Talk:Skarner/@comment-24971427-20180121064253/@comment-34502998-20180128172107

There's nothing "wrong" with it. You just would not be utilizing his kit to its best. You can go ADC Thresh if you want, and if you're good enough, you can wreck. But that doesn't mean thresh is best as an ADC. I can carry harder as thresh support, built as a support, than I can as thresh ADC. So, what is the purpose of Skarner's kit?

First of all, ratios aren't everything. If you only factor in ratios, you forget skarner has higher base HP like most tanks do, he gets innate attack speed, his armor scales higher, he has a shield in his kit (squishies like fizz don't have this!). Simply put, Riot created Skarner o be a tank. To try and outthink a piece of code is foolish.

Even with that said, let's talk about ratios. His first Q only scales with AD and subsequent Q's have a higher AD ratio than the AP ratio. His E proc is physical, and his R has a 60% flat AD ratio which is pretty big. His only high AP ratio is on a shield, no damage there. His only decent damaging AP ratio is on his ult and, as mentioned, the AD ratio is higher.

However, damage ratios are not the purpose of his kit. Skarner's kit revolves around sustained damage and CC. Fighting around his shrines is critical as he gets a heck of a lot of attack speed for free! This means he can build tank and get free offensive stats. Tank Skarner has enough raw offensive stats in his kit to solo kill squishy champions when he's fed AND be unkillable at the same time. Of course, building lich band and the other items you mentioned will cause him to do more damage, but you will get popped before you even get to press R if you don't get tanky. Think about it, all the melee champions that get built squishy have some way to  escape (fizz, zed, tryndamere, etc.). Skarner has none so you will find yourself dead if not tanky enough to take all those shots the full build tristana will shoot at you while you mindlessly run at her trying to press R.

In conclusion, IF you get fed, build Attack speed (wits end is great) and AD (Tri force and tiamat are common choices). However, in most situations... JUST. BUILD. TANK. (and learn how to play Skarner properly)