A shield is a protective item wielded in the off-hand slot. A shield adds substantial bonuses to armour and to life points when wielded, and unlocks the use of some Defence abilities. However, use of a shield carries a price of not being able to wield a two-handed weapon or an off-hand weapon, resulting in a lower damage per second (DPS) value. Most shields carry a Defence level requirement to wield. Players who wield shields for extra endurance are commonly referred to as tanks.
History[]
For most of RuneScape's history, shields had largely been reserved for the melee class. Shields generally gave melee and Ranged defensive bonuses, making them most suitable for melee users, though rangers sometimes used shields with one-handed Ranged weapons. Mages had few options when it came to shield use, as most shields gave substantial penalties to Magic accuracy. Rangers and mages alike tended to wield books in the offhand, if not wielding a two-handed weapon, for their accuracy and Prayer bonuses. Traditionally, shields were made with the Smithing skill, or received as monster drops.
Gradually, a more diverse selection of shields began to enter the game. The dragonfire shield, released on 18 June 2007, provided a viable defensive option for players of all classes, with its high defensive bonuses and reasonably low offensive bonuses for non-meleers. The release of Summer's End on 15 September 2008 also saw the release of the spirit shields, two of which, the arcane spirit shield and spectral spirit shield, provided high bonuses to Magic offence and Magic defence, respectively. Additionally, new high-level shields for each class were added with the release of Dungeoneering on 12 April 2010.
Many new shields were added to the game with the Evolution of Combat on 20 November 2012, particularly low- and mid-level shields for rangers and mages. Additionally, the update made shield usage more attractive by increasing the effectiveness of a shield, as well as adding powerful abilities that require them.
Usage[]
Since the Evolution of Combat, the use of a shield has a more profound effect on a player's combat ability than before. Compared to a head-slot item of equal level, a shield adds the same amount of armour and more life points. Shields also allow for the usage of the strongest Defence abilities. Between a shield's extra armour, life point bonuses, and these abilities, players who choose to wield shields are significantly more capable of dealing with enemies' powerful attacks. Shield usage can be very helpful for players who are attempting to battle enemies with a much higher combat level.
Shield usage carries a tradeoff. Players who wield shields cannot use two-handed weapons or offhand weapons, both of which carry an extra 50% bonus to DPS versus wielding a single one-handed weapon. Additionally, abilities that require a two-handed weapon or offhand weapon cannot be used. This generally means that players must choose whether to focus on offence with a two-handed weapon or dual-wielded weapons, or focus on defence with a shield. In general, it is recommended to use a two-handed weapon or to dual-wield unless a shield is required for survivability.
In a group bossing team, one player may serve as the tank by wielding a shield and activating Incite, which will draw the boss's attention to them. The shield makes it much easier for the tank to survive the boss's focus, and the remaining team members can attack the boss more freely. A similar strategy may be employed in player-vs-player combat by a player who uses Provoke.
List of notable shields[]
- For a comprehensive list of all shields in the game, see Category:Shields.
Melee[]
Each type of metal in RuneScape, from bronze to dragon, has a square shield and a kiteshield. Prior to the Evolution of Combat, the two types of shields were more distinct, giving slightly different defensive bonuses. Now, however, square shields give slightly lower armour bonuses than kiteshields, though with the same life point bonuses. Square shields also tend to be slightly less expensive than kiteshields. Square shields and kiteshields, with the exception of the dragon sq shield and dragon kiteshield, can be made through the Smithing skill. In the interest of brevity, only kiteshields are listed below.
