Shield

Basics
Shields are items that can be equipped in your character's left hand (sometimes called the "offhand") to increase 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 equipped with a shield, for example Shield Bash.

Upgrades
There are currently no upgrade components for shields that can be salvaged or equipped. However, some shields come with damage absorption modifiers. These damage absorptions go up to -2 "while in a stance" and "while enchanted". Damage absorptions for "while hexed" go up to -3 (March 2, 2006 update). Other rare shields have a modifier that gives damage reduction up to -5 with a chance of up to 20% (March 2, 2006 update).

Another modifier change due to the March 2, 2006 update: Shields with the "while hexed" condition can go up to +60 health, as opposed to the normal max of +45 health. They can also go up to -3 damage absorption, as opposed to the normal max of -2 damage absorption.

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.''

Related Skills
These skills require shields:
 * Shield Bash, Shield Stance