It's no surprise that players worldwide believe that Elden Ring is GOTY material, even if there's still more content yet to be released like the DLC that some players have found evidence of before its announcement earlier in 2023. In the long wait until the DLC, players still have plenty of caves to explore, ruins to pillage, and ill-omened creatures to fell.

But, players shouldn't expect to breeze through Elden Ring since they'll need to use the best equipment to survive. One type of equipment that can prove useful in vanquishing enemies is a shield since it can protect a player from lethal blows. But, with so many Elden Ring shields to choose from, it can be a challenge to know which one is the best one to get the job done.

Updated March 20, 2024 by Erik Petrovich: Of all the "weapon" categories in Elden Ring, Shields are the most in number. Between the four types of Shields are dozens and dozens of options, many of which are direct copies of each other. But some Shields are worth getting not necessarily for their defenses or buffs, but for what they can do to enhance players' offensive capabilities. The Buckler, for example, makes parrying much easier, and can be absolutely devastating in the hands of a good player despite offering little to no defensive capabilities. The One-Eyed Shield, on the other hand, is a cumbersome thing with one of the coolest, most explosive Ashes of War in Elden Ring. This guide to the best shields Elden Ring players can get has been updated to detail these two powerful Shields, as well as to elaborate on the locations and requirements for every other Shield being ranked.

17 Shield Of The Guilty

The Bleed You Need, Guaranteed

Even though small shields aren't the best at reducing attacks due to their size, Shield of the Guilty is an exception since it has 68 points of Guard Protection. On top of that, since it's a small shield, players can dodge attacks a lot quicker and easier without using too much Stamina.

Another feature that makes this one of the best shields in Elden Ring is that players can use the Shield Bash Ash of War which can stagger most enemies.

Elden Ring Shield of the Guilty Location

To get the Shield of the Guilty Elden Ring players head to the Demi-Human Forest Ruins in the northern forests of the Weeping Peninsula – if you see Castle Morne, you've gone too far. Look for this shield just before the main building with the Demi-Human Queen mini-boss.

16 Beastman's Jar-Shield

Balanced Stats On A Great-Looking Shield

Players who want the best of a greatshield and a small shield will enjoy using the Beastman's Jar-Shield since it balances damage reduction and agility. Another reason why the Beastman's Jar-Shield deserves its spot among the best shields in Elden Ring is that it can be infused with Ashes of War, Magic, and other consumables.

The only problem with this medium shield is that players can only find it at Crumbling Farum Azula, which is considered the end-game area of Elden Ring.

Elden Ring Beastman's Jar-Shield Location

To get the Beastman's Jar-Shield Elden Ring players must defeat Beastmen of Farum Azula, but only the ones found in Crumbling Farum Azula near the end of the game. Players that wish to wield this powerful medium shield can farm it from Beastmen near the Crumbling Beast Grave Depths Site of Grace.

15 Fingerprint Stone Shield

Maddeningly Heavy, And Maddeningly Strong

Even though the Fingerprint Stone Shield is one of the heaviest shields in Elden Ring, and even requires 48 Strength, it's a viable pick for any strength-heavy build. It boasts great defenses, 100% Physical block, and can hold its own against the most Stamina-reducing attacks.

But, one of the main reasons why the Fingerprint Stone Shield is one of the best shields in Elden Ring is that its Ash of War causes Madness build-up. Unfortunately, obtaining this greatshield is no easy task.

Elden Ring Fingerprint Stone Shield Location

To get the Fingerprint Stone Shield Elden Ring players need to defeat Morgott, the Omen King, and the alternate version of Mohg beneath the Leyndell Sewers. After beating both of these powerful bosses, players will need to go to the Cathedral of the Forsaken deep beneath Leyndell, and continue down a specific set of platforms that will eventually lead them to the shield.

14 Jellyfish Shield

There's Nothing Squishy About 100% Physical Reduction

The Jellyfish Shield is undoubtedly one of the most unique-looking greatshields in Elden Ring that most players may ignore due to its squishy appearance. But, this greatshield merits a place in this Elden Ring shield tier list since its Contagious Fury ability boosts the player's attack by 20% for 30 seconds.

But, the buff only applies to single-handed weapons, so players can't use its Ash of War and switch to a two-handed weapon, as it will nullify the effects.

