Top Matchup

Shen vs Garen

Patch: 15.17 (25.17)
League: Platinum+
Shen

Shen

the Eye of Twilight
Top
Shen Top Overall Win Rate
51.66%

Matchup Win Rate

48.3%
Shen vs Garen Wins
51.7%
Garen vs Shen Wins
Garen

Garen

The Might of Demacia
Top
Garen Top Overall Win Rate
50.26%

Shen vs Garen - Top Matchup Guide Patch 15.17 (25.17)

Shen Top vs Garen Top - Who is stronger?

Shen Top has trouble against Garen (48.3% win rate) based on 787 games. This is a tough matchup for Shen players.

View detailed statistics below: items, runes, and counter builds for Shen Top vs Garen Top in patch 15.17 (25.17), including win rates and pick rates. With proper study, this can improve your chances of victory up to 70%+ in this matchup.

Statistical Matchup Analysis

Current meta showdown: Shen (4.2% pick rate, 13th most popular out of 64 Top champions) versus Garen (5.0%, 11th place). These two top lane titans clash constantly, making matchup mastery a decisive factor in your climb. Surprising upset: Despite Shen's higher tier rating, Garen wins 51.7% of encounters. This suggests Garen's kit specifically counters Shen's playstyle, overriding general meta strength - approach this matchup with extra caution. Every edge matters: In this tough matchup, the proven Grasp of the Undying + Shield Bash combination (57.5% win rate) plus optimal itemization Titanic Hydra, Heartsteel, Unending Despair, and Plated Steelcaps boosts your chances from 48.3% to 70%+ - potentially game-changing.

Survive and scale: Shen faces both matchup (48.29%) and farming disadvantages (5.30 vs 7.66/min). With a 2.36 CS/min deficit, prioritize safe farming and jungle assistance. Outclassed across the board: Garen leads in both matchup win rate (51.7%) and damage (815 vs 672/min). Shen must seek alternative win conditions through macro play and team coordination. Strong individual performance: Shen maintains better KDA (2.80, 1st place vs 24th for Garen), but loses the matchup overall. High KDA without wins suggests difficulty translating individual advantages into victory conditions.

Shen vs Garen - Top Stats Comparison

Shen Top
Shen Top
Versus
Garen Top
Garen Top
STierA
48.3%Matchup Winrate51.7%
51.66%Role Winrate50.26%
#8Winrate Rank#32
4.2%Pickrate5.0%
2.8Average KDA1.9
385Gold per Minute433
5.30CS/Min7.66
0.31Wards per Minute0.29
672Damage per Minute815

How to Beat Garen as Shen (Top)

Despite the slight difference in effectiveness, in the Shen versus Garen matchup in the top lane, neither champion has an overwhelming advantage. The winner is determined by player skill and understanding the intricacies of the confrontation. Studying this guide will improve your chances of success.

Shen deals mixed damage - the opponent has fewer options for defense. Garen deals mainly physical damage (75.27%), additional items against this damage type may be required against snowballing or aggressive play.

Consider the farming superiority demonstrated by Garen, ranking 9th (versus 61st for Shen) in farming efficiency among champions in this role. This means the opponent can build gold advantages more quickly. Meanwhile, their lower KDA (1.9 versus 2.8) suggests they are less effective in team fights.

Key aspects of the Shen Top versus Garen Top matchup

In this difficult confrontation, it is critically important for the Shen player to avoid attempts to force trades and all-ins with the Garen player, as the matchup requires a patient and calculated approach. Extended trades without clear tactical advantage often lead to unfavorable consequences, and ignoring opportunities to receive team support can be a fatal mistake for game progression.

Shen vs Garen: Top Lane Summoner Spells

Most Popular

Flash
Flash Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
Teleport
Teleport After a brief channel, become untargetable and travel to an allied unit. Upgrades into Unleashed Teleport, which significantly increases travel speed.
50.2% Win Rate80.7% Pick Rate

Highest Win Rate

Flash
Flash Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
Ghost
Ghost Gain Move Speed and ignore unit collision for the duration.
65.4% Win Rate0.6% Pick Rate

Shen vs Garen: Top Lane Runes

Most Frequent Runes

Primary Path
Resolve
Grasp of the Undying
Grasp of the Undying Every 4s in combat, your next basic attack on a champion will:
  • Deal bonus magic damage equal to 3.5% of your max health
  • Heal you for 1.3% of your max health
  • Permanently increase your health by 5
    Ranged Champions: Damage, healing, and permanent health gained are 60% effective.
  • Grasp of the Undying

    Every 4s in combat, your next basic attack on a champion will:Deal bonus magic damage equ…

    Shield Bash
    Shield Bash Whenever you gain a new shield, your next basic attack against a champion deals 5 - 30(+2.5% Bonus Health)(+15.0% New Shield Amount) bonus adaptive damage.

