Shields

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Revision as of 05:12, 7 May 2009 by Mmmpld (talk | contribs) (Exceptional: block rate corrections)
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Introduction

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.

Blocking % in Diablo II: You block at the % listed on the shield when equipped on your character + any other bonuses. Total blocking is capped at 75%. You can get more than this with a good shield + Twitchthroe, or a Paladin can use his Holy Shield skill, but no matter how high the display is, 75% is all that you can block. This is while standing still, running, walking, fighting, casting spells, etc.

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 %. Blocking is capped at 5% minimum and 75% maximum and displays if you hover on your Defense in the Character window. Sorcs and Necros will almost always be blocking at 5% past Clvl 50, so should pick shields based on their magical bonuses, not for the blocking percent. Blocking is reduced by 33% when attacking or running, but uses regular values when walking or standing still.

All shields are one-handed. No character, including the Barbarian, can wield two shields at a time.

  • Smite damage is for the Paladin only.
  • Weight: All shields are light, medium, or heavy. In Diablo II this only matters for tower shields, which slow your running speed and increase stamina drain 10%.
  • Speed: Relates to weight, 0 is no penalty, 5 is slightly slower running and stamina regen and 10 is a bigger running speed and stamina regeneration penalty. 5 rounds to 0 in D2, so only Tower shields have this penalty.
  • Item Level: Monsters must be of this level to drop a particular item.
  • Clvl Req: A character must be this level to equip the item.

Normal

Item Item Name Properties Misc Stats Blocking %
Shield-buckler.gif Buckler 4-6 Defense
12 Durability
12 Str Required
1-3 Smite Damage
Item Level: 1
Clvl Req: None
Inv Space: 2x2
Weight: Light
Speed: 0
Max Sockets: *
Norm/NM/Hell: 1
Listed Blocking:
Pal: 30%
Am/As/B: 25%
D/S/N: 20%
Shield-small.gif Small Shield 8-10 Defense
16 Durability
22 Str Required
2-3 Smite Damage
Item Level: 5
Clvl Req: None
Inv Space: 2x2
Weight: Light
Speed: 0
Max Sockets: *
Norm/NM/Hell: 2
Listed Blocking:
Pal: 35%
Am/As/B: 30%
D/S/N: 25%
Shield-large shield.gif Large Shield 12-14 Defense
24 Durability
34 Str Required
2-4 Smite Damage
Item Level: 11
Clvl Req: None
Inv Space: 2x3
Weight: Medium
Speed: 5
Max Sockets: *
Norm/NM/Hell: 3
Listed Blocking:
Pal: 42%
Am/As/B: 37%
D/S/N: 32%
Shield-kite.GIF Kite Shield 16-18 Defense
30 Durability
47 Str Required
2-5 Smite Damage
Item Level: 15
Clvl Req: None
Inv Space: 2x3
Weight: Light
Speed: 0
Max Sockets: *
Norm/NM/Hell: 3
Listed Blocking:
Pal: 38%
Am/As/B: 33%
D/S/N: 27%
Shield-spiked.gif Spiked Shield 15-25 Defense
40 Durability
30 Str Required
5-9 Smite Damage
Item Level: 11
Clvl Req: None
Inv Space: 2x3
Weight: Light
Speed: 0
Max Sockets: *
Norm/NM/Hell: 3
Listed Blocking:
Pal: 40%
Am/As/B: 35%
D/S/N: 30%
Shield-bone-spine.gif Bone Shield 10-30 Defense
40 Durability
25 Str Required
3-6 Smite Damage
Item Level: 19
Clvl Req: None
Inv Space: 2x3
Weight: Light
Speed: 0
Max Sockets: *
Norm/NM/Hell: 2
Listed Blocking:
Pal: 50%
Am/As/B: 45%
D/S/N: 40%
Shield-tower.GIF Tower Shield 22-24 Defense
60 Durability
75 Str Required
1-5 Smite Damage
Item Level: 22
Clvl Req: None
Inv Space: 2x3
Weight: Heavy
Speed: 10
Max Sockets: *
Norm/NM/Hell: 3
Listed Blocking:
Pal: 54%
Am/As/B: 49%
D/S/N: 44%
Shield-gothic.GIF Gothic Shield 30-35 Defense
40 Durability
60 Str Required
2-6 Smite Damage
Item Level: 30
Clvl Req: None
Inv Space: 2x4
Weight: Medium
Speed: 5
Max Sockets: *
Norm/NM/Hell: 3
Listed Blocking:
Pal: 46%
Am/As/B: 41%
D/S/N: 36%

