Shield

Basics
Shields are items that can be equipped in your character's left hand (sometimes called the "offhand") to increase to your armor level (AL).


 * The AL bonus is added to the armor "baseline", this means the bonus protects all body parts alike: Head, Torso, Legs and Arms.


 * The maximum AL bonus for a shield is +16.


 * Generally all professions can equip shields, but most shields have requirements for a minumum rank in the Warrior's Tactics or Strength attribute.


 * Some Warrior skills can only be performed when equiped with a shield, for example Shield Bash.

Upgrades
There are currently no weapon upgrade components for shields that can be salvaged or equipped. However, some shields come with magical modifiers.

For details see: weapon upgrade

Shield Types
The following types of Shields can be found in Guild Wars:


 * Shields that require Strength:
 * Defender
 * Eternal Shield
 * Magmas Shield
 * Shadow Shield
 * Tower Shield


 * Shields that require Tactics:
 * Aegis
 * Bulwark of Balthazar
 * Crude Shield
 * Crimson Carapace Shield
 * Canthan Targe
 * Ornate Buckler
 * Reinforced Buckler
 * Round Shield
 * Runic Shield
 * Skeleton Shield
 * Skull Shield
 * Summit Warlord Shield
 * Stone Summit Shield
 * Shield of the Wing
 * Tall Shield
 * Wooden Buckler

See also Category:Shields.

''Note that - unlike Bows - the shield type has no influence on the stats of the shield, apart from the required attribute. Which visual appearance you prefer is merely a matter of taste. A Crude Shield with AL +12 is just as good as an Eternal Shield with AL +12. That said, certain shield types are more likely to come with higher AL, for example a Shield of the Wing is usually AL +8 or higher and will require Tactics and an Eternal Shield is almost always AL +15 or 16 and will require Strength.''