How to play Shieldmaiden effectively?

[GG Crono]

Compared to every other class, I always seem to eat it within five minutes, even when prioritizing defensive upgrades. Is there something I could be doing wrong?

[Ulyaoth]

Hi,

her most powerful build is the retaliation tank.
Check: "Shield Maiden - Forgotten Viaduct"
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3038035307

This can give you a first impression, but this build can be enhanced even further, the more you unlocked.

Cheers!

[towly]

i mean you can read all that and tbh after you will be good
if you want someone to give you hints to what you should be doing ATM

you will need to provide people abit more info then : HI I AM DYING
here is an example : current status of your progression just a roundabout
so people can have a better idea what tips will be helpful for you

cause i dont think it will help you if i tell the lategame stompeverything shieldmaidenbuild if your nowhere near that

[ViewtifulGene]

Maiden scales exponentially with unlocks. She's going to feel like ♥♥♥♥ when you first unlock her, since she has abysmal attack speed and you don't yet have the means to work around it. No shame in coming back with more Blessings and more achievements for higher EXP gain.

Pick Radiant Aura as your first ability if you can't fight back at the start of the run.

[GG Crono]

Originally posted by towly:

i mean you can read all that and tbh after you will be good
if you want someone to give you hints to what you should be doing ATM

you will need to provide people abit more info then : HI I AM DYING
here is an example : current status of your progression just a roundabout
so people can have a better idea what tips will be helpful for you

cause i dont think it will help you if i tell the lategame stompeverything shieldmaidenbuild if your nowhere near that

I can't seem to outdamage or outrun enemies and they always seem to overpower me before I can start to get stronger.

[M4tt]

Originally posted by GG Crono:

Originally posted by towly:

i mean you can read all that and tbh after you will be good
if you want someone to give you hints to what you should be doing ATM

you will need to provide people abit more info then : HI I AM DYING
here is an example : current status of your progression just a roundabout
so people can have a better idea what tips will be helpful for you

cause i dont think it will help you if i tell the lategame stompeverything shieldmaidenbuild if your nowhere near that

I can't seem to outdamage or outrun enemies and they always seem to overpower me before I can start to get stronger.

Get defense items from wellkeeper. Even the basic ones such as scale mail or plated boots make a massive difference.

[love-u AO]

you need only 1 item to roll in vault with 6 orb mods, or 15+ artifact runs.
fencing gauntlets, for start any. but play low artifact runs and get
green fencing gauntlets ( CRIT ). and its gg. you block - you hit back critical.
a bit base block and defense im 220 lvl.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3342403445

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3342404634

you end with about 4000% crit dmg.
the only downside - you have trigger / face tank all damage but
you can trigger block on low dmg like lava, etc.

[love-u AO]

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3342434352

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3342434493

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3342434599

fast run

[towly]

Originally posted by GG Crono:

Originally posted by towly:

i mean you can read all that and tbh after you will be good
if you want someone to give you hints to what you should be doing ATM

you will need to provide people abit more info then : HI I AM DYING
here is an example : current status of your progression just a roundabout
so people can have a better idea what tips will be helpful for you

cause i dont think it will help you if i tell the lategame stompeverything shieldmaidenbuild if your nowhere near that

I can't seem to outdamage or outrun enemies and they always seem to overpower me before I can start to get stronger.

ok so lets pinpoint abit more :

A) do you have access to greenitems (i will asume u dont)
just to make it easier for me and cuz if you had you shouldnt have this kind of problems

B) how fare into the progression of the game are you
i dont need a minute by minute but a rough kinda like : early (as in you only resently
started) or mid (that would mean agony etc.)

while on that : do you have access to classmarks ? if yes pick swordman if no well then non or any other if you dont have swordsman

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3342443014

if you have access to the items in this screenshot use them

if you have access to fencer gloves they will be better so you can only use them if you get a good blockvalue so if your early in progression i would use
multistrike

starting ability needles second and thrid what ever you feel like (i recommend ringblades)

[GG Crono]

I guess early? I just unlocked the Scribe. I guess this game's got a lot more stuff in it. >_>;;

[Veganomaniac]

Shield Maiden is weak in the beginning (both, per run and meta progression wise) because you'll have almost no chance to block any hits but gets incredibly strong once you've reached enough block chance.

General notes:

- Fencer gloves are THE core item for her, with those you need nothing else do deal massive damage

- Bloodcatcher is the second core item that let's you spiral out of control quick, healing you for hundreds of HP/s and giving insane dmg

- you don't need attack speed, crit chance, range, force, movement speed, regen -> remove them all with potions right away, so they don't block your good traits

- if you can, getting 'empty level ups' early and choosing the health option is very viable because it helps you get through the rough phase to the phase where you're immortal

- prioritize block chance and defense (defense is virtually useless later on but you need it in the beginning to survive)

- abilities are optional and for level 60+ once you've picked up the range increase, the 20 base block chance (double it) and the crit dmg

[best bulliet target]

well i found M4tt said defensive items, now each hero likes diffent setups.
shield maiden loves block, So get the well up and if you can get the plate armor, helm and boots. that should net you 40-50 shield strenght, with 6 defensive skills and your nearly imu (i get about 130) and just set it to auto R, and right click and then just WASD around. if you can get some starter ablity i vote firestrike and radiant light and just stack dps or speed in those two.

[Cryten]

My first run with shield maiden on normal was a cake walk. Stacking Block items and an attack speed gloves and she barely took any damage and was destroying early mobs with her shield bash.

[<color=#CD3210>Lunatic]

All defense and block strength gear, blood catcher 0.2% dmg, 60% & 45% attack speed when standing still rings, all torment shards on damage.

1st ability ring blades (cyclone-piercing), 2nd ability needles (split-magic), 3rd ability morning star (butterfly-spikedchain), 4th ability orbs (inner).

Upgrades priority - Block strength, defense, strength, crit chance, crit bonus, attack speed, physical damage, physical speed.

Save your lock in potions for getting tiers 4+ 2/4 of the same tier for ring blades dmg/crit/speed. Save your double effect potions for 30% physical speeds and tier 8 ring blades dmg.

By lv90+ go afk and play your playstation or switch or phone.

[kojimareedus]

If you max out block she's virtually unkillable. You can just run right into hordes and not take any damage.

[迷宮糞]

Shieldmaiden is op actually.
you just need an uncommon fencer's gauntlet variant, defiant plate(for regens)
& 8 memory potions, and then stack block strength, defense, and critical bonus.
if possible, bring maiden's mark as it scales your damage based on block strength,
and blood catcher(which can improve your damage by thousands of percent in late game)
Using this build, I achieved 8 million+ DPS with -20% modifier multiplier artifact activated.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3342616783