Darius
Top Lane Juggernaut
Noxian juggernaut—bleed stacks into resettable execute
VS
Shen
Top Lane Tank/Support
Global shield tank with taunt and Q empowered autos
Matchup Dynamics
How This Matchup Works
Win by stacking Hemorrhage with Q – Decimate blade hits and W – Crippling Strike resets; pull with E – Apprehend when Shen mobility or main trade spell is down. The lane pivots at level 3 (E) and level 6 (R – Noxian Guillotine resets); first Stridebreaker at ~11:00 opens dives and roams.
Early Game (1-5)
Darius Favored - Trade after Shen Twilight Assault or Shadow Dash used; step to Q blade (outside 205 handle) for heal; freeze 5–6 minions near tower at 3:20–4:00; ward tri/pixel at 2:30.
Mid Game (6-11)
Skill Matchup - Complete Stridebreaker by ~11:00; shove→hover Herald 8–10; force pull when Flash down (~300s); play short lane and threaten dive on stacked wave.
Late Game (12+)
Skill Matchup - Stack before fights; pull priority carry from fog; fight around river chokes; avoid blind face-checks; turn on objective after pick at 20:00.
Key Interactions
- Step into Q blade; deny Shen counter: Cast Q – Decimate then step so the axe BLADE hits while you stand outside 205 handle radius; heal and apply bleed; immediately buffer W – Crippling Strike if Shen tries to disengage.
- Hook after Shen main mobility/CC: E – Apprehend after E – Shadow Dash taunt ends; fight outside W – Spirit’s Refuge zone
- Ghost timing vs Flash windows: Force long chases with Ghost; if enemy Flash is down (300s), walk past minions and angle E behind to cut off escape.
- Ult threshold discipline: Count stacks; R – Noxian Guillotine at 5 stacks (~25–35% HP on most tops) unless shields/stasis available; cancel auto for instant R if needed.
Darius
Strengths
- Q – Decimate sustain trades; heals scale on blade hits
- W – Crippling Strike resets for fast 5-stack setup
- E – Apprehend punishes dashes or long wind-ups
- R – Noxian Guillotine resets convert leads to plates
Weaknesses
- Kiteable before Stridebreaker; struggles into blinds/disengage
- Missing Q blade removes sustain; long fights vs Shen shields/mitigation risky
- Vulnerable to early 2v1 without vision on slow-push
Shen
Strengths
- Shen uses Twilight Assault and Shadow Dash to control spacing/trades
- First mythic shifts mid-game tempo
- Can force short trades while Darius W/Q are down
Weaknesses
- Cooldown-reliant; vulnerable right after key spell use
- Struggles if pulled off minion wave into short lane
- Objective setups weak vs E pull + Ghost flanks
Power Curve Comparison EXPERIMENTAL
Power Curve Visualization
Win Conditions
Darius's Win Condition
- Freeze 5–6 minions at 3:20–4:00; force trades on Q blade + W reset; call jungler on cannon crash
- Buy Plated Steelcaps/Mercury’s by 6–8 (1200g/1250g); pick Bramble/Executioner’s if Shen sustains
- Hit Stridebreaker (3300g) by ~11:00; shove→ward rift; threaten dive with Ghost + E pull
- Arrive 15s early on objectives; pull carry from fog; stack to 5 then R reset for turn
Shen's Win Condition
- Cheater recall on wave 3 if HP even; buy anti-burst/armor vs Darius
- Fight only when Darius Q/W down; keep wave mid-lane to kite back
- Hold Flash for E; bring TP to cover map plays
Laning Phase Guide
| Level/Phase | Darius | Shen |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Start Q – Decimate; slow-push 3 waves; trade after Shen Twilight Assault used; step to blade edge; ward pixel 2:30; all-in only if HP>60% + Ignite down | Start Twilight Assault; last-hit; deny Q blade by stepping inside 205; ward tri 2:30; crash 3rd wave to reset |
