Yes, Shen does deal magic damage in League of Legends. His kit includes abilities that augment his basic attacks with bonus magic damage, making him a hybrid damage threat, primarily as a tank or engage champion.
How Shen Deals Magic Damage
Shen's primary source of magic damage comes from his empowered basic attacks, which are a core part of his combat identity. This mechanism allows him to contribute significant damage in skirmishes and team fights, even when building purely defensive items.
Key Aspects of Shen's Magic Damage:
- Bonus Magic Damage on Basic Attacks: After using a certain ability (Spirit's Refuge, which pulls his Spirit Blade), Shen's next three basic attacks deal bonus magic damage. This is a consistent source of damage for trading in lane and during extended fights.
- Enhanced Damage and Attack Speed: If Shen's Spirit Blade collides with an enemy champion on its way to him, those three empowered basic attacks become even more potent. They deal increased magic damage and grant Shen a substantial +50% Attack Speed for the duration. This significantly boosts his damage output and burst potential.
- Effectiveness Against Monsters: Each of these empowered attacks deals 100% of their damage to monsters, making Shen capable of clearing jungle camps efficiently or securing objectives like Dragon or Baron.
To summarize the effects of his empowered attacks:
| Aspect | Damage Type | Condition | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Attacks (Default) | Physical | Standard | Base Attack Damage (AD) |
| Basic Attacks (Empowered) | Magic (Bonus) | After Spirit Blade recall | Next 3 basic attacks deal bonus magic damage. |
| Enhanced Basic Attacks | Magic (Bonus) | Spirit Blade collides with enemy champion | Increased bonus magic damage on next 3 basic attacks, plus +50% Attack Speed for those attacks. |
| Damage to Monsters | Magic (Bonus) | Applies to empowered basic attacks | Empowered attacks deal 100% of their bonus magic damage to monsters. |
This unique aspect of his kit allows Shen to scale effectively even when focusing on defensive stats, as the base values of his magic damage abilities often increase with ability ranks, and the bonus attack speed amplifies his overall damage. For more detailed information on Shen's abilities and statistics, you can refer to his dedicated page on Leaguepedia.