    You have up to 2s after the shield expires to use this effect.

    Shield Bash

    Whenever you gain a new shield, your next basic attack against a champion deal…

    Second Wind
    Second Wind After taking damage from an enemy champion, heal for 4% of your missing health +3 over 10s.

    Second Wind

    After taking damage from an enemy champion, heal for 4% of your missing health …

    Overgrowth
    Overgrowth Absorb life essence from monsters or enemy minions that die near you, permanently gaining 3 maximum health for every 8.

    When you've absorbed 120 monsters or enemy minions, gain an additional 3.5% maximum health.

    Overgrowth

    Absorb life essence from monsters or enemy minions that die near you, permanent…

    Secondary Path
    Inspiration
    Biscuit Delivery
    Biscuit Delivery Biscuit Delivery: Gain a Total Biscuit of Everlasting Will every 2 mins, until 6 min.

    Biscuits restore 12% of your missing health. Consuming or selling a Biscuit permanently increases your max health by 30.

    Biscuit Delivery

    Biscuit Delivery: Gain a Total Biscuit of Everlasting Will every 2 mins, until …

    Approach Velocity
    Approach Velocity Gain 7.5% Move Speed towards nearby enemy champions that are movement impaired. This bonus is increased to 15% Move Speed for any enemy champion that you impair.

    Activation Range for CC from allies: 1000

    Approach Velocity

    Gain 7.5% Move Speed towards nearby enemy champions that are movement impaired.…

    Adaptive
    Attack Speed
    Attack Speed Increases attack speed by 10%

    Attack Speed

    Increases attack speed by 10%

    Scaling Health
    Scaling Health Increases health from 10 to 180 HP across levels 1-18

    Scaling Health

    Increases health from 10 to 180 HP across levels 1-18

    Scaling Health
    Scaling Health Increases health from 10 to 180 HP across levels 1-18

    Scaling Health

    Increases health from 10 to 180 HP across levels 1-18

    52.7% Win Rate50.5% Pick Rate

    Best Win Rate Runes

    Primary Path
    Resolve
    Grasp of the Undying
    Grasp of the Undying Every 4s in combat, your next basic attack on a champion will:
  • Deal bonus magic damage equal to 3.5% of your max health
  • Heal you for 1.3% of your max health
  • Permanently increase your health by 5
    Ranged Champions: Damage, healing, and permanent health gained are 60% effective.
  • Grasp of the Undying

    Every 4s in combat, your next basic attack on a champion will:Deal bonus magic damage equ…

    Shield Bash
    Shield Bash Whenever you gain a new shield, your next basic attack against a champion deals 5 - 30(+2.5% Bonus Health)(+15.0% New Shield Amount) bonus adaptive damage.

    You have up to 2s after the shield expires to use this effect.

    Shield Bash

    Whenever you gain a new shield, your next basic attack against a champion deal…

    Second Wind
    Second Wind After taking damage from an enemy champion, heal for 4% of your missing health +3 over 10s.

    Second Wind

    After taking damage from an enemy champion, heal for 4% of your missing health …

    Revitalize
    Revitalize Gain 5% Heal and Shield Power.

    Heals and shields you cast or receive are 10% stronger on targets below 40% health.

    Revitalize

    Gain 5% Heal and Shield Power.Heals and shields you cast or receive are 10% str…

    Secondary Path
    Sorcery
    Axiom Arcanist
    Axiom Arcanist Your Ultimate has 12% increased damage, healing, and shielding.
    (AoE damage is reduced to a 8% increase)

    Scoring a takedown on an enemy champion reduces your Ultimate's current cooldown by 7%.

    Axiom Arcanist

    Your Ultimate has 12% increased damage, healing, and shielding. (AoE damage is …

    Transcendence
    Transcendence Gain bonuses upon reaching the following levels:
    Level 5: +5 Ability Haste
    Level 8: +5 Ability Haste
    Level 11: On Champion takedown, reduce the remaining cooldown of basic abilities by 20%.

    Transcendence

    Gain bonuses upon reaching the following levels:Level 5: +5 Ability Haste Level…

    Adaptive
    Scaling Cooldown Reduction
    Scaling Cooldown Reduction +8 Ability Haste

    Scaling Cooldown Reduction

    +8 Ability Haste

    Scaling Health
    Scaling Health Increases health from 10 to 180 HP across levels 1-18

    Scaling Health

    Increases health from 10 to 180 HP across levels 1-18

    Scaling Health
    Scaling Health Increases health from 10 to 180 HP across levels 1-18

