Shield

Shields offer additional defenses and a chance to block. Only one shield may be equipped at a time, in the offhand slot. Using a shield imposes a 3% movement penalty.

Summary

Shield type	Attributes	Block chance	Implicit
Tower Shield		(23 to 26)%	N/A
Buckler		(24 to 27)%	N/A
Spirit Shield		(22 to 25)%	(0 to 15)% increased Spell Damage
Round Shield		(23 to 26)%	(0 to 180)% increased Block Recovery
Kite Shield		(22 to 26)%	+(4 to 12)% to all Elemental Resistances
Spiked Shield		(24 to 26)%	Reflects (2 to 260) Physical Damage to Melee Attackers

Strategy

Capping block

The standard block cap is 75%. Key shield block numbers include the following:

• Aegis AuroraAegis Aurora
  Champion Kite ShieldChance to Block: 32%
  Armour: (860-1235)
  Energy Shield: (176-250)
  Movement Speed: -3%Requires Level 62, 85 Str, 85 Int(300-400)% increased Armour and Energy Shield
  +10% to all Elemental Resistances
  +5% to maximum Cold Resistance
  +6% Chance to Block
  Recover Energy Shield equal to 2% of Armour when you Block
  (10-20)% increased Elemental Damage with Attack SkillsBorn from the marriage of ice and sky,
  the aurora evokes both awe and power. and Thousand Teeth TemuThousand Teeth Temu
  Vaal BucklerChance to Block: 37%
  Evasion: (660-833)
  Movement Speed: -3%Requires Level 63, 159 Dex3% increased Movement Speed(100-120)% increased Evasion Rating
  +(70-90) to maximum Life
  0.4% of Physical Attack Damage Leeched as Life
  +10% Chance to Block
  Reflects 1000 to 10000 Physical Damage to Attackers on BlockCrimson burn'd the star of sadness,
  All was woe that seem'd but gladness. both have a block chance of 32%, the highest for unique shields. This requires 43% additional block chance to reach the cap.
• Non-unique shields can run from 22 to 33% depending on base and affixes, requiring 42% to 53% additional block chance to reach the cap.
• Rathpith GlobeRathpith Globe
  Titanium Spirit ShieldChance to Block: 25%
  Energy Shield: (147-200)
  Movement Speed: -3%Requires Level 68, 159 Int(10-15)% Chance to Block Spell Damage
  (120-160)% increased Energy Shield
  10% increased maximum Life
  Sacrifice 10% of your Life when you Use or Trigger a Spell Skill
  5% increased Critical Strike Chance for Spells per 100 Player Maximum Life
  5% increased Spell Damage per 100 Player Maximum LifeThe Vaal emptied their slaves of beating hearts,
  and left a mountain of twitching dead. is popular due to its spell block. Its block chance is 25%, requiring 50% additional to reach the cap. With The AnvilThe Anvil
  Amber AmuletRequires Level 45+(20-30) to Strength(10-15)% Chance to Block Attack Damage
  10% reduced Attack Speed
  10% reduced Cast Speed
  +(400-500) to Armour
  (34-48) Life gained when you Block
  (18-24) Mana gained when you Block
  +3% to maximum Chance to Block Attack Damage
  Reflects 240 to 300 Physical Damage to Attackers on BlockForge your Perseverance on the Anvil of Faith. this decreases to 45% (relative to the raised cap).
• Saffell's FrameSaffell's Frame
  Branded Kite ShieldChance to Block: 24%
  Armour: (186-208)
  Energy Shield: (38-43)
  Movement Speed: -3%Requires Level 59, 76 Str, 76 Int+4% to all Elemental Resistances(20-30)% Chance to Block Spell Damage
  (20-30)% increased Spell Damage
  +(20-30)% to all Elemental Resistances
  +4% to all maximum Resistances
  Cannot Block Attack DamageA swift mind solves problems before they occur. is popular due to its increase to maximum resistance, but blocks only spells. An average roll (75%) with a Stone of LazhwarStone of Lazhwar
  Lapis AmuletRequires Level 5+(20-30) to Intelligence(12-15)% Chance to Block Spell Damage
  (15-20)% increased Cast Speed
  +(40-70) to maximum ManaYou are slow, foolish and ignorant.
  I am not. requires 36% additional block chance to reach the cap. With a perfect RainbowstrideRainbowstride
  Conjurer BootsEnergy Shield: (36-42)Requires Level 53, 94 Int(15-20)% Chance to Block Spell Damage
  +(40-60) to maximum Mana
  +20% to all Elemental Resistances
  20% increased Movement Speed"They say that you should take life's troubles in your stride.
  Some men have a longer stride than others."
  - Gaius Sentari as well, this decreases to 26% additional block chance required.
• The Bringer of RainThe Bringer of Rain
  Nightmare BascinetArmour: (486-748)
  Evasion: (699-1072)Requires Level 67, 62 Str, 85 DexSocketed Gems are Supported by Level 30 Melee Physical Damage
  Socketed Gems are Supported by Level 30 Faster Attacks
  Socketed Gems are supported by Level 30 Blind
  6% Chance to Block Attack Damage
  Adds 20 to 30 Physical Damage to Attacks
  (200-300)% increased Armour and Evasion
  +(200-300) to maximum Life
  20% chance to gain an Endurance Charge when you Block
  Can't use Chest armour
  Extra gore"What lies beneath your feet?!"
  "Sacred ground, watered with tears of blood!" provides 6% additional block chance, legacy variants 15%, making it much easier to reach the cap.
• The AnvilThe Anvil
  Amber AmuletRequires Level 45+(20-30) to Strength(10-15)% Chance to Block Attack Damage
  10% reduced Attack Speed
  10% reduced Cast Speed
  +(400-500) to Armour
  (34-48) Life gained when you Block
  (18-24) Mana gained when you Block
  +3% to maximum Chance to Block Attack Damage
  Reflects 240 to 300 Physical Damage to Attackers on BlockForge your Perseverance on the Anvil of Faith. provides 8% additional block chance, legacy variants 10%, and raises the cap by 3%; however, it precludes the use of Stone of LazhwarStone of Lazhwar
  Lapis AmuletRequires Level 5+(20-30) to Intelligence(12-15)% Chance to Block Spell Damage
  (15-20)% increased Cast Speed
  +(40-70) to maximum ManaYou are slow, foolish and ignorant.
  I am not..
• Tempest Shield will provide 3% additional block chance.

