Talk:Skarner/@comment-98.206.89.11-20130208162940/@comment-5266525-20130305000030

You're an idiot if you don't take Smite while jungling, full stop.

The issue is NOT about being able to kill buff camps fast. ANY jungler can do that with some levels. The issue is about being able to reliably lasthit big buff camps so the enemy can't just effortlessly waltz in and grab your prize for themselves. If that happens during a lategame Baron dance then chances are you've probably just lost the game.

There's also the issue that you have vastly reduced speed in the jungle without Smite. You are going to inevitably fall behind in levels until you can dump enough gold to get a very early Wriggles/Spirit Stone upgrade, when you can... still only be as fast as any other champion with the usual spells. To make that worse, you're now also over 1000 gold behind. The extra summoner does not justify that massive disadvantage you have by not taking Smite.