Revision as of 00:53, 16 June 2009

Introduction

Class specific items are much like other items. They have a variety of stats and types, can be found magical, Rare, Unique, and sometimes in Sets as well. The real difference is that these items can only be used by one character class, and they can have random bonuses to individual skills, much like the ones you see on wands/staves/scepters in Diablo II.

Paladins get special shields for their class-specific items in the Expansion. These shields can have inherent bonuses to individual Paladin skills, just like scepters, and can also have +to skill trees or all Pal skills. In addition, paladin shields often have +to all resistances as an inherent property. This bonus can range from 5-45% resist all, and you can get resistance affixes and even socket diamonds on top of that.

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)

If your character is moving, then % chance to block is reduced to 1/3 of its original value.

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 %. The blocking animation is seen much more often in the expansion and can interrupt your attack or escape. Blocking is reduced to 33% of normal when attacking or running, but uses regular values when walking or standing still.

Inherent Bonuses

All Paladin-only shields can have +1-3 points in up to 3 individual skills from all three of his skill trees. In addition each paladin shield will have one of the following bonuses. The percent chance of getting each one is based on the monster dropping the shield being of a high enough level to generate any of the mods.

• Item Level: Used in many in-game calculations. Monsters must be of this level to drop the item, and it factors in when you get to gamble for this item type as well.
• Weight: All Paladin shields are light. Medium and Heavy shields slow run speed and add stamina drain.
• Shield Weight: All Paladin shields are "light", and have no running speed or stamina drain penalties. Medium and Heavy shields do.

Normal

Item	Name	Properties	Misc Stats
	Targe	Defense 8-12 Durability: 20 Str Required: 16 Smite Dmg: 2-6 Item Level: 4 Clvl Req: 3	Sockets: 1-4 Block: 40% Speed: 0 Weight: Light Inv Size: 2x2
	Rondache	Defense 10-18 Durability: 30 Str Required: 26 Smite Dmg: 2-8 Item Level: 8 Clvl Req: 6	Sockets: 1-4 Block: 45% Speed: 0 Weight: Light Inv Size: 2x2
	Heraldic Shield	Defense 16-26 Durability: 40 Str Required: 40 Smite Dmg: 3-9 Item Level: 16 Clvl Req: 12	Sockets: 1-4 Block: 50% Speed: 0 Weight: Light Inv Size: 2x4
	Aerin Shield	Defense 26-36 Durability: 50 Str Required: 50 Smite Dmg: 4-10 Item Level: 20 Clvl Req: 15	Sockets: 1-4 Block: 52% Speed: 0 Weight: Light Inv Size: 2x4
	Crown Shield	Defense 30-40 Durability: 60 Str Required: 65 Smite Dmg: 4-12 Item Level: 24 Clvl Req: 18	Sockets: 1-4 Block: 55% Speed: 0 Weight: Light Inv Size: 2x2

Exceptional

Exceptional shields can be found in Acts 4-5 Normal, and then all through Nightmare and Hell.

Item	Name	Properties	Misc Stats
	Akaran Targe	Defense 101-125 Durability: 20 Str Required: 44 Smite Dmg: 12-16 Item Level: 35 Clvl Req: 26	Sockets: 1-4 Block: 40% Speed: 0 Weight: Light Inv Size: 2x2
	Akaran Rondache	Defense: 113-137 Durability: 30 Str Required: 59 Smite Dmg: 15-20 Item Level: 40 Clvl Req: 30	Sockets: 1-4 Block: 45% Speed: 0 Weight: Light Inv Size: 2x2
	Protector Shield	Defense: 129-153 Durability: 40 Str Required: 69 Smite Dmg: 18-24 Item Level: 46 Clvl Req: 34	Sockets: 1-4 Block: 50% Speed: 0 Weight: Light Inv Size: 2x4
	Gilded Shield	Defense:144-168 Durability: 50 Str Required: 89 Smite Dmg: 20-28 Item Level: 51 Clvl Req: 38	Sockets: 1-4 Block: 52% Speed: 0 Weight: Light Inv Size: 2x4
	Royal Shield	Defense 156-181 Durability: 60 Str Required: 114 Smite Dmg: 24-32 Item Level: 55 Clvl Req: 41	Sockets: 1-4 Block: 55% Speed: 0 Weight: Light Inv Size: 2x2

Elite

Elite Paladin shields can be found in Acts 3-5 Nightmare, and then all through Nightmare and Hell.

