Should I bother upgrading shield?

[ℬℓα⊂₭ ℙℜ¡ℵ₠]

Playing as a Samurai and have the stupid long katana but also use a bronze (medium) shield. I've got the sword up to level 15 and I use the blood swipe ash thing on it. Would upgrading my shield actually do anything worthwhile with that set up?
If I was to dual wield what should I go with and I guess I can;t have ash on the off hand weapon as it would stop the ash working on my main right?
I am level 70

Vigor 37
mind 11
endurance 23
strength 32
dex 37
int 9
faith 12
arc 8

What attributes should I focus on?

[jasonbarron]

You shouldn't even be using a shield.

[Codester]

If you always dual wield. Use the turtle shield on your back so you get passive stamina regeneration increase.

[Juno Brier]

Shield upgrades are highly skippable if you're not shield-bashing or not using a special shield with an attack skill.

[ℬℓα⊂₭ ℙℜ¡ℵ₠]

Originally posted by jasonbarron:

You shouldn't even be using a shield.

Really? It saves me loads of times and i can get a special looking counter attack right after I block, is it not worth that?

[socially ept outcel]

Levelling the shield adds stability thus lowering stamina loss on block

It's more epic to dual wield though and bleed everything to death

[ImHelping]

It takes a while, but if it is a shield you keep using, and you have the spare upgrade materials for it (or access to buying them), yes.

For example. a shield with 67 vs 70 boost (The make block less ♥♥♥♥ stat that people oversell because they are only thinking about maximum god tier peak possible in the game).

It takes roughly +9-+10 for a shield with 67 to become 70.

Also if by bronze shield you mean the brass shield? That is basically the "Actually good" medium shield. It should break 60 by about +10-12, and as a comparison 60 is the stats you get from the golden beast greatshield shield (one of the lightest 100% physical greatshields in the game) dropped by the chrysalid in the intro sequence (if you pro beat him first try, or unlock his rematch and kill him there).

but again, given the stingy scale. you do it with your spares after your weapons, or if you have access to buying spares.

Originally posted by jasonbarron:

You shouldn't even be using a shield.

Sounds like a guy who loves dying to rats and small dogs more than someone capable of carrying a back pocket shield and one handing on their 90% two hand/power stance run.

[Calsetes]

Upgrading shields boosts the Guard Whatever stat on them, basically so they take less stamina to block an attack. This was something I only learned after finishing my melee character playthrough, who used a shield at all times.

So yeah, it does pay to upgrade a shield, but it's far less impactful than, say, upgrading a weapon, or a shield you use offensively with shield bash or something.

Dunno if it boosts the status effect damage some do though, probably something to test out at some point.

[ℬℓα⊂₭ ℙℜ¡ℵ₠]

Originally posted by Codester:

If you always dual wield. Use the turtle shield on your back so you get passive stamina regeneration increase.

Originally posted by Juno Brier:

Shield upgrades are highly skippable if you're not shield-bashing or not using a special shield with an attack skill.

ok thanks, I am not shield bashing at all. Just block and counter is all. So I won't resources on my shield. Thanks

[nfinite.recursion]

Shield Guard goes up every 2-3 upgrades. This helps reduce stamina loss when your shield is struck.

[Codester]

Originally posted by ℬℓα⊂₭ ℙℜ¡ℵ₠:

Originally posted by jasonbarron:

You shouldn't even be using a shield.

Really? It saves me loads of times and i can get a special looking counter attack right after I block, is it not worth that?

Ignore him he's meming.
Not everybody needs to minmax their damage. Using a shield to block is perfectly viable and upgrading it means it uses less Stamina to block attacks meaning less chance for larger attacks to break through to cause damage. I use jelly fish shield for the 20% damage boost and then I dual wield the Starscourge.

[Juno Brier]

Originally posted by arekks:

Levelling the shield adds stability thus lowering stamina loss on block

Not by a whole lot though. A lot of investment for rather little gain.

[UnholyDentist]

Don't bother to upgrade unless you are going to use a skill that delivers damage. It's okay to use shield by the way, party and barricade can be great against some bosses and with new characters. I sugg at you keep 1-2 shield in your inventory because those skills can make some bosses easy. Also, jelly Shield for casters is dope.

[socially ept outcel]

Originally posted by Juno Brier:

Originally posted by arekks:

Levelling the shield adds stability thus lowering stamina loss on block

Not by a whole lot though. A lot of investment for rather little gain.

I mean, at a certain point it's effectively free. Just never lose weapon upgrades on account of upgrading the shield

[ℬℓα⊂₭ ℙℜ¡ℵ₠]

Originally posted by arekks:

Levelling the shield adds stability thus lowering stamina loss on block

It's more epic to dual wield though and bleed everything to death

ok good to know thank you

Originally posted by ImHelping:

It takes a while, but if it is a shield you keep using, and you have the spare upgrade materials for it (or access to buying them), yes.

For example. a shield with 67 vs 70 boost (The make block less ♥♥♥♥ stat that people oversell because they are only thinking about maximum god tier peak possible in the game).

It takes roughly +9-+10 for a shield with 67 to become 70.

Also if by bronze shield you mean the brass shield? That is basically the "Actually good" medium shield. It should break 60 by about +10-12, and as a comparison 60 is the stats you get from the golden beast shield dropped by the chrysalid in the intro sequence (if you pro beat him first try, or unlock his rematch and kill him there).

Yes, brass shield, I'll probably just keep using and as others say I can upgrade it for less stamina usage when blocking

[ℬℓα⊂₭ ℙℜ¡ℵ₠]

Originally posted by Calsetes:

Upgrading shields boosts the Guard Whatever stat on them, basically so they take less stamina to block an attack. This was something I only learned after finishing my melee character playthrough, who used a shield at all times.

So yeah, it does pay to upgrade a shield, but it's far less impactful than, say, upgrading a weapon, or a shield you use offensively with shield bash or something.

Dunno if it boosts the status effect damage some do though, probably something to test out at some point.

I will upgrade it a bit then, thanks you