Shields of From Software Trivia Quiz

Answer: Hoplite Shield

Despite being unupgradeable, the Hoplite Shield has excellent stats for its weight class. Offering full physical absorption, 90% fire absorption and a sturdy 65 in stability, this shield is perfect for players who want some protection but don't want to give up a lot to get it. If, however, the real-world currency price tag on the Digital Deluxe Edition is too steep for one's liking, the shield can alternatively be farmed off of Hoplites which lie just beyond the Phalanx demon's boss room.

Answer: 30

The Tower Shield weighs a mighty 30 units, which will also demand extensive attention to the Endurance stat just so the player can move with it in hand. The 30 Strength requirement is unsurprisingly the highest for a shield in the game by far.

Answer: Parrying

At first glance, this shield looks horrible and useless. Its absorptions are horrendous, it has low durability and it's actually a fair degree heavier than other small shields. However, it has the second speediest parry in the entire game, sitting just behind the Buckler. The Buckler cannot be obtained until later in the game, so right out of the gate, this is the best shield in the game for parrying.

The Plank Shield's description and horrible stats suggest From Software did not intend for this shield to be a good option. This is also reflected in "Dark Souls 3", where the Plank Shield next appears and is no longer capable of parrying at all. In this, it would then become the useless piece of junk it was seemingly destined to be.

Answer: Anor Londo

The Havel Greatshield requires a hefty 45 in Strength and it is extremely heavy, making it build-specific. However, those who go the extra mile to wield it have an around-the-clock barricade capable of shielding them from basically anything. It can be found right before the iconic fight with Dragonslayer Ornstein and Executioner Smough, and the shield alone is enough to completely shutdown Ornstein and render him totally impotent during the first phase of the fight, while also drastically reducing Smough's threat here as well.

Answer: Rebel's Greatshield

The Rebel's Greatshield funnily enough has the lowest physical absorption out of all Greatshields, even wooden ones, in the game. However, its elemental absorptions are extremely high, to the point where any elemental infusion on the shield will give it 100% absorption to that particular element. This makes it extremely flexible, though not very good at dealing with physical blows.

Answer: Increases the user's stats

When equipping the Vessel Shield, the player's Strength and Dexterity are increased by four and the remainder of their stats are increased by one. SL1 or, Soul Level 1 runs are playthroughs where the player is not allowed to level up. This makes gear which provides boosts to the player's stats extremely valuable.

The Vessel Shield is very light and the bonuses it grants remain even if the player doesn't have the stats for the shield, which they won't on an SL1. This makes it extremely valuable, arguably the single most important piece of equipment, on an SL1.

Answer: Shield poking can be interrupted consistently

If the player tries to shield poke, but they are attacked upon doing so, their attack will be interrupted. They will take 50% of the damage the attack would have done on a direct hit, and they will lose 50% of the stamina they would have lost blocking the attack.

This is the only game in the franchise where shield poking can be consistently interrupted, as any form of damage will cancel a shield poke. In other games, shield poking can only be interrupted by depleting the poker's stamina and attacking their shield or by parrying the weapon used to "poke."

Answer: Ethereal Oak Shield

The Ethereal Oak Shield grants a passive HP regen of 2 HP/second. It is the only shield in the game capable of doing this without needing any action from the player to modify it.

Answer: Holy Ground

When spawned, Holy Ground will remain in place for 30 seconds. The user and any of their allies who stand inside the zone will be healed for 10% of their HP every 2 seconds, in addition to having slightly increased defenses.

Notably, unlike Warming Stones that offer the same exact healing rate, Holy Ground will not work on enemies, including bosses or invaders, be them NPCs or real life people. This makes it flexible and easy to make use of, though the cast animation is notoriously extremely long.

Answer: It has infinite poise

Shield Crash can only be interrupted by grabs. In PvP, this list starts and ends with the Lifesteal Fist Ash of War, which can only be used on fist weapons that are unlikely to be aggressive with greatshield users anyway. Shield Crash will beat out anything else in PvP, and it will at least guarantee a trade of blows against any non-grab attack in PvE.