Elden Ring: Best Shields

Updated November 1, 2023 by Erik Petrovich: There are a lot of shields Elden Ring players can acquire throughout the game, but not all of them are easy to find or as useful as others. The best shields in Elden Ring tend to be those that can deflect 100% Physical Damage, or shields that offer some kind of additional effect. The Shield of the Guilty isn’t great for defense, but it can cause Bleed buildup with a bash. On the other hand, the Great Turtle Shield has great defenses, the Barricade Shield Ash of War, and a passive but slow Stamina recovery effect. Check each section in this guide to good shields Elden Ring players can get for newly explained reasoning on each shield’s placement, as well as more complete descriptions of how to find (or unlock) each shield in the first place.

15 Shield Of The Guilty

The Bleed You Need, Guaranteed

Even though small shields aren’t the best at reducing attacks due to their size, Shield of the Guilty is an exception since it has 68 points of Guard Protection. On top of that, since it’s a small shield, players can dodge attacks a lot quicker and easier without using too much Stamina.

Another feature that makes this one of the best shields in Elden Ring is that players can use the Shield Bash Ash of War which can stagger most enemies.

How To Get The Shield of the Guilty in Elden Ring

Players can find the Shield of the Guilty in the Demi-Human Forest Ruins, found in the northern forests of the Weeping Peninsula – if you see Castle Morne, you’ve gone too far. Look for this just before the main building with the Demi-Human Queen mini-boss.

14 Beastman’s Jar-Shield

Balanced Stats On A Great-Looking Shield

Players who want the best of a greatshield and a small shield will enjoy using the Beastman’s Jar-Shield since it balances damage reduction and agility. Another reason why the Beastman’s Jar-Shield deserves its spot among the best shields in Elden Ring is that it can be infused with Ashes of War, Magic, and other consumables.

The only problem with this medium shield is that players can only find it at Crumbling Farum Azula, which is considered the end-game area of Elden Ring.

How To Get The Beastman’s Jar-Shield in Elden Ring

This can drop from Beastmen of Farum Azula, but only the ones actually found at Farum Azula itself. Players that wish to wield this powerful medium shield can farm it from Beastmen near the Crumbling Beast Grave Depths Site of Grace.

13 Fingerprint Stone Shield

Maddeningly Heavy, And Maddeningly Strong

Even though the Fingerprint Stone Shield is one of the heaviest shields in Elden Ring, and even requires 48 Strength, it’s a viable pick for any strength-heavy build. It boasts great defenses, 100% Physical block, and can hold its own against the most Stamina-reducing attacks. RELATED: Elden Ring: Best Multiplayer Gameplay ItemsBut, one of the main reasons why the Fingerprint Stone Shield is one of the best shields in Elden Ring is that its Ash of War causes Madness build-up. Unfortunately, obtaining this greatshield is no easy task.

How To Get The Fingerprint Stone Shield In Elden Ring

Players will first need to defeat Morgott, the Omen King, and Mohg. After beating both of these powerful bosses, players will need to go to the Cathedral of the Forsaken deep beneath Leyndell, and continue down a specific set of platforms that will eventually lead them to the shield.

12 Jellyfish Shield

There’s Nothing Squishy About 100% Physical Reduction

The Jellyfish Shield is undoubtedly one of the most unique-looking greatshields in Elden Ring that most players may ignore due to its squishy appearance. But, this greatshield merits a place in this Elden Ring shield tier list since its Contagious Fury ability boosts the player’s attack by 20% for 30 seconds.

But, the buff only applies to single-handed weapons, so players can’t use its Ash of War and switch to a two-handed weapon, as it will nullify the effects.

How To Get The Jellyfish Shield In Elden Ring

Players can find this powerful shield near the Four Belfies, in a field to the west. Look next to a corpse guarded by four Jellyfish, which can easily be reached by heading north from the Foot of the Four Belfries.

