Shen

Shen trades away personal damage for presence across the entire map. This energy-fueled tank plays the top lane in a conventional way, but his true strength is the constant danger of Stand United. The ultimate shields any allied champion, wherever they are, and pulls Shen directly to them. Enemies must plan for a tank appearing in the middle of a fight no matter where they are on the map, which makes Shen one of the best split-pushing and counter-ganking champions available.

Against opponents in lane, he fights with his spirit blade. Twilight Assault summons the blade back to him and boosts his attacks with bonus damage based on maximum health. The damage climbs sharply when the blade cuts through an enemy champion, and any champion it strikes on the way is slowed. Spirit’s Refuge creates a zone around the blade that completely negates incoming attacks, which is brutal against opponents who depend on auto-attacks. Placing the blade well is what separates a good Shen from a great one. Shadow Dash taunts every enemy in its path, so a single button handles engaging, protecting allies, and escaping.

Sustained by Ki Barrier

Ki Barrier is his passive: each spell he casts produces a shield, and hitting enemy champions with abilities shortens its cooldown. Trading aggressively therefore keeps him tougher to kill, and because he runs on energy, his resources hold up throughout the laning phase.

Shen does little damage on his own, and using his ultimate leaves his own lane unattended, so the outcome of his teleports depends on timing and wave control. He suits players who think at the macro level, keep an eye on every lane, put their teammates’ survival ahead of personal KDA, and win by being present rather than by carrying.