Upgrading a shield worth it?

[Santa Claus Jr]

I'm using a manor towershield + partisan and so far... its been working pretty great. never 'first try' beat so many bosses in any previous dark souls game lol. But after upgrading the spear to +15, i have no use for all these other smithing stones. The level 1 upgrade for all shields just shows damage buffs, for corny shield bash builds I guess?

tl;dr can I get extra guard buff or damage resistance from upgrading shields at all?

[D. Flame]

Originally posted by Scoobydoo wr r u:

Originally posted by D. Flame:

You only slowly get more Guard Boost, so blocking uses slightly less stamina

It is significant. Using the Hawk Heater Shield (3.5lbs) & Brass Shield (7lbs) as examples, they get a 24% and 22% improvement respectively in guard (stamina reduced during shield block) & the Brass shield with relatively equal stats for 2x to 3.5x less weight sits at 68 Guard Boost @ lvl 24. That is higher than only 3 or so other shields & they weight at least 2x, but up to 4x+. Those comparable shields not only require pumping significant stats into endurance, but also into strength.

https://youtu.be/_-HmjX5zfO8

When stuff like that is happening with a great shield, you have a problem.

[ImHelping]

Originally posted by D. Flame:

Originally posted by Scoobydoo wr r u:

It is significant. Using the Hawk Heater Shield (3.5lbs) & Brass Shield (7lbs) as examples, they get a 24% and 22% improvement respectively in guard (stamina reduced during shield block) & the Brass shield with relatively equal stats for 2x to 3.5x less weight sits at 68 Guard Boost @ lvl 24. That is higher than only 3 or so other shields & they weight at least 2x, but up to 4x+. Those comparable shields not only require pumping significant stats into endurance, but also into strength.

https://youtu.be/_-HmjX5zfO8

When stuff like that is happening with a great shield, you have a problem.

Expect somebody who only uses it as a backpack for their two-hander/power stance build who hates blocking like it killed his family to cry "If anything it is still too good at blocking!" any second.

[D. Flame]

Originally posted by Scoobydoo wr r u:

Originally posted by D. Flame:

https://youtu.be/_-HmjX5zfO8

When stuff like that is happening with a great shield, you have a problem.

That is working at least as well as my lvl24 Brass. Can't say any better. That is a particularily punishing enemy. If you expect a shield to turn you into an iron box I don't know what to say. Only fingerprint shield completely upgraded will do that and it requires 48 STR & 29 WGT.

I'm not really sure what your point is.

You know exactly what my point is; you just won't admit it.

[Santa Claus Jr]

im curious if there's any shields strengthened by somber smithing stones. kinda just lettin em go to waste at the moment cause i havent found a weapon or anything to use em on

[ImHelping]

Originally posted by Santa Claus Jr:

im curious if there's any shields strengthened by somber smithing stones. kinda just lettin em go to waste at the moment cause i havent found a weapon or anything to use em on

Save them, because the game is wildly arbitrary about what does or does not need somber stones.

"Here is a longbow made with pulleys. It need somber stones"
"...did... did it get made out of a dead god?"
"No, some guy really good at making pulleys made it."

That said, if the wiki is right some like the dragonclaw shield or gimmicky jellyfish shield use them. The visage shield which is the one that looks like giant dad.

Still a lot of "Upgrades go here" on the wiki when it comes to shields.

[TerminalLumbago]

carian retaliation's blade damage scales with your shields upgrade level..

for now

[Jun]

Originally posted by HellSlayer:

Shields are best vs groups of enemies. The important thing is if your shield is amazing it will give you attack of opportunity. So vs group of enemy you can kill mobs quicker. greatshields give more bounces.

gotta correct you there man. shield build is weak against mobs since it can't block your flank or your back. the only place where it truly shine is single target. which is like 99% of the real challenge in ER. Bosses. just gotta watch out for those infuse element in their attack patterns.

[Storm]

Originally posted by D. Flame:

You only slowly get more Guard Boost, so blocking uses slightly less stamina

Depends on the shield really. The higher boost it starts with the better upgrading is. Like the Fingerprint Shield goes from 81 to 90. Which means it takes half as much stamina to block a blow when upgraded. Which is a significant boost.

[Baron01]

Originally posted by Santa Claus Jr:

I'm using a manor towershield + partisan and so far... its been working pretty great. never 'first try' beat so many bosses in any previous dark souls game lol. But after upgrading the spear to +15, i have no use for all these other smithing stones. The level 1 upgrade for all shields just shows damage buffs, for corny shield bash builds I guess?

tl;dr can I get extra guard buff or damage resistance from upgrading shields at all?

I just switched to Manor Towershield and at +23 it has 74 guarding boost. It is just +4 guarding boost for massive investment but if you have spare materials it is worth it to finish it. I'm using shield with Barricade Shield skill so it is less important to max guarding boost but if you want to use offensive Ashes of War you might want to get as much guard boost as possible.

[Jun]

for the OP,. shield is by far the most broken and brainless build in the game, you may argue mage is better as much as you want. but i bet any of those can solo without calling the mimic tear (yes there are pros out there who can DODGE, but this is for noobs). Shield with and spear build however can do that, and it's newbie friendly. cuz the only thing you want to focus on with this build is your stamina. enemies attack won't lower your stamina, but yours does.