Exceptional

Item Item Name Properties Misc Stats Blocking %
Shield-buckler.gif Defender 41-49 Defense
68 Durability
38 Str Required
8-12 Smite Damage
Item Level: 34
Clvl Req: 22
Inv Space: 2x2
Weight: Light
Speed: 0
Max Sockets: *
Norm/NM/Hell: 1
Listed Blocking:
Pal: 40%
Am/As/B: 35%
D/ S/N: 30%
Shield-small.gif Round Shield 47-55 Defense
62 Durability
53 Str Required
7-14 Smite Damage
Item Level: 37
Clvl Req: 25
Inv Space: 2x2
Weight: Light
Speed: 0
Max Sockets: *
Norm/NM/Hell: 2
Listed Blocking:
Pal: 42%
Am/As/B: 37%
D/ S/N: 32%
Shield-large shield.gif Scutum 53-61 Defense
64 Durability
71 Str Required
11-15 Smite Damage
Item Level: 42
Clvl Req: 25
Inv Space: 2x3
Weight: Medium
Speed: 5
Max Sockets: *
Norm/NM/Hell: 3
Listed Blocking:
Pal: 44%
Am/As/B: 39%
D/ S/N: 34%
Shield-kite.GIF Dragon Shield 59-67 Defense
76 Durability
91 Str Required
15-24 Smite Damage
Item Level: 45
Clvl Req: 25
Inv Space: 2x3
Weight: Light
Speed: 0
Max Sockets: *
Norm/NM/Hell: 3
Listed Blocking:
Pal: 48%
Am/As/B: 43%
D/ S/N: 38%
Shield-spiked.gif Barbed Shield 68-78 Defense
55 Durability
65 Str Required
18-35 Smite Damage
Item Level: 42
Clvl Req: 25
Inv Space: 2x3
Weight: Light
Speed: 0
Max Sockets: *
Norm/NM/Hell: 3
Listed D2 Blocking:
Pal: 47%
Am/As/B - 42%
D/ S/N - 37%
Shield-bone-spine.gif Grim Shield 50-150 Defense
70 Durability
58 Str Required
14-20 Smite Damage
Item Level: 48
Clvl Req: 25
Inv Space: 2x3
Weight: Light
Speed: 0
Max Sockets: *
Norm/NM/Hell: 2
Listed D2 Blocking:
Pal: 50%
Am/As/B: 45%
D/ S/N: 40%
Shield-tower.GIF Pavise 68-78 Defense
72 Durability
133 Str Required
10-17 Smite Damage
Item Level: 50
Clvl Req: 25
Inv Space: 2x3
Weight: Heavy
Speed: 10
Max Sockets: *
Norm/NM/Hell: 3
Listed D2 Blocking:
Pal: 54%
Am/As/B: 49%
D/ S/N: 44%
Shield-gothic.GIF Ancient Shield 80-93 Defense
80 Durability
110 Str Required
12-16 Smite Damage
Item Level: 56
Clvl Req: 25
Inv Space: 2x4
Weight: Medium
Speed: 5
Max Sockets: *
Norm/NM/Hell: 3
Listed D2 Blocking:
Pal: 46%
Am/As/B: 41%
D/ S/N: 36%

Elite

Item Item Name Properties Misc Stats Blocking %
Shield-buckler.gif Heater 95-110 Defense
88 Durability
16-30 Smite Damage
77 Str Required
1-3 Smite Damage
Item Level: 58
Clvl Req: 43
Inv Space: 2x2
Weight: Light
Speed: 0
Max Sockets: *
Norm/NM/Hell: 2
Listed Blocking:
Pal: 52%
Am/As/B: 47%
D/ S/N: 42%
Shield-small.gif Luna 108-123 Defense
84 Durability
100 Str Required
17-29 Smite Damage
Item Level: 51
Clvl Req: 45
Inv Space: 2x2
Weight: Light
Speed: 0
Max Sockets: *
Norm/NM/Hell: 2
D2 Blocking:
Pal: 50%
Am/As/B: 45%
D/S/N: 40%
Shield-large shield.gif Hyperion 119-135 Defense
82 Durability
127 Str Required
14-32 Smite Damage
Item Level: 64
Clvl Req: 48
Inv Space: 2x3
Weight: Medium
Speed: 5
Max Sockets: *
Norm/NM/Hell: 3
D2 Blocking:
Pal: 54%
Am/As/B: 49%
D/S/N: 44%
Shield-kite.GIF Monarch 133-148 Defense
86 Durability
156 Str Required
12-34 Smite Damage
Clvl Req: 54
Inv Space: 2x3
Weight: Light
Speed: 0
Max Sockets: *
Norm/NM: 3
Hell: 4
Listed Blocking:
Pal: 52%
Am/As/B: 47%
D/ S/N: 42%
Shield-spiked.gif Blade Barrier 147-163 Defense
83 Durability
118 Str Required
26-40 Smite Damage
Item Level: 68
Clvl Req: 51
Inv Space: 2x3
Weight: Light
Speed: 0
Max Sockets: *
Norm/NM/Hell: 3
D2 Blocking:
Pal: 50%
Am/As/B: 45%
D/S/N: 40%
Shield-bone-spine.gif Troll Nest 158-173 Defense
74 Durability
106 Str Required
24-38 Smite Damage
Item Level: 76
Clvl Req: 57
Inv Space: 2x3
Weight: Light
Speed: 0
Max Sockets: *
Norm/NM/Hell: 3
D2 Blocking:
Pal: 50%
Am/As/B: 45%
D/S/N: 40%
Shield-tower.GIF Aegis 145-161 Defense
92 Durability
219 Str Required
18-28 Smite Damage
Item Level: 79
Clvl Req: 59
Inv Space: 2x3
Weight: Heavy
Speed: 10
Max Sockets: *
Norm/NM: 3
Hell: 4
D2 Blocking:
Pal: 54%
Am/As/B: 49%
D/S/N: 44%
Shield-gothic.GIF Ward 153-170 Defense
100 Durability
185 Str Required
11-35 Smite Damage
Item Level: 84
Clvl Req: 63
Inv Space: 2x4
Weight: Medium
Speed: 5
Max Sockets: *
Norm/NM: 3
Hell: 4
D2 Blocking:
Pal: 54%
Am/As/B: 49%
D/ S/N: 44%

* Normal (non-Paladin) shields can be found with at most 3 sockets on Normal/Nightmare, and 4 on Hell. Only a few non-Paladin shields, all Elite, can have 4 sockets.