| Level 2 | Take W – Crippling Strike; short trade auto>W reset>walk out; hold E; punish if Shen uses Shadow Dash | Take Shadow Dash; trade on Darius W/Q cooldowns; keep minions between to block pull |
| Level 3 | Unlock E – Apprehend; freeze near tower; pull when enemy uses dash/commit; Q blade heal then back; control ward raptors 3:30 | Respect pull; thin wave to break freeze; stand behind casters; call jungler if wave stuck |
| Level 4-5 | Threaten 5-stack on cannon waves; take short trades ≤3s; prep wave for 6; deep ward 4:00 | Trade on large waves; avoid extended fights; poke and back off; track Ghost |
| Level 6 | All-in: E pull > auto > W reset > Q blade > autos to 5 stacks > R; dive only with wave + Ghost; track Stopwatch | Respect execute; buy early armor or stasis; flash E pull; kite with Shadow Dash or Twilight Assault spacing |
| Level 7-8 | Complete Stridebreaker ~11:00; shove then roam river; fight with item spike; place pinks on river entrances | Match push on timers; avoid river skirmishes without vision; ping jungler on crashes |
| Level 9 | Max Q; perma-short lane; take plates if vision; prep TP for 14 min timer (360→240s) | Max primary trade spell; thin waves; hold wave outside tower to deny dives |
Power Spikes
Level Spikes
| Darius | Shen | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Level | Description | Level | Description |
| 3 | Major E unlocks guaranteed Q blade > W reset windows off enemy CDs | 3 | Major Shadow Dash or core combo online—use to disengage or force short trades |
| 6 | Critical R resets enable dives and snowball on 5 stacks | 6 | Major Stand United adds execute/escape; deny Darius all-in windows |
| 9 | Major Q max improves heal; sustain through poke to force fights | 9 | Minor First max rank increases poke/DPS; fight on item parity |
| 11 | Minor R2 lowers CD; skirmish frequency increases | ||
Item Spikes
| Darius | Shen | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Item | Description | Item | Description |
| Phage (1100g) | On-hit MS helps stick through kiting | Bramble Vest (800g) | Anti-heal vs Q and bleed sustain |
| Stridebreaker (3300g) | Active gap-close to secure E range | Early Armor/MR Boots (1200g/1250g) | Reduce Darius burst/CC chain |
| Black Cleaver (3000g) | Armor shred + haste for extended fights | Core Mythic (2900–3300g) | First mythic changes mid-game tempo |
| Plated Steelcaps/Mercury’s Treads (1200g/1250g) | Defense vs AD/CC to reach target | ||
Best Build for Darius
Starting Items
Doran's Shield + Health Potion
Core Items
Stridebreaker (3300g) → Black Cleaver (3000g) → Plated Steelcaps/Mercury’s (1200g/1250g)
Runes
Primary: Conqueror, Triumph, Legend: Tenacity, Last Stand
Secondary: Bone Plating, Unflinching
Summoner Spells
Flash + Ghost
Priority Build Path
1
Stridebreaker
Active dash + slow grants guaranteed pull angles
2
Black Cleaver
Shreds armor so R execute hits earlier
3
Plated Steelcaps/Mercury’s
Mitigates AD or tenacity vs CC comps
4
Death's Dance
Converts burst to bleed; synergizes with resets
Situational Adjustments
- Sundered Sky: Need sustain in extended fights vs bruisers/tanks
- Thornmail: Enemy healing high; pairs with W reset and pulls
- Force of Nature: Heavy AP + slows; improve chase
- Sterak's Gage: Need shield/tenacity vs burst and CC
Key Patterns
Lethal Combos
Darius Full Combo (Level 6+):
Ghost (if up) > E – Apprehend > auto > W reset > Q blade (hit edge) > autos to 5 stacks > R – Noxian Guillotine
R reliably kills at ~25–35% HP on 5 stacks; earlier with Cleaver + Ignite
