Changes

Shields return as an item type in Diablo III. As in previous games in the series, shields provide useful blocking, which absorbs some set amount of damage with every successful block. Shields roll with powerful defensive properties, plus a wide variety of magical modifiersincluding huge boosts to Armor, Vitality, Life%, Life Regen, and more. They can also roll with good offensive bonuses, such as to [[Critical hit Chance]] and [[mainstat]], but will never provide the DPS boost that the other, non-defensive off-hand items deliver.

The trade off comes from substituting with a shield for is much less offensive might than is provided by a two-handed weapon, or more commonly (for Monks and Barbarians) by dual wielding weapons. Other classes have special [[Off Hand]] items that add huge offensive bonuses, or using one of Diablo III's various off-hand itemsbut unlike shields, such as do very little for defense: [[orbsource]]s(Wizards), [[mojo]]s(Witch Doctors), or [[quiver]]s that can boost damage and stats, without providing any defensive utility(Demon Hunters).

==Shield Changes in Diablo 3==[[File:Shields1.jpg|left|thumb|100px|Legendary Shields.]]Shields are much changed in function in Diablo 3. They are less effective defensive tools than they were in Diablo 2, since they block a much lower percentage of attacks, and only absorb a set amount Reaper of damageSouls. All regular shields can be used by any class, rather than 100% though in Reaper of physical with a successful block. These changes Souls they are meant to provide a more compelling reason to upgrade your shieldused mostly by [[Crusaders]], who also have special [[Crusader shields]] as well. See the individual articles for full stats and to make twodetails on these hand-handed weapons warmers.* Items of level 61 and dual wielding more viablehigher can only be found or crafted in Reaper of Souls.

In retrospect, most fans agree with the '''Legendary Shields:'''* 12) [[Coven's Criterion]] {{c_slate|Act 2 5 Horadric Cache only}}<br>* 12) [[D3 DevsDenial]] that blocking was grossly overpowered in Diablo II. In that game, the ability to use any shield to completely negate up to 75% <br>* 23) [[Wall of incoming physical damage was unbalanced, and made dualBone]] -wielding or using a two[[Blacksmith Plans|Crafted]]<br>* 31) [[Defender of Westmarch]]<br>* 31) [[Eberli Charo]]<br>* 31) [[Freeze of Deflection]]<br>* 31) [[Vo'Toyias Spiker]]<br>* 50) [[Lidless Wall]]<br>* 60) [[Ivory Tower]]<br>* 60) [[Stormshield]]<br>* 70) [[Hallowed Defender]] - [[Blacksmith Plans|Crafted]] {{c_green|Set}}<br>* 70) [[Wall of Man]] -handed weapon a far less viable tactic than going with a one handed weapon and a shield. Diablo III's less powerful shields are meant to increase the difficulty while easing the difficulty spikes (players will take more hits in D3, thus each hit doesn't have to be so potentially lethal[[Blacksmith Plans|Crafted]]<br>* 70)[[Hallowed Barricade]] - [[Blacksmith Plans|Crafted]] {{c_green|Set}}

'''[[BucklerLegendary Crusader Shields]]''' - {{c_slate|Crusader restricted}}<br>* 8-47 armor12) [[Salvation]] {{c_slate|Act 5 Horadric Cache only}}<br>* 31) [[Akarat's Awakening]]<br>* 31) [[Hallowed Bulwark]]<br>* 31) [[Hellskull]]<br>* 31) [[Jekangbord]]<br>* +10-20% chance to block31) [[Sublime Conviction]]<br>* 6-10 block amount31) [[The Final Witness]]<br>* +2 max random magical properties70) [[Piro Marella]] - [[Blacksmith Plans|Crafted]]

==Shield Changes in Diablo 3==[[File:Buckler1Shields1.jpg|frameleft|thumb|100px|Shields.]]Note that shield functions and stats have Shields are much changed repeatedly during developmentin function in Diablo 3. To the right you see the stats on They are less effective defensive tools than they were in Diablo 2, since they block a starting gear Buckler as much lower percentage of August 2010; it had attacks, and only absorb a considerably higher % chance to blockset amount of damage, at that point in development. * Armor: 78* Chance to Block: +25rather than 100%* Block Amount: 6-10* Durability: 25/25* Sell value: 1  ==Off-Hand Non-Shields== Besides shields, there are of physical damage with a number of other items that can be equipped in the off-hand slotsuccessful block. These changes are all class-specific, with only one class able meant to use each type. * [[Orb]]s -- [[Wizard]]s only.* [[Mojo]]s -- [[Witch Doctor]]s only.* [[Quiver]]s -- [[Demon Hunter]]s only. (And only with a bow or xbow in the other hand.) All of these off-hand items provide +damage, as well as various offensive modifers, almost like equipping a second weapon. They do not serve more compelling reason to block attacks thoughupgrade your shield, and only spawn with offensive modifers, rather than defensive bonuses such as resistance or dodge or other shieldto make two-type modifiers. (Wizards handed weapons and Witch Doctors can not dual wield their main casting weapons, though Demon Hunters can dual wield one-handed crossbows, and can even use one with a shieldwielding more viable.)

In retrospect, most fans agree with the [[BarbarianD3 Devs]]s and [[Monk]]s do not have that blocking was grossly overpowered in Diablo II. In that game, the ability to use any special off-hand itemsshield to completely negate up to 75% (the maximum blocking rate) of incoming physical damage was unbalanced, but they can both and made dual wield all sorts of -wielding or using a two-handed weapon a far less viable tactic than going with a one-handed melee weaponsweapon and a shield. Also, the Monk has class-specific Diablo III's shields are meant more as a form of damage [[fistmitigation]] weapons, while decreasing a percentage of the Barbarian has [[Mighty weapons]] that no other class can equipincoming damage, rather than an all or nothing source of damage spikes, as shields were in Diablo 2.

==Shield Skills and TraitsClass Skills==

No During development the Barbarian had a variety of shield-specific based skills remain and passives. These were gradually removed during development and in Diablo III as of the beta test[[D3v]] no class had special shield-related skills. Two This changed in [[Reaper of Souls]] when the Barbarian's passive traits boosted his shield abilities earlier in the [[Crusader]] was added to teh game's development, but both are long gone as with a variety of early 2012special shield talents.

* Current list of [[Barbarian_skills#Passive_Skills|The following are shield skills the Barbarian's Passive Skills]]. Formerlyhad during development, the shield [[traits]] werepreserved for posterity:

  ==Shield Media== Images of characters using shields in Diablo III remain fairly scarce.