Item	Properties	Name	Misc Stats
	Sacred Targe	Defense: 126-158 Durability: 45 Str Required: 86 Smite Dmg: 22-70* Item Level: 63 Clvl Req: 47	Sockets: 1-4 Block: 60% Speed: 0 Weight: Light Inv Size: 2x2
	Sacred Rondache	Defense: 138-164 Durability: 68 Str Required: 109 Smite Dmg: 35-58* Item Level: 70 Clvl Req: 52	Sockets: 1-4 Block: 58% Speed: 0 Weight: Light Inv Size: 2x2
	Ancient Shield	Defense: 154-172 Durability: 55 Str Required: 124 Smite Dmg: 10-82* Item Level: 74 Clvl Req: 55	Sockets: 1-4 Block: 55% Speed: 0 Weight: Light Inv Size: 2x4
	Zakarum Shield	Defense: 169-193 Durability: 65 Str Req: 142 Smite Dmg: 46-46* Item Level: 73 Clvl Req: 65	Sockets: 1-4 Block: 52% Speed: 0 Weight: Light Inv Size: 2x4
	Vortex Shield	Defense: 182-225 Durability: 90 Str Required: 148 Smite Dmg: 5-87* Item Level: 75 Clvl Req: 67	Sockets: 1-4 Block: 49% Speed: 0 Weight: Light Inv Size: 2x2

• Note the average Smite damage is 46, 46.5, 46, 46, and 46. So pick your Smite shield based on the other properties.

Unique

Spawn in 1.10 or later only
Item	Name	Properties	Special Properties	Misc Stats
	Alma Negra Sacred Rondache	138-164 Defense 389.2-511.5 68 Durability 109 Str Required Item Level: 85 Clvl Req: 77	+180-210% Enhanced Defense 30% Faster Block Rate +1-2 to Paladin Skills 20% Increased Chance of Blocking Magical Damage Reduced by 5-9 40-75% Bonus to Attack Rating +40-75% Enhanced Damage	Block: 58% Weight: 35-58 Smite Dmg
	Dragonscale Zakarum Shield	169-194 Defense 459-487.5 65 Durability 142 Str Required Item Level: 84 Clvl Req: 80	+170-200% Enhanced Defense Fire Absorb 10-20% +5% to Maximum Fire Resist +15-25 to Strength +10 to Hydra +15% to Fire Skill Damage Adds 211-371 Fire Damage	Block: 52% Weight: 46-46 Smite Dmg

1.09
Item	Name	Properties	Special Properties	Misc Stats
	Herald of Zakarum * Gilded Shield	362-507 Defense 50 Durability 89 Str Required Item Level: 50 Clvl Req: 42	+2 To Paladin Skills +2 To Combat Skills (Paladin Only) +150-200% Enhanced Defense 30% Faster Block Rate +30% Increased Chance of Blocking +20 to Strength +20 to Vitality +20% Bonus to Attack Rating All Resistances +50	Block: 77% Weight: Light 20-28 Smite Dmg

Notes

The Herald is a very useful item, one of the best shields in the game for a Paladin, easily good enough to use in Hell/Act 5. Only a Stormshield is better, depending on your other equipment, and how much you need the reduced damage that is has, and the Herald doesn't.

There is an elite Paladin shield, the Zakarum Shield, but this item has no relation to the Herald of Zakarum, other than similar names.

Though only an exceptional item, it's pretty hard to find, as Gilded Shields are in a very crowded Treasure Class Armor 51, and class specific items drop at 1/3 the rate of normal items.

1.08 Statistics

• Herald of Zakarum: +2 To Paladin Skills, +1 To Combat Skills (Paladin Only), 50% Faster Block Rate, Cannot be Frozen, +2 Damage Against Undead per Clvl, +2.5 to Attack Rating Vs. Undead per Clvl, +15% Increased Chance of Blocking, +50% Enhanced Defense

Further Reading

Check out the Unique Items Section for all other uniques.