11 Scripture Wooden Shield

Great For Parrying As A Caster

The Scripture Wooden Shield is the go-to shield for most players who enjoy using magic builds since it offers a modest amount of defense while still being light enough for players who avoid investing in Stamina. But, the real beauty of the Scripture Wooden Shield is that it can Parry a huge number of attacks from bosses like that of Malenia, Blade of Miquella.

Though the Parry Ash of War can also be bought and applied to other shields, this one is found soon enough that it’s a useful shield for mages in the early game. Parrying attacks takes time and practice, so players new to parrying should practice on easier enemies before tackling larger ones.

How To Get The Scripture Wooden Shield In Elden Ring

Players can easily obtain this small shield by farming the skeleton enemies found inside Deathtouched Catacombs. It can also be found later on in the Auriza Hero’s Grave.

10 Blue-Gold Kite Shield

Easy-To-Get 100% Physical Reduction Shield

While it lacks agility due to its size, it’s a great shield to reduce incoming damage or block certain attacks. Moreover, a well-timed Parry can stagger most enemies and bosses, turning the tide of a battle. And if a player has a Talisman that increases maximum Stamina like the Viridian Amber, they can block more attacks.

But, despite its decent stats, other shields can get the job done a lot better, but the reason why Blue-Gold Kite Shield is among the best is that it’s a lot easier to obtain when compared to the other shields on the list.

How To Get The Blue-Gold Kite Shield In Elden Ring

The Blue-Gold Kite Shield can be bought from the Nomadic Merchant in Eastern Limgrave for 1000 runes. The merchant sits just out of sight just north of Fort Haight. For classes that didn’t start with a 100% Physical block shield, it’s an invaluable stop to make early in the game.

9 Visage Shield

It’s A Shield With An Old Man’s Face That Blasts Fire From Its Mouth

Undoubtedly, Greatshields are very effective shields that can protect players from certain death, but players will need to invest in Strength if they want to wield one. And the Visage Shield is a useful Greatshield since it not only protects players but can also spray several jets of fire from its front.

RELATED: Elden Ring: All Legendary Talisman Locations

Moreover, players can use Magic and Consumables to buff Tongues of Fire’s damage. But, players will use up FP while using the skill, so players do well acquiring the Cerulean Hidden Tear, which grants unlimited FP for a short duration.

How To Get The Visage Greatshield In Elden Ring

The Visage Greatshield can only be found in the Caelem Ruins just down the road from the Smouldering Church. Watch out for the Scarlet Rot-infested enemies whose instantly recognizable Pizza Tower scream signals they are about to explode.

8 Marred Leather Shield

A Bleed-Buildup Shield That’s Found In Limgrave

Even though the Marred Leather Shield doesn’t have any Ash of War, it does have a Passive one that causes Blood Loss buildup, which will inflict a massive amount of damage when procced. So, the Marred Leather Shield paired with a Bleed weapon like the Uchigatana can prove to be a lethal combo since both pieces of equipment cause Blood Loss buildup.

To get this shield, players will need to take a secret entrance to Stormveil Castle, making it one of the earliest (and easiest) Status Effect shields in Elden Ring.

How To Get The Marred Leather Shield In Elden Ring

Players will find the Marred Leather Shield shortly after locating the second Site of Grace, just beyond the sword birds and just before actually entering Stormveil Castle. To get to this spot the fastest, skip the entire Stormveil Castle by taking a shortcut offered by Gostoc.

7 Coil Shield

It Lacks In Defense, But It Comes With A Snake

Players who enjoy rolling around and dodging attacks (which the Bandit class excels in) will enjoy using the Coil Shield since it’s classified as Small Shield, making it lightweight. But, as one might have expected, this shield offers little to no damage mitigation in exchange for this light load.

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Despite that minor setback, FromSoftwaregave this shield a unique skill in the form of Viper Bite, which unleashes a viper that performs a bite attack on enemies. Moreover, Viper Bite causes Poison to enemy players, and at a rate faster than other Poison sources. For Poison builds, it’s a must-have.

