Why Shen support is not a thing more often?

Señor Karthus·May 11, 2015·1 votes·600 views

I just bought him after trying him during the free week and I love him in the support role. I just don't understand why he is not even considered a Secondary role Support. All his kit screams support. A Q that marks and heals whoever attacks the target (focus adc, heals your adc), a taunt to cc and focus a target or save your adc and a ult that shields anywhere in the map. Everything is support like. But then you don't see him very often in that role. I've been playing him there with good results. Any idea of why this happens?

11 Comments

Player of GamesMay 11, 20152 votes

Miss Taunt Basically Useless

Amiright?

GarurumonMay 11, 20151 votes

You said it yourself. His ultimate is global. Combine that with teleport and you have insane map control on a toplaner. You don't expect a Shen ultimate from a toplaner, as toplane is more or less its own island, but you'd definately expect a ultimate from a support in fights. And the ultimate shield isn't very strong at all, as there's a ton of power limits that was spent making it global. Using it locally is very meh.

Sir YamazukiMay 11, 20151 votes

Sounds okay, but compared to actual tank supports, it's not really that great. He was only ever good because he is capable of split pushing while still being able to show up to team fights, which is why his ult ended up with a long cool down. Other supports can protect carries better while providing more damage, Leona.

insaiyanbaccaMay 11, 20151 votes

its not played often because he is outclassed cc-wise by other tank supports but his global presence is amazing

ErockandrollMay 11, 20151 votes

good, but not good enough.

While his kit does a lot of supporty things. It's not that much compared to the Alternatives. And while he's dash does make for a good engage tool, Support level gold won't allow you to be the main tank. And a lot of people made that mistake when I tried playing shen support.

Supports need to rely solely on their kit. Shen simply does better when he has items.

Togekiss24May 11, 20151 votes

Eh, I feel like Shen is better for top lane or jungle. The reason is that he is less predictable this way and can afford to be the global trump card that he's supposed to, while as a support, you have to be REALLY SURE you can afford to abandon your ADC in lane, otherwise you've given the enemy team a free kill.

Maximum ZileanMay 11, 20151 votes

Several reasons.

Shen's early game isn't all that good, he has tools to survive bad matchups against most fighters, but lacking any true supporting tools outside his Q heal and an ok fight forcer bottom lane. Because of how easy his dash is to avoid, its best used for peeling or catching someone out of position.

Your limited more heavily on when you can safely ult, since you have to make sure your AD carry can handle themselves for a bit while you ult to another lane. Normally top your only threat for a bad ult was a bit of tower preasure. But bottom lane if you ult at a bad time, your AD carry dies. Which is bad.

Shen benefits from hitting 6 as soon as possible. Which a solo lane allows him to do so faster. He also does so much better with a decent gold income, which support doesn't offer.

Shen is decent bottom lane, but its not something i'd consider to be his best role. He is just alot better as a top laner.

Joe DreddMay 11, 20151 votes

i tried. dropped from p2 to p3.

Señor KarthusMay 11, 20151 votes

I understand what you say about the lane phase. But there are pros and not only cons. Even if they push more, Shen's mere presence makes them think twice if they really want to get in turret range or attack turret at all. One taunt and the damage they get is a lot. And even if I agree his lane phase can be a bit weaker than other supports, his teamfight phase is amazing. Not everything is lane phase.

The Yetii RiderMay 12, 20151 votes

{quoted}

I understand what you say about the lane phase. But there are pros and not only cons. Even if they push more, Shen's mere presence makes them think twice if they really want to get in turret range or attack turret at all. One taunt and the damage they get is a lot. And even if I agree his lane phase can be a bit weaker than other supports, his teamfight phase is amazing. Not everything is lane phase.

Unfortunately these days, bot lane is all about lane phase. That's why you have all these hyper aggressive tank supports who go all in and try to get their carries as fed as possible, while junglers gank like crazy. Riot made it harder to snowball early game, which is why this meta is all about force feeding your carry until they choke on gold. Shen can't do that.