
Shenvs Varus
Shen vs Varus is a moderate matchup in LoL patch 26.3. Varus wins with a 51.4% win rate (+2.7%) over Shen based on 37 games. Shen wins the early laning phase while Varus scales better into the late game. Below you'll find the best Shen build, runes, laning stats, and strategies for the Shen vs Varus matchup.
Shen Matchup Breakdown
Use the dropdown to select an opponent and see a detailed breakdown of how Shen performs against them. You'll get head-to-head win rates, laning stats, the best build and runes for the matchup, and early vs late game analysis — all based on real ranked data.
Who Wins the Shen vs Varus Matchup?

Shen vs Varus Matchup Summary
The Shen vs Varus matchup is a very close matchup in League of Legends ranked play. Based on 37 recent matches analyzed, Varus wins with a 51.4% win rate compared to Shen's 48.6%, giving Varus a 2.7 percentage point advantage. Game phase dynamics play a critical role here: Shen controls the early laning stage, but Varus outscales as the game goes longer. The matchup shifts dramatically depending on game length — Shen needs to press advantages before Varus reaches their power spikes, while Varus should focus on safe farming and hitting key item breakpoints. The most significant statistical gap is in sustain, where Shen leads by 938 HP/min — a difference that heavily influences the outcome of trades and skirmishes. While Varus is slightly favored, Shen can absolutely win this lane through smart trading patterns and wave management. Focus on playing around your cooldowns, conceding CS only when necessary, and capitalizing on Varus's mistakes. Understanding these matchup dynamics is essential for champion select decisions and in-game strategy when facing this lane opponent.
Shen vs Varus Laning Phase Breakdown
Varus is favored during the laning phase against Shen, winning 4 out of 5 key stat categories. Varus holds advantages in farming, damage, gold income and crowd control, making them the stronger laner in this matchup.
Best Shen Build Against Varus
Plated Steelcaps is the optimal boots choice against Varus, providing the mobility and stats Shen needs most in this matchup. The top-performing core items for Shen against Varus are Titanic Hydra, Dead Man's Plate and Bandlepipes. This combination gives Shen an effective balance of damage, survivability, and utility for the matchup. This build performs exceptionally well, achieving a 100.0% win rate across 3 games — well above average and making it the top item path against Varus. Adjustments may be needed based on team compositions and game state, but this build provides the strongest foundation for the Shen vs Varus matchup.
Early Game vs Late Game
Shen dominates the early game (first 15 minutes) with a commanding 53.9% win rate — a 7.7 percentage point lead over Varus. This lopsided early game means Shen can dictate the pace of the lane from level 1, controlling trades, wave state, and river priority.
Varus is far superior in the late game (25+ minutes), boasting a 54.2% win rate — 8.3 points above Shen. Extended games heavily favor Varus, whose kit and scaling make them a dominant force in team fights and objective control.
This matchup features a dramatic power shift: Shen must aggressively press their early advantage and close out the game before Varus reaches their scaling breakpoints. If Varus survives the laning phase without falling too far behind, the matchup flips in their favor. Dragon and Rift Herald control are pivotal — the team that secures early objectives can snowball or buy time to scale.
Best Shen Runes Against Varus
The Resolve primary with Inspiration secondary combination helps Shen maximize their potential in this closely contested matchup, providing the right mix of offensive and defensive tools to edge out Varus.
Shen matchup data for League of Legends patch 26.3. The table below shows Shen's win rate, gold difference, and performance stats against every champion in the current meta. Click any champion name to see a detailed head-to-head breakdown including the best Shen build, runes, laning stats, and early vs late game analysis for that specific matchup.
