How to beat Shen

Common role: Top

The best counter to Shen in Top is Galio: 63.3% win rate over 49 ranked games on patch 26.17.

A peel tank who taunts your team and shields an ally anywhere with a global ult.

What makes Shen dangerous

Shen taunts enemies to attack him (E), blocks auto-attacks for allies with his spirit blade, and his global ultimate shields and teleports him to any ally across the map — turning fights and saving carries. He's a low-damage but extremely durable peel tank who enables his team map-wide.

How to play against Shen

• 1Ping his ultimate — when he ults, he's about to appear in another lane/fight with a shield. Collapse before it lands or back off.
• 2Dodge his E taunt dash — it forces you to attack him. Sidestep it and his lockdown/peel fails.
• 3He has low personal damage — you don't lose much by ignoring him. Kite him and focus his carries.
• 4Force fights when his ult is down or on the other side of the map — that's when his team lacks his peel.

Weaknesses to exploit

• ✓Low personal damage — a pure peel tank.
• ✓E taunt is a dodgeable dash.
• ✓Strong when his ult is up — punish when it's down.
• ✓% health and magic damage beat his tankiness.

Abilities & how to counter them

What each of Shen's abilities does — and how to play around it.

• P
  Ki Barrier

  After casting a spell, Shen gets a shield. Affecting other champions reduces the cooldown of this effect.

• Q
  Twilight Assault

  Shen recalls his spirit blade to attack with it, dealing damage based on the target's max health. The attacks are greatly empowered if it collides with an enemy champion, and all collided enemies are slowed while running away from Shen.

• W
  Spirit's Refuge

  Attacks that would hit Shen or his allies near his spirit blade are blocked.

• E
  Shadow Dash

  Shen dashes in a direction, taunting enemies in his path.

  Strong: a taunt dash that forces you to attack him. Weak: a dodgeable dash — sidestep it and his lockdown/peel fails.

• R
  Stand United

  Shen shields target allied champion from incoming damage, and soon after teleports to their location.

  Strong: a global shield + teleport to any ally, turning fights map-wide. Weak: it's telegraphed — ping it, and force fights when it's on cooldown.

Itemization

Shen is a peel/global tank. Dodge his E taunt, play % health/magic damage, and force fights when his ult is on cooldown or away. Ping his ult to warn allies.

This guide covers Shen's core kit and playstyle — advice that holds up across patches.