Shen · Support
Shen as Support
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This guide is assembled by the site from match data and the game's own information — nobody wrote it by hand. Official and community guides appear alongside it when they exist.
Overview
Shen belongs to Riot's Tank class and is played mainly as Top (100% of the public matches we measured). It fights in melee range and uses energy. Its main role is Top, but it is also played as Support. In this guide you play it as Support: your job is to win the bottom lane with your marksman, control vision and enable your carries.
Strengths
- Very durable: Riot rates it 9/10 in defense.
- Mobility: Shadow Dash lets you reposition, engage or escape.
- Sustain from Ki Barrier.
Weaknesses
- Off-role pick: expect less support from guides and teammates than on Top.
- Isolated lane: vulnerable to ganks when you push.
- Predictable if you always play it the same way: adapt your build to the enemy team.
Build cheat sheet
Pick the build that fits what you want to do this game.
- Utility buildUtilityRecommendedBuilt to protect your team: Locket of the Iron Solari, Knight's Vow and Sunfire Aegis. Choose it when your carries need peel more than they need your damage.
- Standard buildBalancedSituationalThe default path: Bandlepipes, Zeke's Convergence and Locket of the Iron Solari give the health, magic resist and armor this class relies on. Pick it when you have no reason to adapt. Built from Riot's item tags and the champion's class; Riot publishes no build statistics.
Builds
Utility build
When to use it
Built to protect your team: Locket of the Iron Solari, Knight's Vow and Sunfire Aegis. Choose it when your carries need peel more than they need your damage.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
2100%1- SupportMain
- TopPriority 2100% of matches
Starting items
Core items
- 1Locket of the Iron Solari
- 2Knight's Vow
- 3Sunfire Aegis
Boots
Situational
Runes
Primary· Resolve
Secondary· Inspiration
Shards
Summoner spells
Flash
Exhaust
Standard build
When to use it
The default path: Bandlepipes, Zeke's Convergence and Locket of the Iron Solari give the health, magic resist and armor this class relies on. Pick it when you have no reason to adapt. Built from Riot's item tags and the champion's class; Riot publishes no build statistics.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
21100%- TopMain100% of matches
- SupportPriority 2
Starting items
Core items
- 1Bandlepipes
- 2Zeke's Convergence
- 3Locket of the Iron Solari
Boots
Situational
Runes
Primary· Resolve
Secondary· Inspiration
Shards
Summoner spells
- Flash
Teleport
Abilities
Ki BarrierPassiveAfter casting a spell, Shen gets a shield. Affecting other champions reduces the cooldown of this effect.
QTwilight Assault8/7.25/6.5/5.75/5s140/130/120/110/100 mpShen 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.- Cooldown
- 8·7.25·6.5·5.75·5
- Cost
- 140·130·120·110·100
- Range
- 400
WSpirit's Refuge16/14.5/13/11.5/10s40 mpAttacks that would hit Shen or his allies near his spirit blade are blocked.- Cooldown
- 16·14.5·13·11.5·10
- Cost
- 40
- Range
- 400
EShadow Dash18/16/14/12/10s150 mpShen dashes in a direction, taunting enemies in his path.- Cooldown
- 18·16·14·12·10
- Cost
- 150
- Range
- 600
RStand UnitedUltimate200/180/160sShen shields target allied champion from incoming damage, and soon after teleports to their location.- Cooldown
- 200·180·160
- Range
- 35000
Strategy
1Early game
Your lane is about your marksman: trade when the enemy walks up to last hit, and ward the river before dragon spawns. Complete your support quest to unlock wards. Trade when the enemy marksman goes for a last hit: they have to choose between the gold and the damage.
2Mid game
In the mid game, move with your jungler to ward and clear vision around dragons and towers. You're the one who decides where fights happen.
3Late game
Late, vision wins games: ward before Baron or Elder, never alone, and stay close to your carries.
4Team fights
Protect whoever the enemy dives, and keep Ki Barrier for the moment it saves a life.
Tips
- Buy a Control Ward every time you go back: it's the cheapest way to win vision.
- After the laning phase, move with your jungler — two players warding are much safer than one.
- Vision: every ward you place is information your team can use.
- Don't take minions from your marksman: your gold comes from your support item.
Changelog
- Guide created for patch 16.19.1.
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