Elden Ring Jellyfish Shield Location

To get the Jellyfish Shield Elden Ring players must go to the area below Four Belfies, specifically to a field west of the Belfries' hill. Look next to a corpse guarded by four Jellyfish, which can easily be reached by heading north from the Foot of the Four Belfries.

13 Scripture Wooden Shield

Great For Parrying As A Caster

The Scripture Wooden Shield is the go-to shield for most players who enjoy using magic builds since it offers a modest amount of defense while still being light enough for players who avoid investing in Stamina. But, the real beauty of the Scripture Wooden Shield is that it can Parry a huge number of attacks from bosses like that of Malenia, Blade of Miquella.

Though the Parry Ash of War can also be bought and applied to other shields, this one is found soon enough that it's a useful shield for mages in the early game. Parrying attacks takes time and practice, so players new to parrying should practice on easier enemies before tackling larger ones.

Elden Ring Scripture Wooden Shield Location

To get the Scripture Wooden Shield Elden Ring players can farm the skeleton enemies found inside Deathtouched Catacombs. It can also be found later on in the Auriza Hero's Grave, though the skeleton farming method is much easier and accessible earlier.

12 Blue-Gold Kite Shield

Easy-To-Get 100% Physical Reduction Shield

While it lacks agility due to its size, it's a great shield to reduce incoming damage or block certain attacks. Moreover, a well-timed Parry can stagger most enemies and bosses, turning the tide of a battle. And if a player has a Talisman that increases maximum Stamina like the Viridian Amber, they can block more attacks.

But, despite its decent stats, other shields can get the job done a lot better, but the reason why Blue-Gold Kite Shield is among the best is that it's a lot easier to obtain when compared to the other shields on the list.

Elden Ring Blue-Gold Kite Shield Location

To get the Blue-Gold Kite Shield Elden Ring players must buy it from the Nomadic Merchant in Eastern Limgrave for 1000 runes. The merchant sits just out of sight just north of Fort Haight. For classes that didn't start with a 100% Physical block shield, it's an invaluable stop to make early in the game.

11 Visage Shield

It's A Shield With An Old Man's Face That Blasts Fire From Its Mouth

Undoubtedly, Greatshields are very effective shields that can protect players from certain death, but players will need to invest in Strength if they want to wield one. And the Visage Shield is a useful Greatshield since it not only protects players but can also spray several jets of fire from its front.

Moreover, players can use Magic and Consumables to buff Tongues of Fire's damage. But, players will use up FP while using the skill, so players do well acquiring the Cerulean Hidden Tear, which grants unlimited FP for a short duration.

Elden Ring Visage Shield Location

To get the Visage Shield Elden Ring players must go to the Caelem Ruins, just down the road from the Smouldering Church on the border of Limgrave and Caelid. Watch out for the Scarlet Rot-infested enemies whose instantly recognizable Pizza Tower scream signals they are about to explode. You will find the Visage Shield on the ground near the ruins.

10 Marred Leather Shield

A Bleed-Buildup Shield That's Found In Limgrave

Even though the Marred Leather Shield doesn't have any Ash of War, it does have a Passive one that causes Blood Loss buildup, which will inflict a massive amount of damage when procced. So, the Marred Leather Shield paired with a Bleed weapon like the Uchigatana can prove to be a lethal combo since both pieces of equipment cause Blood Loss buildup.

To get this shield, players will need to take a secret entrance to Stormveil Castle, making it one of the earliest (and easiest) Status Effect shields in Elden Ring.

Elden Ring Marred Leather Shield Location

To get the Marred Leather Shield Elden Ring players must go to Stormveil Castle, then skip the main route by taking a shortcut offered by Gostoc at the gate. From the second Site of Grace, head up the wooden stairs and pick up the item about halfway up, before you reach the Exile Soldier that blows the horn, to get the Marred Leather Shield.

9 Buckler

Don't Block – Parry Instead

The Buckler is one of the best Elden Ring shields, but not necessarily because its good at defending. In fact, it has some of the least-defensive stats in the game, and hardly negates incoming damage at all. But that' because this shield isn't necessarily meant for defense, it's meant to complement your offensive capabilities with its improved Parry.

