Skarner dominates League VGU poll for major 2023 overhaul while Shyvana remains strong contender
Skarner’s Resounding VGU Victory
The League of Legends community has spoken decisively in the Season 12 VGU poll, with Skarner emerging as the clear winner against formidable competition including Shyvana, Tryndamere, Nocturne, and Kog’Maw.
Skarner’s triumph represents a major victory for the Brackern champion: The Crystal Vanguard secured an impressive one-third of total votes, demonstrating overwhelming player support for his comprehensive modernization. Riot Games has confirmed that multiple champions from the voting list will receive updates in the near future.
The VGU polling system has successfully driven significant champion modernizations in recent seasons, with Fiddlesticks, Volibear, and Dr. Mundo receiving acclaimed reworks that maintained their core identities while bringing them up to contemporary standards.
Despite five outdated champions competing for the Season 12 VGU slot, Skarner achieved a landslide victory that surprised even veteran analysts. The week-long voting period saw the crystal scorpion dominate from start to finish.
The Crystal Vanguard’s comprehensive overhaul is scheduled for 2023 release, but Riot has assured players that the four runner-up champions won’t be forgotten. Tryndamere, Shyvana, Nocturne, and Kog’Maw will all receive attention in upcoming development cycles.
Statistical analysis reveals Skarner captured 33.4% of the total vote share, while none of the other contenders reached 20%. Shyvana placed second with 19.6% support, followed closely by Tryndamere at 17.3%, demonstrating significant community division among the alternatives.
“We’re thrilled by Skarner’s VGU poll victory because we believe he possesses tremendous potential to become something extraordinary within League’s champion roster,” explained lead champion producer Ryan ‘Reav3’ Mireles.
“Previous incremental kit adjustments failed to significantly boost his player engagement rates, so we’re planning a complete foundation-level reboot encompassing his abilities, thematic elements, and visual presentation.”
What to Expect from Skarner’s Rework
Riot’s design philosophy for Skarner’s overhaul centers on preserving his iconic ultimate ability while completely rebuilding his foundational kit. The controversial Crystal Spires mechanic, introduced during his Season 5 update, will be removed entirely from his new design.
The Crystal Vanguard’s narrative development will receive significant attention during his rework, with expanded Brackern lore that deepens his connection to Runeterra’s crystal magic and ancient history.
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Specific details regarding Skarner’s reworked abilities and design direction will be unveiled throughout 2022, though players shouldn’t anticipate his official release until Season 13. For ongoing updates, monitor our dedicated Skarner rework coverage hub.
Strategic Implications of Skarner’s Kit Changes
The removal of Crystal Spires represents a fundamental shift in Skarner’s jungle presence and map control dynamics. Players should prepare for:
- Reduced early game zone control in specific jungle areas
- More consistent power distribution across the entire map
- Potential changes to his mana management and sustainability
- New ganking patterns and teamfight positioning requirements
Visual and Audio Overhaul Expectations
Riot’s visual update will likely include:
- High-definition model with improved texture details and animations
- Updated spell effects that better communicate ability ranges and impacts
- Enhanced audio cues for improved gameplay clarity
- Potential visual differentiation between Brackern forms or states
Other Champion Updates in the Pipeline
Shyvana has now finished as runner-up in three consecutive VGU polls, establishing herself as the perennial bridesmaid of champion updates. Despite these repeated near-misses, the Half-Dragon remains prominently featured on Riot’s development radar for upcoming work.
“We understand the community frustration surrounding Shyvana consistently approaching victory without securing the top spot. Our development team shares your enthusiasm for updating this character because a formidable half-dragon shapeshifter offers incredible creative potential,” Reav3 elaborated.
“While we don’t conduct community votes for every VGU project, as demonstrated by Dr. Mundo’s update, we cannot guarantee Shyvana will receive the next major overhaul. However, she stands as a compelling candidate for our next non-poll VGU exploration.”
With Riot currently focused on Udyr’s rework and now adding Skarner to their development pipeline, substantial Shyvana changes appear unlikely before late 2023. We will provide continuous updates as additional information becomes available.
Long-term VGU Strategy Insights
Riot’s approach to champion updates involves balancing community voting with internal development priorities:
- Poll winners receive guaranteed comprehensive reworks
- High-polling runners-up remain strong candidates for future updates
- Some champions receive updates outside the voting system based on internal metrics
- Multiple champion teams work concurrently on different VGU projects
Champion Priority Assessment Framework
Riot evaluates champions for updates based on several key factors:
- Player engagement metrics and popularity trends
- Gameplay health and balance concerns
- Visual and audio quality compared to modern standards
- Narrative potential and lore development opportunities
- Technical debt and engine compatibility issues
Strategic Implications for Players
Adapting to Skarner’s New Playstyle
As Skarner transitions to his reworked version, players should prepare for significant gameplay adjustments:
- Practice new jungle clearing patterns without spire-dependent bonuses
- Master updated ability combinations for optimal ganking effectiveness
- Adjust ward placement strategies to accommodate changed mobility options
- Experiment with different build paths that complement his new kit dynamics
Common Adaptation Mistakes to Avoid
Many players struggle when champions receive major reworks. Avoid these common pitfalls:
- Don’t assume old playstyles will remain effective – approach with fresh perspective
- Avoid forcing outdated item builds that may not synergize with new abilities
- Don’t underestimate the learning curve – allocate practice time accordingly
- Resist comparing directly to pre-rework performance – evaluate on new merits
Advanced Optimization Strategies
For players looking to master the reworked Skarner quickly:
- Study early PBE gameplay footage to understand ability interactions
- Analyze high-elo player adaptations during the first weeks post-release
- Experiment in normal games before bringing to ranked play
- Focus on objective control applications of his updated kit
- Develop flexible itemization strategies for different team compositions
Successful adaptation to champion reworks requires both mechanical practice and strategic flexibility. The most effective players will invest time understanding the new power spikes, weakness windows, and teamfight roles that emerge from Skarner’s comprehensive overhaul.
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