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Shields

From Diablo 2 Wiki

Shields are incredibly useful items in Diablo II. They work to block all physical and many types of elemental attacks, completely negating those attacks when successfully blocked. Shields are also an excellent source of resistance, when socketed with gems or various runes.

Blocking Basics

Main article: Blocking

Blocking % in Classic: Characters block at the % listed on the shield (when equipped) + any other bonuses. Total blocking is capped at 75%. A character can get more than this with a good shield + Twitchthroe, or a Paladin can use his Holy Shield skill, but no matter how high the display is, 75% is all that can be blocked. This is while standing still, running, walking, fighting, casting spells, etc.

Blocking % in the Expansion: The way blocking works is changed in the expansion. The new formula for blocking is:

Total Blocking % = [Blocking x (Dexterity – 15)] / (Character Level x 2)

This formula basically means that if you have less than half of your stat points into Dexterity, you will have a lower block rating than your shield displays, but if more than half of your stat points are in Dex, then you will have a higher blocking %. Blocking is capped at 5% minimum and 75% maximum and displays if you hover on your Defense in the Character window. Sorcs and Necros who do not devote considerable resources to raising their dexterity will find their blocking at a very low level above Clvl 50, so should pick shields based on their magical bonuses, not for the blocking percent.

  • Blocking is reduced to 33% of this value when running, but uses regular values when walking, standing still, or melee attacking.


Notes

All shields are one-handed. No character, including the Barbarian, can wield two shields at a time.

  • Item Level: Chests and monsters must be at least this level to drop the item. Ilvl is used in gambling, sales and other calculations as well.
  • Clvl Req: Your character must be this level or higher to equip the item. No Uniques had Clvl requirements prior to v1.07 D2.
  • Listed Blocking: All shields vary in blocking percent by character. The Paladin's is always 5% higher than an Amazon/Assassin/Barbarian, and 10% higher than a Druid/Sorceress/Necromancer.
  • Weight: All shields are light, medium, or heavy. Light shields have no negative effects, medium have a -5% speed and -5% stamina regen rate, and heavy have -10% speed and -10% stamina regen.
  • Speed: A penalty governed by weight; 0 is no penalty, 5 is slightly slower running and stamina regen (but rounds to 0 anyway) and 10 is a bigger running speed and stamina regen penalty. % Faster Block Rate can lower this number to below zero.
  • Smite Damage: Only Paladins have the Smite skill, so only they see this damage. It's only of importance to other characters when considering a trade.


Normal

Item Item Name Properties Misc Stats
Shield-buckler.gif Buckler 4-6 Defense
12 Durability
12 Str Required
1-3 Smite Damage
Item Level: 1
Clvl Req: None
Inv Space: 2x2
Weight: Light
Speed: 0
Max Sockets: *
Norm/NM/Hell: 1
Base Blocking: 0%
Shield-small.gif Small Shield 8-10 Defense
16 Durability
22 Str Required
2-3 Smite Damage
Item Level: 5
Clvl Req: None
Inv Space: 2x2
Weight: Light
Speed: 0
Max Sockets: *
Norm/NM/Hell: 2
Base Blocking: 5%
Shield-large shield.gif Large Shield 12-14 Defense
24 Durability
34 Str Required
2-4 Smite Damage
Item Level: 11
Clvl Req: None
Inv Space: 2x3
Weight: Medium
Speed: 5
Max Sockets: *
Norm/NM/Hell: 3
Base Blocking: 12%
Shield-kite.GIF Kite Shield 16-18 Defense
30 Durability
47 Str Required
2-5 Smite Damage
Item Level: 15
Clvl Req: None
Inv Space: 2x3
Weight: Light
Speed: 0
Max Sockets: *
Norm/NM/Hell: 3
Base Blocking: 8%
Shield-spiked.gif Spiked Shield 15-25 Defense
40 Durability
30 Str Required
5-9 Smite Damage
Item Level: 11
Clvl Req: None
Inv Space: 2x3
Weight: Light
Speed: 0
Max Sockets: *
Norm/NM/Hell: 2
Base Blocking: 10%
Shield-bone-spine.gif Bone Shield 10-30 Defense
40 Durability
25 Str Required
3-6 Smite Damage
Item Level: 19
Clvl Req: None
Inv Space: 2x3
Weight: Light
Speed: 0
Max Sockets: *
Norm/NM/Hell: 2
Base Blocking: 20%
Shield-tower.GIF Tower Shield 22-24 Defense
60 Durability
75 Str Required
1-5 Smite Damage
Item Level: 22
Clvl Req: None
Inv Space: 2x3
Weight: Heavy
Speed: 10
Max Sockets: *
Norm/NM/Hell: 3
Base Blocking: 24%
Shield-gothic.GIF Gothic Shield 30-35 Defense
40 Durability
60 Str Required
2-6 Smite Damage
Item Level: 30
Clvl Req: None
Inv Space: 2x4
Weight: Medium
Speed: 5
Max Sockets: *
Norm/NM/Hell: 3
Base Blocking: 16%


