[[File:Amazonian-parma-equipped.jpg|thumb|250px|Crusader with an [[Amazonian Parma]].]]Shields are return as an item type found in Diablo III. Specific types As in previous games in the series, shields provide blocking, which absorbs some set amount of shields are not yet knowndamage with every successful block. Shields roll with powerful defensive properties, including 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 they will be familiar to gamers from never provide the DPS boost that the other RPGs; the D3 Team isn't reinventing this item type, non-defensive off-hand items deliver.
==Shield Changes in Diablo III==Shields are The trade off with a shield is much changed in function in Diablo IIIless offensive might than is provided by a two-handed weapon, or more commonly (for Monks and Barbarians) by dual wielding. Other classes have special [[Off Hand]] items that add huge offensive bonuses, but unlike shields, do very little for defense: [[source]]s (Wizards), [[mojo]]s (Witch Doctors), or [[quiver]]s (Demon Hunters).
They still block attacks, but while their % chance to block varies (as in D2), they only absorb a set amount of damage. The buckler, the weakest shield and the only one we know the stats of, absorbs 6-10 damage. Higher quality shields will take much more damage with a successful block.
This differs greatly from Diablo II, where any shield could block (absorb) 100% of any physical attack, even huge hits from boss monsters that would have dealt hundreds of points of damage.==Legendary Shields==
This change makes [[Legendary Shields]] in Diablo 3 and Reaper of Souls. All regular shields much more realisticcan be used by any class, but also much less effective (mandatory) though in Diablo III than Reaper of Souls they were are used mostly by [[Crusaders]], who also have special [[Crusader shields]] as well. See the individual articles for full stats and details on these hand-warmers.* Items of level 61 and higher can only be found or crafted in Diablo IIReaper of Souls.
'''Legendary Shields:'''* 12) [[File:Buckler1.jpgCoven's Criterion]] {{c_slate|frameAct 2 5 Horadric Cache only}}<br>* 12) [[Denial]]<br>The stats * 23) [[Wall of a Bone]] - [[BucklerBlacksmith Plans|Crafted]] as <br>* 31) [[Defender of August 2010.Westmarch]]<br>* Armor: 7831) [[Eberli Charo]]<br>* 31) [[Freeze of Deflection]]<br>* 31) [[Vo'Toyias Spiker]]<br>* 50) [[Lidless Wall]]<br>* 60) [[Ivory Tower]]<br>* Chance to Block: +25%60) [[Stormshield]]<br>* Block Amount: 670) [[Hallowed Defender]] -10[[Blacksmith Plans|Crafted]] {{c_green|Set}}<br>* Durability: 25/2570) [[Wall of Man]] - [[Blacksmith Plans|Crafted]]<br>* Sell value: 170) [[Hallowed Barricade]] - [[Blacksmith Plans|Crafted]] {{c_green|Set}}
This is presumed '''[[Legendary Crusader Shields]]''' - {{c_slate|Crusader restricted}}* 12) [[Salvation]] {{c_slate|Act 5 Horadric Cache only}}* 31) [[Akarat's Awakening]]* 31) [[Hallowed Bulwark]]* 31) [[Hellskull]]* 31) [[Jekangbord]]* 31) [[Sublime Conviction]]* 31) [[The Final Witness]]* ?) [[Amazonian Parma]] - ([[Seasonal Legendary|Season One Legendary]])* 70) [[Piro Marella]] - [[Blacksmith Plans|Crafted]] ==Shield Changes in Diablo 3==[[File:Shields1.jpg|left|thumb|100px|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 of damage, rather than 100% of physical damage with a successful block. These changes are meant to provide a more compelling reason to upgrade your shield, and to be part make two-handed weapons and dual wielding more viable. In retrospect, most fans agree with the [[D3 Devs]] that blocking was grossly overpowered in Diablo II. In that game, the ability to use any shield to completely negate up to 75% (the maximum blocking rate) of the Barbarianincoming physical damage was unbalanced, and made dual-wielding or using a two-handed weapon a far less viable tactic than going with a one handed weapon and a shield. Diablo III's starting equipmentshields are meant more as a form of damage [[mitigation]], since decreasing a percentage of the sell value is just 1incoming damage, rather than an all or nothing source of damage spikes, as shields were in Diablo 2.
