Skarner and Rell MidScope reworks

League of Legends is in its 13th season. And it has managed to reach and maintain its massive player base through consistent changes.  Counter-Strike might have the benefit of low maintenance without repercussions since it birthed an entire genre. But for MOBA games, changes are necessary, and Dota 2 is proof of that. Skarner and Rell are the 2 champions Riot is currently focusing on, and this is what they have in store for us.

How Riot Games does champion gameplay updates in League of Legends?

Unlike the Yuumi rework, midscope updates have to be targeted carefully. If a champion’s kit is still viable in season 13, but the character and view model is outdated, Riot comes forth with an ASU. (Art& Sustainability Update). Ahri and Caitlyn are the latest examples of this approach. But if a champion needs even more attention to function properly in modern League of Legends, it’s time for a VGU. (Visual& Gameplay Update). The Aurelion Sol and Udyr reworks were the last ones to be classified as VGUs. 

Midscope process outlines for Skarner and Rell

So how does Riot Games go about their criteria for midscope updates? Jax, Rengar, Annie received major changes to their abilities that didn’t change how the champion functions. According to Riot, that is their goal when doing these updates. But how do they target which champions should be next? 

Declining champion popularity or Play Rate is one of them. Many of the statistics and numbers they use are already available online for free. Does a champ have an overall declining play rate? Are their mains dropping them? Is a champion currently unhealthy for the game? If a champion is raising red flags for months in a row, it’s time for a gameplay update. Riot’s Summoner’s Rift Team chooses a few potential targets using this information and they get to work. Brainstorming and playtesting ideas before consulting with the Gameplay Analysis Team before they are ready to ship out the final and polished version of the changes.

Upcoming rework changes to Rell

Rell is a relatively new champion in League of Legends. Before Milio and Renata, she was the newest support champion to join the roster. But apart from a few months of fame, she has felt forgotten for the most part. Being released after Samira and Seraphine does that. Samira was a pentakill machine and banned every game for the first 6 months. Seraphine was a great pick in 3 roles and had major controversy in its lore. Rell was one of the best champions to pair with Samira. But after Samira got nerfed, nobody wanted to play Rell anymore.

Rell gameplay balancing problems

Well Riot is aware isn’t doing so hot and they are trying to help her. Overall, despite being a strong champion, she is very vulnerable. Once you miss your W ability on Rell, you feel useless, just like Skarner’s ultimate ability. And that shouldn’t be the case when you see a mounted lancer charging toward you. Riot is trying to make her more of a damage threat while dismounted. At the same time, they need to adjust her playmaking capabilities when she is mounted. There should be other ways she can contribute in lane and team fights while dismounted. But they don’t want to make her a Malphite ultimate on a 15-second cooldown. 

Removing sour points from her kit like poor ward clearing, not being able to use E while alone, and Q having reduced power on subsequent enemies, are some of their main goals.  Riot Games has revealed that Rell will have a new E ability. It will be something in the form of a roaming tool or reset mechanic, helping her be more than an engage option. But they are not doing away with the stun. It will now be on her Q ability, having a much stronger impact in both forms. They are aiming at boosting her dismounted attack speed and range, and softening the self-slow, which should go a long way toward achieving their plans we just covered.

Skarner 2023 VGU detailed

Unlike midscope changes like the one Rell is getting that focus on gameplay, Skarner is receiving a full Visual& Gameplay Update. Every year the League of Legends player base has a chance to vote for which champion is most deserving of this level of attention. And Skarner topped the chart by scoring the lowest in the following categories:

• Visual appeal
• One of your favorite champions
• I like this champ’s personal style
• Visual fit with character
• Clear understanding of the character

On top of that, he scored bottom four in all these categories as well:

• Emotions for the champion
• Enjoy his power fantasy
• Consistent champ story
• Hero or Side Character (Aka Most Likely to be Side Character)
• Interest in overall theme

Monster champions are the least popular archetype in League of Legends. But those that are popular have something that players remember them by. The only things most League players know about Skarner are his ultimate ability and that he’s a scorpion. Combining this with his Crystal thematic that players barely care to invest time in, and you have a recipe for the least popular champion in the game. 

Upcoming rework changes to Skarner

The first order of business comes with Skarner’s lore. Everyone knows about the Seraphine fiasco, so Riot is working on fixing that. Similarly to the newly released champion Milio, Skarner will now reside in Ixtal instead of Shurima. Being the first jungler from Ixtal since Nidale is a major change for the development of the region in Runeterra. This should also give him a new purpose which can then be explored through the champion design. 

Riot Games has revealed that they are completely removing the Crystal’s from Skarner’s gameplay theme with this rework. He will still be a scorpion but will be a more positive character with the new lore, enabling him to interact with newer champions. They are still struggling to decide in what direction they should push him since he has a lot of skins to consider as well. His ultimate ability will be kept, but it will undergo major changes. Impale will now be an AOE stun, but will have a lower duration, cast time, no longer point-and-click and other power budget adjustments.