Introduction

- About Me
- Why Shen JG (Pro's and Con's)
- Synergies and Struggles Against

JG Basic Details

- JG Clearing
- JG Items for Clearing

JG Advanced Details

- In Depth on Runes from JG Perspective
- In Depth on Itemization from JG Perspective

About Me

Been playing league around 10 years now, JG main for about 8 of those. One tricked various champs over the years in the JG; Pantheon, Master Yi, Vi. More recent years prefered the off-meta JG picks; Sett, Darius (years ago when they first buffed his passive dmg to monsters), and now Shen. I've one-tricked Shen JG since last season with probably over 1000 games now with a diamond rank peak.

My goal here is to share the knowledge learned and to highlight details specifically relating to Shen in the JG role. There are better guides (xPetu and BaLoRi) if you are looking more on general Shen gameplay, champ knowledge and other roles. However, if you are looking for JG Shen tips then I hope you can take away something from this guide to further your gameplay. Sites like these have helped me (this one in particular) in the past, especially when I first started playing. I felt like it was time to try and give back to the community. Hope you enjoy and thanks for reviewing.

Pro's

- Extreme Off-Meta Advantage (less than %1 pick rate)
- Clear Speed and Dueling will be underestimated by enemy JG
- Strong Early and scales good into late
- CC for ganks
- Strong counter gank and best tower dive defense with ult
- Dash for wall hoping and increased MS throughout JG
- Ability to gank multiple lanes almost instantly with ult
- Possible to fool enemy top during champ select allowing your top to counter pick
- Strong early and mid game vs AA champs
- Global threat while ult is up
- More freedom on ult usage from JG vs having to worry about wave state or TP spell CD
- Strong utility
- Item build, rune, and champ role diversity
- Strong into tank heavy comps
- High skill ceiling
- Fun to play

Cons

- Flamed by team for playing Off-Meta or for not ulting them when they die
- Prone to invades by enemy JG becasue they think you are weak or clear slow
- Not a hyper-carry
- Slower solo objective taking later in game
- Slower JG clearing later in game
- Unable to solo baron nashor or atakhan
- Difficult if you are only tank/peel
- Requires pretty good champ mastery to start to get the most out of his kit
- Requires experience and practice to optimize farm efficiency
- Mordekaiser will (R) Realm of Death you every game, every fight, every gank, every skirmish....everytime. Mord players just love shen, I swear.

Synergies

- Enchanter supports
- High dmg/sustain brusier tops
- Hyper-carry ADCs
- Comps with multiple engage
- Comps with multiple CC

Struggles Against

- Multiple late game hyper-carries
- High sustain enemy comps
- Shields
- Enemy comps with multiple shield champs
- High amounts of dashes or MS

General Tips and Fundamentals

- Early ward 1:20 your starting JG side entrance to avoid or be ready for level 2 invades
- Consider adopting a standard reverse first clear to avoid invades
- Be aware of the possibility of non-standard early invade JGs coming to invade or steal camps. Everyone thinks they can bully you and assume you can't clear as Shen
- First camp (Q) Twilight Assault at 1:25 to allow you to (Q) Twilight Assault again once those first 3 strikes are used
- Be sure to (Q) Twilight Assault as you travel betwween camps to maximize up time on your (Q) Twilight Assault
- Using your (Q) Twilight Assault will make it easier to kite camps with extended auto attack range it gives
- A good first full clear should be around 3:25; 3:20 is probably maximum efficiency; 3:30/3:35 open the practice tool
- With your (P) Ki Barrier and (W) Spirit's Refuge, you can fall back to full clear while being very low health
- Around mid game you won't really need your (W) Spirit's Refuge while clearing; save it for your (R) Stand United or gank, it has a long cooldown
- Be mindful of your (E) Shadow Dash usage while moving and clearing. Eyes always on that mini map; is your top lane low and about to get tower dove or bot lane is pushed up and might get ganked then save your (E) Shadow Dash so you have it incase you need to (R) Stand United
- While clearing at 2 seconds left on your (P) Ki Barrier you can (W) Spirit's Refuge to block the autos then your passive sheild will kick in right after to maximize damage mitigation
- Be aware of your (P) Ki Barrier cooldown while doing objectives and be efficient as you can otherwise you will take too much damage
- On grubs prioritize (W) Spirit's Refuge for when the extra mites spawn
- Before (R) Stand United always consider if it is worth it or if you can even save them. Otherwise it may best to keep full clearing, counter jg, or take an objective

Bami's Cinder vs Tiamat and do you need Hollow Radiance or Titanic Hydra to clear?

