Shield (equipment)

Shields are a recurring type of armor in the Final Fantasy series, and it has also appeared as a type of weapon. They generally increase Defense and may also have a random chance to block an attack. Examples of recurring shields from the series include the Aegis Shield and the Hero's Shield.
Shields tend to have two subdivisions: "heavy" shields and "light" or "universal" shields. "Heavy" shields can only be used by physical attackers, like Warriors and Dragoons. "Light" or "universal" shields can be used by any class, including mages.
==Appearances==
===Final Fantasy===
Shields give high Defense boosts and increase the chance of blocking an attack. Most shields can only be used by the Warrior, Knight, and Ninja classes.
List of shields:
*Aegis Shield
*Buckler
*Crystal Shield
*Diamond Shield
*Flame Shield
*Genji Shield	
*Hero's Shield
*Ice Shield
*Iron Shield
*Leather Shield
*Mythril Shield
===Final Fantasy II===
Shields can be equipped by every character, unless they have a bow equipped, as bows are two-handed weapons. They increase the user's Evasion based on the quality of the shield, and the user's skill level with shields. A character can equip a shield in both hands for greater defense, but will not be able to use physical attacks in any version but Pixel Remaster. From Dawn of Souls to 20th Anniversary Edition, the INT/SPR penalty for shields was removed. They were added back in Pixel Remaster as magic interference.
List of shields:
*Buckler
*Bronze Shield
*Mythril Shield
*Golden Shield
*Ice Shield
*Flame Shield
*Diamond Shield
*Dragon Shield
*Aegis Shield
===Final Fantasy III===
Shields are exclusive to melee jobs, though most are only available to the heaviest ones. They grant Defense and Evasion bonuses, as well as protection against certain status ailments. Two can be equipped for a greater Defense boost, but the character will have no Attack power.
List of Shields:
*Leather Shield
*Mythril Shield
*Ice Shield
*Heroic Shield
*Aegis Shield	
*Demon Shield
*Diamond Shield
*Genji Shield
*Crystal Shield
*Onion Shield
===Final Fantasy IV===
Shields are exclusive to Cecil, Kain, and Cid, except for the Hero's Shield, which can be equipped by any character. They cannot be equipped at the same time as a two-handed weapon, like a Hammer or a Knightsword. Dark Shields can only be equipped by Dark Knight Cecil, while Light Shields can only be equipped by Paladin Cecil.
Shields:
*Iron Shield
*Dark Shield
*Demon Shield
*Lustrous Shield
*Mythril Shield
*Fire Shield
*Ice Shield
*Diamond Shield
*Aegis Shield
*Genji Shield
*Dragon Shield
*Crystal Shield
*Hero's Shield
====Final Fantasy IV -Interlude-====
*Mythril Shield
*Fire Shield
*Ice Shield
*Diamond Shield
*Aegis Shield
====Final Fantasy IV: The After Years====
List of shields:
*Bronze Shield
*Large Shield
*Iron Shield
*Mythril Shield
*Fire Shield
*Ice Shield
*Diamond Shield
*Lustrous Shield
*Aegis Shield
*Genji Shield	
*Dragon Shield
*Crystal Shield
*Lunar Shield
*Hero's Shield
*Phase Shield
*Adamant Shield
*Akiyama Armor (Dummied)
*Dark Shield (Dummied)
*Demon Shield (Dummied)
===Final Fantasy V===
Shields can be equipped by the heavier melee jobs, but they can be equipped by any job with the ability Equip Shields.
List of shields:
*Leather Shield
*Bronze Shield
*Iron Shield
*Mythril Shield
*Golden Shield
*Aegis Shield
*Diamond Shield	
*Flame Shield
*Ice Shield
*Crystal Shield
*Genji Shield
*Force Shield
*Hematic Shield (Dummied)
===Final Fantasy VI===
There are two types of shields: universal shields, that can be equipped by every character with the exception of Umaro, and heavy shields, that can be equipped by Terra, Edgar, Celes, Cyan, Setzer, and Mog.
