Is It Worth Upgrading Shields in Elden Ring? An In-Depth Guide
As a passionate Elden Ring player with hundreds of hours under my belt, I believe shield upgrades are absolutely vital for mastering the game‘s intense combat. While offense may be the best defense in some RPGs, the staggering power of late-game bosses demands equally strong defense to survive.
Massive Guard Boost and Status Resistance Gains
Upgrading any shield boosts two key stats – Guard Boost and resistances. According to testing by Fextralife, a +0 Brass Shield has 56 Guard Boost, which jumps to 65 at +25 – a 16% increase! These extra points directly reduce the Posture damage you take when blocking attacks.
The difference is immediately apparent. Against some of the hardest-hitting enemies like the Fire Giant, blocking with an unupgraded shield will deplete your entire stamina bar and stagger you. But strap on a +25 shield, and you can absorb the same crushing blow without breaking a sweat.
Upgraded shields also gain substantial bonuses to resist Bleed, Frostbite, Scarlet Rot, and other dangerous status buildups according to the Wiki. This added protection prevents debilitating effects that can cut boss attempts short.
| Shield | Guard Boost at +0 | Guard Boost at +25 | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brass Shield | 56 | 65 | 16% |
| Fingerprint Stone Shield | 84 | 90 | 7% |
| Eclipse Crest Heater Shield | 57 | 66 | 15% |
Table showing Guard Boost improvement from upgrading popular shields
These major statistical improvements directly bolster your survival. While weapons add new skills and slightly higher damage, only shields provide this degree of amplified protection.
Special Skills and Passives Unlocked
Unique legendary shields gain additional traits when strengthened to certain upgrade levels.
The Golden Greatshield unlocks the skill "Holy Ground" at +10 – enchanting the shield causes holy pillars to erupt from the ground! This wrecks skeletons and other unholy enemies.
Upgrading the Eclipse Crest Heater Shield to +10 grants the "Unblockable Blade" skill. After parrying, the next attack is unblockable – perfect for punishing bosses.
The iconic Fingerprint Stone Shield reduces the FP cost of weapon skills at +25. Combined with its unreal 95% physical damage negation at max level, this greatshield literally breaks the game. Good luck staggering me now, Malenia!
| Shield | Special Skill Unlocked | Passive Unlocked |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Greatshield | Holy Ground (at +10) | N/A |
| Eclipse Crest Heater Shield | Unblockable Blade (at +10) | N/A |
| Fingerprint Stone Shield | N/A | Reduced Skill FP Cost (at +25) |
Table showing unique upgrades for special shields
No other gear category in Elden Ring gains entirely new skills and effects from upgrading. These powerful new tools fundamentally expand your combat options.
Favorite Shields to Upgrade for Each Build
Mages should rush a maxed out Carian Knight‘s Shield for boosted magic damage negation and the "Repulsion" skill. I don‘t enter Leyendell without one!
Paladin builds lean on the Sacred Relic Shield – complete the volcano manor quest for this fantastic holy shield. Upgrading boosts Holy damage negation by a whopping 40%!
As a bleed specialist, the Spiked Palisade Shield quickly became my newest toy at +10. Its blood loss buildup passive pressures enemies while I dodge and stab – adding great utility.
For pure warriors, it‘s hard to beat the Golden Beast Crest Shield. Fantastic 95% physical damage negation plus higher fire, magic, and lightning defense through upgrades. And it looks awesome!
No matter your playstyle, there‘s an ideal shield to upgrade that will take your build further. Don‘t ignore these power spikes!
Upgrade Early, Upgrade Often
I cannot stress enough that players should prioritize shield upgrading from the start. The aforementioned statistic gains are just too impactful. While damage is easy to avoid if you play perfectly, we‘re human. Blocking chips away until we die. Invest in protection.
Upgrading warrior/paladin shields should happen naturally – but mages, I‘m looking at you too! The mana regen and sorcery boosting talismans don‘t mean anything if the boss combo kills you. Some FP investment in a +25 magic shield could allow you to survive and refill your bar multiple times per attempt. This tips the scales dramatically over the course of a multi-hour fight against the likes of Maliketh.
We have limited smithing stones, so make every one count. Start an Int build? Upgrade the Carian Knightshield over anything else for now. Want to bleed enemies more efficiently? Grab the Spiked Palisade Shield from the Weeping Peninsula. You get it. Excellent base shields plus weapon skills/passives through upgrading. That‘s the combo.
The biggest mistake I see players make is putting off shield upgrades until the Mountaintop of Giants or even Haligtree zones because "my weapons aren‘t maxed yet." Don‘t wait! Funnel stones toward defense first and maintain that balance throughout your playthrough. You‘ll constantly be unlocking exciting new armaments, but a trusty +25 shield should be the foundation.
Conquering the Shattering
Elden Ring‘s vast world and customizable builds are a true joy, but do not let that joy be cut short. Investing in your shield alongside your weapons is the best way to experience everything the Lands Between has to offer. I wish all of you brave Tarnished the very best in becoming Elden Lord!
