Shyvana Review

Shyvana, an impactful contender in the League of Legends realm, emerged onto the scene back in 2011, leaving an indelible mark on the battlegrounds. This versatile Juggernaut possesses a unique amalgamation of abilities that enables her to thrive in diverse roles, predominantly dominating as both a top-laner and a jungle powerhouse. What distinguishes Shyvana is her adaptability, offering players the freedom to explore various build paths, effectively embodying multiple champions within one formidable character. Exploring the depth of her prowess and flexibility is not just intriguing but an essential endeavor for any avid League enthusiast.

Lore

Shyvana embodies the raw, untamed power of elemental magic coursing through her veins. Despite her humanoid appearance, she harnesses the ability to transform into a fearsome dragon, unleashing scorching flames upon her adversaries when the situation demands it. Her journey intertwines with that of the crown prince Jarvan IV, whom she once saved, earning her place within the uneasy confines of his royal guard in the suspicious realm of Demacia.

Raised among humans despite being half-dragon, Shyvana exhibits a unique blend of loyalty, kindness, and a fiery temperament that simmers beneath her composed exterior. Her emotional depth mirrors her dual heritage, making her both a fierce ally and a formidable opponent on the battlefield.

Champion Abilities

Passive – Fury of the Dragonborn

Shyvana deals bonus damage to dragons and gains Armor and Magic Resistance. As she and her allies slay more dragons, she accumulates additional bonus Armor and Magic Resistance.

Q – Twin Bite

Shyvana’s next attack strikes twice, enhancing her Attack Speed for subsequent attacks. Each basic attack reduces Twin Bite’s cooldown. In Dragon Form, Twin Bite cleaves all units in front of her.

W – Burnout

Enveloped in flames, Shyvana inflicts magic damage to nearby enemies and gains increased movement speed for a brief duration. Part of this damage reapplies upon basic attacking enemies under the Burnout effect. Basic attacks extend Burnout’s duration. In Dragon Form, Burnout expands in size.

E – Flame Breath

Shyvana releases a fiery projectile damaging all enemies it hits, marking them for a duration. Her basic attacks on marked targets deal a percentage of their maximum Health as on-hit damage. In Dragon Form, Flame Breath detonates upon impact or at the target location, dealing bonus damage and scorching the earth briefly.

R – Dragon’s Descent

Transforming into a dragon, Shyvana takes flight towards a targeted location. Enemies along her path suffer damage and are pushed toward her destination. Passively accumulating Fury per second, Shyvana also gains Fury on basic attacks.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Shyvana

Pros

Mechanically Easy: Shyvana doesn’t rely on complex combos, making her relatively easy to learn and execute in battles.
Fast Farmer: Her kit enables swift jungle clears, allowing her to amass a significant farm advantage over opponents with smart pathing.
Snowball Potential: Excelling with a lead, Shyvana can snowball matches due to her fast farming, making it challenging for enemy junglers to keep up.
High Damage Output: Boasting high base damage and strong ratios, she can potentially carry games when played optimally.

Cons

Difficult When Behind: Being mechanically straightforward limits her comeback potential when falling behind in matches.
Easily Kited: Vulnerable to kiting, especially in early levels and against ranged opponents, she struggles against crowd control and ranged champions.
Vulnerable to Early Invasions: In the early game, she is susceptible to aggressive invades, particularly against potent early game duelists.
Unpopularity: Her low pick rate results in limited available content and information about the champion, leading to unfamiliarity among players.

Best Items for Shyvana

Nashor’s Tooth: Ideal for boosting clear speed and melee dueling power. Can be swapped for another damage item in the late game.

Mejai’s Soulstealer: Offers considerable AP for its cost. Optimal if deaths are minimal, complementing Shyvana’s high AP ratios.

Cosmic Drive: Provides significant ability haste, beneficial for close-range combat. The passive easily triggers when engaging, aiding mobility.

Rabadon’s Deathcap: Offers top-tier damage for AP Shyvana. Viable if snowballing, although its expensive build path can delay early purchase.

Void Staff: Essential against enemies building magic resistance, greatly amplifying Shyvana’s high magic damage output.

Horizon Focus: Amplifies damage considerably but advisable as a later purchase due to higher priority items.

Best Lanes and Roles for Shyvana

Shyvana excels predominantly in the jungle role, leveraging her aggressive playstyle to duel opponents effectively. Her exceptional ability to out-trade other champions serves as her primary strength. However, it’s crucial to acknowledge her vulnerability due to the absence of crowd control and escape mechanisms. This weakness often makes her an easy target for aggressive laners looking to shut her down.

While primarily a jungler, Shyvana’s versatility allows her to adapt to the top lane as well. Her dueling prowess gives her an edge against certain matchups, yet her limitations against more crowd control-oriented or ranged champions in lane remain a challenge.

