Braving the many challenges ofValheim’s Viking-inspired world is no easy task, even for seasoned players that have conquered it all. As you navigate throughtreacherous terrain, fight fearsome foes, andbuild fortressesto house all of your trophies and treasure, having the right equipment can mean the difference between life and death.
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When it comes to defense, nothing beats a sturdy shield to ward off enemies and deflect deadly blows during a tense battle. To aid you in your quest of becoming an almighty Viking warrior worthy of Odin’s blessing, look no further than these best shields in Valheim that offer protection and power with just the right amount of style.
12Wood Shield
While it definitely won’t set the world on fire, the Wood Shield is a decent mid-tier defensive tool that can be made early on in the game using a mere four resin, four leather scraps, and 10 wood. This makes it an ideal choice for mitigating damage as a beginner player.
What’s great about the Wood Shield is that it can be equipped as an off-hand weapon, freeing up your other equipment slots. It can also be useful for parrying enemy attacks and provides a moderate amount of protection when fully upgraded with a level three workbench.
11Banded Shield
Moving along to the Banded Shield, another early-game defensive tool that’s constructed from 10 fine wood and eight iron. The main highlight of this shield is its protection from physical attacks, which are more prominent in Valheim’s starting combat areas.
Like just about every other shield in the game, the Banded Shield can be upgraded to increase its longevity and effectiveness in battle. With a level four forge, you can raise its block armor to 54 and durability to 300, which more than makes up for this shield’s five percent reduced movement speed.
10Bronze Buckler
Next up is theBronze Buckler, a small, circular shield made from four pieces of wood and 10 bronze that provides significantly more blocking power compared to the basic wooden shield. On top of that, it’s a lot more durable, making it one of the best shields in Valheim for starting players.
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Furthermore, you’re able to upgrade it using iron ingots to craft the Iron Buckler, another formidable shield that makes an appearance later on in this list. Overall, if you’re looking for a lightweight shield tailored for more nimble fighting styles, this is a solid choice.
9Bone Tower Shield
One of the rarer shields in Valheim, the Bone Tower Shield can be obtained in the Sunken Crypts. It boasts impressive durability and blocking power compared to other entries on this list, making it extremely useful for deflecting incoming attacks.
To craft the base version of the Bone Tower Shield, you’ll need a mix of 10 pieces of wood, 10 bone fragments, and three skeleton trophies. This all comes together to create a distinct-looking shield that’s powerful and serves as a stylish addition to any arsenal.
8Iron Buckler
Edging out the Bronze Buckler, the Iron Buckler is its meatier cousin crafted from 10 iron and four ancient bark. The result is a well-rounded shield with a 2.5x parry bonus that makes it great for dodging attacks but not so much physical blocking.
With that said it can be highly versatile in the right hands despite favoring more agile playstyles over brute strength. Successfully parrying an enemy’s blow with the Iron Buckler will give you ample time to answer back and deliver a satisfyingly powerful counterattack for increased damage.
7Iron Tower Shield
Keeping with the iron theme, the Iron Tower Shield is one of the best shields in Valheim for defending your Viking from a wide range of physical attacks. This is due to its increased height, base 52 block armor, and staggeringly high 100 block force.
The only downsides are its 20 percent reduced movement speed and 20 percent increased dodge roll cost. Additionally, the Iron Tower Shield requires a much higher skill level than most shields in the game, but will make you feel practically unstoppable once fully mastered.
6Carapace Buckler
Switching gears, the Carapace Buckler is the third buckler shield in Valheim and can be made from three scale hides, 10refined eitr, and 16 carapace. Since it’s aMistlands item, crafting it also requires access to a Black Forge workbench.
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More than worth the trouble seeing as its lightweight design offers moderate protection by the way of parrying but is relatively weaker at blocking damage. If you haven’t noticed by now, this is the signature for buckler shields, which are tailored for faster playstyles that rely on quick movements and flanking maneuvers.
5Black Metal Tower Shield
Black Metal items are among the best gear Valheim has to offer, with the Black Metal Tower Shield ranking high up on that list. Getting one requires you to gather 15 fine wood, seven chains, and of course, 10 black metal.
For all your hard work, you’ll receive a substantially powerful shield that provides base 104 block armor and an impressive 150 block force. While its defensive capabilities are quite potent, the Black Metal Tower Shield will slow you down by 20 percent while raising the cost of dodging by 20 percent.
4Silver Shield
The Silver Shield is another defensive tool that instantly adds value to any loadout by improving your overall survivability. To craft one for yourself, you’ll need 10 fine wood and eight silver, with further upgrades calling for more of both materials.
What makes this shield so unique is that it comes in a wide array of preset designs and colors that you can pick from in the crafting window. Furthermore, this shield is great for parrying attacks and will allow you to stay light on your feet.
3Serpent Scale Shield
Touted as one of the best shields in Valheim by the game’s community, the Serpent Scale Shield offers resistance against piercing damage while blocking. To this point, it has a base 60 block armor, 100 block force, and 250 durability with room for improvement by upgrading it at a level five forge.
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Of course, making one can prove challenging as the Serpent Scale Shield requires 10 fine wood, four iron, and eight serpent scales. It has a sleek and regal-looking design with overlapping scales adorned along its front-facing side.
