Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII shields

Template:Images Template:IncompleteTable Template:Sideicon In Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII, Lightning will have a variety of shields in her arsenal to be used. Their common traits are raising maximum HP and status resistance.

Shields can be upgraded from the second playthrough onwards after defeating the final boss. They can be upgraded at forges for a small fee and various materials that can be bought at the Adventuring Essentials, or obtained from defeated enemies. The best materials are only available as enemy drops.

It's not possible to upgrade shields to their maximum values because each item can only be upgraded a set number of times. One can max-out a couple of stats at most, but never all of the possible parameters. Upgrading a shield the first time earns the Novice Shieldsmith achievement. Upgrading a shield thirty times earns the Expert Shieldsmith achievement.

One can also downgrade shields, but this will not refund the materials used to upgrade them although it does "refund" the number of upgrades. Downgrading can therefore be considered as the backup plan in case one upgrades a shield the wrong way.

Defense Formulas

Guard Efficiency

Guard Efficiency is a percent damage reduction multiplied by the Physical and Magic Resistance of the used ability.

Ability Defense%		Guard Efficiency
25%	×	15%	=	36.25%*(Percent damage reduction)
0.75	×	0.85	=	0.6375

For example, with 100 damage the formula for receiving it using the example above would be:

$0.75*0.85*100=ca.64$

Instead of receiving 100 damage, Lightning would receive 64 damage.

Guard Defense

Guard Defense is a flat damage reduction which is calculated as a subtraction from the multiplication of incoming damage, ability's percent damage reduction, and a shield's Guard Efficiency.

Using the example above, the damage calculation for Guard Defense with 50 points would be:

$64-50=14$

Shields

Well-Balanced Shields

Well-balanced shields generally boost HP and Guard Defense.

Name	Properties	Acquirement	Cost	Image
Night Lotus	Maximum HP: +500 ATB Speed: 0 Guard Defense: 50	Initial	N/A
	A shield of deep crimson that protects the chosen savior.
Ultima Shield	Maximum HP: +8000 ATB Speed: +20 Guard Defense: 330	Reward: Complete Four Trials in God's Sanctum on Final Day. Replaces Night Lotus.	N/A
	A battle shield that shines with ultimate power, brimming with Serah's unfulfilled wishes.
Hesperides	Maximum HP: +1600 ATB Speed: +0 Guard Defense: 100	Buy: Research Camp Forge, Luxerion Old Town Forge, Final Day Forge	36,000
	A balanced shield good for enduring hits and for deflecting damage while guarding.
Juno Sospita	Maximum HP: +900 ATB Speed: 0 Guard Defense: 70	Gift: Hope Day 2 Buy: Luxerion Old Town Forge, Research Camp Forge	2,600
	A well-balanced shield, good for enduring hits and for deflecting damage while guarding.
Megalesia	Maximum HP: +2,800 ATB Speed: 0 Guard Defense: 100	Buy: Luxerion Old Town Forge (Day 10+), Final Day Forge	165,000 gil
	A well-balanced shield, good for enduring hits and for deflecting damage while guarding.
Nemesis	Maximum HP: +4,800 ATB Speed: 0 Guard Defense: 150	Buy: Luxerion Old Town Forge, Final Day Forge	420,000
	A well-balanced shield, good for enduring hits and for deflecting damage while guarding.

Large Shields

Large shields boost HP and Guard Defense, but come with the drawback of reducing ATB Speed. They focus on providing massive amounts of HP and include the Auto-Ability Defender which increases Keep in order to reduce enemy interruption of Abilities.

Name	Properties	Acquirement	Cost	Image
Prytwen	Maximum HP: +1500 ATB Speed: -15 Guard Defense: 20 Defender Lv. 1	Gift: Hope Day 1 Buy: Luxerion Old Town Forge, Ruffian Forge	500
	A large shield that boasts a strong defense. It increase the bearer's maximum HP.
Pendragon	Maximum HP: +3,000 ATB Speed: -15 Guard Defense: 30 Defender Lv. 1	Reward: "Born from Chaos" quest Buy: Luxerion Old Town Forge	2,600
	A large shield that boasts a strong defense. It increases the bearer's maximum HP.
Dame du Lac	Maximum HP: +5000 ATB Speed: -15 Guard Defense: 50 Defender Lv. 1	Buy: Luxerion Old Town Forge, Ruffian Forge	36,000
	A large shield that boasts a strong defense. It increase the bearer's maximum HP.
Guard of Avalon	Maximum HP: +9000 ATB Speed: -15 Guard Defense: 70 Defender Lv. 2	Buy: Luxerion Old Town Forge (Day 10+), Final Day Forge	165,000
	A large shield that boasts a strong defense. It increase the bearer's maximum HP.
Knight's Pledge	Maximum HP: +15000 ATB Speed: -15 Guard Defense: 100 Defender Lv. 2	Buy: Luxerion Old Town Forge, Final Day Forge (Hard Mode)	420,000
	A large shield that boasts a strong defense. It increase the bearer's maximum HP.

