r/LegendsOfRuneterra

Hi folks! After testing out both champions, I've come up with a quick guide for folks who'd like to try them out. This is just my opinion and by no means definitive! Edit: edited to reflect contribution of posters below.

TL;DR Version:

Kindred:

• BiS Kindred: Mark of the Kindred, Whirling Blade, and (Disciple of Shadows, Voidborne Carapace - T1 Kindred or undying Kindred)
• BiS Kindred (no paid relic): Price of Retribution, Disciple of Shadows, Voidborne Carapace
• Budget Kindred: Guardian Angel, Voidborne Carapace, Archangel's Staff (alt: Stalker's Blade x1 or 2)
• Why: Print multiple Kindreds with 'Spirit Journey.' DoS (Prey) + Manaflow = T1 Kindred
• Paid Relic? (Mark of the Kindred): Yes, if you really like Kindred. I haven't extensively tested, but it doesn't seem to be a Relic that many other champions can benefit from.

Shen:

• BiS Shen (6*): Kinkou Tradition, Starforged Gauntlets, Luminous Orb
• BiS Shen (not 6*, no paid relic): Death's Foil, Perfect Hexcore, Open Slot (Black Shield, the Beast Within, Found Fortune, Sentinel's Plate)
• Budget Shen: Archangel's Staff, Grand General's Counterplan (alt: Arcane Comet), Open Slot (Chemtech Duplicator, Guardian Angel, Troll King's Crown)
• Why: Play Shen early (SFG), keep him alive (Kinkou/Death's Foil), provide Utility (extra spells = more Moral Support)
• Paid Relic? (Kinkou Tradition): Very Yes. Great on Ambessa, Yuumi - anyone with easy access to Barrier. The 'refill 1 mana' is very potent. Top 10, possibly Top 5 relic.

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Introduction:

I'm extremely pleased to report that Kindred's revamp and Shen's intro to Path of Champions, to me, feels very successful. Both Champions play the game in a way that others don't and their power level seems strong, but not broken (8/10 for both). Their Constellation spread out feels generous. If this is the future for PoC Champions, count me as excited.

Playstyle-wise, both Champions lean Controlling, being a little slow to start - with each Champ being a powerful Engine (a card that provides constant value, if you can keep it safe). Definitely worth investing in, if only for their 'must have' Bounty Stars.

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Quick Kindred Guide:

Must Have Bonus Star:

• Celestial Bounty (+2 Vision and +1 Revive for Shadow Isles Champions)

Kindred likes:

• Stabilize (Power) / Shadow Totem (Item) to print more of herself. More Kindred = more blockers, more marks. 'Sharing is Caring' is powerful (esp. if you don't go Voidborne Carapace). Once you get the Bonus Star for Spirit Journey - Otherworldly Armaments allows you to stack up Rare items.
• Last Banner for ease of access to Rally (w/ Spirit Journey)

Kindred dislikes:

• 6* Power dislikes anything that gives +X/+X to Prey (ruins the Strike effect)

Other Alt Relics:

• Starforged Gauntlet + any 2 of (Price of Retribution, Spectral Scissors, Hand of Noxus, Champion's Purse, Deadly Harpoon, Caulfield's Warhammer)
• Mark of the Kindred + Whirling Blade
• Echoing Spirit instead of Disciple of Shadows in Bis builds (multiple copies = stacking discount)
• Black Shield or any other access to Spellshield for Kindred

Bug?

• I don't believe I've ever drawn 'Tortured Prodigy' - I didn't notice at first since this is my 'go to' first removal, but the last two runs I've done with her I didn't remove it and don't believe I've drawn this card once. Could be chance, but seems weird.

Misc: Kindred's 6* isn't necessary for her strength, she's strong all around.

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Quick Shen Guide:

Must Have Bonus Star:

• Celestial Bounty (+2 Vision and +10 Nexus Health for Ionian Champions)

Shen likes:

• Consistent, free spells (to get more copies of Moral Support). Ex: Perfect Hexcore, Arcane Comet, Grand General's Counterplan
• Spell Mana. Shen is very mana hungry, especially with his 6*.
• Drafting Removal - he has no inherent access to block Elusives (Luminous Orb pulls double duty if you don't have Kinkou Tradition) and his combat tricks are pretty 'fair'
• Access to Elusive or Overwhelm. Swole Squirrel is surprisingly potent in his deck since, both for Overwhelm and as a great target for his 4* (Striking Lessons) and 6* (Shadow Dash), once you get it.

Other Alt Relics:

• Chemtech Duplicator (lots and lots of Barriers, especially with GGC)
• Renewing Power (if going with GGC/Arcane Comet)
• Guardian Angel + Voidborne Carapace (immortality cheat)
• Searing Brilliance (Ki Guardian and Syncopation are both fun, potent spells)

Misc: Shen is more straight forward than Kindred and most other Champions and thus has less options. Syncopation is a very fun spell to have access to and his 6* transforms the way he plays - you can get a lot done with Shadow Dash. Just remember to Moral Support before Dash, so you'll get another copy of it after.

