Talk:Skarner/@comment-24940188-20140514085758

Take away the movement speed buff from w, make him burrow under ground and come up under a target instead ala Elise e, apply a low % based flat spd buff to it following the gap closer and take away the shield. Return the E,Q heal mechanic. Keep everything else the same.

Change w in this way, and return the old heal mechanic and he won't need another cc (saw people suggesting this, and it just doesn't feel like skarner to me), he has a gap closer to use in conjuction with his ult, which will free up his flash (because that's what you'll take) to work a little better with this "League of Dashes" someone posted.

Removing the shield will be offset by returning the old mechanic (and everyone liked it better anyway). This means AP skarner will probably become less viable, and if the ratios for the old mechanic remain the same, it will probably hurt him in the jungle during lane phase to not have the shield, but I thinks it's a fair tradeoff to give him a harder engaging and sticking presence in mid to late game.