How To Get The Coil Shield In Elden Ring

The Coil Shield can be found in the Volcano Cave of Mt. Gelmir, just north of the Ninth Campsite Site of Grace. Players will have to navigate to a small room located on a cliff, where enemies will ambush them. Get past the ambush to find the Coil Shield on the ground.

6 Great Turtle Shell

A Killer Combo: Stamina Recovery & Barricade Shield

Physical and Elemental Guard					Shield Type	Level Req.		Ash of War	Weight	Special Properties
PHYS: 87	MAG: 44	FIRE: 39	LGHT: 43	HOLY: 46	Medium	STR: 8		Barricade Shield (8 FP)	5.5	Boosts Stamina Recovery

Even though some players may refer to this shield as the Great Dog Shell (which is a running meme in the Elden Ring community), the Great Turtle Shell has a decent balance of defense and weight. But the reason why the Great Turtle Shell is one of the best Elden Ring shields is because of the Ash of War.

Barricade Shield temporarily increases Guard Boost and defense so greatly that players can deflect lethal blows and strike back with little to no impact on Stamina. Moreover, the Great Turtle Shell has a Passive Skill that boosts stamina recovery rate, proving useful against chain attacks. And the good news is that players can obtain this shield without fighting an enemy.

How To Get The Great Turtle Shell In Elden Ring

The Great Turtle Shell is found in the Weeping Peninsula on top of a tower just north of Castle Morne. While riding Torrent, leap into the spirit spring near the Castle Morne Rampart, and the Tarnished will be whisked to the top of the cliff and this item on a body on top of the tower.

5 Carian Knight’s Shield

100% Physical Reduction For Magic Builds

Physical and Elemental Guard					Shield Type	Level Req.		Ash of War	Weight	Special Properties
PHYS: 100	MAG: 71	FIRE: 28	LGHT: 19	HOLY: 54	Medium	STR: 10, DEX: 10, INT: 15		NO SKILL	4.5	N/A

The Carian Knight’s Shield has one of the best Guard Boost stats in Elden Ring, especially once it’s upgraded past +10. Additionally, this shield is ideal for magic wielders since it offers very good stats with low Strength and Dexterity requirements.

RELATED: Elden Ring – Raya Lucaria Soldier Ashes Location

The Carian Knight’s Shield is also useful for non-magic users for its notably high Magic defense, which can be great for taking on the Carian Study Hall and its Bow-wielding guardian.

How To Get The Carian Knight’s Shield In Elden Ring

This shield only drops from the Carian Knight Moongrum himself, found just before the Rennala fight in the Academy of Raya Lucaria. He’s a tough cookie to crack, but jumping attacks and the use of the nearby elevator to get him to fall are his weaknesses (a similar tactic some players use to farm millions of Runes).

4 Brass Shield

All-Around Great Defensives, But High Weight

Physical and Elemental Guard					Shield Type	Level Req.		Ash of War	Weight	Special Properties
PHYS: 100	MAG: 55	FIRE: 59	LGHT: 39	HOLY: 54	Medium	STR: 16		NO SKILL	7.0	N/A

The Brass Shield is one of the game’s best early shields for its relatively low requirements, great stats, and ability to be imbued with new Ashes of War. Though it is outclassed eventually by lighter shields, more defensive shields, or more build-oriented ones, the Brass Shield can take players all the way through Elden Ring.

The major downside to the Brass Shield is its weight, taking up a huge 7.0 weight when equipped. Players who want to maintain a Light load should avoid this one in favor of a Kite shield.

How To Get The Brass Shield In Elden Ring

The best place to farm the Brass Shield is by farming Raya Lucaria soldiers that are gathered outside of Raya Lucaria Academy. Moreover, players can farm Godrick Soldiers at the Gatefront Ruins and the rest of Limgrave, but they should only attack the ones carrying the shield itself. Despite having multiple drop locations, the Brass Shield is one of the rarest (0.8% Drop Chance) shield drops in Elden Ring, so be prepared for a lot of resets.