Recomended Buys and Items

First buy

Mosstomper Seedling and do not buy Health Potion you don't need it

After first clear and possibly scuttle crab you will have enough for Bami's Cinder and possibly a Control Ward

Without Bami's Cinder your second rotation camps will be significantly slower to clear

Bami's Cinder IMO will be all you need for the entire game to clear the JG. It is good enough without having to invest to upgrade it

Theory

Bami's Cinder is 900g which is achievable after your first clear vs Tiamat which is 1200g; meaning you will need a champion take down or scuttle crab and two more camps. These two items clear at about the same speed but with Tiamat you fall into the Warwick trap of needing to stay out longer to farm the extra gold. So you may lose tempo, have to adopt a suboptimal raptor start for Shen or are just unable to farm for this before you need to back due to in game circumstances; which, will hinder your second clear. Also you then are forced to build Titanic Hydra for your first item which may or may not be optimal for your current game. Going Bami's Cinder will allow you to focus on your first full item power spike with the freedom to choose depending on gamestate and match ups.

Hollow Radiance or Titanic Hydra

Similar clear speeds with Titanic Hydra slightly faster but Hollow Radiance being more consistant, easier to use, and 500g cheaper. Again Titanic Hydra has early JG clear problems coupled with not necessarily being optimal in every game. Good first item power spike but a high risk, high reward item; meaning high incosistancy, which is something you don't want in your games. Hollow Radiance as first item from the JG just doesn't hit the same in terms of a power spike as opposed to Dead Man's Plate or Heartsteel.

A quick note for thoroughness. Upgrading to Sunfire Aegis instead will only increase clear speed slightly, and like with Hollow Radiance the first item power spike is also weak. There are better JG clear and armor options.

In conclusion, Shen isn't meant to be a power farming JG so these items shouldn't be needed. So, as being a low economy JG it is better to invest your gold in more impactful items. I will acknowledge building one or even both items to become a split push threat depending on the team comps and need. Although viable it should be considered a niche stratagy and one not focused on the majority of games.

Resolve Tree As Primary

- This is the strongest primary rune tree for Shen

Keystones

Grasp of the Undying

Overall this is the best option in this row. Good damgage, heals and health stacking. Will you proc this as much as opposed to be in lane and constantly trading... probably not but you still proc this quite a bit throughout the game while ganking and fighting. And any bonus health from this rune will help with most of Shen scaling thoughout the game. Ki Barrier, Shadow Dash, Stand United all scale off of bonus health.

Aftershock

This rune ok but there are better options. Good upfront tankyness but the damage is too inconsistant to land IMO. Niche and would probably work best in a heavy melee match up.

Guardian

Great rune and viable option. It will lessen your damage and sustain but will provide your carries with added protection during ganks and teamfights. A more supportive playstlye but is still a good option should you choose.

Row 2

Demolish

Niche for split push stratagy. Would become strong for late game pushing with team but there are better options.

Font of Life

More for supportive playstlye. Can work well if decide to take Guardian also. A good rune but not great.

Shield Bash

Hands down best rune in this row. Very high damage from this. You will constantly be procing this off of your Ki Barrier during fights.

Row 3

Conditioning

For the JG this is the best rune in this row. It will help with tankyness and help you focus more on building health early without getting punished too much once the mid game arrives and this rune kicks in at 12 minutes. Free stats of around 400g mid game and 500g late. Perfect from the JG since the majority of the early game you are farming and not in lane trading. It gives Shen the luxury of taking this rune as opposed to him being in other roles.

Second Wind

A solid rune while in lane but from the JG role it loses a lot of power and isn't really worth it to take this.

Bone Plating

Another solid rune depending on match up in lane but for JG role again it lose a lot of its worth. Probably more value than Second Wind and still would be usefull against an early duel/skirmish heavy JG match up. Overall it is viable but niche.

Row 4

Overgrowth

Amazing rune for Shen. Extra 200-300 health for your average game. Free stats, extra tankyness, scaling rune that helps Shen scale with his entire kit Ki Barrier Shadow Dash Stand United as well with item synergies Riftmaker Unending Despair Sterak's Gage Heartsteel. The debate is between this and Revitalize. Each will help with his kit and items in slightly different ways. Overgrowth more upfront and Revitalize more on demand or situational use is the best way I can describe it. Comes down to playsytle and how it each feels for you in your games IMO. Would recommend trying both and make a final decision. Again this is a great rune for Shen and a solid choice.

Revitalize

Another amazing rune for Shen. Every heal or shield during the game will be amplified. Synergies with your Ki Barrier Stand United, runes Grasp of the Undying Fleet Footwork, items Riftmaker Unending Despair Sterak's Gage Redemption plus many more, also healing from killing camps, and any enchanter you have on your team. This is my personal choice but again try this and Overgrowth and decide which is best for you or you prefer. I don't think either choice is bad or wrong.

Unflinching

Decent rune, more value against high CC comps. Could be an option but between the other choices in this row is isn't the best choice. Overgrowth and Revitalize bring so much more value.

Domination As Secondary

Row 2

Cheap Shot

Solid damage and good choice. Will proc this rune from (Q) Twilight Assault drag throughs and from (E) Shadow Dash taunts. It has a low cooldown and will probably proc this multiple times in extended fights.

Taste of Blood

Not the best choice. Long cooldown and Shen doesn't usually build enough attack damage or ability power to utilize this runes full potiential.

Sudden Impact

Great rune with high damage. Higher base damage than Cheap Shot but can only proc it off of (E) Shadow Dash or Flash. Longer cooldown than Cheap Shot but still will most likly be up everytime (E) Shadow Dash is up since it also has a long cooldown. Personally this rune is consistantly higher damage than Cheap Shot over the course of the game and would recommend. Also the higher upfront damage will help with bursting down champs during ganks. Try both and see which is working consistanly better for you.

Row 3

Sixth Sense Grisly Mementos Deep Ward

All of these aren't worth it when considering the other choices you have.

Row 4

Treasure Hunter

Ok rune. Extra gold is always nice but Shen doesnt require high amounts of gold income to be useful and make an impact on the game. There are better choices in this row.

Relentless Hunter

Great rune. Extra move speed is so powerful in this game. Helps while traveling throughout the JG, going to objectives, ganks, etc. Synergizes with other move speed items allowing Shen to have very high move speed. Helps with creating and maintaining your JG tempo. The rune I would recommend in this row as Shen can make use of this more from the JG vs Ultimate Hunter.

Ultimate Hunter

Also a great rune. Will allow for more uptime on your (R) Stand United. Having an increadably impactful ultimate that can turn the course of teamfights this is a very good rune to have on Shen. I would recommend this more for lower elo as there is typically more fighting and higher need of access to your (R) Stand United; however, for higher elo play I think you will get more out of Relentless Hunter. Give both a try and see what works for you.

Precision Tree as Primary

- Not the best primary tree for Shen synergy but still a viable and good option.

Keystones

Press the Attack Lethal Tempo Conqueror

All would be considered niche rune choices, requiring extensive champ mastery, match-up, team comp knowledge of when to use these successfully. None really have the best synergies with Shen's kit. Can they work? Sure, but there is a better and more consistant choice.

Fleet Footwork

This is the best choice here. This will give a nice MS buff while clearing and ganking; while, also offering sustain for ganks, teamfights, and JG clearing. You will be very high health usually while JG clearing with this rune.

Row 2

Absorb Life

Won't be needed as you will already have enough sustain in the JG.

Presence of Mind

Also won't be needed as you will restore energy passively while in the JG and restore enough energy through proper (Q) Twilight Assault usage during fighting.

Triumph

This would be the best option here. The heal from this during teamfights can make or break whether you live or die in a fight or get aced.

Row 3

Legend: Alacrity

Very good choice. Helps with damage and JG clear speed. Shen doesn't synergize the best with attack speed but as long as you build some item haste you will help get the most out of this rune.

Legend: Haste

Great choice. The extra item haste will help Shen in the mid game a lot. Since usually you are prioritizing building health and resistances early. Will also help with JG clearing as your (Q) Twilight Assault will have more uptime.

Legend: Bloodline

Not really a good rune for Shen. He is an auto attack dependant champ but usually doesn't have the extra attack speeed to make this a work or get the most out it. Also compared to the other choices here, it's just not worth.

Row 4

Coup de Grace Cut Down Last Stand

all are team comp and match up specific. Coup de Grace against squishy comps. Cut Down against tank and bruiser heavy comps. Last Stand against balanced comps or if Shen is your teams only tank/frontline/engage.