Shen Escape/Counter Combo:
Shadow Dash or key disengage > burst/CC > kite back beyond Apprehend range
Saves Flash for pull; buys time for jungler or cooldownsTrading Combos
Darius Short Trade:
Q blade hit > step in to cancel handle > auto > W reset > step back
Keep trades ≤3s unless Ghost; fight after enemy Q/E down
Shen Quick Trade:
Twilight Assault poke on last-hits > Shadow Dash to disengage
Avoid extended fights into Darius Q healLethal Thresholds
- Darius Kill Range: R kills ~25–35% at 5 stacks; with Cleaver + 2 items, secure at ~35–45% on squishies
- Shen Kill Range: Wins when kiting out Q and dodging pull; kill ranges depend on ignite/burst and Darius Ghost down
- Critical Levels: 3 (E pull), 6 (R resets), 9 (Q max), 11 (R2)
Level by Level Game Plan
| Level | Primary Goal | Lane Position | Trading Opportunities | Kill Windows | Setup Opportunities |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cheater slow-push & sustain | Hold wave just outside tower | Q blade after Shen Twilight Assault used | Low; only with large minion lead | Ahead: zone with Q; Even: track jungle; Behind: thin & farm |
| 2 | Add reset threat | Short lane | auto>W reset>back out; no E yet | Low-Med if enemy misplays | Ahead: heavy trades; Even: keep wave; Behind: conserve HP |
| 3 | Hook timing mastery | Freeze 5–6 near tower | E after enemy dash/commit; Q blade then back | Medium off pull | Ahead: call jungler; Even: deny crash; Behind: ask cover |
| 4-5 | Stack pressure before 6 | Short lane on cannon | Short 2–3s trades; prep all-in | Medium with Ignite | Ahead: deep ward 4:00; Even: hover river; Behind: farm safely |
| 6 | First execute | Fight on vision | E>W>Q>autos to 5>R | High at 5 stacks | Crash then reset; track Stopwatch/Flash |
| 7-8 | Spike to mythic | Push then hover Herald | Stridebreaker force > pull | Medium on item lead | Ahead: dive; Even: contest vision; Behind: trade sides |
| 9+ | Q max sustain | Perma short lane; threaten plates | Repeat Q>W trades | Medium on pull | Set TP timers (14 min Unleashed) |
| Mid Game (11-16) | Side lane draw + collapse | Side → collapse to objectives | Long chases with Ghost | High on isolations | Pink river, 20:00 Baron/Atakhan |
| Late Game (16+) | Front-to-back picks | Flank through fog | Stack on frontliner then R backline | High if access; low vs triple peel | Track flashes & stasis; force timers |
First Back Goals
Ideal Back (1100–1400g)
- Phage (1100g)
- Control Ward (75g)
Crash 3rd/cannon wave ≈2:30–5:00; base on bounce to hold freeze
Standard Back (700–900g)
- Ruby Crystal (400g)
- Boots (300g)
- Control Ward (75g)
Reset on slow-push when wave returns to you
Anti-Heal Back (800–1200g)
- Bramble Vest (800g) or Executioner’s Calling (800g)
Base if opponent sustaining through trades
Teamfight Tips
| Aspect | Darius | Shen |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Role | Frontline juggernaut / clean-up execution | Top Lane Tank/Support |
| Target Priority | ADC without Flash APC with no stasis isolated bruiser near pit |
Kite Darius; peel carries; mark flanker |
| Objective Control | Arrive early; pull jungler off pit; turn after pick | Start on vision; disengage Darius pull angles |
| Positioning | Fight in river/jungle entrances; stack off whoever steps up Avoid open mid lane vs multiple kites |
Hold chokes with CC; save mobility for pull |
| Other Tips | Buffer E during enemy dash wind-ups Count stasis/Flash—skip those targets |
Bait Q with feints; punish when Q/W on CD Spread to reduce E multi-pulls |