Is a shield a must have?

[DontOpenDeadInside]

Hi I have never gone past iron age in this game and have been always axe/shield/bow player but now I want to try Atgeir, Harpoon and a wolf pack "beastmaster" playstyle. While bow and atgeir deals piercing only, wolves deals slashing so it shouldn't be a problem. This playstyle kinda leaves shields out, but you can still block with the atgeir too, will it be effective in past mid game? Do you think a shield is too good to be left out?

[electricdawn]

Atgeir is pretty good at blocking stuff. It, of course, can't completely replace a shield.

But that's actually not the point of the atgeir. With the atgeir, you are trying NOT to get hit. It has long reach, so most of the time, you can stop smaller enemies before they are in melee range.

Bigger enemies can usually be stunned with the secondary attack, which, IMHO, is almost too effective, because once stunned, enemies can be very quickly defeated, as you crit most of the time.

So you need to completely change the way you're playing. From a melee oriented tank to a damage oriented melee heavy or ranged medium fighter.

Your armor could change to medium or light. For example, I recommend root armor for plains due to its excellent pierce protection. You just shrug off Deathsquitos or fuling spear throwers.

All other enemies should be kept at range. In conjunction with a good bow (and the added bowskill of the root armor), the atgeir becomes a very effective weapon.

You would also change your food layout from HHS to HSS (two health, one stamina to one health, two stamina), because you want that massive stamina to be able to not only run away, but to employ the secondary attack of the atgeir effectfully, as well as using the bow, which drains a lot of stamina.

So, yes, absolutely possible, but you need to change your way of playing. You need to be quick on your feet and you will be even more cautious, as you ab-so-lute-ly DON'T want to get hit!

Edit: You absolutely want the Bonemass forsaken power when playing like this in case things go south. Or you could still employ Eikthyr's power to run away even farther. :D

[Cooperal]

To directly answer the thread title, shields are absolutely not needed as long as you have your rolls and most enemies are less than perfect when it comes to navigating over or around obstacles. Besides wolves and deathsquitos, most enemies can't even match your straight line running speed, which you can further improve through skilling up.

However if you are rocking a one-handed weapon then parrying is a no-brainer from both a DPS and crowd control perspective.

If you are using the two-handed weapons you may as well exploit their reach for all that they are worth so that you can stagger your enemy through a barrage of attacks instead.

[Nobbler]

I am a simple tactician. if it works, don't try to make it harder. If you are a person who needs complex challenges to keep interest, by all means, be you. For me?

Shield+Parry is a must. Stealth+Bow is a must.

Rolling around costs too much stamina and re-positioning as it often leaves you out of striking range of your foe. A parry keeps you in the fight, and often gives you time with a staggered enemy. Rolling doesn't stagger, and costs time.

Good hunting, all the same.

[Cobretti]

Ategir has longer reach and therefore is well suited to be used with dodge which is how I use it mainly.

People tend to stick to the easiest / safest way to beat the game which is why you have a huge amount of players who cheese bosses, kite with a bow / arrow or use a shield.

Not everyone plays these type of games for the challenge but if that is your thing, you would definitely be looking to progress past being reliant on a shield. Bows are for Drakes, nothing else.

[Bobucles]

Shield+1H is a very bread and butter setup and it works well in most situations.
it excels in 1v1 and exploring new content, as it's a very safe setup. It suffers against swarms, as blocking multiple attacks will burn through precious stamina. It also fails against 1-2 star elites, as blocking isn't strong enough to protect against elite heavy hits.

Good starter setup, great for fighting bosses. But it's worth graduating from the shield and using the bow or a 2-h like the ategir.

[·ºSH13LDº·]

Having a shield to grant parry bonus to your group of bow players is a great strat for larger groups, and having one player grant parry bonus in a group is a big plus but I wouldn't think it's mandatory at all. Atgeir has a great special the aoe stun with nice range. bows are great too.

[DontOpenDeadInside]

Thank you all for your answers. I think I'm going Atgeir and if I have terrible time I just go back to axe/shield.

[Ryzilynt]

Axe/sheld? The axe is a decent weapon, but thus far in this game it's meant for chopping wood.

I'd recommend taking a harder look at the numbers when you hover over a weapon.

[·ºSH13LDº·]

the damage types pierce/slash/blunt are better depending on what you are fighting also, atgeir is real nice in mountain actually. I had a iron atgeir through my entire stay in the mountain biome worked very well.

[PakaNoHida]

Nothing is tehnically required, I know players who have never left the Meadows and have over 2500 hours, all in building, and that is what is fun for them.

[electricdawn]

Originally posted by Ryzilynt:

Axe/sheld? The axe is a decent weapon, but thus far in this game it's meant for chopping wood.

I'd recommend taking a harder look at the numbers when you hover over a weapon.

I agree, but for a different reason: The axe is a very slow weapon. Good for Meadows and Black Forest, and as a starter in the Swamps. But I highly recommend upgrading to both sword and mace.

Mace is a good alround weapon and REALLY needed for Bonemass. For the few enemies that are resistant to blunt (Abomination) I would recommend the sword as it is much quicker than the axe.

Mountains is mostly atgeir and bow, and occasionally mace and shield, if you want to tackle golems.

Plains is, again, atgeir and bow.

Boss fights are mostly appropriate 1H weapon and shield. For both Mountains and Plains, silver sword and appropriate shield. Moder also requires the bow, if you don't want to be waiting for her to land again.

[DontOpenDeadInside]

Originally posted by electricdawn:

Originally posted by Ryzilynt:

Axe/sheld? The axe is a decent weapon, but thus far in this game it's meant for chopping wood.

I'd recommend taking a harder look at the numbers when you hover over a weapon.

I agree, but for a different reason: The axe is a very slow weapon. Good for Meadows and Black Forest, and as a starter in the Swamps. But I highly recommend upgrading to both sword and mace.

Mace is a good alround weapon and REALLY needed for Bonemass. For the few enemies that are resistant to blunt (Abomination) I would recommend the sword as it is much quicker than the axe.

Mountains is mostly atgeir and bow, and occasionally mace and shield, if you want to tackle golems.

Plains is, again, atgeir and bow.

Boss fights are mostly appropriate 1H weapon and shield. For both Mountains and Plains, silver sword and appropriate shield. Moder also requires the bow, if you don't want to be waiting for her to land again.

I don't play games to limit myself to meta. I do not care mace type of weapons in video games and I like swords even less. The only time I like swords is when it's a polesword/spearsword or a cleaver which is basically a hybrid of an axe and a sword. Axes/shields/polearm/poleaxe are my choices of weapons in video games overall and as long as it can kill enemies without it feeling like the game is bad because of my weapon choice I will keep using them. And because I play a "beastmaster" there's no lack of damage when it comes to outside world and maybe have a bit trouble with flying things.

[electricdawn]

Good luck with Bonemass and golems. Oh, and Yagluth!

I mean, yes, you can make it work... *shrug* It's your game... ;)

[DontOpenDeadInside]

Originally posted by electricdawn:

Good luck with Bonemass and golems. Oh, and Yagluth!

I mean, yes, you can make it work... *shrug* It's your game... ;)

20 wolves + Loxes can't deal with them? I have killed Bonemass before I think, it's the last boss I have killed before I just start playing this game as a base building simulator and forget everything else.

[Happy]

Some will say make a shield. Some will say skip it. Personally I always make a shield, regardless of tier. The second I can make & upgrade a new shield, I make one. But if you are rolling through everything with wolves, I suppose you might not even need a shield.