Other Secondary Tree Options

Sorcery Options

Axiom Arcanist

Stronger (R) Stand United, more uptime. Pretty good rune for Shen

Nimbus Cloak

Extra movespeed to help during ganks from casting Smite or Flash. Can make or break a successful gank. Very good rune.

Transcendence

Free Ability Haste worth 500g. Helps with increased damage from higher uptime of your abilities. Very good rune

Celerity

Will synergize with all of your movespeed items. Extra movespeed is incredibly powerful. Very good rune.

Waterwalking

Great early. Good rune if you think there will be heavy dueling and skirmish early for scuttle crabs and early objectives. Not the best rune mid and late game for Shen as the stats it gives won't be used to their full potiential on Shen.

Gathering Storm

Scaling rune; it's not great but it's not terrible. Late game it will increase (Q) Twilight Assault damage and (R) Stand United shield size. Viable niche option but again not the best choice and there are better options.

Inspiration Options

Magical Footwear

Free boots with extra movespeed valued at 420g. Drawback of being unable to get them until potientailly 12 minutes. Good option but kind of creates inconsistancies in your games; consistancy is best over many games to win and climb IMO. However, this is a very popular JG rune and is good. Decide if this rune works for you.

Biscuit Delivery

Good option if you don't want to take Magical Footwear. It can help during early fights but the best benifit is of course the free 90 health that you will perminatly gain. 240g worth of stats; it is initailly significantly lower value than Magical Footwear but once you upgrade to teir two boots the gold value difference is only 60g rather than 180g.

Cosmic Insight

Great rune as it synergizes with Smite for faster clearing and availibty for objectives, also Flash cooldowns as well. Item synergry with items such as Heartsteel, and Unending Despair. Solid rune for JG.

Approach Velocity

Amazing rune for Shen. Helps with sticking onto your targets and perventing them from escaping during ganks. Good during team fighting. If you hit a (Q) Twilight Assault drag through than almost nobody is getting away from you.

Rune Shards

Slot 1

Adaptive Force

Ok choice. Will help with (Q) Twilight Assault damage for clearing and early fights but there are better choices.

Attack Speed

Good choice. Will help clear faster than Adaptive Force and will just feel more fluid when attacking early. However, there are better options

Ability Haste

Best choice in this row. Will help with more (Q) Twilight Assault uptime for clearing, which is Shen's primary damage sourse for clearing early and really the entire game. Fastest JG clear time with this. Also highest gold value in this slot row.

Slot 2

Adaptive Force

Good option to help maximize early damage and JG clear.

Movement Speed

Decent rune shard. Helps with sticking to targets, and map movement. Viable but perhaps not the best.

Scaling health

Great rune shard for Shen. Will help with scaling for his kit and tankyness. Best choice with the highest gold value.

Slot 3

Flat health

Ok choice. Really only needed if you expect to fight a lot pre level 6.

Tenacity and Slow Resist

Ok choice, really situational. Mainly for heavy CC enemy comps. Although with the current nerfs to tenacity it's not really worth since in these match ups you will likely build Mercury's Treads anyways.

Scaling health

Best choice here. Most of the early game you will be clearing. It will be only slightly weaker for those level 4/5 voidgrub fights. Past level 7 this will be stronger, so around your second clear this rune shard will be better. Also highest gold value in this slot row.

Tank Items

Health Items

Heartsteel

Amazing and core item on Shen. Scaling item, synergizes so well with his kit and helps him scale even better from the items health stacking mechanic. Strong 1st item and really can be picked up at any point IMO. Later purchases will health stack faster since you will start with more health and the damage will also be higher. Rushing this 1st item allows Shen to stack tons of health which is strong early and will make his first (R) Stand United very strong. Through ganks, JG duels, skirmishes and team fights over the course of the game despite being in the JG you still will stack this pretty well. Works best against heavy tank/fighter/melee comps. Still good against mixed enemy comps, but weak into high mobility/squishy comps. Not meant to be built in every game or to be rushed first item in the games you do build it. Ex. sometimes better to Dead Man's Plate then Heartsteel. Also usually avoid building this if the enemy team has Sett.

Warmog's Armor

Great item for Shen. Good when built 4th-6th item. Incredible 5th/6th tank item. Strong when ahead but you will lack some damage if you rush this too early. Great against true damage and hyper-carries. Highest health item in the game so usually always a solid tank item, just make sure you get some resistances first to fully utilize this item.