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Final Notes: I can't say enough how pleased I am with both of these Champions and the new team. I'm really hopeful for PoC's future.

Happy gaming!

It's amazing on Shen himself but the thing that makes it a top 5 for me is the fact that it gives you mana when something gets barrier, regular mana not spell mana. On anyone with phalanx and Hexcore you get a spell that gives you +1 mana and it feels like a mini SFG.

INSANE STARTING STARS
INSANE BONUS STARS WITH BONUS TO ENTICE BUYING CARDS MAKING DRAFTING FUN
CAN GET UPWARDS TO 90 NEXUS HP WHILE STILL BEING IN ONE OF THE SAFEST REGIONS OF LOR (IONIA)
A BUNDLE RELIC WITH A GREAT EFFECT, NO "IF I AM"
A C6 THAT DOESN'T CARE WHAT RELICS YOU PUT

https://preview.redd.it/2tm9870zo3uh1.png?width=585&format=png&auto=webp&s=f650613b074ee000947c7b65ab67622ace478968

Oh, it all makes sense now! 😏

Fr go back and give some of last year constellation bonus a second look lol, i hate having like 40-50 top nexus hp and forgettable bonus stars (coff anivia) and for the love of god rework some of those bundle relics.

he's fun and strong, kindred bonus stars are also very nice; obviously i liked the direction of both relics. I hope they keep whatever this direction is

keep making a great game

https://preview.redd.it/yhlu6rjzp3uh1.png?width=600&format=png&auto=webp&s=12e442c9897bd3a8eab8bb1e30100cd9b7376f79

Before: I was definitely thinking oh man I don't freaking want Kindred I hate Kindred! Such a boring champion because I hate the stupid prey with chip damage and stupid Kindred keeps making the same crap! How dumb!

Shen is not what I hoped to see I mean how interesting is barrier like who cares!? It's boring and so what if he's a supporter!? So is Lulu and she suuuuuucks!

Well: that brings us to After: I hope that before stuff doesn't offend you. I mean scaling for nightmares sucks!

Kindred: well I can't believe I'm saying this but if I have to put Kindred on a scale of how fun of a champ it went from F to S in one constellation! Congratulations runeterra Devs you absolutely outdid yourselves!

I honestly didn't expect much from kindred aside from few changes here and there with a meh 6 star.

Holy crap was I wrong!

Kindred basically has thresh's 6 star as a 4 star maybe not entirely the same but it definitely works.

Mask mother can get double stats on play now! That's pretty insane!

The prey are still there but no longer required for chip damage. Also that damage im going to call chunk damage because it's by 2s!

The real chef's kiss is that you are not penalized for having multiple kindreds and marks they all can count to stack and wipe their board! Plus you get chunk damage!

The relic feels really fun too! Way to go Dev team! Keep making amazing things like this! It's use is S tier for Lillia and LeBlanc. It's also great for Kindred duh and Anivia and Jinx. I would even say Caitlyn.

Holy crap that was a lot of praise and we only reviewed the constellation not the new to Path Shen!

Leveling Shen and trying to rank him up was... Not the best experience but...the main issue is being unable to guarantee drawing any champion. That's not Shen's fault.

That said I was impressed how much you can actually strategize to focus on keeping everyone alive so they can support eachother.

I personally don't like fiddlesticks because he is a no brainer to play although sometimes it calls for it when something makes you mad.

Back to Shen he has interesting ways to swap and buff. His assistant in a wheelchair gets him mana back while the cute little wheelchair assistant helper has barrier. The two together give the 1 cost +2 +2 and then the 2 cost already out gets barrier when the others do!

Play a spell and you get a barrier spell this can stack! I was confused by the elusive with shadow totem until I realized it gives you 2 spell mana and the prankster gives you moral support if you don't have it!

Absolutely genius!

That brings us to Shen's relic. Keyword Elusive. Ok. Wait did I read that right?! Yah that is right! Already it's amazing to have! So before listing off the other part of what it does who can use it besides anyone because they can!

Yuumi can give her attached unit elusive.

Kaisa can transfer the Keyword.

Elise can spam elusive spiders.

The other effect is when an ally gains barrier give them a Keyword and restore 1 mana. This means not just spell mana! .

Ambessa is another because of this and any with Phylax or Access to lots of barrier like lux and Shyvana with her spell!

So Kindred's updated star power "Ashes to Ashes II" says that when you slay allied or marked units, you deal 2 to the enemy Nexus.

Apparently killing a husk doesn't count as slaying?

I tried picking up Evelyn as a support champ for Kindred, and man was I disappointed to learn that.

I just got her to 3 stars recently (then her constellations dropped) I tried her today and when you revive her using her champion's spell, it erases the pre-existing Marks and it sucks. Also I noticed they changed her 1/3 star, if they could do this, couldn't they just do it to the underperforming champions in the future?

We haven't gotten a new BC constellation since Heimer, and he was released in September 2024. At just four, BC is the region with fewest constellations.

It is high time we got some more yordles with 6*.