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ShellShield-ffxii

The Shell Shield in Final Fantasy XII.

Shields (, 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[]

Diamond Shield FFII Art

The Diamond Shield.

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:

Final Fantasy II[]

Golden Shield FFII Art

The Golden Shield.

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:

Final Fantasy III[]

Onion Shield FFIII Art

The Onion Shield

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:

Final Fantasy IV[]

Dark Shield FFIV DS Render

The Dark Shield (3D).

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:

Final Fantasy IV -Interlude-[]

Final Fantasy IV: The After Years[]

List of shields:

Final Fantasy V[]

Flameshield

The Flame Shield

Icon.

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:

Final Fantasy VI[]

FFVI Diamond Shield Artwork

The Diamond Shield

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:

Final Fantasy X[]

FFX Armor - Shield 1

The Buckler

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[]

FFXI Shield 12

The Faerie Shield

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[]

RoundShield-ffxii

The Round Shield

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.

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[]

LRFFXIII Twilight Lotus

The Twilight Lotus

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
Large Shields
Tactical Shields
Ensorcelled Shields
Light Shields
Valuable Shields
Crest Shields
Other Shields

Final Fantasy XIV[]

FFXIV Holy Shield

The Holy Shield.

Shield 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 Gladiator Gladiators and Paladin Paladins. They can also be used by Conjurer Conjurers, Thaumaturge Thaumaturges, White Mage White Mages, and Black Mage 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:

Final Fantasy XV[]

Shields-ffxv-dmgtypeicon

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.

Final Fantasy Tactics[]

The Mythril Shield

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:

Final Fantasy Tactics Advance[]

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:

Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift[]

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:

Vagrant Story[]

List of shields:

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles[]

Shields are the tribe-specific armor of the Clavat.

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King[]

FFTA Buster SwordThis section about equipment in Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King is empty or needs to be expanded. You can help the Final Fantasy Wiki by expanding it.

Final Fantasy Mystic Quest[]

The Venus Shield

Benjamin is the only one who can equip shields, and Phoebe uses the Ether Shield.

Final Fantasy Adventure[]

FFA Shield Icon

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:

The Final Fantasy Legend[]

FFL Shield Icon

Shields are a piece of equipment available for the party.

List of shields:

Final Fantasy Legend II[]

FFLII Shield Icon

Shields are a piece of equipment available for the party.

List of shields:

Final Fantasy Legend III[]

FFLIII Shield

Shields can be equipped by all four main characters.

List of shields:

Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light[]

Hide-Shield

The Hide Shield

List of shields:

Final Fantasy Dimensions[]

FFTA Buster SwordThis section about equipment in Final Fantasy Dimensions is empty or needs to be expanded. You can help the Final Fantasy Wiki by expanding it.

Dissidia Final Fantasy[]

Dissidia-Shield of Light

The Warrior of Light's shield.

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:

Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy[]

D012 Leather Shield

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:


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:

Final Fantasy Record Keeper[]

Icon.
FFTA Buster SwordThis section about equipment in Final Fantasy Record Keeper is empty or needs to be expanded. You can help the Final Fantasy Wiki by expanding it.
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