Sterak's Gage

Niche defensive tank item but very strong when called for. Look to build this if 1. Shen is only tank/engage for you team; especially if the enemy have lots of CC. 2. enemy team has strong team fight wombo-combo ultimates. You still will need other tank items but this items purpose is to make sure you don't get bursted down in a fight allowing your team to follow up after they blow everything on you or for you to survive long enough in the chaos of the enemy wombo-combo and get off that (E) Shadow Dash onto that Miss Fortune while she is trying to (R) Bullet Time.

Armor Items

Dead Man's Plate

Probably best armor item in the game for Shen. Definatly a core item. Versitile, useful and strong against most enemy comps, strong 1st item power spike, high Movement Speed, good damage from the passive, a slow mechanic and good tank stats early. Helps with map movement, ganks, engage, and disengage. Should focus purchasing most games. Great 1st or 2nd item; still can be built later on to success but may lose out to better late game armor options depending on team comps, gold, and game state.

Iceborn Gauntlet

Great option; decent damage, slows, and good stats. Versitile and would be good in a variety of match-ups. Helps with ganks and teamfights. Good into heavy tank/fighter/melee comps but also into high mobility/squishy comps to allow Shen to stick to his targets and prevent escapes. Can be built as 1st item but better success 2nd and after. All around strong item for Shen.

Randuin's Omen

Great item when needed. Best picked up as 3rd or 4th item against 3 or more critical strike damage heavy enemy comps.

Unending Despair

Strong item in specific circumstances. Lost a lot of power after the nerfs so it's no longer the over powered rush into everything defensive item. Works best as 3rd or 4th pick up into heavy tank/fighter/melee enemy comps. It's still a decent item but it just doesn't feel as good as it did.

Jak'Sho, The Protean

Very strong late game defensive option. Pretty good on Shen but not amazing. Shen is a good tank but isn't someone like K'Sante who can really get the most out of this item. Best as a 4th or later item purchase. Great against those heavy hyper-carry comps. Also good option for when you need to prioritze one resistance over another leaving this item to be your only source of resistance you aren't building otherwise. You will have less damage output vs more offensive oriented defensive items so think about team comps and what role Shen needs to be before purchasing.

Thornmail

Generally a niche option into specific team comps, if anything. Usually always better options than picking this up. Most of the time you can pick up Bramble Vest to fullfil the role of this item and sit on it till later to complete the full item. Applies Grievous Wounds and ok damage (depending) for dueling but in my opinion this item has mojor flaws, drawbacks and lacks consistancy because of it. **-THEROY- 1. Useless stats against ability power sustain champs like Swain, Sylas, Mordekaiser. 2. Requires enemy champion to auto attack Shen and apply the damage from this item and Grievous Wounds. But most likely in team fights, that Master Yi is going to run right past Shen and onto your ADC to kill them. So... what use is this item? 3. Late game hyper-carries usually have so much lifesteal and resistances that they will mitigate any damage Thornmail does. 4. In almost every circumstance Shen is better off building other tank or sustain items to live longer, supportive items for team utility and survivablity, or damage items to burst down the enemy champ.**

Magic Resist Items

Force of Nature

Best overall magic resistance item in the game for Shen IMO. Like Dead Man's Plate it offers great Movement Speed along with high amounts of magic resistance for one item. For most games it is the only magic resistance item you will need. Synergizes well with Dead Man's Plate and Jak'Sho, The Protean. Works best to build 2nd item or after; 1st item rush can work against heavy ability power comps but know you will have less damage.

Kaenic Rookern

Very strong item. Synergizes well with any health stacking mechanics like Heartsteel, Grasp of the Undying to increase the shield. Between this, your (P) Ki Barrier, and Mosstomper Smite you will have tremdous shield power for fights. Strong against ability power burst comps.

Spirit Visage

Very strong item on Shen as it synergizes well with his kit. Also strong synergies when you have other enchanters on your team. Feels a bit underwhelming. Would consider for enchanter heavy comps, when you have ocean soul or heavy melee fighting games where you also have an offensive sustain item like Riftmaker, Blade of the Ruined King, Sundered Sky, or Unending Despair.

Abyssal Mask

Good offensive magic resistance option. Not usually the best option for most games. Good for when your team is heavy ability power or the enemy team has one ability power user and isn't much of a threat to you. Will increase your damage output, is cheap, prety gold effiennt, and offers decent stats for Shen.