==Monks and Shields==
[[File:Shield-monk1.jpg|frame|Monk with shield.]]At one point during their development, [[Monk]]s can could not use shields, for reasons expressed by shield. (Or many other types of weapons.) [[Bashiok]] offered an explanation of this in a pair of forum posts in early March 2010. <ref>[http://diablo.incgamers.com/blog/comments/blizzard-on-diablo-3-class-specific-weapons/Class-Specific Weapons] [http:- Blizzard, 11/3/10 </diabloref> <blue>Bruce Lee would not use a shield, and neither would the monk. We have shields. Everyone but the monk can wield them.incgamersOf course that’s subject to change.com</blog/comments/blizzard-on-diablo-blue> It did. A Monk was first seen using a shield in August 2010, during the [[Artisan Video]] and the Monk remains able to use shields as of the [[Diablo 3-class-specific-weapons/Beta]]. ==Shield Skills and Class Skills==
[[File::Bruce Lee would not use Shield-barb2.jpg|thumb|300px|Two views of a low-level [[Barbarian]] with a hand axe and [[buckler]].]]During development the Barbarian had a variety of shield, -based skills and neither would passives. These were gradually removed during development and in [[D3v]] no class had special shield-related skills. This changed in [[Reaper of Souls]] when the monk[[Crusader]] was added to teh game with a variety of special shield talents.
The following are shield skills the Barbarian had during development, preserved for posterity::We have shields. Everyone but the monk can wield them.
[[Shield of Iron (trait)|Shield of Iron]]* '''Max points:'''3* '''Description:Of course that’s subject ''' Increases your chance to change[[block]] attacks.
[[Shield Slam]]
* '''Max points: '''1
* '''Description: '''You have a chance to hit your target with your shield and interrupt them.
==Shield Skills==
[[File:Shield-barb1.jpg|frame|Barbarian with shield.]]
There are no known shield attack skills in Diablo III, like the [[Paladin]]'s {{iw|smite Smite}} from Diablo 2. There are some skills that work with shields, though.
The Even earlier in development, before traits were introduced, the Barbarian's had a Battlemaster skill, called [[Battlemaster_Skill_Tree#Shield_Specialization|Shield Specialization]] gives more information about this changethat granted considerable blocking bonuses. Here are the statsfor this skill, as of October 2008 (figures will be changed in which was removed from the final game):in 2009.
* '''Shield Specialization'''
** Passive Skill
** Description: Increases the Barbarian's chance to block with a shield and the amount of damage he can block.
** Rank 1: +8% chance to block, +6 damage blocked.
** Fury cost: None ==Media== <gallery>File:Shield2.jpg|A cool skull shield in the [[Blacksmith]]'s display.File:Shield-barb1.jpg|Barbarian with shield.</gallery>
Note that description; this skill increases the chance to block '''and''' the amount of damage blocked. This is because shields in Diablo III block a % of the time, and only absorb some set amount of damage when the do.
In retrospect, blocking was overpowered in Diablo II. That a shield gave your character up to a 75% chance to completely erase all incoming physical damage hardly seems fair, and was certainly not realistic. How can a weak Sorceress or Necromancer with a little wooden plate on their arm completely stop the damage from a massive polearm? If the Diablo III system works as Shield Specialization makes it sound, the use of shields should be much more interesting in D3. It would make two-handed weapons more viable, for one thing, since a player wouldn't be giving up 75% damage reduction by using them. =References=
[[File:Shield<font size="-barb2.jpg|center|frame|Two views of a low-level [[Barbarian]] with a hand axe and [[buckler]].]]3"><references/></font>
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[[Categorycategory:Items]][[category: Armor]][[category: shieldsOff-Hand]][[category: itemsShields]]
