to the broader League of Legends universe, particularly the Piltover and Zaun regions where Hextech technology is most prevalent. These connections could potentially influence future story developments and champion interactions.

The announcement generated significant excitement among Skarner enthusiasts, many of whom have long advocated for a comprehensive update. Professional players and content creators also expressed enthusiasm, recognizing the potential for Skarner to become more viable in competitive play.

CaptainFlowers, a prominent League of Legends caster, tweeted his support immediately following the announcement, reflecting broader community sentiment toward the much-needed update.

Long-time Skarner mains have specific expectations for the rework, hoping it addresses current gameplay pain points while preserving the champion’s unique identity. Common requests include improved mobility, more interactive abilities, and visual effects that better communicate his power level and threat range.

The VGU represents an opportunity to correct years of thematic misalignment and gameplay frustration. Successful execution could establish Skarner as a flagship example of Riot’s champion modernization philosophy.

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