Shen's early game @Riot
I have noticed levels 1-4 1-5 Shen is overpowered completely by champs like Darius/Gnar/Fiora/Maokai/Zed/Pantheon/Lulu/Garen/Vlad/Teemo/Olaf/Shyvana/Diana etc in top lane (these champs have some tower diving capability on Shen I have seen it). I have had many games where I faced that group of champions. If any of the players of those champs are just as skilled as you are and confident, they will absolutely steamroll you early game, which effects your late game. In many cases I didn't even stand a chance. You can't always rely on your jungler especially now that bot has a strong presence in game do to dragon. Some of these champs put out so much dmg early game you can't out sustain them in fight if you cant run away.
I can tell when a player is not very skilled at any of the champions listed above when they stay back and avoid me early game. Some of the games I have had against those champs listed were the most frustrating games ever when the opposing players knew their stuff. Especially when they can interrupt your ult lol. Don't get me wrong there are certain champ that Shen has no problem with but in the current meta I rarely see them played top, even some of those champs can push you under the tower but they can't tower dive you, do to their squishiness.
I remember the days when Shen was overpowered and I'm not saying he needs to be that strong again but to be constantly pushed under your turret almost every single game just doesn't seem right. Especially when last hitting under the turret is nearly impossible with out Ki Strike and Vorpal Blade. I have had many instances where I couldn't last-hit an single minion under the turret do to the cool-down timing and Ki Strike timing.
Anyone one of these would help Shen out in my opinion. It doesn't necessarily need to be all 3.
- A little dmg buff
- Energy bar refills faster (AKA Zed)
- skills cost less energy (Shen constantly runs out of energy in serious fights)