Damage Items

Riftmaker

Amazing item on Shen. Good stats, sustain, damage, and increases your (R) Stand United shield tremendously. Synergies with Heartsteel, Grasp of the Undying, Overgrowth, and Revitalize. A good final item pick up or 3rd/4th option if you are way ahead. Idealy taken against heavy tank/fighter/sustain/melee comps. Not the best against high mobility and squishy comps. Not really a strong 1st item power spike or 2nd item rush; works best as 3rd item or later.

Blade of the Ruined King

Hidden over powered and underated item on Shen. Synergizes very well with your (Q) Twilight Assault. Works best when taken into health stacking comps ex. Sett, Dr. Mundo, Swain. Should also consider your team comps damage output against said comps and determine before if you think your team will need the extra tank busting. Works as a 1st item or later pick up. You will need to adapt your playstyle since you won't be as tanky with this especially as a 1st item rush. Can be used intead of Riftmaker into other tank heavy comps but probably not as good. OR... possible to build both items and become a high damage dueling and fighting monster. Not an every game pick up but when you need it, you need it. It performs very well in the right games.

Eclipse

Viable and pretty decent item on Shen. The added damage from the passive helps burst down squishies and the extra shield is nice. Best into squishy heavy comps and built as a 2nd or 3rd item. Works better if ahead to snowball and not really good built when behind.

Sundered Sky

Secret gem for Shen. Decent stats and incredible sustain when used as a tank. Best used into heavy tank/fighter/sustain/melee comps. Can be built instead of Riftmaker as 3rd/4th item or along with it 5th/6th item for high team fight sustain. Works best after Shen has become very tanky allowing him to almost never die in extended team fights due to the item passive. A bit more niche and should consider team comps before looking to pick this up; however, it is very strong in the right conditions.

Support Items

Redemption

Great utility item and synergizes well with Shen. Cheap item, decent stats for Shen and high impact for fighting. Can use right after you land from your (R) Stand United to help save your carry. Great item when very behind. Make sure your support isn't building or already has one. Can be utilized in almost any Shen build and game. Probably in general terms, it is your default go to if you are looking to build a support item.

Moonstone Renewer

Rare buy but so overpowering when used in the right spot. Cheap item that will increase your (R) Stand United shield massively and grant another shield to another close teamate; effectively increasing Shen's utility. This works best when you have a very fed top lane engage carry like Aatrox, Darius or engage ADCs like Samira, Nilah. If, your win condition is for your carry to go and at all costs live because they are 1v9ing with their crazy high damage then this is the time to build this while saving your (R) Stand United to use on them and only them. In this senario this item becomes so oppresive for the emeny team and is really over powered; especially if, you notice the enemy team comp is already having problems dealing them. With this item they will become just about unkillable.

Knight's Vow

Great item to use when your hyper-carry needs that extra protection to survive team fights. Think Kog'Maw or Jinx who are pretty immobile. Good option for when you don't have a tank support with this already and you are not the only frontline for your team; otherwise you will take too much damage. Also great if you are paired with an enchanter support; it's like your carry gets the best of both worlds.

Niche Items

Serpent's Fang

Shen struggles against shields and shield heavy comps. On lower damage team comps and if no one is building this, then it is worth a serious consider to pick up. The added attack damage and Lethality will help you burst down squishy champs. Also will add value to the whole team. Be aware you won't be as tanky while you build this till you pick up some more tank items later on. Adjust how you team fight and skirmish. It is a rare purchase but when you need it, you need it.

Chempunk Chainsword

Option for heal reduction besides Thornmail. Gives Shen some decent stats and more damage to help take down high sustain champs. Thornmail is good for dueling but Chempunk Chainsword is a guaranteed way to know for sure during team fights when you (E) Shadow Dash in onto a target ex. Sylas that the heal reduction will be applied to him to help your team burst him down; instead of him walking past you to attack you ADC, thus no heal reduction will be applied.

Verdant Barrier

One senario to buy this, Nocturne. During his (R) Paranoia, Shen will not be able to (R) Stand United. To mitigate this for 1600g (the cheapest option and at least some nice magic resistance ) you can solve this problem. While you are in your JG clearing camps and he uses (R) Paranoia, your spellshield will proc allowing you to see the map and counter with (R) Stand United. Worth picking up every game against Nocturne no, but sometimes you need it to put a stop to him getting himself or his team too far ahead.