    Scaling Health

    Increases health from 10 to 180 HP across levels 1-18

    57.5% Win Rate1.3% Pick Rate

    Shen vs Garen: Top Lane Item Builds

    Most Popular Build

    Starting Items
    Stealth Ward
    Stealth Ward (0 gold) Active (210 - 120s, max 2 charges)
    Places an Invisible Stealth Ward that grants vision for 90-120 seconds.
    Doran's Shield
    Doran's Shield (450 gold) 110 Health
    Enduring Focus
    Restore 4 Health every 5 seconds.
    After taking damage from a champion, restore Health over 8 seconds.
    Helping Hand
    Attacks deal 5 bonus physical damage to minions.
    Health Potion
    Health Potion (50 gold) Consume
    Restores 120 Health over 15 seconds.
    51.6% Win Rate89.8% Pick Rate
    Popular Boots
    Plated Steelcaps
    Plated Steelcaps (1200 gold) 25 Armor
    45 Move Speed

    Plating
    Reduces incoming damage from Attacks by 10%.
    51.0% Win Rate68.3% Pick Rate
    Mercury's Treads
    Mercury's Treads (1250 gold) 20 Magic Resist
    45 Move Speed
    30% Tenacity

    55.4% Win Rate16.2% Pick Rate
    Boots of Swiftness
    Boots of Swiftness (1000 gold) 60 Move Speed
    Fleetfooted
    Reduce the effectiveness of Slows by 25%.
    64.3% Win Rate5.5% Pick Rate
    Core Build
    Tiamat
    Tiamat (1200 gold) 20 Attack Damage
    Cleave
    Attacks deal physical damage to nearby enemies.
    Crescent
    Deal physical damage to enemies around you.
    ->
    Titanic Hydra
    Titanic Hydra (3300 gold) 40 Attack Damage
    600 Health

    Cleave
    Attacks deal physical damage on-hit and to enemies behind the target.
    Titanic Crescent
    Empower your next Cleave to deal bonus physical damageOn-Hit and deal bonus physical damage to enemies behind the target.
    Heartsteel
    Heartsteel (3000 gold) 900 Health
    100% Base Health Regen

    Colossal Consumption (0s) per target
    If an enemy champion is nearby for a few seconds, your next Attack against them deals 70 plus 6% of your max Health as bonus physical damage and grants 8% of the damage as max Health.
    Goliath
    For each 1000 max Health, gain 3% increased size, up to 30%.
    Unending Despair
    Unending Despair (2800 gold) 400 Health
    25 Armor
    25 Magic Resist
    10 Ability Haste

    Anguish
    Every 4 seconds while in combat with champions, deal magic damage to nearby enemy champions and heal for 250% of the damage dealt.
    42.0% Win Rate5.1% Pick Rate
    Final Build
    Thornmail
    Thornmail (2450 gold) 150 Health
    75 Armor

    Thorns
    When struck by an Attack, deal magic damage to the attacker and apply 40% Wounds for 3 seconds if they are a champion.
    49.7% Win Rate20.9% Pick Rate

    Best Win Rate Build

    Starting Items
    Stealth Ward
    Stealth Ward (0 gold) Active (210 - 120s, max 2 charges)
    Places an Invisible Stealth Ward that grants vision for 90-120 seconds.
    Doran's Shield
    Doran's Shield (450 gold) 110 Health
    Enduring Focus
    Restore 4 Health every 5 seconds.
    After taking damage from a champion, restore Health over 8 seconds.
    Helping Hand
    Attacks deal 5 bonus physical damage to minions.
    Health Potion
    Health Potion (50 gold) Consume
    Restores 120 Health over 15 seconds.
    51.6% Win Rate89.8% Pick Rate
    Highest Winrate Boots
    Ionian Boots of Lucidity
    Ionian Boots of Lucidity (900 gold) 10 Ability Haste
    45 Move Speed

    Ionian Insight
    Gain 10 Summoner Spell Haste.
    82.5% Win Rate2.0% Pick Rate
    Boots of Swiftness
    Boots of Swiftness (1000 gold) 60 Move Speed
    Fleetfooted
    Reduce the effectiveness of Slows by 25%.
    64.3% Win Rate5.5% Pick Rate
    Mercury's Treads
    Mercury's Treads (1250 gold) 20 Magic Resist
    45 Move Speed
    30% Tenacity

    55.4% Win Rate16.2% Pick Rate
    Core Build
    Tunneler
    Tunneler (1150 gold) 15 Attack Damage
    250 Health

    ->
    Titanic Hydra
    Titanic Hydra (3300 gold) 40 Attack Damage
    600 Health

    Cleave
    Attacks deal physical damage on-hit and to enemies behind the target.
    Titanic Crescent
    Empower your next Cleave to deal bonus physical damageOn-Hit and deal bonus physical damage to enemies behind the target.
    Heartsteel
    Heartsteel (3000 gold) 900 Health
    100% Base Health Regen

