Shield (or Sub) Slot

Shields are equipped in the sub equipment slot. They can only be worn with a one-handed weapon or when one is not equipped with a weapon.

Shields can be macroed with the following: /equip sub "Item Name"

The effectiveness of your shield-blocking is based upon your Shield Skill. When the Shield Skill activates, it reduces the amount of damage taken from a melee hit. The higher your shield skill, the more often it will kick in, up to a maximum block rate of 65%. To activate your shield skill, you must fail your evasion and parry checks, and you must be facing the mob (under ~60 degree angle).

There are 5 distinct shield types. These are, in increasing size: Buckler, Round, Kite, Tower, and Aegis. The smaller shields will block more frequently, but will reduce the damage by a small amount whereas the larger shield will block more damage but will trigger less often.

The Aegis is in a league of its own, being a fully upgraded Relic item: it blocks at the rate of a size 2 shield, but reduces damage more than a size 4 shield.

In addition to the type of the shield, the defense rating of the shield also affects the amount of damage absorbed during a shield block: each point of defense seems to be an additional 0.5% damage reduction.

Size 3 shields generally offer the most efficient balance of block rate and damage reduction outside of the Aegis. A Paladin with enough Shield Skill can get close to the block rate cap with a size 3 shield, but not with a size 4.

The Paladin/Warrior Job Trait Shield Mastery gives extra TP and avoids spell interruption on shield blocks.

See also: Shield Skill