Shi
(西施)Mage
Shi
西施
Mage
Also known as
Shi's Chinese name is 西施.
Quick summary
Shi is a mid-tier Mid Mage who wants to lock down team fights with crowd control. Public guides recommend a build starting with Knowledge Gem.
Current patch decision guide
When to pick Shi, when to avoid them, and how to adapt your build.
Shi is a balanced Mid Mage who wants to lock down team fights with crowd control. Public guide data shows a build centered on Knowledge Gem, Boots of Deftness, Crimson Shadow - Radiance, used to farm safely and rotate to side lanes when the wave allows. Pick her when the draft lets Shi reach the targets her kit is designed to threaten; avoid when the matchup denies the windows her kit needs.
Pick Shi when
- The enemy team has multiple high-mobility threats that need to be locked down before they reach your backline
- Your team has the structure to use her ability to farm safely and rotate to side lanes when the wave allows, since Shi delivers consistent damage output and timely roams.
- The enemy draft includes Li Bai, Wukong, and Ukyo Tachibana, who appear in counter data as matchups Shi can pressure.
Avoid Shi when
- Your team lacks the follow-up damage to convert your control windows into kills
- Your team needs a jungle pick more than Shi's specialty, leaving the role unfilled if you commit here.
- The enemy team is built around answers to Crowd Control, removing the windows Shi's kit needs to perform.
Power spikes
Build decisions
Range-scaling control mage core
Shi's official build supports his Crowd Control and distance-scaling damage identity. Knowledge Gem accelerates his early scaling, Boots of Deftness adds roam speed, and Grand Staff with Stone of Sorcery (magical attack and movement speed) drive his magical output. Crimson Shadow - Radiance adds area damage and vision to set up his long-range zone control.
Control, anti-heal & survivability
Frozen Breath (slow on hit) and Ominous Premonition (slows attackers) reinforce his control, Venomous Staff lowers enemy Health regen, and Succubus Cloak (negates magical damage) is the pivot into mage comps. Splendor (temporary invincibility), Sage's Sanctuary (on-the-spot resurrect) and Destiny (negates fatal damage) are the survivability picks for an immobile back-line mage.
Matchup logic
Versus mobility
Dashes and immunity skills bypass Shi's control. Force the enemy mobility before committing Sole Focus, and aim control on stationary targets like channeling carries.
Role positioning
Shi is a Mid pick whose value depends on consistent damage output and timely roams. Stick to the role plan rather than forcing fights her kit is not designed to win.
Synergies
Public synergy data lists Liu Shan, Zhang Fei, and Zhuangzi as strong partners for Shi. Plan engages around Liu Shan's setup window, then second-engage with Sole Focus.
Common mistakes
- Throwing Silky Beauty on the front-line tank instead of saving it for backline carries.
- Engaging without checking enemy summoner-spell cooldowns, which often decide whether Shi's commit reaches the target alive.
- Greeding farm in mid lane while side lanes get camped — rotation timing matters more than CS lead in most matchups.
Background
Silkweaver
“Everything that happens to you is another gift from fate.”
Shi, a girl from the Southlands, has had to struggle for her livelihood since she was young. One day, while escaping from debtors, she accidentally stumbled into an abandoned shrine and gained a mysterious power from the southern continent. This power helped her resolve many troubles in the following years, but also attracted some who coveted it. They disguised themselves as debtors and trapped her with a cleverly designed ambush. With Zhuangzi's help, Shi escaped to her new home at the Jixia Academy where she could train her new powers and prepare for the rewarding Dream Trial...
- Race:
- Human
- Height:
- 163 cm
- Style:
- Sorcery
- Nation:
- Jixia Academy
- Title:
- Jixia Academy Student
Source: Official Honor of Kings — canonical lore for Shi.
Base Stats
Source: in-game capture (HoK Global v11.x, 2026-04-20)Survivability
Offense
Utility
Build
How to choose a build
Start with the safe default badge if the draft looks normal, then swap to burst, anti-tank, sustain, or utility builds when the matchup clearly calls for it.
Tank support
Tanky teamfightBest when your team needs a sturdier front line for repeated engages.
Full AP burst
Anti-tankBest when the enemy team has multiple frontliners or early defense items.
Full AP burst
Anti-tankBest when the enemy team has multiple frontliners or early defense items.
Full AP burst
Anti-tankBest when the enemy team has multiple frontliners or early defense items.
Build
Full AP burst
Burst damageBest when you can reach squishier targets and convert quick kills.
Full AP burst
Burst damageBest when you can reach squishier targets and convert quick kills.
arsenais
Full AP burst
Burst damageBest when you can reach squishier targets and convert quick kills.
update
Skills
The farther away the enemy is, the more damage skills deal.
Throws her artifact, damaging enemies and pulling them toward it. Can be used again to pull the enemy in the target direction.
Releases an energy orb that continuously deals damage to enemies within range for a short time, and then explodes to deal additional damage. Enemies are slowed the first time the orb hits them.
Resets Skill 2's cooldown and enhances herself. While enhanced, gains Movement Speed and reduces Skill 2's cooldown by half. Skill 1 can pull the enemy twice.
Skins
4 skins
Dream Weaver
Poetic Past
Snowventure
Return of Dreams
Playstyle
Shi's signature tool is Sole Focus (resets Skill 2's cooldown and enhances herself). Look for angles to land your control from max range, then follow with your damage rotation.