User blog comment:Deshiba/RIOT Reworks./@comment-24420226-20140319233717

Iplayed Skarner a bit before the patch, and overall I'm happy with the rework. Mostly because I don't like to jungle, and now Skarner is viable as a top laner.

I agree that the 'perma-slow' wasn't incredibly op, at least not if you weren't too far ahead. Honestly, most people just turned around and fought me rather than trying to escape, because my Q wasn't all that scary in terms of dueling. It made well-positioned ganks impossible to avoid, though. Getting hit with any CC meant you couldn't escape, especially with Skarner's W letting him catch up after you flash away. I put it on par with Vi's post-6 gank ensuring a kill with her ulti.

Now that it gives stacking atk speed, Skarner is a real bully in lane if you know how to trade with your lane opponent. It also gives him more incentive to try a carry build with on-hit attack speed instead of the default super-tank. It's also good for the jungle by improving his earlier clear times immensely.

The only thing I miss is the heal on his E. In jungle, the first clear is rough on your hp without it. It's easier later when you are tankier combined with the pseudo-lifesteal that spirit stone gives now. But man, golems hurt. In lane, the heal was negligible and cost too much mana to try and benefit from it. I feel like the rework was more about giving options surrounding Skarner, not just for opponents; like I said his kit is more friendly as a laner and scales very well with a muramana.