The Buckler is one of the few Shields in Elden Ring that gives a wider window for successful Parries, and makes it significantly easier to land a Critical Hit against enemies whose attacks you've memorized.

Elden Ring Buckler Location

To get the Buckler Elden Ring players must either choose to start the game as a Bandit, for whom the Buckler is given as starting equipment, or purchase it from Gatekeeper Gostoc in Stormveil Castle. Gostoc will only have this in his inventory after you open the main gate, whether that's by requesting his aid or by going the long way around. From Gostoc, the Buckler will set you back 1,500 Runes.

8 Coil Shield

It Lacks In Defense, But It Comes With A Snake

Players who enjoy rolling around and dodging attacks (which the Bandit class excels in) will enjoy using the Coil Shield since it's classified as Small Shield, making it lightweight. But, as one might have expected, this shield offers little to no damage mitigation in exchange for this light load.

Despite that minor setback, FromSoftware gave this shield a unique skill in the form of Viper Bite, which unleashes a viper that performs a bite attack on enemies. Moreover, Viper Bite causes Poison to enemy players, and at a rate faster than other Poison sources. For Poison builds, it's a must-have.

Elden Ring Coil Shield Location

To get the Coil Shield Elden Ring players must enter the Volcano Cave in Mt. Gelmir, just north of the Ninth Campsite Site of Grace. Players will have to navigate to a small room located on a cliff, where enemies will ambush them. Get past the ambush to find the Coil Shield on the ground.

7 Great Turtle Shell

A Killer Combo: Stamina Recovery & Barricade Shield

Even though some players may refer to this shield as the Great Dog Shell (which is a running meme in the Elden Ring community), the Great Turtle Shell has a decent balance of defense and weight. But the reason why the Great Turtle Shell is one of the best Elden Ring shields is because of the Ash of War.

Barricade Shield temporarily increases Guard Boost and defense so greatly that players can deflect lethal blows and strike back with little to no impact on Stamina. Moreover, the Great Turtle Shell has a Passive Skill that boosts stamina recovery rate, proving useful against chain attacks. And the good news is that players can obtain this shield without fighting an enemy.

Elden Ring Great Turtle Shell Location

To get the Great Turtle Shell Elden Ring players must go to the Weeping Peninsula and head to the top of a tower just north of Castle Morne. While riding Torrent, leap into the Spirit Spring near the Castle Morne Rampart, and aim for the top of the tower instead of the cliffside. If you miss, jump down and try again. The Great Turtle Shell is found on top of this rampart.

6 Carian Knight's Shield

100% Physical Reduction For Magic Builds

The Carian Knight's Shield has one of the best Guard Boost stats in Elden Ring, especially once it's upgraded past +10. Additionally, this shield is ideal for magic wielders since it offers very good stats with low Strength and Dexterity requirements.

The Carian Knight's Shield is also useful for non-magic users for its notably high Magic defense, which can be great for taking on the Carian Study Hall and its Bow-wielding guardian.

Elden Ring Carian Knight's Shield Location

To get the Carian Knight's Shield Elden Ring players must defeat Carian Knight Moongrum, who is fought just before the Rennala fight in the Academy of Raya Lucaria. He's a tough cookie to crack, but jumping attacks and careful use of the nearby elevator to get him to fall are his weaknesses (a similar tactic some players use to farm millions of Runes).

5 Brass Shield

All-Around Great Defensives, But High Weight

The Brass Shield is one of the game's best early shields for its relatively low requirements, great stats, and ability to be imbued with new Ashes of War. Though it is outclassed eventually by lighter shields, more defensive shields, or more build-oriented ones, the Brass Shield can take players all the way through Elden Ring.

The major downside to the Brass Shield is its weight, taking up a huge 7.0 weight when equipped. Players who want to maintain a Light load should avoid this one in favor of a Kite shield.

Elden Ring Brass Shield Location

The easiest way to get the Brass Shield Elden Ring players can farm the Raya Lucaria soldiers gathered outside of Raya Lucaria Academy. Players can also farm Godrick Soldiers at the Gatefront Ruins and the rest of Limgrave, but they should only attack the ones carrying the shield itself. Despite having multiple drop locations, its difficult to farm the Brass Shield as it's one of the rarest (0.8% Drop Chance) shield drops in Elden Ring. But you will likely get one or more while leveling up and playing normally, considering the number of guards the Tarnished comes up against in Limgrave and Liurnia.