For the basic. the only shield that worth investing right now is the fingerprint shield. with fully upgrade, i don't really remember when mobs and bosses attack can lower my stamina from this point. and from my memory, fingerprint has the highest guarding boost. Get the shield buff talisman and you are ready to kick @sses. take note magic still can damage you.

[Baron01]

Originally posted by Jun:

for the OP,. shield is by far the most broken and brainless build in the game, you may argue mage is better as much as you want. but i bet any of those can solo without calling the mimic tear (yes there are pros out there who can DODGE, but this is for noobs). Shield with and spear build however can do that, and it's newbie friendly. cuz the only thing you want to focus on with this build is your stamina. enemies attack won't lower your stamina, but yours does.

For the basic. the only shield that worth investing right now is the fingerprint shield. with fully upgrade, i don't really remember when mobs and bosses attack can lower my stamina from this point. and from my memory, fingerprint has the highest guarding boost. Get the shield buff talisman and you are ready to kick @sses. take note magic still can damage you.

So this post is full of BS.

Are shield really the most broken builds in the game or can it be done with one specific shield that has extreme requirements and weight to carry? It can be one or the other, it can not be both.

Also, standard shield without Barricade Shield ash of war will carry you through normal enemies and maybe some low-end bosses but there is no way you can out-block anything that deals serious damage or can string high-hit combos. Try blocking Revenants in Haligtree without Barricade shield active on anything but Fingerprint shield and see how that goes. Same goes for demi-god bosses and few high-level area bosses who can drain your stamina in 2 or 3 hits and some jump attack can take 80% or more stamina. Barricade Shield ash of war was nerfed recently and now costs more FP and only last 7 seconds so you need to be a lot more careful and precise with its usage. This also means you are giving up offensive ashes of war on your weapon unless you want to power-stance your weapon, which opens you to attacks.

[Jun]

Originally posted by Baron01:

Originally posted by Jun:

for the OP,. shield is by far the most broken and brainless build in the game, you may argue mage is better as much as you want. but i bet any of those can solo without calling the mimic tear (yes there are pros out there who can DODGE, but this is for noobs). Shield with and spear build however can do that, and it's newbie friendly. cuz the only thing you want to focus on with this build is your stamina. enemies attack won't lower your stamina, but yours does.

For the basic. the only shield that worth investing right now is the fingerprint shield. with fully upgrade, i don't really remember when mobs and bosses attack can lower my stamina from this point. and from my memory, fingerprint has the highest guarding boost. Get the shield buff talisman and you are ready to kick @sses. take note magic still can damage you.

So this post is full of BS.

Are shield really the most broken builds in the game or can it be done with one specific shield that has extreme requirements and weight to carry? It can be one or the other, it can not be both.

Also, standard shield without Barricade Shield ash of war will carry you through normal enemies and maybe some low-end bosses but there is no way you can out-block anything that deals serious damage or can string high-hit combos. Try blocking Revenants in Haligtree without Barricade shield active on anything but Fingerprint shield and see how that goes. Same goes for demi-god bosses and few high-level area bosses who can drain your stamina in 2 or 3 hits and some jump attack can take 80% or more stamina. Barricade Shield ash of war was nerfed recently and now costs more FP and only last 7 seconds so you need to be a lot more careful and precise with its usage. This also means you are giving up offensive ashes of war on your weapon unless you want to power-stance your weapon, which opens you to attacks.

My achievements speak louder than your words there pal. with 80+ hours, solo, and a newbie to this type of game. i can beat it with ease. (90+ now)
and i'm done with the elden boss before reached 80+ hours there too pal.

and i demand you to read it again pal. the posted was for noobs who can't dodge
Also find me a better build for a noob (solo) who can fight malina and win with less than 20 trys.

[Jun]

should have recorded my gameplay so this kind of doubt can be avoided in the first place.
no hard thoughts here pal, unless there is proof, even i won't believe my post.

[Jun]

Originally posted by Baron01:

Originally posted by Jun:

should have recorded my gameplay so this kind of doubt can be avoided in the first place.
no hard thoughts here pal, unless there is proof, even i won't believe my post.

More BS and also your English sucks.

You probably meant to say Malenia, Blade of Miquella, but that just show you are pulling this stuff up your backside. Malenia heals for every hit she lands on you even if it is blocked. Blocking here means you are endlessly dragging the fight.

Kids these days...

now now, don't blame your pathetic skill and judgement on me. just because you can't make it happen does not mean some body else can't.
i apologized for saying the boss name wrong, but clearly you understand my point, so what the deal with it? can't argue with my first post so you want to save your face with my second post?

but what ever you say pal. this shall be our last conversation. a close minded person who can't face the reality that people out there can find a solution with the tool he deem un-doable to solve the problem he failed to do.
Pathetic old man.

[Jun]

also for any noobs out there who want to find one of the cheese build, here is how i built mine. ALL WAS ACCOMPLISHED BY PLAYING SOLO ALL TIME. quite something for someone who just first played this kind of game aye.

Level 144 with time of beating the final boss 78 hours.
vigor 54/ Hp 1703
mind 12/ Fp 74
endu and strength 50
dex 22
int 15
faith and arc 10

For the Talismans
Greatshield talisman
Godskins swaddling cloth
Haligdrake talisman +2 ( from my research the boss deal holy damage)
Rotten swinged sword insignia

For the weapons
blood spiked spear +25 with bloodhound step
fingerprint shield + 25 with no skill