Shields?

Do any of the professions actually use a shield or are they more or less worthless in this game?

I think Chrono Mesmer uses it and so does/can engineer - usually with a sword as a holosmith

Not sure if they’re considered “top tier” but certainly viable.

Depends on game mode, shields more visible in pvp/wvw scenario.

Most warrior in pvp/wvw use a shield. Shield makes up an important component in warrior’s sustain. A warrior without shield, is glass cannon at most.

Chronomancer power build does use shield. Many guardian run shield as well. Holosmith run shield with MH sword. These are some classes examples for shield usage.

@MrMojoRisin.7364 said:I think Chrono Mesmer uses it and so does/can engineer - usually with a sword as a holosmith

Not sure if they’re considered “top tier” but certainly viable.

It's considered quite weak on engineer. Bad with pistol, only used with sword because it's the only offhand that makes sense for it.

Guardian uses it frequently in PvP for knockback + protection and aegis.

@Crossaber.8934 said:Depends on game mode, shields more visible in pvp/wvw scenario.

Most warrior in pvp/wvw use a shield. Shield makes up an important component in warrior’s sustain. A warrior without shield, is glass cannon at most.

Chronomancer power build does use shield. Many guardian run shield as well. Holosmith run shield with MH sword. These are some classes examples for shield usage.

Well these are the only classes, herold is the last one missing i think^^

But the main message here is gamemode dependent.Mostly used in PvP and WvW. Not needed in group content due to support from others.Shield comes in handy in solo open PvE though.Warrior shield gives nice gap closer and a oh Sh button.Guard has nice projectile hate on it and is fantastic in Aegis spam builds. Especially potent on DH.Engineer has very good CC on it against breakbars (dont know how it performs in PvP/WvW) and a good block and projectile hate. Its basically warrior and guard shield in one.Chrono has a very potent double block on it which spawns a phantasm each.And it has a nice AoEish stun on it that gives quickness.Herald has probably the most defensive shield. It has a ground target heal that gives protection and probably the strongest oh sh button in the game that blocks all attacks and heals you. Cant move doing so though.

That was shield in a nutshell. Good weapons IMO for survival and CC.

@InsaneQR.7412 said:

@Crossaber.8934 said:Depends on game mode, shields more visible in pvp/wvw scenario.

Most warrior in pvp/wvw use a shield. Shield makes up an important component in warrior’s sustain. A warrior without shield, is glass cannon at most.

Chronomancer power build does use shield. Many guardian run shield as well. Holosmith run shield with MH sword. These are some classes examples for shield usage.

Yes, you are right, i didn't mention Herald with shield. I was just giving builds that still make use of shield according to my daily wvw roaming. I haven't seen a Herald with shield for couple weeks.... but dual sword is being common nowadays.

@gaymer.1648 said:Do any of the professions actually use a shield or are they more or less worthless in this game?

Worthless.

Spellbreakers and some Guardian builds use it for sure

@Svarty.8019 said:

@gaymer.1648 said:Do any of the professions actually use a shield or are they more or less worthless in this game?

Please specify which game mode you think shield is useless?

There are 3 game modes in the the game, pve / pvp / wvw, in which pvp and wvw shield is widely used by meta and non meta builds across multiple classes.

@Crossaber.8934 said:

@Svarty.8019 said:

@gaymer.1648 said:Do any of the professions actually use a shield or are they more or less worthless in this game?

Sure, let's set up an argument, why not?

Shield is worthless in WvW. Yes, some oddball PvP ganker engineers, warriors and weirdo guardians who wanted to pretend they could get a mace/shield build to work have all given it a go over the past few years (specifically BEFORE PoF), but shield is generally worthless and people trying to use it are desperate to do something new or get their pretty legendary weapon to be functional.

@Svarty.8019 said:

@Crossaber.8934 said:

@Svarty.8019 said:

@"gaymer.1648" said:Do any of the professions actually use a shield or are they more or less worthless in this game?

Please specific why do you think it is worthless, all your whole reply doesn't give any rationale how shield generally being worthless.

Guardian shield push back was a good way to res downed ally, warrior shield are widely used for sustain and projectile reflect.

Here are a few examples for Guard and War:https://metabattle.com/wiki/Build:Warrior_-_Dodging_Makes_Righthttps://metabattle.com/wiki/Build:Warrior_-_Core_GS/Axe_Roaminghttps://metabattle.com/wiki/Build:Spellbreaker_-_GS/Daggerhttps://metabattle.com/wiki/Build:Dragonhunter_-_Meditrapperhttps://metabattle.com/wiki/Build:Firebrand_-_Mantra_Bunkerhttps://metabattle.com/wiki/Build:Dragonhunter_-_Symbolichttps://metabattle.com/wiki/Build:Firebrand_-_Support_Firebrandhttps://metabattle.com/wiki/Build:Firebrand_-_Frontline_Firebrandhttps://metabattle.com/wiki/Build:Guardian_-_AH_Frontlinerhttps://metabattle.com/wiki/Build:Dragonhunter_-_Meditrapper_roamer

Shield is very situational, yes, but every weapons are situational.