4 Dragonclaw Shield

Awesome Design For Relatively Low-Weight Greatshield

Arguably the coolest-looking shield in Elden Ring, the Dragonclaw Shield is a fantastic greatshield that can block even the strongest attacks. The Ash of War is also useful during combat, especially for players who aren't good at parrying, as Shield Bash will push weaker enemies and stagger bosses.

The main benefit of this shield is its appearance, as its defensive stats are a bit lower than other greatshields. But thanks to its relatively low weight, the Dragonclaw Shield can free up some room in one's Equip Load for better armor.

Elden Ring Dragonclaw Greatshield Location

To get the Dragonclaw Greatshield Elden Ring players must defeat the Draconic Tree Sentinel, just outside the entrance to Leyndell. It's a tough fight, but fortunately, this optional boss also drops the Colossal weapon Dragon Greatclaw, a perfect match for the shield in aesthetic and play style.

3 One-Eyed Shield

Less Of A Shield, More Of An Elden Ring Cannon

The One-Eyed Shield is not only one of the heaviest things in Elden Ring, it's also got a unique Ash of War that turns it into essentially a long-range cannon. It is a Shield with great defenses (100% Physical and at least 60% for all Elemental types), but you don't wield this Shield for the stats: you wield it for the Flame Spit Ash of War.

When you use the Flame Spit Ash of War, your character will take a moment to set up, aim, and fire an explosive blast of Fire at whatever you are aimed at. It deals Explosive damage, knocks enemies away, and is incredible at long range. This Ash of War uses a ton of FP, so you won't be able to spam it. But there's not much you can do when facing off against a player with one of these in PvP except try to time your dodges and get out of line of sight.

Elden Ring One-Eyed Shield Location

To get the One-Eyed Shield Elden Ring players must defeat Chief Guardian Arghanthy in the Guardian's Garrison on the way to the top of the Giant's Forge in the Mountaintops of Giants. This optional boss is encountered at the top of the Guardian's Garrison, and will use Giants' Flame attacks against you. Once defeated, you should automatically get the One-Eyed Shield – but be sure to loot the chest behind Arghanthy for the Giant's Prayerbook to unlock unique Giants' Flame incantations.

2 Beast Crest Heater Shield

Another Easy-To-Find 100% Physical Reduction Shield

Undoubtedly, the best small or medium starter shield in Elden Ring, the Beast Crest Heater Shield has a great balance of defense for its weight – including 100% physical block. Its low weight and low stat requirements make it ideal for any class, as it only requires a paltry 10 Strength to equip.

Additionally, players can upgrade the Crest Heater Shield with Ashes of War, arguably the best of which is the Barricade Shield ability. Whatever one's playstyle, the Beast Creat Heater Shield is a great choice, and it can be found very early in the game.

Elden Ring Beast Crest Heater Shield Location

To get the Beast Crest Heater Shield Elden Ring players must head to the Saintsbridge to the east of Stormhill, and head back towards Stormveil to a camp filled to the brim with Godrick soldiers. Look for a chest, quickly hop off Torrent, open the chest, loot it, and re-mount to get out of there without a scratch.

1 Erdtree Greatshield

Golden Retaliation: It's Better Than Parrying

The Erdtree Greatshield is not only one of the best Elden Ring shields, but it also has one of the best Ashes of War. Remember the Tree Sentinel at the beginning of the game, the one that parried spells with a blast of Holy energy back at the Tarnished? That's what this Ash of War does, it parries spells – sorceries and incantations alike – and turns them into projectiles.

Some players have found a way to exploit Golden Retaliation with self-harming incantations like Fire's Deadly Sin, which sets a large area ablaze.

Elden Ring Erdtree GreatshieldLocation

To get the Erdtree Greatshield Elden Ring players must kill the two Tree Sentinels guarding the southern gate into the Outer Moat of Leyndell. Though the duo technically both must die for the shield to spawn, one can be pulled off from the other behind the gate so players can focus them down. Either way, the shield only drops when both of the Tree Sentinels do.