Elden Ring is full of shields, with a lot of them deserving to be upgraded. This top 10 list will help you find that shield worthy of your valuable smithing stones, with shields being as great as they are, I doubt that you will have a hard time finding your preferred shield. Remember shields pair well with most weapons, but you can also beat the game with only a shield and a lot of skill.

The best shield can only be acquired with the best ending.

10. Inverted Hawk Heater Shield

Elden Ring loves inverting things.

This amazing shield, which requires 10 strength to use, has 100 physical absorption, meaning if you block and get hit by a physical attack you won’t take any damage. As each player will use a heater shield at least once, why not use the best one. The shield can be upgraded with normal smithing stones and has B heavy scaling at +25.

Why the Inverted Hawk Heater Shield is great:

• Good damage absorption.
• Low requirements.
• Can be infused with ashes of war 

How to get the Inverted Hawk Heater Shield:

• Go to the Siofra River.
• Southeast of the Siofra River bank Grace.
• Run past 3 enemies, it will be on a body.

Inverted Hawk Heater Shield details: https://eldenring.wiki.fextralife.com/Inverted+Hawk+Heater+Shield

9. Golden Beast Crest Shield

The main reason to use this shield, Serosh is depicted on it.

The Golden Beast Crest shield will be one of the first shields you see, as it is wielded by the first boss of the game, Grafted Scion. The shield has amazing absorption with the requirements of 24 strength and B scaling at +25.

Why the Golden Beast Crest Shield is great:

• Great absorption.
• Can be infused with ashes of war.
• Can be buffed with magic and consumables.

How to get the Golden Beast Crest Shield:

• Dropped by Grafted Scion at the Chapel of Anticipation.
• You can return later in the game to the Chapel if you died at the start of the game. 

Golden Beast Crest Shield details: https://eldenring.wiki.fextralife.com/Golden+Beast+Crest+Shield

8. Buckler

The Buckler is one of the best shields if you’re a parry God.

The Buckler is famed for being one of the best parrying weapons in the Souls games. With the requirements of  8 strength and 13 dex, and being upgradeable with normal smithing stones it is one amazing weapon with the possibility of B scaling.

Why the Buckler is great:

• Can be infused with ashes of war.
• Can be buffed with magic and consumables.
• Great for parrying but not for blocking.

How to get the Buckler shield:

• Bandit starting class shield.
• Sold by Gatekeeper Gastoc at Stormveil Castle for 1500 runes.
• If he is killed, his bell bearing can be given to the Twin Maiden Husks and the shield can alternatively be purchased from them.

Buckler details: https://eldenring.wiki.fextralife.com/Buckler

7. Brass Shield

The Brass Shield is one of the larger medium shields.

The Brass Shield is one of the best medium shields in the game with the requirements of 16 strength and being upgradeable with normal smithing stones. This weapon can be taken to B heavy scaling at +25.

Why the Brass Shield is great:

• Highest guard boost stat out of all medium shields.
• Can be buffed with magic and consumables.
• Can be infused with ashes of war.

How to get the Brass Shield:

• Low drop rate from Godrick Soldiers wielding it, approximately 0.8%
• Can also drop from Raya Lucaria Soldiers wielding it.

Brass Shield details: https://eldenring.wiki.fextralife.com/Brass+Shield

6. Shield Of Guilty

Kill Varre with this shield to show him who’s the maidenless runt.

The Shield of Guilty is a small shield that requires you to have 8 strength to use it, as it upgrades with normal smithing stones you can have B scaling at +25.

Why the Shield of Guilty is great:

• Low requirements with low weight.
• Has blood loss.
•  Can be infused with ashes of war.
• Can be buffed with magic and consumables.

How to get the Shield of Guilty:

• Go to Weeping Peninsula.
• To the Demi-Human Forest Ruins.
• Before the main room with the boss fight, jump over a wall, to access the stairs leading to a cellar.

Shield of Guilty details: https://eldenring.wiki.fextralife.com/Shield+of+the+Guilty 

5. Haligtree Crest Greatshield

If only this shield would make Malenia easier.

