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
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Inherent Bonuses
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Targe Rondache Heraldic Shield Aerin Shield Crown Shield
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19.0% - Shimmering (+5-10% Resist All) - Ilvl 1, Clvl 3. 16.7% - Rainbow (+8-15% Resist All) - Ilvl 18, Clvl 13. 14.3% - Scintillating, (+16-30% Resist All) - Ilvl 28, Clvl 21. 12.0% - Prismatic, (+25-35% Resist All) - Ilvl 39, Clvl 31. 9.5% - Chromatic, (+35-45% Resist All) - Ilvl 50, Clvl 42. (magic-only)
7.1% - Sharp (+15-30AR, +10-20% Dmg) - Ilvl 10, Clvl 5. 7.1% - Fine (+31-60 AR, +21-30% Dmg) - Ilvl 18, Clvl 13. 4.8% - Warrior's (+61-80AR, +31-40% Dmg) - Ilvl 30, Clvl 23. 4.8% - Soldier's (+81-100AR, +41-50% Dmg) - Ilvl 42, Clvl 34. 4.8% - Knight's (+101-121AR, +51-65% Dmg) - Ilvl 50, Clvl 42.
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Item
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Name
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Properties
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Misc Stats
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Targe
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Defense 8-12 Durability: 20 Str Required: 16 Smite Dmg: 2-6 Item Level: 4 Clvl Req: 3
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Sockets: 1-4 Block: 40% Speed: 0 Weight: Light Inv Size: 2x2
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Rondache
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Defense 10-18 Durability: 30 Str Required: 26 Smite Dmg: 2-8 Item Level: 8 Clvl Req: 6
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Sockets: 1-4 Block: 45% Speed: 0 Weight: Light Inv Size: 2x2
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Heraldic Shield
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Defense 16-26 Durability: 40 Str Required: 40 Smite Dmg: 3-9 Item Level: 16 Clvl Req: 12
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Sockets: 1-4 Block: 50% Speed: 0 Weight: Light Inv Size: 2x4
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Aerin Shield
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Defense 26-36 Durability: 50 Str Required: 50 Smite Dmg: 4-10 Item Level: 20 Clvl Req: 15
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Sockets: 1-4 Block: 52% Speed: 0 Weight: Light Inv Size: 2x4
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Crown Shield
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Defense 30-40 Durability: 60 Str Required: 65 Smite Dmg: 4-12 Item Level: 24 Clvl Req: 18
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Sockets: 1-4 Block: 55% Speed: 0 Weight: Light Inv Size: 2x2
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Exceptional
Exceptional shields can be found in Acts 4-5 Normal, and then all through Nightmare and Hell.
Item
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Inherent Bonuses
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Arakan Targe Arakan Rondache Protector Shield Guilded Shield Royal Shield
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19.0% - Shimmering (+5-10% Resist All) - Ilvl 1, Clvl 3. 16.7% - Rainbow (+8-15% Resist All) - Ilvl 18, Clvl 13. 14.3% - Scintillating, (+16-30% Resist All) - Ilvl 28, Clvl 21. 12.0% - Prismatic, (+25-35% Resist All) - Ilvl 39, Clvl 31. 9.5% - Chromatic, (+35-45% Resist All) - Ilvl 50, Clvl 42. (magic-only)
7.1% - Sharp (+15-30AR, +10-20% Dmg) - Ilvl 10, Clvl 5. 7.1% - Fine (+31-60 AR, +21-30% Dmg) - Ilvl 18, Clvl 13. 4.8% - Warrior's (+61-80AR, +31-40% Dmg) - Ilvl 30, Clvl 23. 4.8% - Soldier's (+81-100AR, +41-50% Dmg) - Ilvl 42, Clvl 34. 4.8% - Knight's (+101-121AR, +51-65% Dmg) - Ilvl 50, Clvl 42.
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Item
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Name
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Properties
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Misc Stats
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Akaran Targe
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Defense 101-125 Durability: 20 Str Required: 44 Smite Dmg: 12-16 Item Level: 35 Clvl Req: 26
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Sockets: 1-4 Block: 40% Speed: 0 Weight: Light Inv Size: 2x2
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Akaran Rondache
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Defense: 113-137 Durability: 30 Str Required: 59 Smite Dmg: 15-20 Item Level: 40 Clvl Req: 30
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Sockets: 1-4 Block: 45% Speed: 0 Weight: Light Inv Size: 2x2
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Protector Shield
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Defense: 129-153 Durability: 40 Str Required: 69 Smite Dmg: 18-24 Item Level: 46 Clvl Req: 34
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Sockets: 1-4 Block: 50% Speed: 0 Weight: Light Inv Size: 2x4
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Gilded Shield
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Defense:144-168 Durability: 50 Str Required: 89 Smite Dmg: 20-28 Item Level: 51 Clvl Req: 38
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Sockets: 1-4 Block: 52% Speed: 0 Weight: Light Inv Size: 2x4
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Royal Shield
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Defense 156-181 Durability: 60 Str Required: 114 Smite Dmg: 24-32 Item Level: 55 Clvl Req: 41
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Sockets: 1-4 Block: 55% Speed: 0 Weight: Light Inv Size: 2x2
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Elite
Elite Paladin shields can be found in Acts 3-5 Nightmare, and then all through Nightmare and Hell.
