Can someone explain to me what's the point of shields?

[Zeriel00]

They weight a ton

They usually don't provide any passive bonus

They have a limited area of block and you would take full damage if missed

They consume massive amounts of Stamina to prevent damage

While blocking you won't have stamina left to attack

The block can often be broken and you would be stunned (Poise broken)

Their Ashes of War are often not used because they replace the Weapon's

So at what point would it be better to use a shield instead of just rolling away? You can roll away for little Stamina, roll more often than you can block, and if timed you would always take 0 damage.

I don't see any reason to use a shield instead of dodging

[Riskbreaker Y]

Lots of fun with curved sword talisman + shield + guard counters for poise breaks. Beast Crest Heater Shield (light weight) is holding up fine for early to midgame so far.

Hopefully my parry timing will improve also.

[Old Man Gamer (OMG)]

Автор сообщения: Old Man Gamer (OMG)

Shields look cool.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2793232353
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2793666122

Additionally, a shield is good for a fight that you want to use a good interrupt with. You can use a shield to stop spells being cast and parry, with more impact than doing so with a weapon. Additionally, you are protected while you prep to use the skill and then switch to two handed for the attack to follow.

Addition to these, try this out. Do a dodge roll, and see how long until you can attack. Now, block with a shield, and see how long until you can attack.

[Slinky]

there are a few only shields that you can use to poise break anyone, then pull out dagger and stab... a few also do bleed dmg... so you can shield smish for bleed and poise break for cit attack..

[Emily Mewens]

The slab is a god tier shield that can face tank pretty much anything without any stam loss, and thanks to its size, its going to stagger pretty much anything that hits it.

Really, the point of the shields are for a different play style. I use one on my faith/str build. Dont on my glass cannon mage.
Both styles work equally as effective honestly

[Ericlegacy]

My first playthrough I wanted to make a tanky character. Using a greatshield + greatshield talisman is ridiculously good! If the greatshield has a guard boost of 80+ and with the talisman equipped, you'll almost NEVER take stamina loss from normal attacks.

I tried it against invaders and you can essentially bully them. Only magic and normal bleed attacks will work. Bleeds that are from ashes of war are completely negated.

[Emily Mewens]

Автор сообщения: Ericlegacy

My first playthrough I wanted to make a tanky character. Using a greatshield + greatshield talisman is ridiculously good! If the greatshield has a guard boost of 80+ and with the talisman equipped, you'll almost NEVER take stamina loss from normal attacks.

I tried it against invaders and you can essentially bully them. Only magic and normal bleed attacks will work. Bleeds that are from ashes of war are completely negated.

Did they change Slab? It had a 90% and guard boost gives 10. I had a friendo using it and he never lost stam with that setup,

[HerrBaron]

Автор сообщения: Codester

Автор сообщения: Broso

Let's just memorize all of the insanely delayed attack patterns in this game, or you know just ♥♥♥♥ it and use Fingerprint Stone Shield and Greatshield Talisman and just block the majority of any damage without using a single sliver of stamina.

Add a thrusting weapon to that and you can poke enemies for days while taking minimal to no damage at all.

Don't like being a turtle? Well, have fun rolling around like a dung beetle ball.

I guess some people have really really low skill in the department of memorization for Easy to memorize attack patterns. I forget that some folks have the memory of a single celled organism and just aren't able to cope with dodging something that lasts more than 1 strike.
Very good point, for those people turtling is definitely more viable.

Oh, and you're ever so superior; I see. Such a smarmy little jerk.

[Sabaithal]

Both shields and dodging are viable tactics in terms of defense. If you're trying to insult either one, saying people who do it are "unskilled" or such nonsense, you're trash. Next topic please.

[MingQWERTY]

-Block incoming physical damage. Less risk of getting hit via roll catch or bad timing
-Guard counters. Great for breaking stance
-Parrying.
-Useful against Waterfowl dance
-A lot of 100% physical guard shields are medium shields and don't weigh a lot. The ones you're referring to are greatshields.
-They consume more stamina if you don't upgrade the shield. Upgrading the shield takes less stamina when blocking.
-You don't just hold down the block button... you need to block at the right times, when enemies are striking or when you have enough stamina.
-You can replace the ash of war on non-special shields with the 'no skill' ash of war.

Edit: Using a shield doesn't mean you can't roll. It's really good and useful to be able to both roll and block.

[Sonnenbank]

Shields are extremly usefull for getting through areas without dying.
Block+ guard counter

I didnt find them too usefull on bossfights.
But for exploring a 100%phys shield is insanely good

[UnholyDentist]

Parry, guard counter and shield barricade.

Oh, and turtle shield passive regen.

[Anatolius]

yep, they also don't block status effects at all.
in short - they are more of a tactical tool rather than defensive measure.

[Mccoone]

buff so you dont use any stamina while blocking, equip thrusting weapon, hold block and spam stab, wait for stamina to regen and repeat. If the enemy deals mainly physical damage and doesnt apply status effects (or heals when they hit you), theyre just a free kill.

[tim.]

It depends on the type of shield.

Typically round shields don't have a point. That's the nature of the geometry. In some cases, round shields DO have a point extruding outward from the center.

Kite shields have been popular and typically can have anywhere between 1 to 4 points. This is due to their almond shape design, often the bottom of the shield comes to a singular point, and occasionally the top can, when not rounded off, have a flat top, which would give it two additional points, or a w shaped top which would give it three.

Tower shields in almost every situation take a rectangular shape, so more of then than not they will have 4 points. This is not a rule, however, and many do take more geometrically unique shapes.

Some of the shields in Elden Ring specifically can take a range of unusual shapes, so giving a clear cut answer to the number of points is difficult. I believe it would be fair though, considering that the *average* shield tends to take a 3 pointed kite shield form, to say they all roughly have 3 points.

(Ok i'm sorry this is pretty stupid but i thought it might be fun, especially since everyone else has already properly answered. I hope someone at least found this kinda enjoyable.)

[Humpenstilzchen]

Since noone seemed to mention it, there is also the erdtree greatshield which can reflect magic back, which lets you fight your enemies with their own weapons
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDB0KBcJlf8