Opponent | Win Rate | Matches | CS/min | DMG/min | Gold/game | Early WR | Late WR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 47.06% | 136 | 5.4 | 638 | 10,405 | 48.0% | 46.0% | |
| 46.55% | 116 | 5.8 | 705 | 11,003 | 51.0% | 43.1% | |
| 49.54% | 109 | 5.9 | 634 | 11,122 | 61.2% | 40.0% | |
| 52.34% | 107 | 5.3 | 728 | 10,501 | 49.1% | 55.8% | |
| 47.62% | 105 | 5.7 | 803 | 10,701 | 50.0% | 45.3% | |
| 46.53% | 101 | 5.4 | 1,029 | 10,613 | 52.9% | 40.0% | |
| 51.02% | 98 | 5.2 | 619 | 10,333 | 48.9% | 52.9% | |
| 60.64% | 94 | 5.4 | 665 | 11,778 | 70.0% | 53.7% | |
| 56.18% | 89 | 5.8 | 821 | 10,743 | 50.0% | 62.2% | |
| 48.84% | 86 | 5.7 | 833 | 11,203 | 50.0% | 48.1% | |
| 48.78% | 82 | 5.2 | 528 | 11,047 | 47.2% | 50.0% | |
| 59.26% | 81 | 5.6 | 668 | 11,518 | 56.7% | 60.8% | |
| 52.50% | 80 | 5.0 | 610 | 10,321 | 57.1% | 45.2% | |
| 48.00% | 75 | 5.2 | 661 | 10,684 | 48.7% | 47.2% | |
| 65.75% | 73 | 5.7 | 852 | 10,920 | 64.1% | 67.7% | |
| 52.11% | 71 | 4.9 | 725 | 11,595 | 45.5% | 57.9% | |
| 57.14% | 70 | 5.8 | 740 | 10,615 | 48.4% | 64.1% | |
| 42.42% | 66 | 5.2 | 513 | 10,096 | 27.6% | 54.0% | |
| 47.62% | 63 | 5.4 | 876 | 11,127 | 47.8% | 47.5% | |
| 52.46% | 61 | 4.2 | 817 | 10,359 | 44.8% | 59.4% | |
| 39.66% | 58 | 5.7 | 664 | 10,393 | 35.5% | 44.4% | |
| 42.11% | 57 | 6.0 | 672 | 10,928 | 43.5% | 41.2% | |
| 47.37% | 57 | 5.5 | 740 | 10,972 | 39.3% | 55.2% | |
| 47.37% | 57 | 5.2 | 643 | 10,822 | 56.0% | 40.6% | |
| 60.71% | 56 | 6.0 | 608 | 10,781 | 72.4% | 48.1% | |
| 59.26% | 54 | 5.1 | 612 | 9,604 | 54.5% | 66.7% | |
| 50.98% | 51 | 6.1 | 693 | 10,659 | 53.9% | 48.0% | |
| 53.06% | 49 | 5.7 | 744 | 12,109 | 68.2% | 40.7% | |
| 48.98% | 49 | 5.5 | 631 | 11,195 | 56.5% | 42.3% | |
| 51.06% | 47 | 5.9 | 791 | 11,140 | 52.0% | 50.0% | |
| 53.19% | 47 | 5.5 | 635 | 10,698 | 61.1% | 48.3% | |
| 50.00% | 44 | 1.4 | 474 | 9,524 | 40.0% | 58.3% | |
| 41.86% | 43 | 1.2 | 422 | 8,660 | 47.8% | 35.0% | |
| 50.00% | 42 | 3.5 | 565 | 10,758 | 68.8% | 38.5% | |
| 39.02% | 41 | 1.5 | 552 | 9,393 | 37.5% | 40.0% | |
| 50.00% | 40 | 5.6 | 622 | 11,179 | 44.4% | 54.5% | |
| 48.65% | 37 | 5.1 | 539 | 10,705 | 53.9% | 45.8% | |
| 54.05% | 37 | 4.8 | 701 | 11,629 | 66.7% | 48.0% | |
| 55.56% | 36 | 1.5 | 482 | 10,328 | 60.0% | 52.4% | |
| 41.67% | 36 | 1.5 | 469 | 8,968 | 47.4% | 35.3% | |
| 45.71% | 35 | 5.5 | 609 | 11,146 | 30.8% | 54.5% | |
| 58.82% | 34 | 3.3 | 641 | 10,064 | 64.7% | 52.9% | |
| 45.45% | 33 | 1.4 | 541 | 10,333 | 53.3% | 38.9% | |
| 51.61% | 31 | 1.3 | 489 | 9,344 | 53.3% | 50.0% | |
| 53.33% | 30 | 1.4 | 449 | 10,513 | 77.8% | 42.9% | |
| 48.28% | 29 | 1.3 | 500 | 10,948 | 75.0% | 15.4% | |
| 48.28% | 29 | 5.2 | 599 | 10,594 | 50.0% | 46.7% | |
| 62.96% | 27 | 4.2 | 662 | 11,386 | 62.5% | 63.2% | |
| 62.96% | 27 | 5.5 | 702 | 10,318 | 55.6% | 77.8% | |
| 62.96% | 27 | 5.5 | 776 | 10,992 | 58.3% | 66.7% | |
| 46.15% | 26 | 5.4 | 541 | 11,858 | 44.4% | 47.1% | |
| 42.31% | 26 | 5.1 | 688 | 10,392 | 53.9% | 30.8% | |
| 66.67% | 24 | 4.9 | 663 | 10,905 | 63.6% | 69.2% | |
| 54.17% | 24 | 5.5 | 599 | 11,601 | 41.7% | 66.7% | |