List of shields:
*Tortoise Shield
*Paladin's Shield
*Genji Shield
*Aegis Shield
*Ice Shield
*Thunder Shield
*Flame Shield	
*Mythril Shield
*Heavy Shield
*Buckler
*Cursed Shield
*Force Shield
===Final Fantasy X===
Tidus and Rikku use shields and targes as their only armor. The other party members use various types of accessories instead. The Shield is a basic armor for Tidus, two-slot with no abilities.
===Final Fantasy XI===
Shields are items equippable in the sub-equipment slot. They can be wielded when using either a one-handed weapon or no weapons. When equipped, the shield will decrease damage taken and occasionally block attacks. The chance of blocking an attack is governed by the player's Shield Skill, with Paladins having the best aptitude by far. Shields are available at different sizes and block rates. Shields are also the basis for many Paladin abilities and spells, such as Shield Bash or Reprisal.
===Final Fantasy XII===
Shields can be equipped by any character as long as they possess the required license, and have not equipped a two-handed weapon. Equipping a shield only adds to evasion, not to defense, and many enemies ignore shields in their hit accuracy calculations. Equipping a shield negates the Brawler augment, even if the character is still attacking bare-handed. In the Zodiac versions, only certain license boards have shields: Shikari, Foebreaker, Knight, and Red Battlemage.
*Escutcheon (Original version only)
*Buckler
*Leather Shield
*Bronze Shield
*Round Shield
*Golden Shield
*Ice Shield
*Flame Shield
*Diamond Shield
*Platinum Shield
*Dragon Shield	
*Crystal Shield
*Kaiser Shield
*Aegis Shield
*Demon Shield
*Venetian Shield
*Genji Shield
*Ensanguined Shield
*Zodiac Escutcheon
====Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings====
The only shield, "Ba'Gabuckler", is equipped by Ba'Gamnan. It slightly increases his group's Stamina.
===Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII===
Shields are a type of equipment available to Lightning. Their abilities and stats are varied, but they commonly boost her HP and reduce damage when Lightning guards against enemy attacks. Uniquely in the series, there are many types of shields, each type defined by several key attributes. Some shields are only available as downloadable content.
List of shields:
;Well-Balanced Shields
*Night Lotus
*Ultima Shield
*Hesperides
*Juno Sospita
*Megalesia
*Nemesis
;Large Shields
*Prytwen
*Pendragon
*Dame du Lac
*Guard of Avalon
*Knight's Pledge
;Tactical Shields
*Double Cross
*Infidel
*Renegade
*Blasphemy
*Deicide
;Ensorcelled Shields
*Deirdre's Tears
*Iseult's Lament
*Kore Soteira
*Juliet's Sorrow
*Cleopatra's Praise
;Light Shields
*Ghostly Bloom
*Il Nome Della Rosa
*Nobless Veronique
*Gilded Lily
*Les Fleurs du Mal	
;Valuable Shields
*Amethyst Anthem
*Aquamarine Waltz
*Carnelian Choir
*Emerald Ensemble
*Dark Discord
*Crystal Silence
;Crest Shields
*Lominsan Escutcheon
*Ul'dahn Crest
*Gridanian Sigil
;Other Shields
*Guardian Corps Shield (FFXIII save import)
*Goddess's Grace (FFXIII-2 save import)
*Summoner's Shield (DLC)
*Guardian's Protector (DLC)
*Flower Bearer (DLC)
*Thunderstruck (DLC)
*Final Border (DLC)
*Nightwalker (DLC)
*Fealty (DLC)
*Kaminari (DLC)
*Warning Sign (DLC)
*Rasa (DLC)
*Abyss Gate (DLC)
*Aegis Shield (DLC)
*Mog's Shield (DLC)
*Riot Shield (DLC)
===Final Fantasy XIV===
s are a type of armor that are equipped in the off-hand slot and, as such, may only be equipped while wielding a one-handed weapon. They are used primarily by s and s. They can also be used by s, s, s, and s up to level 50 before they transition to using two-handed weapons exclusively.
Shields are the only equipment that provide the block rate and block strength attributes. Block rate increases the chance of blocking attacks, while block strength reduces the damage taken on successfully blocked attacks. Attacks can only be blocked while equipped with a shield.