@Crossaber.8934 said:

@Svarty.8019 said:

@Crossaber.8934 said:

@Svarty.8019 said:

@"gaymer.1648" said:Do any of the professions actually use a shield or are they more or less worthless in this game?

This also doesn’t mention Chrono shield which is a AoE stun and quickness and has arguably the better block. And is meta in multiple builds across all three modes.

Someone just doesn’t like shields I think.

Another bit to keep in mind is that shield is the only weapon that adds to defense stat. It can be a useful little tidbit if your build is crying for bit more armor but you don't wanna sacrifice other stats for it.

Due to the interaction between the Shield Master and Might Makes Right traits, Shield is meta for Warrior in any PvP mode.

It would probably be good in PvE were it not for the fact that mobs just aren’t capable of the spammy aggression of enemy players so you’re not getting enough blocks out of it to stack any worthwhile amount of Might.

Pvp/wvw side, shields see a lot of use. Even guardian shield, which I personally consider garbage, is ok there.

In pve, the only shield that sees use in more than just niche cases is chrono shield. It's part of the raid build for tanking and alacrity. But I actually like it a lot for open world, too. You get good defence, very good aoe damage, and heavy cc that scales with hitbox size, which is ideal as bosses tend to be big in open world.

I keep a shield on both my Chrono-Mes and my Herald. It’s fairly effective on Mesmer, and quite useful on Herald. I mostly play PvE, so I can’t speak much about PvP as it’s been a while since i’ve Played that.

@Svarty.8019 said:

@Crossaber.8934 said:

@Svarty.8019 said:

@gaymer.1648 said:Do any of the professions actually use a shield or are they more or less worthless in this game?

Err.... [image]Luke Skywalker TLJ quote everything you just said is wrong link....

@gaymer.1648 said:Do any of the professions actually use a shield or are they more or less worthless in this game?

Chronomancers use shields in just about all their builds.Some pvp Warrior builds use shield, but not in PvE.Some Holomancers use shield with sword, although rifle is still the best weapon for just about all engineer builds.Guardian can use shields for some situations, but in general, torch or even focus are better.

Also Herald healings builds uses it quite a lot.. reg spam, blocks and heal overall in WvW (even if the current status of the healing rev right now it's not the best one...)

None of the Shield skills "feel" like you're actually using the shield the way it should be in melee combat.

You never get to actually bash or full-on charge with it, which is a pity really.

@"Vivi.2805" said:None of the Shield skills "feel" like you're actually using the shield the way it should be in melee combat.

You never get to actually bash or full-on charge with it, which is a pity really.

Wouldn't blocking attacks also be considered "feeling" the use of a shield?

@"Vivi.2805" said:None of the Shield skills "feel" like you're actually using the shield the way it should be in melee combat.

You never get to actually bash or full-on charge with it, which is a pity really.

Warrior does use it exactly like you’d expect, since they’re not about channeling magic or something through their shield like the rest do.

They block attacks and smack people upside the nogging with it.

Talking T4 fracs and raids

Chrono use shield, huge for both dps, cc and buffs.

Power war (not spellbreaker) use shield in swap with mace for huge cc (about the same cc as moa) and can if needed also be used for support at some bosses/fights (like blocking sloths shake skill for the group)

Power engi (slack build) use either shield or pistol in off-hand depending on the fight and what is needed by the group.

DH can sometimes need to use it for some fight (dropping torch) it is a dps loss, but can bring supportive effects if the parti/squad need it.

Herald as handkite on daimos use it :D

@Sigfodr.9576 said:Power war (not spellbreaker) use shield in swap with mace for huge cc (about the same cc as moa) and can if needed also be used for support at some bosses/fights (like blocking sloths shake skill for the group)

Speaking as a Warrior main here, this is nonsense.

1) Core Warrior in Raids? LOL2) Berserker (classic Condi Banner) and Spellbreaker (new DPS spec) both have more than enough CC available to them without the need to gimp their damage output with inferior weapons like that.

Nobody is going to let a Mace/Shield Warrior into Raids.

@Svarty.8019 said:

@Crossaber.8934 said:

@Svarty.8019 said:

@gaymer.1648 said:Do any of the professions actually use a shield or are they more or less worthless in this game?

What?? As far as I remeber playing Warrior, in pvp and WvW I've used shield on him.. hands down one of the best off hands Warrior as for those game modes, and a must in pvp

And even in PvE core Warrior uses Mace/Shield for breakbarShields ar far from being worthless in this game, there ar far worst weapons

Ps: I mentioned only Warrior because is the only class Ive played in the past year, mostly

@Oglaf.1074 said:

@Sigfodr.9576 said:Power war (not spellbreaker) use shield in swap with mace for huge cc (about the same cc as moa) and can if needed also be used for support at some bosses/fights (like blocking sloths shake skill for the group)

I mean, Nike from DnT was the 1st to mention it, and is already on SnowcrowsDnT also used core Warrior with such set up in their most recent record runs (soth and VG, videos on Nike channel)

Idk what rock you have been under but it is used and it is effective