Best Shen Build Guide | Runes | Spells | Items in LoL

If you love playing in the top lane and enjoy the fantastic 1vs1 in this side lane, then you should play Shen and start dominating the summoner's rift with this good champion. Learn everything your should about the best Shen build, best runes, summoner spells, skill order, the best mythic items, and how to deal damage with this powerful champion in the top lane.

Best Shen Build

Shen build is focused on getting tank items to be able to protect your allies, apply crowd control against enemies and be a powerful front lane champion during the team fights. So, buying some items such as Frostfire Gauntlet is really important, and don't worry, Shen is capable to deal mixed damage and a lot of physical damage even if he buys just tank items.

Best Shen Runes

Choosing the right Shen runes is so important to survive during the lane phase and create good opportunities to kill an opponent, boost your shield bash and heal while you hurt an enemy. So, the primary rune set for Shen is located in the Resolve route, Grasp of the Undying, Shield Bash, Second Wind, and Revitalize. As a secondary rune set, you may use Domination with Cheap Shot and Ultimate Hunter.

Best Rune Path	Resolve	Domination
Best Keystone	Grasp of the Undying
Best Slot 1 (Rune)	Shield Bash	Cheap Shot
Best Slot 2 (Rune)	Second Wind	Ultimate Hunter
Best Slot 3 (Rune)	Revitalize

Best Shen Rune Shards

Usually, the rune shards should be chosen depending on the enemy champions and enemy team composition. But you may use the following rune shards with the highest win rate: Offense (+10% attack speed), Offense (+9 adaptive force), and Flex (+6 armor). Remember, you can change a little bit the rune shards if you're dealing against a full magic damage team, etc.

Best Rune Shards	Effect
Offense	+10% attack speed
Offense	+9 Adaptive Force
Flex	+6 Armor

Best Shen Summoner's Spells

Even if Shen's ultimate works like a global teleport around the map, many Shen players prefer to use Flash and Teleport as summoner spells. This option will help Shen to control the map better and support his allies. So, you can play safe during the laning phase and don't lose many minions if you use the teleport correctly.

Best Spells	Icon
Flash
Teleport

Best Shen Abilities Order

Now you know the best runes and summoner spells for Shen, it's important to know the right skill order for this wonderful champion to win trades in the laning phase and start dealing damage to the enemies, know your power spikes, etc. For that reason, follow this skill order for Shen: Twilight Assault (Q), Shadow Dash (E), and Spirit's Refuge (W). Don't forget to level up your ultimate (Stand United), which is your most important ability to support your allies on the map.

Best Shen items

No Shen guides will be completed without talking about the best items for Shen and how to take advantage of those tanky items to dominate the top lane. As Shen top, prioritize getting some items such as Frostfire Gauntlet, and Titanic Hydra to improve your minion wave clear and deal more damage to the enemies.

Best Starter Shen Items

On the other hand, choosing the best starting items for Shen is so important to keep you strong during the laning phase, healing after receiving damage, etc. For that reason, Doran's Shield and some health potions are perfect to achieve this goal. Remember, Shen is a champion with a great late game, so you must keep your farm good and escalate until the moment you can easily carry your team.

First Item	Second Item
Doran’s Shield	Health Potion

Best Mid-Game Shen Items

The mid-game is an important moment for Shen and is perfect to start supporting your team around the map, so consider having these items during the mid-game: Frostfire Gauntlet, Titanic Hydra, and Thornmail. You may also change the Thornmail for the force of nature in case you consider the enemy team has a lot of magic damage.

First Item	Second Item	Third Item
Frostfire Gauntlet	Titanic Hydra	Thornmail

Best Final Late Game Shen Items

At this point in the game, Shen is an amazing tank champion at the summoner's rift capable of being in any part of the map in just seconds. So, getting the following items is a must: Frostfire Gauntlet, Titanic Hydra, Thornmail, Force of nature, Plated Steelcaps, and Randuin's Omen. This is the build with the highest win rate for Shen and it can't be countered easily in League of legends.

First Item	Second Item	Third Item	Fourth Item	Fifth Item	Sixth Item
Frostfire Gauntlet	Titanic Hydra	Thornmail	Plated Steelcaps	Force of nature	Randuin's Omen

Best Champions to pair Shen with

If you want to master Shen in the top lane and want to partner with an amazing duo to dominate the summoner's rift. Then Bel'veth, Zac, and Amumu are the best pair for Shen. He is an amazing champion that pair perfectly with other tank champions who can deal a lot of damage and crowd control during the team fight. Do not hesitate to play Shen with Amumu, Zac or Bel'veth. You may also read our guide about the best Nautilus build in League of Legends, who is another great champion to pair Shen with.

Champion	Win Rate %	Icon
Bel'veth	56%
Zac	55%
Amumu	55%

Strongest Champions against Shen

Olaf, Singed, and Mordekaiser are the most powerful champions against Shen in the top lane, so avoid playing against them if you don't want to lose the game. Shen is so weak against those champions with high DPS and who can trade for long times without being penalized. Avoid champions with high healing abilities, and if you're going against these kinds of matchups, get a ruby crystal in your first recall.

Champion	Win Rate %	Icon
Olaf	48%
Singed	48%
Mordekaiser	49%

Weakest Champions against Shen

Finally, Akali, Renekton, and Irelia are the weakest champions against Shen, so do not hesitate to use Shen against those melee champions with low crowd control capabilities. But be careful, use your abilities well and keep your mind focused during the laning phase to win the game. Shen can be a difficult champion to master for beginners.

Champion	Win Rate %	Icon
Akali	57%
Renekton	57%
Irelia	55%

That's all for our Shen guide, but if you're looking to learn more about LoL champions, check our article about the best Dr Mundo build in League of Legends to dominate the top lane. See you at the summoner's rift!