| 45.83% | 24 | 4.3 | 559 | 11,496 | 42.9% | 47.1% | |
| 45.83% | 24 | 5.2 | 751 | 8,809 | 43.8% | 50.0% | |
| 50.00% | 24 | 1.5 | 440 | 9,123 | 54.5% | 46.1% | |
| 50.00% | 22 | 1.4 | 390 | 8,873 | 55.6% | 46.1% | |
| 18.18% | 22 | 2.7 | 540 | 11,110 | 12.5% | 21.4% | |
| 68.18% | 22 | 2.1 | 473 | 10,146 | 60.0% | 70.6% | |
| 66.67% | 21 | 1.2 | 463 | 9,390 | 66.7% | 66.7% | |
| 76.19% | 21 | 5.3 | 602 | 11,489 | 87.5% | 69.2% | |
| 47.62% | 21 | 1.2 | 496 | 10,091 | 45.5% | 50.0% | |
| 57.14% | 21 | 1.9 | 446 | 10,939 | 55.6% | 58.3% | |
| 47.62% | 21 | 1.9 | 528 | 11,419 | 54.5% | 40.0% | |
| 30.00% | 20 | 1.6 | 493 | 9,309 | 33.3% | 27.3% | |
| 42.11% | 19 | 1.1 | 516 | 9,756 | 66.7% | 30.8% | |
| 57.89% | 19 | 5.0 | 551 | 11,815 | 57.1% | 58.3% | |
| 68.42% | 19 | 1.2 | 504 | 9,540 | 75.0% | 63.6% | |
| 72.22% | 18 | 1.6 | 428 | 10,545 | 66.7% | 73.3% | |
| 50.00% | 18 | 1.6 | 620 | 12,117 | 66.7% | 33.3% | |
| 61.11% | 18 | 2.0 | 515 | 10,782 | 57.1% | 63.6% | |
| 64.71% | 17 | 3.7 | 679 | 10,174 | 54.5% | 83.3% | |
| 70.59% | 17 | 5.8 | 757 | 9,877 | 66.7% | 80.0% | |
| 35.29% | 17 | 0.8 | 443 | 10,819 | 33.3% | 37.5% | |
| 47.06% | 17 | 4.3 | 689 | 12,417 | 50.0% | 45.5% | |
| 64.71% | 17 | 5.4 | 576 | 10,160 | 71.4% | 60.0% | |
| 58.82% | 17 | 1.3 | 458 | 8,752 | 70.0% | 42.9% | |
| 50.00% | 16 | 2.2 | 518 | 12,638 | 20.0% | 63.6% | |
| 62.50% | 16 | 0.6 | 538 | 11,938 | 71.4% | 55.6% | |
| 66.67% | 15 | 2.7 | 649 | 11,242 | 75.0% | 57.1% | |
| 40.00% | 15 | 3.1 | 647 | 9,916 | 33.3% | 44.4% | |
| 80.00% | 15 | 1.4 | 528 | 10,521 | 85.7% | 75.0% | |
| 85.71% | 14 | 1.4 | 550 | 8,555 | 80.0% | 100.0% | |
| 35.71% | 14 | 3.1 | 581 | 12,081 | 25.0% | 40.0% | |
| 50.00% | 14 | 2.1 | 540 | 9,243 | 50.0% | 50.0% | |
| 64.29% | 14 | 2.7 | 518 | 10,444 | 62.5% | 66.7% | |
| 57.14% | 14 | 1.2 | 493 | 11,987 | 66.7% | 50.0% | |
| 38.46% | 13 | 5.2 | 678 | 11,741 | 25.0% | 44.4% | |
| 30.77% | 13 | 1.3 | 433 | 9,417 | 20.0% | 37.5% | |
| 58.33% | 12 | 2.0 | 409 | 9,503 | 66.7% | 50.0% | |
| 33.33% | 12 | 1.4 | 555 | 7,978 | 42.9% | 20.0% | |
| 50.00% | 12 | 4.0 | 822 | 9,000 | 50.0% | 50.0% | |
| 33.33% | 12 | 3.6 | 804 | 12,677 | 40.0% | 28.6% | |
| 41.67% | 12 | 1.6 | 514 | 10,549 | 33.3% | 44.4% | |
| 50.00% | 12 | 5.1 | 614 | 9,210 | 60.0% | 42.9% | |
| 50.00% | 12 | 5.1 | 525 | 9,872 | 42.9% | 60.0% | |
| 41.67% | 12 | 2.0 | 619 | 12,827 | 50.0% | 40.0% | |
| 45.45% | 11 | 4.6 | 477 | 10,667 | 0.0% | 62.5% | |
| 36.36% | 11 | 1.4 | 572 | 12,352 | 33.3% | 37.5% | |
| 30.00% | 10 | 5.2 | 720 | 12,504 | 0.0% | 42.9% | |
| 40.00% | 10 | 0.9 | 531 | 10,755 | 20.0% | 60.0% | |
| 60.00% | 10 | 5.8 | 687 | 9,871 | 50.0% | 75.0% | |
| 44.44% | 9 | 1.6 | 380 | 8,105 | 42.9% | 50.0% | |
| 66.67% | 9 | 2.3 | 554 | 10,458 | 66.7% | 66.7% | |
| 55.56% | 9 | 1.2 | 341 | 8,134 | 20.0% | 100.0% | |
| 75.00% | 8 | 1.6 | 449 | 9,013 | 100.0% | 0.0% | |
| 37.50% | 8 | 4.3 | 758 | 12,089 | 33.3% | 40.0% | |
| 25.00% | 8 | 0.7 | 404 | 10,726 | 50.0% | 0.0% | |
| 62.50% | 8 | 1.9 | 522 | 9,934 | 80.0% | 33.3% | |
