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How to play Shen and be viable?

Damanic·9/4/2018, 12:29:13 AM·4 votes·5,955 views

So I've tried to give Shen a good go. I love playing new champions and figuring them out. From easy but devastating champs like Nasus to very difficult and challenging mechanic-wise champs like Azir. I always find a way to play these champs to their best and contribute to the team well.

However Shen is another story... No matter where I go with him, I can't seem to keep a presence. I could even get some ganks and get a few kills in, but the champion I'm laning against can still out damage and wave clear me. I've tried different rune sets and builds, and I can't seem to ever get an advantage. Shen's ult is great, but his other abilities feel lack luster.

His passive suffers from high CDs. 10 seconds for a 200~ hp shield for using an ability. Sometimes you've got to set up with your Q, when you do that, you have to wait 10 seconds before doing anything else. This is pretty much a drag and useless. You can increase the shield amount building HP, but it still amounts so very little with the high CD.

His Q is alright, but it requires you to line up your spirit sword to be very effective. The best way to do that is to taunt with E. However that puts you out, so if you do this, you gotta be sure you're either going to win a 1v1 or chase them off. Building AP can make this ability really good, but that's at the expense of going tanky. Which if you don't go tanky, shen becomes so squishy it doesn't make sense.

His W is probably the worse. Up to 20 seconds of cooldown for 1.75 seconds of auto attack vulnerability. The CD is way to high for the shortest effect for only AA. Great for AA champs, but all you have to do is run away from the circle and run back. Literally long enough for a short juke. There are plenty of other champions with similar effects but with shorter cooldowns.

His E is great until it's not. It's great for using in conjunction with your Q, but once you use it, you've lost your mobility and if you don't fend off your target, then only thing you can do is run away, flash, or die. The taunt is great, but with champions who can dash around the field like nothing (looking at you, Ahri, Irelia, and Yasuo), you can't justify the taunt.

His Ult is great for getting the drop, I don't have much issue with it, but I'd rather it get nerfed if it meant getting vorpal blade back. Having no poke means that every time you want to do damage, you have to go all in.

I feel so underwhelmed with Shen. I know the rework changed him due to balance reasons, and he works best with a team. However, I feel like he's such a third wheel in many circumstances. So what do you guys do to actually pull off great plays with Shen? Can you solo top? Or do you play him sup? I don't really know why this isn't working well, but I hope you guys can share your experiences and how to play him well.

6 Comments

Takahashi939/4/2018, 1:29:09 AM3 votes

I'm a Shen main, and tbh he needs serious buffs to base damage and attack speed. They should just rework him again and turn him into a bruiser instead of a semi-tank. The best base item build for Shen is item 3748 for damage. item 3083 for health and regen, item 3065 for anti/magic/poison, and item 3075 item 3068item 3742 for armor.

My main problem with Shen is he has no engage against ranged top lane champs, at least not without risking death. Whereas champs like teemo, malchite, urgot, yorick and chogath can just poke endlessly.

He really needs a ranged poke, or at least less of a taunt cooldown, when you look at champs like Irelia who can dash endlessly, its not fair. Or champs that are better tanks naturally just steamrolling Shen even at full tank Shen build.

Shen is a mediocre champ, that takes great skill to play.

Libido9/4/2018, 7:06:36 AM2 votes

Riot hates Shen.

Subject 59/4/2018, 8:53:42 PM2 votes

Shen has a Pro-Play-Curse

He won't ever be in a consistent state of 'good' or 'alright' because he will be nerfed solely based on his R ability.

Śhunpo9/4/2018, 10:24:21 AM1 votes

Press R.

Anu3isII9/4/2018, 8:26:43 PM1 votes

I may not play him at his fullest, but I think I have my fair share of experience with both old and new Shen (so I kinda know how bad he feels at the start).

First important thing is to analyse your match-up and adapt your runes and build-path to it. I generally pick Grasp as a Keystone with Bone Plating, Conditioning and Overgrowth, allowing me to have a decent amount of sustain while becoming really tanky in the later stages of the game. You can switch the lower runes, but I will overall talk about how I play Shen with Grasp. For the second set of runes I generally switch between:

  1. Precision for Triumph and Legend: Alacrity. This will help you in duels and rewards you for picking enemy opponents in teamfights. Good for Splitpushing and farming in general. If you have an easy lane, then this one helps you press the advantage.

