One of the great things about FromSoftware’sDark Soulsfranchise is they provide players with the freedom to approach encounters in their own preferred ways.Shieldsare naturally not as exciting as weapons, especially since their importance is reduced in the laterDark Soulsgames. For some, the proper way to playDark Souls 3is to not use ashield at all; however, that is not due to a lack of options.
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Including the DLC,Dark Souls 3has over 60 shields, which are generally split into three categories: Small, standard, and great. Each shield comes with aWeapon Art, some have auxiliary effects, and it is generally wise to swap out shields depending on the enemy or boss fight. Most importantly, while most shields are serviceable, the best of the bunch render the lesser items obsolete. What are thebest shields inDark Souls 3?
Updated August 24th, 2021 by Mark Sammut:Dark Souls never grows old. As hype forms around the upcoming debut ofElden Ring, players seeking a helping of FromSoftware goodness can look back at the studio’s defining franchise. Dark Souls 3 is a brilliant game and, if no sequel is forthcoming, a worthy final entry for the IP. The title’s robust selection of weapons and shields is a big reason why Dark Souls 3 has such legs, as there are almost countless builds that players can try. Shields might not be as exciting as a Claymore or staff, but they tend to be the difference between survival and death. To provide a more all-rounded look into these items, their stats have been provided.
Stats Summary
The following stats and their percentages will be provided for each shield:
15Warrior’s Round Shield
Naturally, the Ashen One does not simply start with the best weapons, armor pieces, and shields. He has to work for them, and that means picking up lesser items along the way.Available to purchase from the Shrine Handmaid at the Firelink Shrine, the Warrior’s Round Shield will become obsolete rather quickly. Some might argue its poor stability and inability to parry means it is never a viable candidate even among small shields.
While far from great, the Warrior’s Round Shield has one thing in its favor: It can activate the right-hand weapon’s skill. Not only is this almost unheard of for small shields, but this also means the Warrior’s Round Shield weighs far less than the items that typically offer this option.
62%
68%
45%
46%
36%
54%
55%
14Giant Door Shield
Dark Souls 3has its share of borderline joke items, with the Porcine Shield being a prime example. On the surface, the Giant Door Shield seems like just another example of FromSoftware’s sense of humor, but this DLC addition amounts to far more than just a gag.The Giant Door Shield is found on a cliff near the Earthen Peak Ruins bonfire in The Ringed City.
Permitting someone does not bring a flamethrower to the party, the Giant Door Shield will provide an incredible defense tailor-made for tank builds. Its 45 Strength requirement is a hefty investment and there are better greatshields inDark Souls 3, but the Giant Door Shield still earns its place in the game’s roster.
100%
75%
80%
60%
150%
13Silver Eagle Kite Shield
The Silver Eagle Kite Shield has a small window of relevancy as it only stands out due to being available quite early in the game.Found in High Wall of Lothric, the Silver Eagle Kite Shield comes with a low Strength requirement of just 11, which is fantastic for a standard shield that blocks all physical damage.
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Once any of the Crest Shields are acquired, there is really no point in using the Silver Eagle Kite Shield. Nevertheless, it serves a purpose for a few hours.
44%
33%
43%
12Llewellyn Shield
Small shields are not particularly viable inDark Souls 3, but they have their uses in the early game and benefit from having extremely low weight. Out of the base game, the Llewellyn Shield is the best, even if it is not quite as good as the version inDark Souls 2.This shield can be obtained from Horace the Hushed, an NPC found near the Road of Sacrifices' Halfway Fortress Bonfire.
The Llewellyn Shield has the “Parry” Weapon Art, which allows attacks to be deflected and a critical hit to be inflicted. It can also be infused with Gems to provide a defensive boost against Magic attacks, an area this shield is already superior to most of its similarly-sized brethren.
69%
63%
61%
Durability
70%
Any shield that spits out fire is automatically amazing, and that is hardly the only positive in this item’s favor. Included inDark Souls 3’sThe Ringed CityDLC and found near the Purging Monument, the Dragonhead Shield has the highest resistance to fire out of all the shields in the game. This is especially impressive considering it is a small shield.
Due to it dropping in the DLC, the Dragonhead Shield faces an uphill battle as players will already own plenty ofDark Souls 3’s best shields. However, when used for its offensive capabilities, this tool can be very useful.
65%
90%
35%
40%
85%
10Yhorm’s Greatshield
Greatshields are an acquired taste. They not only require high stats to use but they also limit a player’s movability. That said, tank builds will find a lot to love in these massive defensive walls. Yhorm’s Greatshield’s best asset is that it increases Poise by 15, permitting more hits to be taken before the player staggers. Unfortunately, Poise is somewhat unpredictable and difficult to track, so this benefit has a ceiling.
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Yhorm’s Greatshield is an all-around solid option for those seeking a greatshield, as it provides above-average resistance to magic and elemental attacks while naturally having 100% resistance to physical hits. Naturally,acquiring this shield entails acquiring Yhorm the Giant’s Soul.
74%
76%
73%
205%
9Havel’s Greatshield
Located in Archdragon Peak and obtained as a drop from a Havel Knight, the Havel’s Greatshield provides stellar stats at a lofty cost. As it is far heavier than any other shield inDark Souls 3, the Havel’s Greatshield either needs to be left for New Game + or be the focal point of a build. Permitting someone can carry the thing, this greatshield offers fantastic resistance across the board, making it a one-stop shop for all of the game’s boss fights.
Havel’s Greatshield’s Weapon Art, Stone Flesh, is a defensive skill that requires some getting used to, but it can be a lifesaver in the right situations.
83%
82%
270%
8Stone Parma
If a player decides to use a shield, they are most likely to gravitate towards mid-level ones. Typically, they provide good protection while also not requiring absurdly high stats to use. The Stone Parma is found relatively early in the campaign, asit is located close by to the Farron Keep bonfire, and has solid but unspectacular stats.
What really allows the Stone Parma to shine is that it can be infused, unlike some of the better mid-level shields. When fully maxed out, it has a respectable stability stat of 63, which determines the stamina that is consumed when an attack is blocked.
58%
52%
53%
57%
7Wolf Knight’s Greatshield
The Wolf Knight’s Greatshield is a contender for the best of its bracket, and that comes down to a few different factors. It requires a Strength stat of 30 to be wielded, which is relatively low for a greatshield that is actually decent.
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Furthermore, the Wolf Knight’s Greatshield is not only one of the lightest greatshields in the game but it is also one of a select few to come with the “Weapon Skill” Weapon Art. This permits the main weapon’s skill attack to be used without the shield having to be put away. It also provides a resistance boost to status effects. To obtain this shield,reach Rank 2 in the Watchdogs of Farron Covenant.
67%
140%
6Dragon Crest Shield
While all of the Weapon Arts have their uses, “Parry” is the most desirable. Once a player comes to grips with the timing required to execute parries, it can be an absolutely devastating tool to have at one’s disposal. The small shields would be almost completely pointless if it were not for the fact most of them have the “Parry” skill.
All of the Crest shields are worth using, but the Dragon Crest Shield has an edge due to possessing the highest fire resistance in the base game. WhileThe Ringed CityDLC would take this crown away from the Dragon Crest Shield, the latter is still a superior all-around option than the Dragonhead Shield. To find this shield,head to the Old Wolf of Farron bonfire and take the lift upstairs.
89%
49%
