How to Play Ninja Shen
A stage-by-stage plan for Ninja Shen: opener, when to level and roll for Shen, and where to position the board.
- Tier
- S
- Top 4 rate
- 72.7%
- Avg place
- 3.09
- 1st place
- 27.3%
- Playstyle
- 3-cost reroll
- Games
- 11
How to level and roll with Ninja Shen
3-cost rerollNinja Shen is a reroll comp: slow roll at level 7 from stage 4-1, keeping 50+ gold and rolling only the excess until Katarina, Akali, and Kennen reach 3 stars. At level 7, each shop slot has a 40% chance to be a 3-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 | Level | Level to 6 and save to 50 gold. |
| 4-1 | 7 | Slow roll | Stay at level 7: roll only the gold above 50 each round until Katarina, Akali, and Kennen hit 3 stars. |
| 4-2 | 7 | Slow roll | Stay at level 7: roll only the gold above 50 each round until Katarina, Akali, and Kennen hit 3 stars. |
| 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. |
Ninja Shen early game and opener
We don't have enough early-board data for Ninja Shen yet. Play your strongest pairs early and hold units that share traits with Shen.
Rolling odds for Ninja Shen
Your 3-star targets are Katarina, Akali, and Kennen. Level 7 gives the best shop odds for them — use the calculator to see how much gold a 3-star costs.
Rolldown calculator: Katarina
Pre-set to this comp's roll level. Change copies owned, copies other players hold and your gold.
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Ninja Shen positioning
A starting board for Ninja 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 Talon on the back line and put Shen in front of it.
- Split Talon and Katarina across the back line so a single area spell can't hit both.
- Shen, Irelia, and Kennen hold the front line — put the tankiest one opposite the enemy carry.
- Against assassins, step your carries up one row and leave Irelia and Kennen 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 Ninja Shen
Strengths
- Average place better than 83% of comps of the same board size
- Wins the lobby often (27.3% first places)
- Big power spike once Katarina, Akali, and Kennen hit 3 stars
- Two damage threats (Shen and Talon) make itemizing flexible
Weaknesses
- Needs Shen and Talon at high cost, which can be hard to hit
- Falls off hard if someone else is rerolling Katarina, Akali, and Kennen
Strategic Tips
Economy
Reach 50 gold, then slow roll at level 7 with only the excess until Katarina, Akali, and Kennen are 3-starred.
Itemization
Build Gargoyle Stoneplate, Crownguard, and Protector's Vow 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 Ninja Shen.
Get the Winning Edge
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- In-game overlays
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- Desktop-exclusive tools
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How to play Ninja Shen – FAQ (TFT Set 4)
How do you play Ninja Shen?
Ninja Shen is a reroll comp: slow roll at level 7 from stage 4-1, keeping 50+ gold and rolling only the excess until Katarina, Akali, and Kennen reach 3 stars. Corner Talon on the back line and put Shen in front of it. Build Gargoyle Stoneplate, Crownguard, and Protector's Vow on Shen.
When should I roll down for Ninja Shen?
Ninja Shen doesn't do one big roll down. Slow roll at level 7 from stage 4-1, rolling only the gold above 50 until Katarina, Akali, and Kennen are 3-starred.
What level do you roll for Katarina?
Slow roll for Katarina at level 7, where its cost tier shows up most often in the shop. At level 7, each shop slot has a 40% chance to be a 3-cost.
Is Ninja Shen a reroll comp?
Yes. Ninja Shen wants Katarina, Akali, and Kennen at 3 stars, so slow roll at level 7 with gold above 50 until you hit them.
How do you position Ninja Shen?
Corner Talon on the back line and put Shen in front of it. Split Talon and Katarina across the back line so a single area spell can't hit both. Shen, Irelia, and Kennen hold the front line — put the tankiest one opposite the enemy carry. Against assassins, step your carries up one row and leave Irelia and Kennen in the back corners as bait.
What is the best opener for Ninja Shen?
Ninja Shen has no fixed opener: play your strongest early pairs, keep HP high and hold units that share traits with Shen.