  2. Inspiration for Magical Footwear and Cosmic Insight. Movement Speed is always good for Shen and free gold helps him build his main items faster, while CDR for his abilities and Summoner Spells is a big deal in my opinion. The increased bonus HP for picking this page makes it more convenient for difficult match-ups.

  3. Sorcery for Celerity and Gathering Storm. I pick this only if I think the game would be really long and I want to split a lot. With the Celerity nerfs, I started picking this less and less, so I don't really know if it is as good of an alternative to the other pages.

Some people pick Domination for Ultimate Hat, but I personally think its reward based on kills is difficult to achieve and I find the other options weak.

Build: Start with Doran's Shield for sustain and all-in potential.

Bami Cinder is a must. Try to rush it.

Enemy laner deals a lot of Magic Damage: build Spectre's Cowl.

Enemy laner deals a lot of Physical Damage: rush Sunfire or build Bramble Vest if they have sustain (like Fiora or Nasus). Keep in mind that your Taunt works really well with both items.

Enemy team deals a ton of Magic Damage: build Spirit Visage and Mercury Treads if they have a significant mount of CC. Try to build as much HP as you possibly can (Warmog's and Titanic are generally good, while Sunfire and Deadman's are decent picks if the enemy has an ADC). If the enemy team has a lot of Magic DPS, build Adaptive Helm too.

Enemy team deals a ton of Physical Damage: finish Sunfire, build Tabi's. Try to build Deadman's immediately after. If the enemy builds Crit Chance, build Randuin's. If you have Bramble or the enemy has Sustain, build Thornmail. Knight's Vow is a powerful item that helps you defend people more than one can believe. If the enemy has only one Magic Damage dealer, try to focus on that champion. Otherwise, build at least a Spirit Visage.

Situational items:

  1. Titanic Hydra:
  • Generally build it when ahead.
  • Works really well with Grasp, making you great at dueling.
  • Good for Splitpushing.
  • Very good components.
  • Can make you a threat for Squishy Targets.
  1. Locket of the Iron Solari:
  • Very powerful in teamfights.
  • Helps you protect your Carries, especially when combined with Knight's Vow.
  • Generally good against Magic Damage comps.
  • Scales really well with High HP builds.
  • Always good to build after your core items.
  1. Zz'Rot Portal:
  • A must have when you want to Splitpush.
  • Scales well with High HP builds.
  • Can stall lanes.
  • Forces opponents to destroy it, sometimes forcing them out of position.
  • It makes Splitpushing safer.
  • Good against Teams with Mixed sources of Damage.

Laning Phase:

  1. For first 2 levels play safe while ocasionally trading with your opponent. If the opponent is ranged, play safe.

When trading, you want to stack your Grasp, have both Q and Passive ready and use them only when you are sure you will auto-attack the opponent at least once. Back away if there are lots of minions. Extend the trade if you out-damage your opponent. If your jungler comes, it will almost be a free kill.

  1. For levels 3-5, you can also all-in your opponent with a well used E.

Again, try to have Grasp and all your abilities ready. Try to engage with your Taunt or use it after a successful trade. Use your W only when your shield is destroyed and your opponent trades back. For greater all-in potential, you can run Ignite, which would pressure your opponent to back after a few successful trades.

  1. From level 6 onward, you will also have to look for good ultimates while managing the minion wave in order to not lose farm.

Try to deny kills for Assassins in Mid Lane and look a lot at the clown fiesta in Bot Lane. Try to coordinate with your jungler. And try to not lose your Tower too Early. Good Splitpushers can punish Shen for Ulting away from lane.

  1. When Losing Top Tower, start roaming and switch lanes with your allies to split. Don't forget that you have a huge advantage when splitting because of your Ultimate. Always keep an eye on objectives and encourage your team to take them.

This is the main bulk of info on Shen (even tho it is enormous). If you have any question or want to discuss about some points, feel free to ask! [slayer-jinx-wink]

Nodnerb Elbon12/7/2018, 4:41:43 PM1 votes

So my buddy and I just climbed through bronze with shen & nasus duo bot lane.... so much fun having duo relic shield and making bad low level adc’s hate us. I know this probably is not what you are looking for but it is a ton of fun!