How to Play N.O.V.A. Shen
A stage-by-stage plan for N.O.V.A. Shen: opener, when to level and roll for Shen, and where to position the board.
- Tier
- D
- Top 4 rate
- 45.9%
- Avg place
- 4.78
- 1st place
- 6.4%
- Playstyle
- 2-cost reroll
- Games
- 161
How to level and roll with N.O.V.A. Shen
2-cost rerollN.O.V.A. Shen is a reroll comp: slow roll at level 6 from stage 3-2, keeping 50+ gold and rolling only the excess until Akali reach 3 stars. At level 6, each shop slot has a 40% chance to be a 2-cost.
| Stage | Level | Action | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-1 | 4 | Level | Level to 4 and play your strongest pairs; slam an early item if it saves HP. |
| 2-5 | 5 | Level | Level to 5 and keep building interest toward 50 gold. |
| 3-2 | 6 | Slow roll | Stay at level 6: roll only the gold above 50 each round until Akali hit 3 stars. |
| 3-5 | 6 | Slow roll | Stay at level 6: roll only the gold above 50 each round until Akali hit 3 stars. |
| 4-1 | 7 | Level | Once your 3-stars are done, level up and add the units that complete your traits. |
| 4-5 | 8 | Level | Level to 8 for 4-cost upgrades and a stronger frontline. |
| 5-1 | 8 | Roll down | Roll for the last upgrades and finish the board around Shen. |
N.O.V.A. Shen early game and opener
Boards that lead into N.O.V.A. Shen at levels 4 to 7, taken from MetaBot Desktop round data — play the one closest to your shops.
1 games · 100% rounds won · 71% of units carry into the final compRolling odds for N.O.V.A. Shen
Your 3-star targets are Akali. Level 6 gives the best shop odds for them — use the calculator to see how much gold a 3-star costs.
Rolldown calculator: Akali
Pre-set to this comp's roll level. Change copies owned, copies other players hold and your gold.
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N.O.V.A. Shen positioning
A starting board for N.O.V.A. Shen. Drag units to adjust it, switch to the anti-assassin layout when the lobby has divers, and copy the Team Planner code into the TFT client.
- Corner Kindred on the back line and put Tahm Kench in front of it.
- Split Kindred and Caitlyn across the back line so a single area spell can't hit both.
- Shen, Tahm Kench, and Maokai hold the front line — put the tankiest one opposite the enemy carry.
- Against assassins, step your carries up one row and leave Aatrox and Bel'Veth in the back corners as bait.
Positioning board
Drag a unit onto another hex to move it — dropping on a unit swaps them.
When to play N.O.V.A. Shen
Strengths
- Big power spike once Akali hit 3 stars
- Two damage threats (Shen and Kindred) make itemizing flexible
- Rarely played, so its units are usually free
- Strong mid game once the reroll units are upgraded
Weaknesses
- Needs Shen and Kindred at high cost, which can be hard to hit
- Falls off hard if someone else is rerolling Akali
Strategic Tips
Economy
Reach 50 gold, then slow roll at level 6 with only the excess until Akali are 3-starred.
Itemization
Build Thief's Gloves on Shen.
When to pivot
Scout at 2-1 and 3-2: if two or more players hold your core units, or you haven't found any by 3-2, move into one of the comps on the Similar Comps tab instead of forcing N.O.V.A. Shen.
Get the Winning Edge
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How to play N.O.V.A. Shen – FAQ (TFT Set 17)
How do you play N.O.V.A. Shen?
N.O.V.A. Shen is a reroll comp: slow roll at level 6 from stage 3-2, keeping 50+ gold and rolling only the excess until Akali reach 3 stars. Corner Kindred on the back line and put Tahm Kench in front of it. Build Thief's Gloves on Shen.
When should I roll down for N.O.V.A. Shen?
N.O.V.A. Shen doesn't do one big roll down. Slow roll at level 6 from stage 3-2, rolling only the gold above 50 until Akali are 3-starred.
What level do you roll for Akali?
Slow roll for Akali at level 6, where its cost tier shows up most often in the shop. At level 6, each shop slot has a 40% chance to be a 2-cost.
Is N.O.V.A. Shen a reroll comp?
Yes. N.O.V.A. Shen wants Akali at 3 stars, so slow roll at level 6 with gold above 50 until you hit them.
How do you position N.O.V.A. Shen?
Corner Kindred on the back line and put Tahm Kench in front of it. Split Kindred and Caitlyn across the back line so a single area spell can't hit both. Shen, Tahm Kench, and Maokai hold the front line — put the tankiest one opposite the enemy carry. Against assassins, step your carries up one row and leave Aatrox and Bel'Veth in the back corners as bait.
What is the best opener for N.O.V.A. Shen?
The most common level 7 board that turns into N.O.V.A. Shen is Aatrox, Akali, Caitlyn, Gragas, and Kindred (1 games tracked).