Exceptional

Item Item Name Properties Misc Stats
Shield-buckler.gif Defender 41-49 Defense
68 Durability
38 Str Required
8-12 Smite Damage
Item Level: 34
Clvl Req: 22
Inv Space: 2x2
Weight: Light
Speed: 0
Max Sockets: *
Norm/NM/Hell: 1
Base Blocking: 10%
Shield-small.gif Round Shield 47-55 Defense
62 Durability
53 Str Required
7-14 Smite Damage
Item Level: 37
Clvl Req: 25
Inv Space: 2x2
Weight: Light
Speed: 0
Max Sockets: *
Norm/NM/Hell: 2
Base Blocking: 12%
Shield-large shield.gif Scutum 53-61 Defense
64 Durability
71 Str Required
11-15 Smite Damage
Item Level: 42
Clvl Req: 25
Inv Space: 2x3
Weight: Medium
Speed: 5
Max Sockets: *
Norm/NM/Hell: 3
Base Blocking: 14%
Shield-kite.GIF Dragon Shield 59-67 Defense
76 Durability
91 Str Required
15-24 Smite Damage
Item Level: 45
Clvl Req: 25
Inv Space: 2x3
Weight: Light
Speed: 0
Max Sockets: *
Norm/NM/Hell: 3
Base Blocking: 18%
Shield-spiked.gif Barbed Shield 68-78 Defense
55 Durability
65 Str Required
18-35 Smite Damage
Item Level: 42
Clvl Req: 25
Inv Space: 2x3
Weight: Light
Speed: 0
Max Sockets: *
Norm/NM/Hell: 3
Base Blocking: 17%
Shield-bone-spine.gif Grim Shield 50-150 Defense
70 Durability
58 Str Required
14-20 Smite Damage
Item Level: 48
Clvl Req: 25
Inv Space: 2x3
Weight: Light
Speed: 0
Max Sockets: *
Norm/NM/Hell: 2
Base Blocking: 20%
Shield-tower.GIF Pavise 68-78 Defense
72 Durability
133 Str Required
10-17 Smite Damage
Item Level: 50
Clvl Req: 25
Inv Space: 2x3
Weight: Heavy
Speed: 10
Max Sockets: *
Norm/NM/Hell: 3
Base Blocking: 24%
Shield-gothic.GIF Ancient Shield 80-93 Defense
80 Durability
110 Str Required
12-16 Smite Damage
Item Level: 56
Clvl Req: 25
Inv Space: 2x4
Weight: Medium
Speed: 5
Max Sockets: *
Norm/NM/Hell: 3
Base Blocking: 16%


Elite

Item Item Name Properties Misc Stats
Shield-buckler.gif Heater 95-110 Defense
88 Durability
77 Str Required
16-30 Smite Damage
Item Level: 58
Clvl Req: 43
Inv Space: 2x2
Weight: Light
Speed: 0
Max Sockets: *
Norm/NM/Hell: 2
Base Blocking: 22%
Shield-small.gif Luna 108-123 Defense
84 Durability
100 Str Required
17-29 Smite Damage
Item Level: 61
Clvl Req: 45
Inv Space: 2x2
Weight: Light
Speed: 0
Max Sockets: *
Norm/NM/Hell: 2
Base Blocking: 20%
Shield-large shield.gif Hyperion 119-135 Defense
82 Durability
127 Str Required
14-32 Smite Damage
Item Level: 64
Clvl Req: 48
Inv Space: 2x3
Weight: Medium
Speed: 5
Max Sockets: *
Norm/NM/Hell: 3
Base Blocking: 24%
Shield-kite.GIF Monarch 133-148 Defense
86 Durability
156 Str Required
12-34 Smite Damage
Item Level: 72
Clvl Req: 54
Inv Space: 2x3
Weight: Light
Speed: 0
Max Sockets: *
Norm/NM: 3
Hell: 4
Base Blocking: 22%
Shield-spiked.gif Blade Barrier 147-163 Defense
83 Durability
118 Str Required
26-40 Smite Damage
Item Level: 68
Clvl Req: 51
Inv Space: 2x3
Weight: Light
Speed: 0
Max Sockets: *
Norm/NM/Hell: 3
Base Blocking: 20%
Shield-bone-spine.gif Troll Nest 158-173 Defense
74 Durability
106 Str Required
24-38 Smite Damage
Item Level: 76
Clvl Req: 57
Inv Space: 2x3
Weight: Light
Speed: 0
Max Sockets: *
Norm/NM/Hell: 3
Base Blocking: 20%
Shield-tower.GIF Aegis 145-161 Defense
92 Durability
219 Str Required
18-28 Smite Damage
Item Level: 79
Clvl Req: 59
Inv Space: 2x3
Weight: Heavy
Speed: 10
Max Sockets: *
Norm/NM: 3
Hell: 4
Base Blocking: 24%
Shield-gothic.GIF Ward 153-170 Defense
100 Durability
185 Str Required
11-35 Smite Damage
Item Level: 84
Clvl Req: 63
Inv Space: 2x4
Weight: Medium
Speed: 5
Max Sockets: *
Norm/NM: 3
Hell: 4
Base Blocking: 24%

* Normal (non-Paladin) shields can be found with at most 3 sockets on Normal/Nightmare, and 4 on Hell. Only a few non-Paladin shields, all Elite, can have 4 sockets.