Notable shields:
*Holy Shield
*Aegis Shield
*Prytwen
*Ancile
*Shield of the Twin Thegns
*Priwen
*Evalach
*Elemental Shield
*Bellerophon
*Tenacity
===Final Fantasy XV===
Shields are classified as weapons, although they are used for blocking enemies' attacks as well (especially useful in Stasis when phasing is unavailable). Shields can be equipped by Noctis and Gladiolus, although the shields' passive abilities don't trigger for the latter. The player can use Airslip to dodge enemy attacks in midair with the guard button with the shield equipped even when in Stasis. When Noctis wields a shield as his weapon, he brandishes a short blade in a reverse grip, although he only uses this for point-warping and in his parry animation.
When Gladiolus has a shield equipped as a secondary arm, he can use Intercept after unlocking it in the Ascension to protect the player character from an enemy attack that would have otherwise hit. Shields' Armiger points accumulation multiplier is x1.5. They don't do good damage as offensive weapons, but can be used to stagger enemies. Their most useful function is to defend. It is more MP efficient to swap to shields to defend, and then swap out again to attack.
The Shield of the Just is a royal arm, exclusive to Noctis, that has special properties. Despite its nature, it is not classified as a shield.
*Kite Shield
*Absorb Shield
*Ice Shield
*Thunder Shield
*Flame Shield
*Hero's Shield
*Absorb Shield II
*Black Prince
*Power Shield
*Wizard Shield
*Aegis Shield
*Ziedrich
*Medjay Assassin's Shield
===Final Fantasy Tactics===
Shields can be equipped by Knights, Archers, Geomancers, Dragoons, Dark Knights, Onion Knights, and any other job, as long as the character has equipped the Equip Shields ability.
Many special jobs, like the Sword Saint or the Sky Pirate, can also equip shields by default. There is also a second escutcheon called by the same name, but this one has the highest evasion stats of all shields and is of a different color than its counterpart.
List of Shields:
*Aegis Shield
*Bronze Shield
*Buckler
*Crystal Shield
*Diamond Shield
*Escutcheon
*Flame Shield
*Genji Shield	
*Gold Shield
*Ice Shield
*Kaiser Plate
*Mythril Shield
*Platina Shield
*Round Shield
*Venetian Shield
===Final Fantasy Tactics Advance===
right|The Sacri Shield
Shields can be equipped by every job, as long as they have equipped the Shieldbearer ability, taught by the Soldier, Warrior, Fencer, Mog Knight, and Sage jobs.
List of shields:
*Bronze Shield
*Round Shield
*Opal Shield
*Ice Shield
*Flame Shield
*Aegis Shield
*Genji Shield
*Sacri Shield	
*Shijin Shield
*Choco Shield
*La Seraphica
*Reverie Shield
====Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift====
right|The Ensanguined Shield
Shields can be, again, equipped by any job, as long as the character as equipped the Shieldbearer ability. The gria and the seeq can learn the ability too, by the Raptor and Viking jobs.
List of shields:
*Bronze Shield
*Round Shield
*Platinum Shield
*Ice Shield
*Flame Shield
*Aegis Shield
*Genji Shield
*Templar Shield	
*Shield of the Four
*Chocobo Shield
*Ensanguined Shield
*Reverie Shield
===Vagrant Story===
List of shields:
*Buckler
*Pelta Shield
*Targe
*Quad Shield
*Circle Shield
*Tower Shield
*Spiked Shield
*Round Shield
*Kite Shield
*Casserole Shield
*Heater Shield
*Oval Shield
*Knight Shield
*Hoplite Shield
*Jazeraint Shield
*Dread Shield
===Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles===
Shields are the tribe-specific armor of the Clavat.
====Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King====
===Final Fantasy Mystic Quest===
right|The Venus Shield
Benjamin is the only one who can equip shields, and Phoebe uses the Ether Shield.
*Steel Shield
*Venus Shield
*Aegis Shield
*Ether Shield
===Final Fantasy Adventure===
Shields do not increase defense power, but can block and neutralize some weapon and magic attacks by the enemies. If Sumo's level is high enough, he will be able to push the enemy out of his way.