Spell block

• With Rathpith GlobeRathpith Globe
  Titanium Spirit ShieldChance to Block: 25%
  Energy Shield: (147-200)
  Movement Speed: -3%Requires Level 68, 159 Int(10-15)% Chance to Block Spell Damage
  (120-160)% increased Energy Shield
  10% increased maximum Life
  Sacrifice 10% of your Life when you Use or Trigger a Spell Skill
  5% increased Critical Strike Chance for Spells per 100 Player Maximum Life
  5% increased Spell Damage per 100 Player Maximum LifeThe Vaal emptied their slaves of beating hearts,
  and left a mountain of twitching dead. or Saffell's FrameSaffell's Frame
  Branded Kite ShieldChance to Block: 24%
  Armour: (186-208)
  Energy Shield: (38-43)
  Movement Speed: -3%Requires Level 59, 76 Str, 76 Int+4% to all Elemental Resistances(20-30)% Chance to Block Spell Damage
  (20-30)% increased Spell Damage
  +(20-30)% to all Elemental Resistances
  +4% to all maximum Resistances
  Cannot Block Attack DamageA swift mind solves problems before they occur. it only requires Stone of LazhwarStone of Lazhwar
  Lapis AmuletRequires Level 5+(20-30) to Intelligence(12-15)% Chance to Block Spell Damage
  (15-20)% increased Cast Speed
  +(40-70) to maximum ManaYou are slow, foolish and ignorant.
  I am not. to reach 100% of block chance applied to spells.
• Without Stone of LazhwarStone of Lazhwar
  Lapis AmuletRequires Level 5+(20-30) to Intelligence(12-15)% Chance to Block Spell Damage
  (15-20)% increased Cast Speed
  +(40-70) to maximum ManaYou are slow, foolish and ignorant.
  I am not. the best that can be done is 76% chance to block spells with a perfect Rathpith GlobeRathpith Globe
  Titanium Spirit ShieldChance to Block: 25%
  Energy Shield: (147-200)
  Movement Speed: -3%Requires Level 68, 159 Int(10-15)% Chance to Block Spell Damage
  (120-160)% increased Energy Shield
  10% increased maximum Life
  Sacrifice 10% of your Life when you Use or Trigger a Spell Skill
  5% increased Critical Strike Chance for Spells per 100 Player Maximum Life
  5% increased Spell Damage per 100 Player Maximum LifeThe Vaal emptied their slaves of beating hearts,
  and left a mountain of twitching dead., RainbowstrideRainbowstride
  Conjurer BootsEnergy Shield: (36-42)Requires Level 53, 94 Int(15-20)% Chance to Block Spell Damage
  +(40-60) to maximum Mana
  +20% to all Elemental Resistances
  20% increased Movement Speed"They say that you should take life's troubles in your stride.
  Some men have a longer stride than others."
  - Gaius Sentari, and The AnvilThe Anvil
  Amber AmuletRequires Level 45+(20-30) to Strength(10-15)% Chance to Block Attack Damage
  10% reduced Attack Speed
  10% reduced Cast Speed
  +(400-500) to Armour
  (34-48) Life gained when you Block
  (18-24) Mana gained when you Block
  +3% to maximum Chance to Block Attack Damage
  Reflects 240 to 300 Physical Damage to Attackers on BlockForge your Perseverance on the Anvil of Faith. and 10% spell block on the passive tree. This requires 38% additional block chance from other sources.
• Without either of these shields, the best that can be done is 66% with Stone of LazhwarStone of Lazhwar
  Lapis AmuletRequires Level 5+(20-30) to Intelligence(12-15)% Chance to Block Spell Damage
  (15-20)% increased Cast Speed
  +(40-70) to maximum ManaYou are slow, foolish and ignorant.
  I am not. and RainbowstrideRainbowstride
  Conjurer BootsEnergy Shield: (36-42)Requires Level 53, 94 Int(15-20)% Chance to Block Spell Damage
  +(40-60) to maximum Mana
  +20% to all Elemental Resistances
  20% increased Movement Speed"They say that you should take life's troubles in your stride.
  Some men have a longer stride than others."
  - Gaius Sentari and 10% spell block on the passive tree.

Types of shields

Tower shields

Tower shields require strength to equip and provide additional armour rating.

Bucklers

Bucklers require dexterity to equip and provide additional evasion rating.

Spirit shields

Spirit shields require intelligence to equip and provide additional energy shield. Most also have an implicit increased spell damage mod.

Round shields

Round shields require a combination of strength and dexterity to equip and provide additional armour and evasion rating. Most also have an implicit increased block recovery mod.

Kite shields

Kite shields require a combination of strength and intelligence to equip and provide additional armour rating and energy shield. Most also have an implicit elemental resistance mod.

Spiked shields

Spiked shields require a combination of dexterity and intelligence to equip and provide additional evasion rating and energy shield. They also have an implicit "damage reflect" mod.

Passive Skills

There are passive skills that grant bonuses related to shields.

Miscellany

The following passive skill is related to shields, but does not belong into any other category: Template:Passive table