AP Skarner Build

ARAM Build Guide for champion Skarner and build AP.

AP Skarner build with runes and items. AP Skarner guide offers in-depth how-to play, skill order and tips. Play AP Skarner build in League of Legends Patch 14.19!

Updated: 2024-06-07 ()

TLDR

Starting items
Hextech Alternator should be final item in your build.
Quick Skill Order
Skarner ability Seismic Bastion should be leveled first.
W
Skarner ability Shattered Earth / Upheaval should be leveled second.
Q
Skarner ability Ixtal's Impact should be leveled third.
E
Final items
Ionian Boots of Lucidity should be final item in your build.
Hextech Rocketbelt should be final item in your build.
Kaenic Rookern should be final item in your build.
Warmog's Armor should be final item in your build.
Thornmail should be final item in your build.
Liandry's Torment should be final item in your build.
Quick Runes
Major rune First Strike from Inspiration tree.
Minor rune Domination.
Summoner spells
Pick Ignite as your Summoner Spell.
Pick Flash as your Summoner Spell.

AP Skarner Runes

Inspiration
Inspiration major tree Glacial Augment rune.
Inspiration major tree Unsealed Spellbook rune.
Inspiration major tree First Strike rune.
Inspiration major tree Hextech Flashtraption rune.
Inspiration major tree Magical Footwear rune.
Inspiration major tree Cash Back rune.
Inspiration major tree Triple Tonic rune.
Inspiration major tree Time Warp Tonic rune.
Inspiration major tree Biscuit Delivery rune.
Inspiration major tree Cosmic Insight rune.
Inspiration major tree Approach Velocity rune.
Inspiration major tree Jack Of All Trades rune.
Domination
Domination minor tree Cheap Shot rune.
Domination minor tree Taste of Blood rune.
Domination minor tree Sudden Impact rune.
Domination minor tree Zombie Ward rune.
Domination minor tree Ghost Poro rune.
Domination minor tree Eyeball Collection rune.
Domination minor tree Treasure Hunter rune.
Domination minor tree Relentless Hunter rune.
Domination minor tree Ultimate Hunter rune.
Passive
Passive tree Adaptive Force rune (+9 Adaptive Force).
Passive tree Attack Speed rune (+10% Attack Speed).
Passive tree Ability Haste rune (+8 Ability Haste).
Passive tree Adaptive Force rune (+9 Adaptive Force).
Passive tree Move Speed rune (+2 Movement Speed).
Passive tree Health Scaling rune (+10-180 Health (based on level)).
Passive tree Health rune (+65 Health).
Passive tree Tenacity And Slow Resist rune (+10 Tenacity and Slow Resist).
Passive tree Health Scaling rune (+10-180 Health (based on level)).

How it works

AP Build specific
  1. You rush Hextech Rocketbelt #1, Liandry's Torment #2.
  2. You get Cosmic Insight rune to use Hextech Rocketbelt more often.
  3. You poke with Hextech Rocketbelt and First Strike to earn gold and burn enemies.
  4. After core items, you adapt. You can play as a tank or as a damage dealer.

How to play

AP Build specific
  1. Use Hextech Rocketbelt active to poke your enemies all the time, earning gold with First Strike.
  2. Adapt to the enemy team. Build tanky or more damage. You can play as a utility tank, poke, or even you can go some AD items to still have plenty of damage. Depends on the team and how you want to play.
  3. For utility tank, remember that Liandry's Torment works good with Serpent's Fang (to counter shields) and Oblivion Orb (to counter healing).
  4. Cosmic Insight reduces cooldown of all active items, so Zhonya's Hourglass really works well with this build.
  5. Wait for the First Strike and proc it with your combo, to deal damage and earn gold.
  6. Be careful to not get poked, because you waste First Strike procs.
  7. Your main combo is First Strike + Hextech Rocketbelt + go in, using E/R and Q multiple times, with auto-attacks.
  8. Your alternate combo just for poke is First Strike + Hextech Rocketbelt + E.

Tips and Tricks

General
  1. If you are not playing 'going-in' build like Tank or Bruiser, save Ixtal's Impact for escaping! You can play aggresive, then use it to run away to safety.
Riot
  1. Basic attacks apply Quaking. Stick to your target and re-apply it for maximum damage.
  2. Impale is extremely powerful when you use it to position an enemy so your allies can attack them.

Skill Order

  • Skarner [object Object] ability.
    Q
    Shattered Earth / Upheaval
  • Skarner [object Object] ability.
    W
    Seismic Bastion
  • Skarner [object Object] ability.
    E
    Ixtal's Impact
  • Skarner [object Object] ability.
    R
    Impale

Items

Starting items
Hextech Alternator item.
Rush #1
Hextech Rocketbelt item.
Rush #2
Liandry's Torment item.
Boots
Mercury's Treads item.
Plated Steelcaps item.
Ionian Boots of Lucidity item.
Good tank items
Jak'Sho, The Protean item.
Warmog's Armor item.
Fimbulwinter item.
Good MR items
Kaenic Rookern item.
Hollow Radiance item.
Force of Nature item.
Abyssal Mask item.
Spirit Visage item.
Good Armor items
Frozen Heart item.
Randuin's Omen item.
Iceborn Gauntlet item.
Sunfire Aegis item.
Dead Man's Plate item.
Unending Despair item.
Thornmail item.
Situational items
Zeke's Convergence item.
Trailblazer item.
Knight's Vow item.
Optional AD items
Additional considerations for these items is advised!
Chempunk Chainsword item.
Ravenous Hydra item.
The Collector item.
Serylda's Grudge item.
Axiom Arc item.
Situational items
Additional considerations for these items is advised!
Zhonya's Hourglass item.
Serpent's Fang item.
Oblivion Orb item.
Try if you super fed
Horizon Focus item.
Lich Bane item.
Cosmic Drive item.
For the last fight
Additional considerations for these items is advised!
Elixir of Iron item.
Elixir of Wrath item.
Seeker's Armguard item.
Example final build
Ionian Boots of Lucidity item.
Hextech Rocketbelt item.
Kaenic Rookern item.
Warmog's Armor item.
Thornmail item.
Liandry's Torment item.