Shields

Shields are an item type found in Diablo III. Specific types of shields are not yet known, but they will be familiar to gamers from other RPGs; the D3 Team isn't reinventing this item type.

Shield Changes in Diablo III

Shields.

Shields are much changed in function in Diablo III. On the whole, they'll be far less effective than they were in Diablo II.

They still block attacks, but while their % chance to block varies (as in D2), they only absorb a set amount of damage. The buckler, the weakest shield and the only one we know the stats of, absorbs 6-10 damage. Higher quality shields will take much more damage with a successful block.

This differs greatly from Diablo II, where any shield could block (absorb) 100% of any physical attack, even huge hits from boss monsters that would have dealt hundreds of points of damage.

This change makes shields much more realistic, but also much less effective (mandatory) in Diablo III than they were in Diablo II.

The stats of a Buckler as of August 2010.

• Armor: 78
• Chance to Block: +25%
• Block Amount: 6-10
• Durability: 25/25
• Sell value: 1

This item is presumed to be part of the Barbarian's starting equipment, since the sell value is just 1.

Shields

Buckler Common Shield (Level 1) ? salvage Value: ?

[e] 6–7 Armor +10.0-20.0% Chance to Block 6–10 Block Amount Durability: 50–70

Targe Shield Common Shield (Level 1) ? salvage Value: ?

[e] 37–44 Armor +9.9-19.8% Chance to Block 10–15 Block Amount Durability: 50–70

Heater Shield Common Shield (Level 3) ? salvage Value: ?

[e] 68–81 Armor +9.8-19.6% Chance to Block 14–20 Block Amount Durability: 50–70

Kite Shield Common Shield (Level 8) ? salvage Value: ?

[e] 100–116 Armor +9.7-19.4% Chance to Block 18–25 Block Amount Durability: 50–70

Large Shield Common Shield (Level 13) ? salvage Value: ?

[e] 131–144 Armor +9.6-19.2% Chance to Block 22–30 Block Amount Durability: 50–70

Gothic Shield Common Shield (Level 17) ? salvage Value: ?

[e] 156–166 Armor +9.5-19.0% Chance to Block 26–35 Block Amount Durability: 50–70

Tower Shield Common Shield (Level 20) ? salvage Value: ?

[e] 175–185 Armor +9.4-18.9% Chance to Block 31–41 Block Amount Durability: 50–70

Pelta Common Shield (Level 26) ? salvage Value: ?

[e] 193–206 Armor +9.3-18.7% Chance to Block 36–48 Block Amount Durability: 50–70

Rondache Common Shield (Level 30) ? salvage Value: ?

[e] 218–231 Armor +9.3-18.5% Chance to Block 42–56 Block Amount Durability: 50–70

Knight Shield Common Shield (Level 34) ? salvage Value: ?

[e] 243–256 Armor +9.2-18.3% Chance to Block 49–65 Block Amount Durability: 50–70

Ironwood Shield Common Shield (Level 38) ? salvage Value: ?

[e] 268–281 Armor +9.1-18.2% Chance to Block 57–75 Block Amount Durability: 50–70

Pavise Common Shield (Level 42) ? salvage Value: ?

[e] 293–306 Armor +9.0-18.0% Chance to Block 66–86 Block Amount Durability: 50–70

Bone Shield Common Shield (Level 49) ? salvage Value: ?

[e] 318–325 Armor +8.9-17.9% Chance to Block 74–97 Block Amount Durability: 50–70

Savior Common Shield (Level 51) ? salvage Value: ?

[e] 331–338 Armor +8.8-17.7% Chance to Block 85–111 Block Amount Durability: 50–70

Aspis Common Shield (Level 53) ? salvage Value: ?

[e] 343–350 Armor +8.8-17.5% Chance to Block 95–124 Block Amount Durability: 50–70

Hoplon Common Shield (Level 55) ? salvage Value: ?

[e] 356–363 Armor +8.7-17.4% Chance to Block 106–140 Block Amount Durability: 50–70

Defender Common Shield (Level 57) ? salvage Value: ?

[e] 368–372 Armor +8.6-17.2% Chance to Block 120–159 Block Amount Durability: 50–70

Scutum Common Shield (Level 58) ? salvage Value: ?

[e] 375–379 Armor +8.5-17.1% Chance to Block 135–180 Block Amount Durability: 50–70

Aegis Common Shield (Level 60) ? salvage Value: ?

[e] 381–385 Armor +8.5-16.9% Chance to Block 155–210 Block Amount Durability: 50–70

Dread Shield Common Shield (Level 60) ? salvage Value: ?

[e] 387–391 Armor +8.4-16.8% Chance to Block 190–256 Block Amount Durability: 50–70

Sacred Shield Common Shield (Level 60) ? salvage Value: ?

[e] 393–433 Armor +8.3-16.7% Chance to Block 240–320 Block Amount Durability: 50–70

Monks and Shields

Monk with shield.

At one point during their development, Monks could not use shield. Bashiok offered an explanation of this in a pair of forum posts in early March 2010. [1] [2]

Bruce Lee would not use a shield, and neither would the monk.

We have shields. Everyone but the monk can wield them.

Of course that’s subject to change.

It did. A Monk was seen using a shield in August 2010, during the Artisan Video.

Shield Skills and Traits

Two views of a low-level Barbarian with a hand axe and buckler.

There are no known shield attack skills in Diablo III, like the Paladin's Smite from Diablo 2. The only known shield-related traits are a couple possessed by the Barbarian. These are subject to change as development continues.

Shield of Iron

• Max points: 3
• Description: Increases your chance to block attacks.

Shield Slam

• Max points: 1
• Description: You have a chance to hit your target with your shield and interrupt them.

Prior to the Traits switchover, the Barbarian had a Battlemaster skill called Shield Specialization that granted considerable blocking bonuses. Here are the stats for this skill, which is no longer in the game.

• Shield Specialization
  • Passive Skill
  • Max Rank: 15
  • Description: Increases the Barbarian's chance to block with a shield and the amount of damage he can block.
  • Rank 1: +8% chance to block, +6 damage blocked.
  • Fury cost: None

Blocking in Diablo II

In retrospect, blocking was overpowered in Diablo II. That a shield gave your character up to a 75% chance to completely erase all incoming physical damage hardly seems fair, and was certainly not realistic. How can a weak Sorceress or Necromancer with a little wooden plate on their arm completely stop the damage from a massive polearm?

Since blocking in Diablo III has been overhauled, and now works by absorbing some set amount of damage, the use of shields should be much more interesting in D3. Two-handed weapons are more viable, since a player isn't be giving up 75% damage reduction by not using a shield.

Shield Media

Images of characters using shields in Diablo III remain fairly scarce.

• 

  A cool skull shield in the Blacksmith's display.

• 

  Barbarian with shield.