![dark soul 3 shields dark soul 3 shields](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/7353513/Shield_-_Ethereal_Oak_Shield_1.0.jpg)
However any character with a strong endurance who doesn't mind the heavy burden will find the best protection behind these shields. These shields are too heavy for light characters to even consider wielding without sacrificing mobility or dedicated rings to lighten their load.
![dark soul 3 shields dark soul 3 shields](https://vancouverwebdesign.com/blogimgs/https/cip/cdn.gamer-network.net/2015/articles/1/8/2/3/8/6/5/dark-souls-3-new-game-plus-ng-tipps-vorbereitung-unterschiede-checkliste-1460469198667.jpg)
Weighing as much as 26.0 units these aren't your regular shield. These heavy unrelenting shields resemble more a wall than anything else. Example shields are the Crest Shield and Kite Shield. Most of these shields have 100% physical damage reduction making them great at blocking instead of parrying. A wide variety of specialized shields come in this category as well allowing the prepared adventurer to easily swap to a similarly weighted shield based on the occasion. Good all round values makes this the most common shield type and the one you'll be using most of the time. Standard shields vary from lighter variants used by lighter characters to heavier ones used by more robust characters. These shields are a well balanced mixture of defense and weight. Example shields in this category are the Small Leather Shield or the Target Shield. Their lighter weight also makes them ideal for quick, agile characters with low equipment weight capacity. Small Shields typically have low deflection but are much better suited for parrying than their larger brethren. These shields also have comparatively low stability a large amount of stamina is consumed when physical attacks are blocked, leading to a higher risk of being knocked off-balance. At present, no known Small Shield deflects 100% of incoming physical damage. They generally have above-average magic and elemental resistances, but their physical damage mitigation is sub-par. Shields come in three basic types: Small Shields, Standard Shields, and Greatshields.
![dark soul 3 shields dark soul 3 shields](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gdgEFA10yYk/maxresdefault.jpg)
Shield Categories‍ | Deflection Level | Parry Type | Upgrades Shield Categories‍ Shield Information for Dark Souls and Dark Souls Remastered, explaining Shield mechanics and differences between the categories available to the player.