3 Dragonclaw Shield

Awesome Design For Relatively Low-Weight Greatshield

Physical and Elemental Guard					Shield Type	Level Req.		Ash of War	Weight	Special Properties
PHYS: 100	MAG: 52	FIRE: 52	LGHT: 76	HOLY: 47	Greatshield	STR: 28, DEX: 12		Shield Bash (10 FP)	13.5	N/A

Arguably the coolest-looking shield in Elden Ring, the Dragonclaw Shield is a fantastic greatshield that can block even the strongest attacks. The Ash of War is also useful during combat, especially for players who aren’t good at parrying, as Shield Bash will push weaker enemies and stagger bosses.

RELATED: Elden Ring: Best Weapon Skills, RankedThe main benefit of this shield is its appearance, as its defensive stats are a bit lower than other greatshields. But thanks to its relatively low weight, the Dragonclaw Shield can free up some room in one’s Equip Load for better armor.

How To Get The Dragonclaw Shield In Elden Ring

To obtain this massive shield players must defeat the Draconic Tree Sentinel, just outside the entrance to Leyndell. It’s a tough fight, but fortunately, this optional boss also drops the Colossal weapon Dragon Greatclaw, a perfect match for the shield in aesthetic and play style.

2 Beast Crest Heater Shield

Another Easy-To-Find 100% Physical Reduction Shield

Physical and Elemental Guard					Shield Type	Level Req.		Ash of War	Weight	Special Properties
PHYS: 100	MAG: 50	FIRE: 43	LGHT: 32	HOLY: 42	Medium Shield	STR: 10		Parry (0 FP)	3.5	N/A

Undoubtedly, the best small or medium starter shield in Elden Ring, the Beast Crest Heater Shield has a great balance of defense for its weight – including 100% physical block. Its low weight and low stat requirements make it ideal for any class, as it only requires a paltry 10 Strength to equip.

Additionally, players can upgrade the Crest Heater Shield with Ashes of War, arguably the best of which is the Barricade Shield ability. Whatever one’s playstyle, the Beast Creat Heater Shield is a great choice, and it can be found very early in the game.

How To Get The Beast Crest Heater Shield In Elden Ring

And obtaining the Crest Heater Shield is quite easy since players can avoid the enemies that surround it. Head to the Saintsbridge to the east of Stormhill, and look for a camp filled to the brim with Godrick soldiers. Look for a chest, and quickly hop off Torrent, open the chest, loot it, and re-mount to get out of there without a scratch.

1 Erdtree Greatshield

Golden Retaliation: It’s Better Than Parrying

Physical and Elemental Guard					Shield Type	Level Req.		Ash of War	Weight	Special Properties
PHYS: 100	MAG: 66	FIRE: 49	LGHT: 45	HOLY: 76	Greatshield	STR: 30, FAITH: 12		Golden Retaliation (4 FP)	13.5	N/A

The Erdtree Greatshield is not only one of the best Elden Ring shields, but it also has one of the best Ashes of War. Remember the Tree Sentinel at the beginning of the game, the one that parried spells with a blast of Holy energy back at the Tarnished? That’s what this Ash of War does, it parries spells – sorceries and incantations alike – and turns them into projectiles.

Some players have found a way to exploit Golden Retaliation with self-harming incantations like Fire’s Deadly Sin, which sets a large area ablaze.

How To Get The Erdtree Greatshield In Elden Ring

Obtaining this shield will require the player to kill two Tree Sentinels guarding the southern gate into the Outer Moat of Leyndell. Though the duo technically both must die for the shield to spawn, one can be pulled off from the other behind the gate so players can focus them down. Either way, the shield only drops when both of the Tree Sentinels do.

Elden Ring

Platform(s)

PS5, Xbox One, PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC

Released

February 25, 2022

Developer(s)

From Software

Publisher(s)

Bandai Namco Entertainment, From Software

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence