Shields (盾, Tate?) 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Final Fantasy IV -Interlude-[]
Final Fantasy IV: The After Years[]
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Final Fantasy XIV[]
Shields 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 Gladiators and Paladins. They can also be used by Conjurers, Thaumaturges, White Mages, and Black Mages 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.
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Final Fantasy Tactics Advance[]
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.
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Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift[]
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.
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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[]
Benjamin is the only one who can equip shields, and Phoebe uses the 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.
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The Final Fantasy Legend[]
Shields are a piece of equipment available for the party.
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Final Fantasy Legend II[]
Shields are a piece of equipment available for the party.
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Final Fantasy Legend III[]
Shields can be equipped by all four main characters.
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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.
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Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy[]
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.
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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.
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