Template:Shield basics
Shields are incredibly useful items in Diablo II. They work to block all physical and many types of elemental attacks the % of time they say they do, regardless of whether you are walking, running, attacking, casting spells, etc. If it say 69% blocking, that's what % of attacks it's going to stop. In addition to this, socketing Diamonds to create a 57% resist all shield is incredibly useful. Shields are still very useful in the Expansion, but how they work for blocking is toned down and made a lot more realistic.