Can We Add More Dynamics to Shen's Spirit Blade and Make His W More Useful for Team Fights?
Remember Shen's update? He was changed to being only melee with a new and very unique mechanic of using his spirit blade. The rework was not a failure but it did make him in a kind of weird spot in which he is really good for pro play but average for soloque. The issue isn't that Shen isn't good for team fights (His ult speaks for itself), but that his other abilities besides his E (his only true cc), don't really help the team but himself. This forces most Shen players to just split push and then ult if the team is attacked. Though this strategy is good, it just goes to show that he has only a very limited amount of impact in teamfights compared to say Maokai who can W or R the enemy with good amounts of CC. These are few changes I would make to him.
Q Twilight Assault: Instead of Giving more direct Magic damage, it should lower lower the MR of the targets it hits for 3 seconds. This still gives Shen more damage in lane but also makes his team (if they have AP) deal more damage as well. To compensate, reducing the damage it does when the blade does not collide is acceptable. Another change to his Q that I found to be interesting was making his Q also shield his allies for a few seconds (like his passive) but is only half of his maximum shield. This would solidify Shen as more of a Warden according to Riot.
His W Spirit's Refuge is actually a really cool ability on paper. He summons a small circle around his Spirit Blade which causes all enemy auto-attacks to deal no damage. Sounds OP but it's not. The fact that it is bound by his spirit blade makes it only useful for mainly Shen. Why? Shen constantly moves his spirit blade with his Q. These means that most of the time, the blade will be close to Shen. but not close to his allies. This means that even if a teammate wanted to use it to block say an enemy adc's shots, it would, be hard for it to be consistent. Plus with the longish cooldown, it may be used about once or twice in a teamfight. I am not saying to reduce its cooldown but to make it attached to Shen rather than his Spirit Blade. This can make an E + W combo towards a dying teammate a very dynamic and cool combo. Imagine that your ADC is at a sliver of health and is fighting another ADC but with a bit better items. You can't save her in time if you just walk and try to bring your spirit blade with q and then W. With this change it makes Shen a much more defensive Tank that protects his ADC no matter what.
These changes in general are obviously just ideas, but I truly believe that they can make him much more in tune with his role as a Warden and the theme of his lore and kit that emphasizes the protection of friends from harm.
If you guys have any other ideas, much will be appreciated. [galio-happy]