Tactical Shields

Tactical shields boost HP, ATB Speed, and Guard Defense.

Name	Properties	Acquirement	Image
Double Cross	Maximum HP: +100 ATB Speed: +10 Guard Defense: 100	Default (Dark Muse garb), Yusnaan Champion's Quarter Forge and Wildlands Jagd Village Forge for 500 gil.
	A tactical shield that triggers great defensive abilities when guarding.
Infidel	Maximum HP: +200 ATB Speed: +10 Guard Defense: 160	Yusnaan Champion's Quarter Forge and Wildlands Jagd Village Forge for 2,600 gil.
	A tactical shield that triggers great defensive abilities when guarding.
Renegade	Maximum HP: +500 ATB Speed: +10 Guard Defense: 220	Wildlands Jagd Village Forge and Yusnaan Champion's Quarter Forge 36,000 gil.
	A tactical shield that triggers great defensive abilities when guarding.
Blasphemy	Maximum HP: +1000 ATB Speed: +10 Guard Defense: 280	Yusnaan Champion's Quarter from Day 11 and Final Day Forge 165,000 gil.
	A tactical shield that triggers great defensive abilities when guarding.
Deicide	Maximum HP: +2000 ATB Speed: +10 Guard Defense: 350	Yusnaan Champion's Quarter Forge and Final Day Forge Hard Mode only for 420,000 gil.
	A tactical shield that triggers great defensive abilities when guarding.

Ensorcelled Shields

Ensorcelled shields boost ATB Speed, Guard Defense, and Magic.

Name	Properties	Acquirement	Image
Deirdre's Tears (Blooming Rose (Name in development.))	Guard Defense: +100 Magic: +200	Purchase from the Wildlands Jagd Village Forge for 5,200 gil.
	An ensorcelled shield that increases Magic, its every line and detail holding mystic potential. A shield inspired by a rose. Increases magic resistance. (Description in development.)
Iseult's Lament	Maximum HP: 0 ATB Speed: +5 Guard Defense: 60 Magic: +150	Purchase from the Wildlands Jagd Village Forge for 36,000 gil.
	An ensorcelled shield that increases Magic, its every line and detail holding mystic potential.
Kore Soteira	Maximum HP: 0 ATB Speed: +5 Guard Defense: 80 Magic: +200	Purchase from the Wildlands Jagd Village Forge for 155,000 gil.
	An ensorcelled shield that increases Magic, its every line and detail holding mystic potential.
Juliet's Sorrow	Maximum HP: 0 ATB Speed: +10 Guard Defense: 100 Magic: +250	Purchase from Wildlands Jagd Village Forge on Hard Mode and Final Day Forge for 228,000 gil.
	An ensorcelled shield that increases Magic, its every line and detail holding mystic potential.
Cleopatra's Praise	Maximum HP: 0 ATB Speed: +10 Guard Defense: 130 Magic: +350	Purchase from Wildlands Jagd Village Forge and Final Day Forge on Hard Mode for 330,000 gil.
	An ensorcelled shield that increases Magic, its every line and detail holding mystic potential.

Light Shields

Light shields boost HP and ATB Speed. They focus on ATB Speed and include the Auto-Ability Guard Efficiency, which increases damage resistance by a certain percent while actively guarding.

Name	Properties	Acquirement	Image
Ghostly Bloom	Maximum HP: +1000 ATB Speed: +20 Guard Defense: 0 Guard Efficiency +14%	Purchase from Wildlands Research Camp Forge for 4,000 gil.
	A light shield of grace and beauty. It hastens the recovery of ATB.
Il Nome Della Rosa	Maximum HP: +1500 ATB Speed: +25 Guard Defense: 0 Guard Efficiency +14%	Purchase from Wildlands Research Camp Forge from Day 6 for 42,000 gil.
	A light shield of grace and beauty. It hastens the recovery of ATB.
Noblesse Veronique	Maximum HP: +2000 ATB Speed: +30 Guard Defense: 0 Guard Efficiency +14%	Purchase from Wildlands Research Camp Forge from Day 10 for 180,000 gil.
	A light shield of grace and beauty. It hastens the recovery of ATB.
Gilded Lily	Maximum HP: +3000 ATB Speed: +35 Guard Defense: 0 Guard Efficiency +18%	Purchase from Wildlands Research Camp Forge on Hard Mode for 250,000 gil.
	A light shield of grace and beauty. It hastens the recovery of ATB.
Les Fleurs du Mal	Maximum HP: +3200 ATB Speed: +40 Guard Defense: 0 Guard Efficiency +18%	Purchase from Wildlands Research Camp Forge on Hard Mode.
	A light shield of grace and beauty. It hastens the recovery of ATB.

