To Note
A few unique items have changed with the release of patches. All new unique items found will have the same stats as the ones in the table below, items found in 1.09 or earlier may have slightly different stats. Items that have had changes will marked with a * and the change will be listed under the table.
Unique shields have the most beautiful graphics of any items in the game. Every one of them has a customized unique appearance, and all are great. The larger canvas of a shield appears to give the Blizzard artists more room to work, and with that comes more inspiration.
- Smite Damage: Only Paladin's have the Smite skill, so only they see this damage. It's only of importance to other characters when considering a trade.
- Item Level: Monsters must be of this level to drop a particular item.
- Clvl Req: A character must be this level to equip the item. No Unique had Clvl Requirements until 1.07.
- Blocking % in D2: All shields vary in blocking percent by character. The Paladins is always 5% higher than an Amazon/Barbarian, and 10% higher than a Necromancer/Sorceress. Max blocking % is 75%, higher values than that are wasted.
- Blocking % for D2X only: The way blocking works is changed in the expansion. The new formula for blocking is: (Block Chance * (Dexterity - 15)) / (Character Level * 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, but if more than half of your stat points are in dex, then you will have a higher block rating. Blocking in the expansion is now much more common and can interrupt attacking. Blocking is reduced to 33% of normal when attacking or running, but uses regular values when walking or standing still.
- 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.
Normal
Normal Uniques are identical in Diablo II and the Expansion.