| 50.00% | 8 | 5.6 | 614 | 12,142 | 33.3% | 60.0% | |
| 62.50% | 8 | 3.5 | 600 | 11,713 | 66.7% | 50.0% | |
| 71.43% | 7 | 3.9 | 838 | 13,367 | 50.0% | 80.0% | |
| 28.57% | 7 | 3.0 | 682 | 12,333 | 50.0% | 20.0% | |
| 71.43% | 7 | 1.1 | 628 | 12,262 | 50.0% | 100.0% | |
| 50.00% | 6 | 1.8 | 672 | 10,954 | 66.7% | 33.3% | |
| 50.00% | 6 | 2.3 | 851 | 12,869 | 33.3% | 66.7% | |
| 33.33% | 6 | 2.3 | 502 | 11,315 | 66.7% | 0.0% | |
| 16.67% | 6 | 0.5 | 392 | 10,815 | 33.3% | 0.0% | |
| 83.33% | 6 | 0.6 | 529 | 8,712 | 75.0% | 100.0% | |
| 20.00% | 5 | 6.1 | 585 | 11,119 | 0.0% | 50.0% | |
| 60.00% | 5 | 5.4 | 931 | 14,078 | 50.0% | 66.7% | |
| 60.00% | 5 | 3.5 | 906 | 13,382 | 50.0% | 66.7% | |
| 80.00% | 5 | 2.4 | 863 | 13,875 | 0.0% | 100.0% | |
| 60.00% | 5 | 4.6 | 466 | 9,700 | 66.7% | 50.0% | |
| 60.00% | 5 | 5.5 | 877 | 12,957 | 100.0% | 33.3% | |
| 40.00% | 5 | 5.4 | 499 | 8,981 | 25.0% | 100.0% | |
| 40.00% | 5 | 3.5 | 577 | 12,073 | 100.0% | 25.0% | |
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Shen vs Varus - Frequently Asked Questions
How does Shen do against Varus in League of Legends?
Varus wins the Shen vs Varus matchup with a 51.4% win rate compared to Shen's 48.6%, a 2.7 percentage point difference. This data is based on 37 recent ranked games in patch 26.3.
How does Shen do against Varus in the early game?
In the early game, Shen has the advantage against Varus with a 53.9% win rate versus 46.1%. Shen players should look to press their lane advantage through aggressive trades and wave control during the first 15 minutes.
How does Shen do against Varus in the late game?
In the late game, Varus takes over the Shen vs Varus matchup with a 54.2% win rate compared to 45.8%. Varus scales better into team fights and objective contests after 25 minutes.
Who wins the Shen vs Varus matchup?
Varus wins the matchup against Shen with a 51.4% win rate in League of Legends patch 26.3. The 2.7 percentage point advantage means Varus is moderately favored in this lane matchup based on 37 games analyzed.
What is the best Shen build against Varus?
The best Shen build against Varus includes Titanic Hydra, Dead Man's Plate, Bandlepipes with Plated Steelcaps. This build achieves a 100.0% win rate in the matchup. Check the matchup breakdown above for the full item path and build order.
What are the best Shen runes against Varus?
The best Shen runes against Varus use the Resolve primary tree with Inspiration secondary. This rune setup achieves a 44.4% win rate in the Shen vs Varus matchup. See the full rune breakdown in the matchup comparison above.
Does Shen counter Varus?
No, Shen struggles against Varus with only a 48.6% win rate. Varus has the advantage in this matchup. Shen players should focus on safe farming and avoiding extended trades to minimize Varus's lead.
How do I play Shen against Varus?
When playing Shen against Varus, play cautiously and avoid Varus's power spikes. Look for jungle assistance and team-dependent plays since Varus has the statistical advantage at most stages. Use the matchup-specific build and runes above to optimize your chances.