So, uh, does anyone else think Shen's going to be overpowered after the buffs?

NovaDisk·4/17/2017, 8:35:25 AM·4 votes·874 views

Shen's already competitively viable, and quite strong in high ELO.

He's getting SIGNIFICANT buffs on the PBE.

Twilight Assault (Q):
    Empowered attacks now also deal [15/20/25/30/35/40 at levels 1/4/7/10/13/16] base damage.

    Empowered attacks bonus damage  to non champions (30/50/70/90/110.) removed.

Shadow Dash (E):
    Energy cost lowered from 180 to 150
    [Width increased slightly*]

These buffs will make him difficult to outplay, increase his reliability in teamfights, and also significantly improve his lane phase, which is already pretty decent (from a tank standpoint).

I'm pretty worried about his balance point next patch.

Good thing he won't be able to use Stoneplate efficiently (/s).

6 Comments

Chønklord4/17/2017, 10:41:59 AM5 votes

rofl these are nerfs bud, not buffs.

royal Joker 14/17/2017, 8:47:47 AM3 votes

Nothing really changes... other then being able to land E more reliably.

Kennen AD still counters Shen in lane phase. Rumble is still going to beat him in lane phase. Nautilus is still going to be banned.

Maybe this will make Gragas top no longer viable. That's about it.

DunkinNoobs4/17/2017, 8:45:01 AM2 votes

Don't bother. The boards have a hard on for Shen for reasons I can't fathom.

Unpaladin4/17/2017, 10:25:19 AM1 votes

Seems like a safe set of changes. His ultimate took a big hit and will universally be easier to deal with. If he somehow finds it easier to use his ultimate after this patch it will be a shocker, and if this spontaneously gives him incredible power in professional play, then they can just nerf him again.

Keep in mind that Shen's Q right now is absolutely pathetic. It doesn't accomplish much of anything other than tickling the enemy at all stages in the game aside from levels 1-3. It's worth mentioning that there's a blade to dodge in order to outright deny him this extra damage, which is something you can't say for plenty of other champions. They nerfed its capability to reliably farm under tower and push at the same time too, so don't expect it to win his lane and wash his dishes. This ability is fair and design wise is pretty great.

Any change to his E was a long time coming. Usually when Shen misses his E he's absolutely fucked for reasons far beyond how other champions are punished. His E annihilates his energy bar and puts an important tool used as the only thing that lets him stick to you on quite a high cooldown. Should they have focused on that? Probably, however do not forget what role he is supposed to fulfill.