Icon | Name | P2P? | Skill requirements |
Notes | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bronze kiteshield | File:F2P icon.png | 1 | 30 | 0 | ||
File:Anti-dragon shield.png | Anti-dragon shield | File:F2P icon.png | 1 | 30 | 0 | Provides strong protection versus dragonfire attacks. |
Iron kiteshield | File:F2P icon.png | 10 | 40 | 0 | ||
Steel kiteshield | File:F2P icon.png | 20 | 63 | 0 | ||
Black kiteshield | File:F2P icon.png | 25 | 76 | 0 | ||
White kiteshield | 25 | 76 | 0 | |||
Mithril kiteshield | File:F2P icon.png | 30 | 90 | 0 | ||
Adamant kiteshield | File:F2P icon.png | 40 | 125 | 0 | ||
File:Spirit shield.png | Spirit shield | 40 55 |
125 | 0 | +1 prayer bonus. Requires completion of Summer's End. | |
Adamant spikeshield | File:F2P icon.png | 45 | 137 | 0 | Obtained from Fist of Guthix. Degrades. | |
Adamant berserker shield | File:F2P icon.png | 45 | 146 | 0 | ||
Rune kiteshield | File:F2P icon.png | 50 | 170 | 0 | ||
Rune spikeshield | File:F2P icon.png | 55 | 185 | 0 | Obtained from Fist of Guthix. Degrades. | |
Rune berserker shield | File:F2P icon.png | 55 | 196 | 0 | ||
File:Granite shield.png | Granite shield | 55 55 |
196 | 0 | ||
Dragon kiteshield | 60 | 226 | 0 | |||
File:Toktz-ket-xil.png | Toktz-ket-xil | 60 | 226 | 0 | ||
File:Third-age kiteshield.png | Third-age kiteshield | 65 | 259 | 0 | Obtained extremely rarely from Treasure Trails. | |
File:Crystal shield.png | Crystal shield | 70 50 |
297 | 35 | Requires completion of Roving Elves. Degrades. | |
File:Bandos warshield.png | Bandos warshield | 70 | 297 | 35 | +1 prayer bonus. | |
File:Blessed spirit shield.png | Blessed spirit shield | 70 60 |
297 | 35 | +3 prayer bonus. Requires completion of Summer's End. | |
File:Dragonfire shield.png | Dragonfire shield | 70 | 297 | 35 | Provides protection from dragonfire as an anti-dragon shield. Must first be charged with dragonfire attacks in order to reach its highest armour bonus. | |
File:Divine spirit shield.png | Divine spirit shield | 75 75 |
338 | 0 | Absorbs 30% of incoming damage in exchange for draining 6% of the original hit in prayer points. Requires completion of Summer's End. This is currently the strongest non-degrading melee shield available. | |
File:Chaotic kiteshield.png | Chaotic kiteshield | 80 80 File:Stats.png |
384 | 385 | Obtained from the rewards trader at Daemonheim. Degrades. | |
File:Attuned crystal shield.png | Attuned crystal shield | 80 50 |
384 | 385 | Requires 90 to make with Crystal Singing. Requires completion of Plague's End. Degrades. | |
File:Malevolent kiteshield.png | Malevolent kiteshield | 90 | 491 | 735 | This is currently the highest tier Melee shield available. Degrades. |
Ranged[]
Many Ranged shields, particularly the lower- to mid-levelled shields, were added to the game with the Evolution of Combat and can be made through the Crafting skill. Shieldbows are not included here, despite them allowing the use of shield abilities.
Magic[]
Many Magic shields, particularly the lower- to mid-levelled shields, were added to the game with the Evolution of Combat. A few can be made through the Crafting skill.
Icon | Name | P2P? | Skill requirements |
Notes | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
File:Imphide shield.png | Imphide shield | File:F2P icon.png | 10 | 40 | 0 | |
File:Mystic shield.png | Mystic shield | 30 | 90 | 0 | ||
File:Splitbark shield.png | Splitbark shield | 40 | 125 | 0 | ||
Batwing shield | File:F2P icon.png | 50 | 170 | 0 | ||
File:Grifolic shield.png | Grifolic shield | 60 | 226 | 0 | Does not degrade, unlike other grifolic armour. | |
Dragon ward | 60 | 226 | 0 | |||
File:Crystal ward.png | Crystal ward | 70 50 |
297 | 35 | Requires completion of Roving Elves. Degrades. | |
File:Ward of subjugation.png | Ward of subjugation | 70 | 297 | 35 | +1 prayer bonus. | |
File:Dragonfire shield.png | Dragonfire shield (magic) | 70 | 297 | 35 | Provides protection from dragonfire as an anti-dragon shield. Must first be charged with dragonfire attacks in order to reach its highest armour bonus. | |
File:Spectral spirit shield.png | Spectral spirit shield | 75 75 65 |
338 | 210 | Requires completion of Summer's End. Does not absorb damage unlike other spirit shields, however has a life point bonus instead; this and the arcane spirit shield are currently the strongest non-degrading Magic shields available. | |
File:Arcane spirit shield.png | Arcane spirit shield | 75 70 65 |
338 | 0 | Absorbs 30% of incoming damage in exchange for draining 6% of the original hit in prayer points. Requires completion of Summer's End. Lacks the life point bonus that the spectral spirit shield has; this and the spectral spirit shield are currently the strongest non-degrading Magic shields available. | |
File:Farseer kiteshield.png | Farseer kiteshield | 80 80 File:Stats.png |
384 | 385 | Obtained from the rewards trader at Daemonheim. Degrades. | |
File:Attuned crystal ward.png | Attuned crystal ward | 80 50 |
384 | 385 | Requires 90 to make with Crystal Singing. Requires completion of Plague's End. Degrades. | |
File:Merciless kiteshield.png | Merciless kiteshield | 90 | 491 | 735 | This is currently the highest tier Magic shield available. Degrades. |
In Daemonheim[]
Shields of all classes may be found and equipped while Dungeoneering.
See also[]
- Defender
- Off-hand weapons
- Orb (equipment type)
- Book (equipment type)
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