Valuable Shields

Valuable shields boost HP and improve elemental resistance while guarding, but they reduce ATB Speed. They include two Auto-Abilities which strengthen elemental resistances.

Name	Properties	Acquirement	Image
Amethyst Anthem	Maximum HP: +2600 ATB Speed: -15 Guard Defense: 0 Lightning Guard +70% Wind Guard +70%	Purchase from Dead Dunes Ruffian Forge for 4,000 gil.
	A valuable shield that triggers great defensive abilities when guarding against lightning- and wind-based attacks.
Aquamarine Waltz	Maximum HP: +2600 ATB Speed: -15 Fire Guard +70% Ice Guard +70%	Purchase from Dead Dunes Ruffian Forge for 4,000 gil.
	A valuable shield that triggers great defensive abilities when guarding against fire- and ice-based attacks.
Carnelian Choir	Maximum HP: +5500 ATB Speed: -15 Fire Guard +70% Ice Guard +70%	Purchase from Dead Dunes Ruffian Forge for 32,000 gil.
	A valuable shield that triggers great defensive abilities when guarding against fire- and ice-based attacks. Rank: Superior (4/5)
Emerald Ensemble	Maximum HP: +5500 ATB Speed: -15 Guard Defense: 0 Lightning Guard +70% Wind Guard +70%	Purchase from Dead Dunes Ruffian Forge for 32,000 gil.
	A valuable shield that triggers great defensive abilities when guarding against lightning- and wind-based attacks.
Dark Discord	Maximum HP: +9200 ATB Speed: -15 Guard Defense: 0 Lightning Guard +80% Wind Guard +80%	Purchase from Dead Dunes Ruffian Forge on Hard Mode for 360,000 gil.
	A valuable shield that triggers great defensive abilities when guarding against lightning- and wind-based attacks.
Crystal Silence	Maximum HP: +9200 ATB Speed: -15 Guard Defense: 0 Fire Guard +80% Ice Guard +80%	Purchase from Dead Dunes Ruffian Forge on Hard Mode for 360,000 gil.
	A valuable shield that triggers great defensive abilities when guarding against fire- and ice-based attacks. Rank: Superior (4/5)

Crest Shields

Crest shields boost HP and Guard Defense and have varying effects on ATB Speed.

Name	Properties	Acquirement	Image
Lominsan Escutcheon	Maximum HP: +2000 ATB Speed: 0 Guard Defense: 110	Complete Roadworks III" quest.
	A shield emblazoned with the crest of the Maelstrom, one of the Grand Companies of Eorzea.
Ul'dahn Crest	Maximum HP: +5000 ATB Speed: -15 Guard Defense: 55	Complete "Roadworks I" quest.
	A shield emblazoned with the crest of the Immortal Flames, one of the Grand Companies of Eorzea.
Gridanian Sigil	Maximum HP: +700 ATB Speed: +10 Guard Defense: 240	Complete Roadworks II" quest.
	A shield emblazoned with the crest of the Twin Adder, one of the Grand Companies of Eorzea.

Other Shields

The following shields are available either from having save data from previous entries of Final Fantasy XIII trilogy games or from downloadable content. Many of them have traits which are reminiscent of one of the seven types from above.

