Talk:VPBE/@comment-4290320-20140627125313/@comment-3974211-20140627171043

I would say Skarner's initial rework was fine, just like Katarina's, but it took a buff for people to actually start trying the play them - then it turns out they didn't need that buff. Lucian, Hecarim and Syndra were all perfectly fine on release (barring bugs) - they just weren't played because they weren't overpowered (why waste time learning to play a new champion who's only as good as a champion you already play?). It took Hecarim and Syndra almost a year to start getting played (probably because some pro decided he was bored and then everyone else realized how fun they were); whereas Lucian got buffs (such as his Q being almost impossible to miss, whereas before it was like landing Double Up).

Or it could just be the new tank-jungle changes have made him even stronger than he's currently performing.