    Colossal Consumption (0s) per target
    If an enemy champion is nearby for a few seconds, your next Attack against them deals 70 plus 6% of your max Health as bonus physical damage and grants 8% of the damage as max Health.
    Goliath
    For each 1000 max Health, gain 3% increased size, up to 30%.
    Unending Despair
    Unending Despair (2800 gold) 400 Health
    25 Armor
    25 Magic Resist
    10 Ability Haste

    Anguish
    Every 4 seconds while in combat with champions, deal magic damage to nearby enemy champions and heal for 250% of the damage dealt.
    98.9% Win Rate1.7% Pick Rate
    Final Build
    Spirit Visage
    Spirit Visage (2700 gold) 400 Health
    50 Magic Resist
    10 Ability Haste
    100% Base Health Regen

    Boundless Vitality
    Heals and Shields on you are increased by 25%.
    100.0% Win Rate3.4% Pick Rate
    Other Items
    Randuin's Omen
    Randuin's Omen (2700 gold) 350 Health
    75 Armor

    Resilience
    Receive 30% less damage from Critical Strikes.
    Humility
    Slow nearby enemies by 70% for 2 seconds.
    39.3% Win Rate17.3% Pick Rate
    Sunfire Aegis
    Sunfire Aegis (2700 gold) 350 Health
    50 Armor
    10 Ability Haste

    Immolate
    After taking or dealing damage, deal magic damage per second to nearby enemies for 3 seconds.
    49.4% Win Rate13.8% Pick Rate
    Kaenic Rookern
    Kaenic Rookern (2900 gold) 400 Health
    80 Magic Resist
    100% Base Health Regen

    Magebane
    After not taking magic damage for 15 seconds, gain a magic shield.
    33.4% Win Rate10.1% Pick Rate
    Warmog's Armor
    Warmog's Armor (3100 gold) 1000 Health
    100% Base Health Regen

    Warmog's Heart
    If you have 2000 bonus Health and have not taken damage within 8 seconds, restore Health per second.
    Warmog's Vitality
    Gain bonus Health equal to 12% of your Item Health (0).
    49.5% Win Rate6.9% Pick Rate
    Iceborn Gauntlet
    Iceborn Gauntlet (2900 gold) 300 Health
    50 Armor
    15 Ability Haste

    Spellblade
    After using an Ability, your next Attack deals bonus physical damageOn-Hit and creates a frost field for 2s that Slows.
    49.1% Win Rate6.9% Pick Rate
    Spirit Visage
    Spirit Visage (2700 gold) 400 Health
    50 Magic Resist
    10 Ability Haste
    100% Base Health Regen

    Boundless Vitality
    Heals and Shields on you are increased by 25%.
    100.0% Win Rate3.4% Pick Rate
    Navori Flickerblade
    Navori Flickerblade (2650 gold) 40% Attack Speed
    25% Critical Strike Chance
    4% Move Speed

    Transcendence
    Attacks reduce Basic Ability cooldowns by 15% of their remaining cooldown.
    99.6% Win Rate3.4% Pick Rate

    Shen vs Garen: Top Lane Skill (abilities) Orders

    Most Frequent Skill Order

    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10
    11
    12
    13
    14
    15
    16
    17
    18
    Q
    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.
    Q
    Q
    Q
    Q
    Q
    W
    W
    Spirit's Refuge Attacks that would hit Shen or his allies near his spirit blade are blocked.
    W
    W
    W
    W
    W
    E
    E
    Shadow Dash Shen dashes in a direction, taunting enemies in his path.
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    R
    R
    Stand United Shen shields target allied champion from incoming damage, and soon after teleports to their location.
    R
    R
    R
    Max Order: Q > E > W
    49.1% Win Rate73.8% Pick Rate

    Highest Win % Skill Order

    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10
    11
    12
    13
    14
    15
    16
    17
    18
    R
    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.
    Q
    Q
    Q
    Q
    Q
    R
    W
    Spirit's Refuge Attacks that would hit Shen or his allies near his spirit blade are blocked.
    W
    W
    W
    W
    W
    R
    E
    Shadow Dash Shen dashes in a direction, taunting enemies in his path.
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    R
    R
    Stand United Shen shields target allied champion from incoming damage, and soon after teleports to their location.
    R
    R
    R
    Max Order: Q > E > W
    98.0% Win Rate0.2% Pick Rate

    Shen tips:

    • Keep an eye on allies and be ready to save them with your teleport.
    • Leverage your Energy to get a long-term advantage over Mana users.

    Playing Against Garen

    • Stack armor items to lower the large amount of physical damage that Garen deals out.
    • Try to run away from Garen as your health gets lower, as he can execute you quickly with Demacian Justice.
    • Be careful about attacking Garen in brush. It often will lead to taking full damage from Judgment.
    • Judgment deals maximum damage when only hitting a single target. If getting out of its radius isn't possible, move through allied minions to reduce damage taken.