Best shield for Knights?

[Potential Legend]

Just wondering on everyone's opinion which shield is better to use? The Kite Shield or The Heater Shield? I have no idea what the difference is.

[Steve Martin]

Kite as it gives you more protection on your back when not equipt and when in use. They are harder to get past in melee and your visibilty is still more than good enough to see what is happening around you. You lose more stamina with a kite but if you play your cards correctly that should not be a huge problem in melee. Also only knights can use Kites so i am guessing you want to know if a kite or heater shield is better for the knight? Heaters can only be used for knights with a mace and secondary weapon. just thought you might want to know ;p

[Nobody]

They share the same stamina reductions. Only difference is their size which affects your view when hold up a shield and defending from arrows and bolts. So I would go with the kite shield that provides you the better view and decent size.

[Julius]

Isn't it the Tower and Kite shield?

Personally I like the kite shield, it gives plenty of protection and vision, and tower shields just scream 'I'm a turtle, kick me!' due to their size.

[Potential Legend]

Well everyone seems to agree the Kite shield is better, and even I use it far more often already. So what purpose does the Heater shield have exactly it must be useful in some situations?

[Ser Cartoon of House Head]

less chance of taking an arrow to the knee.

[Nobody]

Heater is just good as much as the kite. But it has slightly smaller than kite.

[Lock]

Kite and tower are both good played right. Tower absorbs hits better with less stamina drain, but blocks the left of the screen when passive and the middle when active.

Theres not a huge amount of shield-knight Mains for EU competitive teams, but there is one who rolls with tower over kite and prefers it. Both shields are good but IMO the visibility is the deal breaker - even playing on a high FOV you miss things in the blind spots. I roll with kite always personally, and the player many regard as the EU best shield knight player also runs with kite when he uses the class competitively.

Kite is less forgiving on stamina management but better on visibility. Tower is more forgiving on stamina management but worse for visibility. Its preference to some extent, as skill is required to cover the shortcomings of both shields, either stam management or vis.

Heater is worse than both for stam drain, as good as kite for vis, worse for passive arrow protection. Its the worst choice, and flails are bad anyway so just avoid it altogether. It has slightly more responsive up/down times but its negligible in practice.

1000+ hour competitive shield knight :)

[Ser Cartoon of House Head]

Ok I am a noob with anger issues. This game makes me rage. There I said it.

Anyway, if you can block any hit with your weapon (even block a huge two haded sward with a dagger, what is the point of a shield anyway). When I first started playing I used it all the time because I was getting killed a lot and tried to be more defensive, I ended up dying even more. I never see high levels with shields they usually archers with really fast daggers if people get close and I can never even block them with anything either. I tried Man-at-arm, but I find one handed weapons really weak and not much slower than two handers so U die quicker because of light armour. Only class I can play with any sort off success is the Vangaurd so naturally, unless I catch someone with a drag or from behind everyone out paces me with their weapons anyway. It is like Rock Paper Scissors Jelly (and guess which one I am).

[Chad]

Kite is better for blocking swords and arrows from a distance due to it's lengh but heater does higher damage whilst bashing and can block spears and arrows fired from close up better.

[Sithis]

Kite is love, Kite is life