Shen excels in early laning by skillfully using Grasp, Shield Bash, and Q for trades, especially before level 3.
Be wary of clear counters like Garen, Mordekaiser, and Sett; avoid blind picking and aim for Shen as a counter-pick.
His ultimate is vital for global presence and aiding allies, so use it judiciously given its long cooldown to maximize team impact.