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AuroraS+ Tier ComboAurora's passive triple-ring deals % max-HP magic damage — at 800 AP it hits 20%+ max HP. Ethereal Weapon multi-procs it for insane burst that pure tanks can't survive. Forge: AP > magic pen. Always grab Ethereal Weapon, then prioritize CDR and MS hexes.
GangplankS+ Tier ComboBack to Basics massively boosts barrel damage for one-shot kills — barrels have innate 40% armor pen, so they hurt tanks too. Need solid barrel-chain skill; watch positioning vs long-range poke.
TryndamereS+ Tier ComboCircle of Death converts heal into magic damage; Trynd Q has huge AP scaling — late Q hits 3000+ damage, deletes squishies. Stack AP and magic pen. Forge: AP > magic pen > MS. Stack fury before Q'ing; CoD has 1000 range, get close.
AmbessaS Tier ComboR passive armor pen still works.
ApheliosS Tier ComboAuto attacks benefit from Back To Basics.
DariusS Tier ComboBack to Basics gives huge AD — go full armor pen + crit and W deletes squishies.
EzrealS Tier ComboAmp Q damage.GangplankS Tier ComboEach barrel chain adds 35% damage, scaling exponentially.
+Shen's Q empowers his next 3 autos with % max-HP magic damage that scales with AP. Lvl 18 base is 4%; with Q's spirit blade hitting an enemy, it goes to 7% — three autos = 21% max HP. At 400 AP, three autos hit 45% max HP. Spirit-blade pull positioning is huge — hit-vs-miss roughly doubles damage.
- Combo rating · S tier
- Editorial assessment, not a win-rate metric.
- Guide provenance
- ARAM Mayhem editorial
- Combo patch
- Not recorded
- Guide freshness
- No update date recorded
- Champion tier · B
- From the site champion tier list.
- Champion tier context · Patch 26.19
- Updated Oct 6, 2026
About Shen
About Back To Basics
Back To Basics
prismatic59.12% WR
Your champion abilities deal 35% increased damage and you gain 70 ability haste and 35% increased healing and shielding from all sources, but your ultimate ability is permanently sealed.
View full augment page →More Back To Basics Combos
AuroraS+ Tier ComboAurora's passive triple-ring deals % max-HP magic damage — at 800 AP it hits 20%+ max HP. Ethereal Weapon multi-procs it for insane burst that pure tanks can't survive. Forge: AP > magic pen. Always grab Ethereal Weapon, then prioritize CDR and MS hexes.GangplankS+ Tier ComboBack to Basics massively boosts barrel damage for one-shot kills — barrels have innate 40% armor pen, so they hurt tanks too. Need solid barrel-chain skill; watch positioning vs long-range poke.TryndamereS+ Tier ComboCircle of Death converts heal into magic damage; Trynd Q has huge AP scaling — late Q hits 3000+ damage, deletes squishies. Stack AP and magic pen. Forge: AP > magic pen > MS. Stack fury before Q'ing; CoD has 1000 range, get close.AmbessaS Tier ComboR passive armor pen still works.ApheliosS Tier ComboAuto attacks benefit from Back To Basics.DariusS Tier ComboBack to Basics gives huge AD — go full armor pen + crit and W deletes squishies.EzrealS Tier ComboAmp Q damage.GangplankS Tier ComboEach barrel chain adds 35% damage, scaling exponentially.Keep exploring
Back To Basics + Goliath Shen Combo
This S-tier combo pairs Shen with Back To Basics in ARAM: Mayhem. This is one of the strongest combos available — pick it whenever you can.
Shen's Q empowers his next 3 autos with % max-HP magic damage that scales with AP. Lvl 18 base is 4%; with Q's spirit blade hitting an enemy, it goes to 7% — three autos = 21% max HP. At 400 AP, three autos hit 45% max HP. Spirit-blade pull positioning is huge — hit-vs-miss roughly doubles damage.