List of shields:
*Bronze
*Iron
*Silver
*Gold
*Opal
*Flame
*Ice
*Dragon
*Aegis
===The Final Fantasy Legend===
Shields are a piece of equipment available for the party.
List of shields:
*Bronze
*Gold
*Silver
*Flame
*Ice
*Dragon
*Aezis
*King
===Final Fantasy Legend II===
Shields are a piece of equipment available for the party.
List of shields:
*Bronze
*Silver
*Gold
*Flame
*Ice
*Dragon
*Samurai
===Final Fantasy Legend III===
Shields can be equipped by all four main characters.
List of shields:
*Bronze
*Silver
*Fire
*Dragon
*Ice
*X-Plane	
*Diamond
*Mirror
*Samurai
*Aegis
*Speed
===Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light===
List of shields:
*Antimage
*Darksteel Shield
*Flame Shield
*Great Tree Shield
*Hide Shield
*Holy Shield
*Ice Shield
*Rock Shield
*Shield of Light
*Unyielding Shield
*Wood Shield
===Final Fantasy Dimensions===
===Dissidia Final Fantasy===
Shields focus on increasing Wall Rush HP defense. They can be equipped by Warrior of Light, Garland, Firion, Cecil, Golbez, Bartz, Exdeath, Cloud, Sephiroth, Squall, Tidus, Jecht and Gabranth.
The Warrior of Light and Firion utilize shields in combat.
List of Shields:
*Buckler
*Shell Shield
*Iron Shield
*Mythril Shield+
*Knight's Shield
*Flame Shield
*Mythril Shield
*Ice Shield
*Golden Shield+
*Heavy Shield
*Golden Shield
*Demon Shield
*Diamond Shield+	
*Force Shield
*Diamond Shield
*Crystal Shield
*Lustrous Shield
*Dragon Shield
*Heike's Shield
*Thunder Shield
*Aegis Shield
*Hero's Shield
*Adamant Shield
*Ensanguined Shield
*Lufenian Shield
*Genji Shield
====Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy====
right|150px|thumb|Vaan's Leather Shield.
Shields again specialize in Wall rush HP defense, and can be equipped by Warrior of Light, Garland, Firion, Cecil, Kain, Golbez, Bartz, Exdeath, Gilgamesh, Cloud, Sephiroth, Squall, Laguna, Tidus, Jecht, Vaan, Gabranth, and Lightning.
Newcomer Vaan uses shields in combat in addition to the returning Warrior of Light and Firion.
List of Shields:
*Buckler
*Reaper's Shield
*Iron Shield
*Knight's Shield
*Flame Shield
*Mythril Shield
*Shell Shield
*Faerie Shield
*Ice Shield
*Spiked Shield
*Golden Shield
*Force Shield
*Crystal Shield
*Demon Shield
*Sentinel Shield	
*Diamond Shield
*Lustrous Shield
*Heike's Shield
*Thunder Shield
*Dragon Shield
*Cimmerian Shield
*Master Shield
*Impervious Shield
*Adamant Shield
*Hero's Shield
*Genji Shield
*Ensanguined Shield
*Lufenian Shield
*Prytwen
*Sanguine Shield
There is also a new set of equipment, large shields. They focus on increasing warp defense, and can be equipped by Warrior of Light, Garland, Cecil, Kain, Golbez, Bartz, Exdeath, Gilgamesh, Cloud, Squall, Gabranth, and Feral Chaos.
List of Large Shields:
*Heavy Shield
*Jennet Shield
*Hard Shield
*Divine Shield
*Darksteel Shield
*Iron Ram Shield
*Legion Scutum
*Kaiser Shield
*Royal Army Knight Shield	
*Januwiyah
*Riot Shield
*Dynamis Shield
*Moebius Shield
*Ancile
*Dullahan's Shield
*Aegis Shield
*Lufenian Greatshield
===Final Fantasy Record Keeper===
it:Scudo
Category:Shields
Category:Equipment
Category:Armor types