Did you get to Shield Master? All of what you speak of can be avoided using that perk, The only time my shield drops, as you stated, it’s because I ran out of stamina, hence I can’t raise my shield.
I do all the time. There’s a rhythm to it, generally 3 hits then block. Shields don’t work against heavy attacks from mace weilders though, you have to roll away from those. I only play PVE so I don’t know how they work in PVP.
in pvp i think they are worthless.
Maybe if they can block certain weapons,block in a bigger area stagger for more time or even apply a debuff that prevents the enemy from rolling for a few seconds they can be viable.
Currently in pvp the meta is agi claws the shield already blocks their light attacks so maybe if the shield is a little better there could ways to counter and give a chance to str weapons/build.
idk, they can do many things to improve shield, not even mentioning that the 2 last perk of grit are useless.
i think shields should be buffed as a whole.
I usually just wear a shield for the cooling/heating stats…
As an actual combat tool, even for just withstanding an attack it simply is inferiour to roll.
In this game, roll is just soooo op, that not using it constantly in combat would gimp yourself.
Rolling also has an instant effect, no delay and most of all interrupts your current animation.
It’s a 100% escape move. Raising your shield isn’t.
It would be cool, if they were more or less equal. One for Agility builds and one for Strength, but unfortunately it isn’t.
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No, it cannot.
The clipping and shield drop issues (bugs) are not avoided with that perk.
The ability to, at a stamina cost where you might as well have rolled anyway, block otherwise unlockable attacks is there, on paper. When it isn’t bugged. Which it historically has been year after year.
What a waste. Take a perk that rarely works instead of steel thewed.
Even if everything we’re working as intended, having to run all the way up and take the highest perk of a tree to put blocking on par with dodging is…
Not better.
In some ways, it’s worse.
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If you choose Shield Master, maces, two-handed hammers or two-handed swords can be blocked.
Although I agree with you, the perk works in general, what you describe is indeed the bugs, but it does work, when it works. What I don’t enjoy is dodging, the shield should work. One should be able to stand one’s ground… alas.
The Arena Champion, for one, bounces right off the shield, no damage. It’s the area of effect damage that seem to present problems inside tough dungeons. Maces, two handers, lunges from world bosses, they are all shrugged off by the shield. Yet there is evidently a problem.
If you choose Shield Master, your shield will block most attacks. Wear stamina heavy armor, the Arena champion will bounce right off your shield, it’s the area effect damage that seems to present a problem. Maces, two-handers, even lunges from world bosses will be blocked. Rolling is a much better option, if you like rolling about constantly; myself, I choose to stand my ground, but it’s bugged, or poorly rendered.
Yeah forgot about that point. It can devastate your gameplay because the animations (and I believe the reach as well but don’t quote me) are different.
No, it shouldn’t, because the game is specifically designed to make sure that it shouldn’t. If there’s one fundamental message in this thread it’s that It shouldn’t work.
If you want them to change their game design (which is certainly a legit desire, we all have things that we wish they would change about the game) then post it in the suggestions as a suggestion to FunCom, that’s the only way it’s ever going to change. But until or unless they change their game design, trying to stand one’s ground shouldn’t work.
You can certainly keep spitting into the wind if that makes you feel justified, but it’s never going to work (unless they change their game design) because the game designers don’t want it to work.
Two handed axes (heavy attack) slice right thru it.
For awhile they were even doing extra damage when they chopped thru.
This may be better now, but it was still happening throughout the Age of War.
The issue is, on paper is irrelevant.
What we must assess is the way the game is, not the way it should be.
Until the bugs are ironed out, this one cannot suggest the shield, even if this one would prefer it to rolling around like an isopod.
Except when fighting rockslide or other absurdly large and disjointed from in game model hit box attackers.
Then it is best bet
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This fight is static, completely tank style. Although i don’t like this style, even if it did exist i wouldn’t choose it, i do respect your request.
Dodge is not bad however, dodge is an art in this game, maybe the best combat mechanism this game has.
But i do agree that there are things that need improvement.
Except the fact that shield doesn’t always respond correctly, use of shield should have more consequences that shield master perk should reduce. For example a fight with rock nose while using a shield is hilarious, you have a stone beast of hundreds of tons punching or spinning and your shield can bounce these attacks 
. Only his 2h stomp cannot be shielded yet it doesn’t dmg you so much while using a shield..
Then again a static shield shouldn’t be able to block so many attacks, only a bashing shield, that’s why i insist on shield rework.
Hammers should crash static shields and users like bugs, but they bounce.
A shield must bash to drop down enemies before they strike and shields should be used alone as weapons in time (while my enemy is on the ground i grad my shield with both of my hands and hit him on the ground) that’s the only thing i care to see about shields tbh.
Thanks for this thread. After reading what seemingly experienced players are writing here, I realized why agility is meta now. The answer is simple: the vast majority don’t know how to use a shield. Which means they have no counter-measure against fast attacks.
Again, change the block from Ctrl to right-click and heavy attack to Ctrl. After that, you will be able to run in any direction with your shield always up. Including running straight at the enemy. Dodge attacks by simply shifting left/right, protecting yourself with a raised shield. And a lot more.
Theoretically, this is possible with the default Ctrl block… All you need is the sixth finger on the inside of your left palm. But unless you’re a mutant or an alien, the block needs to be reassigned to the right mouse click. Without that, the shield is uh-oh, you have to stop, press Ctrl, and do it at very right time… Sure thing, it won’t do much good.
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Never said I expect a shield to block a rockslide onslaught; that would be asinine, there are instances where you either move, or die, shield or not. I, however, have been able to block the spin attack of the Red Mother; took damage, yes, but I was still standing and able to keep fighting and defeated her. I do not expect invulnerability, I am talking about reasonable balance and bug issues; folk here seem to think I propose changing the game. I wish these people took a second and think a little clearer.
Shield bash would be really cool, for example.
No attack or weapon gets passed Shield Master. Fight the arena champion with this perk, you might be surprised.
But it does 
, without even the shield master.
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Yes, it does, but you take a crapton of damage, tho, as you do with the Red Mother. It’s just never gonna work, this game is “dodge-on-queue”, and that’s fine. Just wanted input about shields, and the conclusion was pretty clear.
Shields are awesome until end-game. It matters that you use the shield not just for yourself to block hits on your follower (that you want max dps). I watched some vids that made this a science.
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Your shield takes a crapton of dmg, not you and the last time i do it the shield dmg has been reduced significantly.
Completely different boss, red Mother has been designed to be perfect dodged not shielded and tbh this is correct. I cannot expect and i wouldn’t wish to see any of these dragons to be stopped by any shield, the only thing i could accept would be Mistmourn or Solspeil to endure their breath.
I believe that the reason devs allowed rockslide to be shielded is because of how tall they are and where they are located. The area of fighting, especially on exile lands is too small and not so flat, so especially on consoles that we cannot have the cameras of pc, in order to see the next move and dodge it you have to take distance, rockslide however moves fast and covers this distance giving you again “blindness” of his movement. There for, the shield block was easier than a complete revamp of rockslide.
No it’s not entirely this way, because like @Dzonatas said…
This game provides the most lethal shield of all times, the “meat shield”. You can even give superior powers to your meat shield and do totally nothing on fights than debuff and stagger the enemy.
And you did very well because shields need first fixing, then refining and lastly cool features.
But for God’s sake we don’t need overpowered game breaking shields.
Errm, ok.
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