The Haligtree Crest is a beautiful greatshield with the requirements of 36 strength. This shield can be upgraded with normal smithing stones for B scaling. This shield is carried by the Haligtree soldiers, so you will be able to get this shield very late game.

Why the Haligtree Crest Greatshield is great:

• Can be infused with Ashes of War.
• Can be buffed with magic and consumables.
• Great absorption. 

How to get the Haligtree Crest Shield:

• Go to Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree.
• Go to the graveyard at the bottom, by the church.
• Only the Haligtree Knights wielding a greatsword and shield can drop this shield.

Haligtree Crest Greatshield details: https://eldenring.wiki.fextralife.com/Haligtree+Crest+Greatshield

4. Carian Knight Shield

The enemy you have to beat for this shield is harder than the boss after, luckily gravity can sometimes be your friend.

The Carian Knight Shield is a medium shield that requires 10 strength and 10 dex with 15 intelligence. The shield can be upgraded with normal smithing stones and have up-to-B scaling.

Why the Carian Knight Shield is great: 

• Can be infused with ashes of war.
• Can be buffed with magic and consumables.

How to get the Carian Knight Shield:

• Go to Raya Lucaria Academy.
• On your way to Rennala, you will be invaded before her elevator.
• Defeat Moongrum, either fairly or via the elevator trick.
• His shield will drop after.

Carian Knight shield details: https://eldenring.wiki.fextralife.com/Carian+Knight's+Shield

3. Visage Shield

The Visage Shield is better than some weapons when it comes to damage.

The Visage shield is an amazing greatshield with the requirements of 44 strength. The weapon can be upgraded with somber smithing stones and can have B scaling at +10.

Why the Visage Shield is great:

• Amazing ash of war that sprays fire out of the shield, can also do the ash of war while walking.
• Amazing damage absorption.
• Low FP usage.

How to get the Visage Shield:

• Go to Caelem Ruins. 
• Defeat the Mad Pumpkin Head Duo.
• The shields, or should I say weapon- shield duo is in a chest accessible after beating them.

Visage Shield details: https://eldenring.wiki.fextralife.com/Visage+Shield

2. One-Eyed Shield

Is this the one-eyed god Odin?

The One-Eyed Shield depicts a Malformed one-eyed god, this enemy is believed to have been slain by Marika (phew). The shield requires 36 strength and can be upgraded with somber smithing stones, it can have B strength scaling at plus 10.

Why the One-Eyed Shield is great:

• Great skill, flame spit.
• Great absorption.

How to get the One-Eyed Shield:

• Go to the Mountaintops of the Giants.
• Go to the Guardian’s Garrison
• Defeat the mini-boss, Chief Guardian Arghanthy.
• Drops after the fight has been won.

One-Eyed Shield details: https://eldenring.wiki.fextralife.com/One-Eyed+Shield

1. Fingerprint Greatshield

This will always be the best shield in the game.

The Fingerprint Greatshield is the best shield in the game. With amazing stats and requirements of 48 strength. It can be upgraded with normal smithing stones and can have B scaling. This amazing shield is worth the trouble of being Mario for an hour just to try and get to where it is.

Why the Fingerprint Greatshield is great:

• Amazing absorption 
• Can be infused with ashes of war.
• Can be buffed with magic and consumables.
• Causes Madness to build up.

How to get the Fingerprint Greatshield:

• Defeat Margott, The Omen King.
• Go to the Cathedral of the Forsaken.
• Defeat Mohg, the Omen.
• Roll into the invisible wall at the back.
• Drop down from gravestone to gravestone till you get to the corpse.
• Enter the alcove and head down the corridor, the shield will be next to a nomad. 
• You can also use this nomad to attack the environment for another item.

Fingerprint Greatshield details: https://eldenring.wiki.fextralife.com/Fingerprint+Stone+Shield

This concludes our list of best shields to upgrade in Elden Ring, remember that the fingerprint shield pairs well with a cutscene where you burn down the Erdtree in the name of madness! If you enjoyed this article be sure to check these out as well.

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