Champion Picks and Counter Picks

Analyzing Shyvana’s matchups, she thrives in top lane matchups against champions like Wukong and Sejuani. Her kit and playstyle grant her an advantage over these opponents. However, she struggles against formidable foes like Talon and Rek’Sai, making it unfavorable to face them directly.

Understanding these dynamics helps in making informed decisions during champion select, optimizing the chances of success while minimizing unfavorable matchups for Shyvana.

Price of this Champion in 2023

Shyvana, valued at 3150 Blue Essence or 790 Riot Points, maintains her accessibility in the League of Legends marketplace as of 2023.

My Feedback

As a dedicated gamer who’s spent time mastering Shyvana, I must admit, playing her can be an exhilarating yet demanding experience. If you’re not keen on taking charge and executing swift movements, Shyvana might not be the ideal choice. Her effectiveness greatly hinges on quick and precise clicks, especially when maneuvering to cast abilities like Flame Breath or effectively kiting melee opponents.

Playing Shyvana demands a keen eye for positioning and a knack for quick reflexes. It’s a rewarding experience for those who thrive on the thrill of mastering a champion with a high skill ceiling.

Best Guide for Shyvana in 2023

For those seeking comprehensive guidance on mastering Shyvana’s versatility and unleashing her potential on the battlefield, I highly recommend checking out this in-depth guide.

Best Skins for Shyvana

Ironscale Shyvana (750 RP, Released: November 1st, 2011): This skin might disappoint as it lacks substantial changes in both human and dragon forms, offering no new animations or particles.
Super Galaxy Shyvana (1350 RP, Released: May 25th, 2016): While boasting decent animations and particles, this skin might not feel fitting for Shyvana. The human model lacks uniqueness, and the dragon form lacks intimidation.
Boneclaw Shyvana (520 RP, Released: November 1st, 2011): Surprisingly, this skin offers a refreshing change with its wild, bone-themed design, especially the impressive dragon form.
Ruined Shyvana (1350 RP, Released: January 21st, 2021): While it offers a fierce dragon form, the basic human form and animations might feel somewhat off, leading to mixed feelings among players.
Darkflame Shyvana (975 RP, Released: May 28th, 2012): Offering great value, this skin embraces a darker theme with impressive character models, animations, and particles for its price.
Championship Shyvana (975 RP, Released: October 13th, 2014): Displaying a fierce appearance in both human and dragon forms, this skin incorporates well-suited animations, despite ice-focused particles.
Ice Drake Shyvana (975 RP, Released: April 29th, 2013): Considered a top pick for a long time due to its genuine dragon-themed design, impactful abilities, and great overall value.

Champion’s Tricks and Interesting Facts

Voice Actress Connection: Shyvana’s voice actor, Karen Strassman, also lends her voice to other champions like Cassiopeia, Fiora, and Zyra, adding a unique link between these characters.
Dance Reference: Shyvana’s dance emote pays homage to “RIVER” by AKB48, adding a touch of pop culture to her character.
Name Origin: The name “Shyvana” derives from the Irish Gaelic name “Siobhán,” anglicized as “Shevaun” or “Shivaun.”
Early Farming and Power Spike: Prioritize power farming early to reach Shyvana’s level 6 power spike quickly and unlock her ultimate ability, Dragon’s Descent (R).
Dragon Priority: Ensure to prioritize securing elemental drakes to augment both your and your team’s capabilities. Take advantage of enemy Jungler’s positioning to secure the dragon when possible.
Flame Breath for Team Fights: Before committing to a team fight, make use of Flame Breath (E) in Dragon form to poke down enemies, delaying the fight to your team’s advantage.

FAQ

Who is Shyvana in League of Legends?

Shyvana, a versatile champion released in 2011, excels in top lane and jungle roles due to her hybrid juggernaut playstyle and ability to transform into a dragon during battles.

What are Shyvana’s abilities and playstyle?

Shyvana’s abilities include bonus damage to dragons, high damage output, and fast farming. She’s mechanically easy but struggles when behind or against kiting and early invasions.

What are the best items and roles for Shyvana?

Ideal items include Nashor’s Tooth, Mejai’s Soulstealer, Cosmic Drive, Rabadon’s Deathcap, Void Staff, and Horizon Focus. She thrives in the jungle role but can adapt to top lane, facing challenges against specific matchups.

What are the best skins and interesting facts about Shyvana?

Recommended skins include Darkflame Shyvana, Championship Shyvana, and Ice Drake Shyvana. Interesting facts include voice actress connections, dance emote reference, name origin, and strategic gameplay tips.

How can I play Shyvana effectively?

To master Shyvana, focus on quick reflexes, precise ability usage like Flame Breath, and strategic positioning. Utilize detailed guides to understand her versatile playstyle and maximize her potential on the battlefield.