Item
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Inherent Bonuses
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Sacred Targe Sacred Rondache Ancient Shield Zakarum Shield Vortex Shield
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19.0% - Shimmering (+5-10% Resist All) - Ilvl 1, Clvl 3. 16.7% - Rainbow (+8-15% Resist All) - Ilvl 18, Clvl 13. 14.3% - Scintillating, (+16-30% Resist All) - Ilvl 28, Clvl 21. 12.0% - Prismatic, (+25-35% Resist All) - Ilvl 39, Clvl 31. 9.5% - Chromatic, (+35-45% Resist All) - Ilvl 50, Clvl 42. (magic-only)
7.1% - Sharp (+15-30AR, +10-20% Dmg) - Ilvl 10, Clvl 5. 7.1% - Fine (+31-60 AR, +21-30% Dmg) - Ilvl 18, Clvl 13. 4.8% - Warrior's (+61-80AR, +31-40% Dmg) - Ilvl 30, Clvl 23. 4.8% - Soldier's (+81-100AR, +41-50% Dmg) - Ilvl 42, Clvl 34. 4.8% - Knight's (+101-121AR, +51-65% Dmg) - Ilvl 50, Clvl 42.
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Item
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Properties
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Name
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Misc Stats
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Sacred Targe
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Defense: 126-158 Durability: 45 Str Required: 86 Smite Dmg: 22-70* Item Level: 63 Clvl Req: 47
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Sockets: 1-4 Block: 60% Speed: 0 Weight: Light Inv Size: 2x2
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Sacred Rondache
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Defense: 138-164 Durability: 68 Str Required: 109 Smite Dmg: 35-58* Item Level: 70 Clvl Req: 52
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Sockets: 1-4 Block: 58% Speed: 0 Weight: Light Inv Size: 2x2
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Ancient Shield
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Defense: 154-172 Durability: 55 Str Required: 124 Smite Dmg: 10-82* Item Level: 74 Clvl Req: 55
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Sockets: 1-4 Block: 55% Speed: 0 Weight: Light Inv Size: 2x4
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Zakarum Shield
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Defense: 169-193 Durability: 65 Str Req: 142 Smite Dmg: 46-46* Item Level: 73 Clvl Req: 65
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Sockets: 1-4 Block: 52% Speed: 0 Weight: Light Inv Size: 2x4
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Vortex Shield
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Defense: 182-225 Durability: 90 Str Required: 148 Smite Dmg: 5-87* Item Level: 75 Clvl Req: 67
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Sockets: 1-4 Block: 49% Speed: 0 Weight: Light Inv Size: 2x2
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- 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
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Item
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Name
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Properties
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Special Properties
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Misc Stats
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Alma Negra Sacred Rondache
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138-164 Defense 389.2-511.5 68 Durability 109 Str Required Item Level: 85 Clvl Req: 77
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+(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
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Block: 58% Weight: 35-58 Smite Dmg
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Dragonscale Zakarum Shield
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169-194 Defense 459-487.5 65 Durability 142 Str Required Item Level: 84 Clvl Req: 80
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+(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
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Block: 52% Weight: 46-46 Smite Dmg
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Herald of Zakarum * Gilded Shield (Excep Aerin Shield)
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362-507 Defense 50 Durability 89 Str Required Item Level: 50 Clvl Req: 42
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+2 To Paladin Skills +2 To Combat Skills +150-200% Enhanced Defense 30% Faster Blocking +30% Chance to Block +20 to Strength +20 to Vitality +20% Bonus to Attack Rating +50% Resistance To All
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Block: 77% Weight: Light 20-28 Smite Dmg
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1.09
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Item
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Name
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Properties
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Special Properties
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Misc Stats
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Herald of Zakarum * Gilded Shield (Excep Aerin Shield)
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362-507 Defense 50 Durability 89 Str Required Item Level: 50 Clvl Req: 42
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+2 To Paladin Skills +2 To Combat Skills +150-200% Enhanced Defense 30% Faster Blocking +30% Chance to Block +20 to Strength +20 to Vitality +20% Bonus to Attack Rating +50% Resistance To All
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Block: 77% Weight: Light 20-28 Smite Dmg
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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), Fastest Blocking Recovery (50), Cannot be Frozen, +2 Damage Against Undead per Clvl, +2.5 to AR Vs. Undead per Clvl, +15% Blocking, +50% Enhanced Defense
Further Reading
Check out the Unique Items Section for all other uniques.