My favourite champion of all time; Shen, Eye of Twilight. The champion that got my all the way to level 30 and then suddenly! Oh! He's nearly always banned in ranked games

Gone are the days where top lane is kept safe with nothing but a ninja in every game, the ADC and APC are saved from level 6 and the opposition top laner can't help be denied farm or be out-sustained.

But still, sometimes, the opposition do not ban him. Sometimes they forget. Sometimes, that's when they need reminding as to why Shen is the master of top lane.

Below is an explanation on why I build Shen like I do, focusing mainly on an AP tank Shen; the role he plays best.

Runes.

Discuss masteries.

Difference in builds leads to different items, with some core items in all.

Pure AP is just for fun.

Heavy pusher? Shadow Dash and Feint.
Trying to out-sustain you? Vorpal Blade and Feint.

Teleport: A must have with Shen

Ignite: With Shen, his biggest worry is those who can out-sustain him. Dr. Mundo's ultimate, lifesteal etc. Ignite halves healing effects and keeps you on top.

Shen is the assist master. He will get a few kills, he may even die a couple of times, but none of that matters when you've gotten 15 - 30 assists for your team, leading to the survival of many team mates with Stand United, followed by Shadow Dash.

Teamwork?! Teamwork?! Shen IS teamwork. With an ulti that saves lives and a taunt that helps escapes as well as kills. There aren't many more useful tanky players on a team than Shen.

Farming is very average for Shen, with a fairly weak melee attack 6/7 attacks (passive) and only the Vorpal Blade damaging minions in his ability set, last hitting is all Shen can hope to do at the start.

I always rush the Sunfire Cape with Shen, it makes him tankier against basic and physical attacks, gives him tons of extra health and best of all; makes minion farming as easy as standing around, looking like a ninja.

+ TANKY
+ Sustains well
+ Good from early levels
+ Ulti is universal
+ Taunt saves lives and helps gets kills
+ Versatile player (can be played different ways, as well as jungling and can even support)
+ Saves towers easily from melee characters
+ Has a gap closer like no other
+ Is a flippin' ninja

- Doesn't do big damage
- Level 6 Stand United is weak
- Early game minion farm is weak
- That's all.