Name	Properties	Acquirement	Image
Guardian Corps Shield	Maximum HP: +1000 ATB Speed: +15 Guard Defense: 0 Guard Efficiency +15%	DLC shield or have an existing FFXIII save file.
	Defensive equipment made using the antimatter technology of Cocoon's scientific community.
Goddess's Grace	Maximum HP: 0 ATB Speed: 0 Guard Defense: 100 Strength: 100 Magic: 100	DLC shield or have an existing FFXIII-2 save file.
	A shield from Valhalla, borne by the sworn protector of the goddess Etro.
Guardian's Protector	Maximum HP: +1500 ATB Speed: 0 Guard Defense: 0 Strength: 200 Blitz Ace	DLC shield.
	A shield which represents the determination of a guardian who would offer up his life for that of his summoner.
Flower Bearer	Maximum HP: +1500 ATB Speed: 0 Guard Defense: 200 Great Gospel	DLC shield.
	A defensive shield that holds the wishes of a young maiden who tried cure a gloomy city with her flowers.
Riot Shield	Maximum HP: 0 ATB Speed: 0 Guard Defense: 150 Critical Barrier Critical Barrier+	DLC shield.
	Once worn by an adventurer, the nicks and scars speak to the dangers that its owner faced.
Thunderstruck	Maximum HP: +800 ATB Speed: +10 Guard Defense: 30 Status Ailments Resistance +25%	DLC shield.
	A shield which glitters with an undying light that strikes like the lightning which illuminates a dark night.
Final Border	Maximum HP: +800 ATB Speed: +10 Guard Defense: 30 Resist Magic Damage +20%	DLC shield.
	A miraculous shield crafted from sacred trees that stand as guardians over holy sites.
Nightwalker	Maximum HP: +800 ATB Speed: +10 Guard Defense: 30 Resist Physical Damage +20%	DLC shield.
	Dancing shadows of the moonlight on this shield's surface confuse and deflect enemy weapons.
Fealty	Maximum HP: +800 ATB Speed: +10 Guard Defense: 30 Resist Physical Damage +20%	DLC shield.
	A sturdy shield covered in steel rivets that is said to have knocked back even mounted warriors.
Kaminari	Maximum HP: +800 ATB Speed: +10 Guard Defense: 30 Status Ailments Resistance +25%	Complete the Demo.
	A solid shield that defends as solidly as the gate that not even the gods could force open.
Warning Sign	Maximum HP: +800 ATB Speed: +10 Guard Defense: 30 Resist Magic Damage +20%	DLC shield.
	A shield which shows the control of one who can keep their own mind as calm as still waters, even amidst the bloody battlefield.
Rasa	Maximum HP: +800 ATB Speed: +10 Guard Defense: 30 Status Ailments Resistance +25%	DLC Shield.
	A beguiling shield, as describe in the fantastic phrases of an ancient song of the past.
Abyss Gate	Maximum HP: 0 ATB Speed: +20 Guard Defense: 800 Maximum HP -95%	DLC shield.
	The fool who tries to fight at the gates of hell will die in the embrace of the lord of the underworld.
Aegis Shield	Maximum HP: 0 ATB Speed: +30 Guard Defense: 150 Defender's HP Restore 1%	DLC shield.
	The shield of God, which takes the form of an unseen wall that seems to negate all attacks against it.
Mog's Shield	Maximum HP: 0 ATB Speed: +30 Guard Defense: 150 Mog's Blessing Lv. 1	DLC shield.
	A shield which will drain enemies of their fighting strength on its looks alone—or perhaps incite them to greater fury.
Summoner's Shield	Maximum HP: +1500 ATB Speed: 0 Guard Defense: 0 Magic: 200 Song of Prayer	DLC shield.
	A shield that expresses the pure prayers of the summoner who brought peace to Spira.

Gauntlets

Gauntlets are similar to ensorcelled shields in that they raise ATB Speed and Guard Defense by a fair amount, but instead of Magic they augment Strength. They are best suited for Schema which rely on physical abilities.

Name	Properties	Acquirement	Image
Dragoon Gauntlet	Maximum HP: 0 ATB Speed: +5 Guard Defense: 50 Strength: 100	Buy from Yusnaan Champion's Quarter Forge from Day 6 for 5,200 gil.
	A bracer that sacrifices defense in order to focus on offense.
Chiron Gauntlet	Maximum HP: 0 ATB Speed: +5 Guard Defense: 60 Strength: 150	Buy from Yusnaan Champion's Quarter Forge from Day 6 for 26,000 gil.
	A bracer that sacrifices defense in order to focus on offense.
Yale Gauntlet	Maximum HP: 0 ATB Speed: +5 Guard Defense: 80 Strength: 200	Buy from Yusnaan Champion's Quarter Forge from Day 10 for 155,000 gil.
	A bracer that sacrifices defense in order to focus on offense.
Apis Gauntlet	Maximum HP: 0 ATB Speed: +10 Guard Defense: 100 Strength: 250	Buy from Yusnaan Champion's Quarter Forge on Hard Mode for 228,000 gil.
	A bracer that sacrifices defense in order to focus on offense.
Echidna Gauntlet	Maximum HP: 0 ATB Speed: +10 Guard Defense: 130 Strength: 350	Buy from Yusnaan Champion's Quarter Forge and Final Day Forge on Hard Mode for 330,000 gil.
	A bracer that sacrifices defense in order to focus on offense.
SOLDIER's Band	Maximum HP: +2000 ATB Speed: 0 Guard Defense: 0	DLC gauntlet.
	A band that protects a SOLDIER operative using mystical mako energy.

Gallery

Template:Gallery

Trivia

• All of the Large Shields are inspired by Arthurian Legends; Prytwen was the name of King Arthur's ship, Pendragon was King Arthur's surname, Dame du Lac, is French for Lady of the Lake, from whom he received Excalibur; Guard of Avalon, the paradise Arthur went to upon his death, and Knight's Pledge references the Knights of the Round Table.
• The Riot Shield is not usable by Lara Croft in the 2013 reboot of Tomb Raider, though this is implied by its description (Lara being "the Adventurer"). Rather it is used several times by enemies trying to kill her, most notably by a boss guarding the Radio Tower.

References

This section about equipment in Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII is empty or needs to be expanded. You can help the Final Fantasy Wiki by expanding it.

Template:LR Template:Armor