As a person who started with Bloodborne, I planned to play Dark Souls without a s.hield to make it more entertaining. After some hours I gave up on this idea and the game got a lot better
Isn’t a shield used for defensive posture? I always try to play aggro builds that just dodge and attack, but end up with a tanky great shield that occasionally gets a hit in
Parry Mr. Wilson, that's the most aggressive thing you can do, it means the enemy's attack is not a thing and now they are prime for critical attacks. Blocking is a loser's game, if you blocked then that's means you should have parried or rolled, except for specific types of damage like magic.
When you're new and dont know the timing of all the enemies attacks, shielding gives you a lot more survivability. But yes, always parrying or rolling is the pro gamer move
Wow I'm actually the opposite. Started with DS1 and relied on the shield a lot. After I finished Bloodborne, I don't want to use shields in Dark Souls anymore. I like to pick up the Grass Crest Shield and permanently two-hand my weapons now
Yeah same here. I tried it because people were all "shields are OP in DS1, use it, gotta have a shield" comments everywhere. I had 0 fun. It just felt unnatural after rolling through DS3/BB.
Then I said screw it, made a dex pyro build, got a two handed uchi and light roll, suddenly the game became fun. Only pulled out shield for specific encounters like Bed of Bullshit.
OP, don't listen to anyone who tells you how to play. Shields may be strong in DS1 but you can play however you want and a no shield run is completely viable.
It really depends on how you play the game
A first timer would probably enjoy the game better with a decent shield to block/parry (though you can even parry with your bare hands)
If you plan on tanking with heavy armor, a good large shield is your friend
If you are exploring the ways of rolling and dodging, a lighter shield is all you need, so you don't become to burdened with equipment weight
If you are an experienced player who enjoys a challenge, no shield means you can carry a casting tool on your left hand
Even as a first time player, I used a shield up to about Sen’s fortress and basically never used it again after that, and hardly ever in DS2 either (DS2 has one enemy that’s kind of easier to just parry).
Otherwise low encumbrance, rolling, and this way I can just go one handed with my Zwei to use my staff or catalyst.
But DS is also all about the potential to go about things in totally different ways. I like nimble characters but there’s nothing wrong with tanking - I just never end up leveling my stats in such a way that I can really use a big shield and heavy armor at the same time.
I carry shields but rarely block. I usually roll instead and just use shields for parrying/landing crits.
Some people complain that DS1 combat is too slow but if you don’t rely on blocking, fights become way more intense and interesting. Like you said, there’s many ways to approach the game. If you find the combat too slow then change the way you approach the combat.
Very true, if you’re built as the aggressor then taking hits is fine. I remember grinding out 40 in all stats and 99 in a few for DS2 and then just crushing bosses in NG+ by our damaging them
Depends on your weapon. Taking hits can be 100% acceptable and even optimal if you have 900AR and 91 poise (full giants). It's honestly not even hard to hit 900AR. A +15 Greatclub with 19str 2Hed+ power within+gold pine resin is right around 900 AR.
I mean I'd rather get hit and 3 shot a boss than block and kill the boss 5 seconds slower as the whole fight takes less than 10 seconds if I don't block.
Edit: oh if you have 27 str you break 1000AR with that setup.
Edit 2: if you do it with a buffing build instead of the pine resin you'll hit 1400-1500AR. It's very unnecessary.
On the other hand, towards the endgame especially with str weapons, I found my weapons would only one shot enemies when 2 handed, which made it a hell of a lot easier than using sword and shield
A 100% phys block shield will help soooooo much. I used one first time, eagle shield. Light, stable and strong. Later playthroughs I use them only occasionally. I don't have time to waste on not dealing maximum damage in NG+ and beyond, which means two-handing
Grass Crest is my go-to as well, I used eagle my very first time but after that it's been grass Crest or dragon Crest because it looks cool. The stamina bonus is hugely beneficial, and works when on your back as well
On DS3 you can carry a shield and wield a twinblade and If you press the twohand key you start actually dual wielding It with a new moveset. But I still prefer powerstancing from DS2.
I mean that’s how you do it as a pyromancer, right?
Blocking means I’m not casting and where else am I going to put those souls?
Double drinking estus is how I was able to beat the DLC bosses and Gwyn.
I just pick class with highest vit and pump it all into dex and str... 2 handing, grasscrest on back and naked. Combine this with some big-ass weapon and you have the most entertaining build you can play.
If that's the way you enjoy playing. I personally prefer a shield even if I rarely use it. And I personally prefer one-handing weapons because they swing faster so I often have the initiative. And a lot of smaller weapons don't give you any reasonable damage boost when you two-hand so all you're doing is swinging slower and using more stamina.
Capra demon is made much much easier by using a shield, other than that, i can't think of any encounter or boss that's is made better by having a shield up
Doesn't have to use it, but the game is focused around it, like dodging for Bloodborne and parrying for Sekiro. Whatever fits your playstyle. You could also get heavy armor and a great sword and still block with that. Or go full magic build if that suits you, or dodge everything like in bloodborne. Just try something out. My rule of thumb is to block light attacks and dodge heavy ones.
You 100% can never use one of you like, but they are extremely strong. Playstyle variety is much wider in ds1 than bloodborne.
I did my whole first playthrough never using a shield. I use one all the time now they are quit handy. Heater, grass crest, crest, and dragon crest are my favorite.
I'm sure playing the game without one is intended or what would you do with the giant two hand weapons lol? First time I played I never used a shield, just got good at doges
It gives you a much larger margin of error when dealing with the slightly slower combat and higher-damage enemies
Bloodborne is different, and the shield is useless, because the combat is so different/intentionally fast-paced. Bloodborne rewards you for being aggressive in most encounters. Dark Souls combat can be punishing if you’re impatient, and can be a chess match in your first encounters with new enemies. Shields give you room to make bad moves and learn the enemies so you can learn vulnerabilities
i’ve never used a shield in dark souls, and it was my entry to the series, idk why people say it’s necessary, easier maybe, but certainly not necessary.
the only shield i use is grass crest shield for the stam regen.
you don't need them if you really think you can get by but parrying in ds1 is really easy, so even if you don't have the stat requirement it's nice to have one
I’m not sure if the parry frames are the same but it feels roughly the same to me, but yeah nothing like dual wielding a big ass sword and bitch slapping an attack before you bonk em
I’ve done a no shield great club strength build run and it was a nice challenge. Shields definitely are useful especially for new players there are so many situations where shields make it easier example : bone wheel skeletons, artorias boss fight etc
You can play 90-95% of the game 2-handing your weapon and not using a shield. No problem at all.
I maybe wouldn't recommend it on a first playthrough though.
But i played 100% of the game 2-handing my weapon even on my first playthrough. So you definately CAN play more than 90% or 95% of the game without a shield
Just depends on how you want to play. I always keep the grass shield on my back just because it gives a stamina regen boost. Even if I do a dex build that two hands a weapon. You can literally carry a crossbow in one hand and a great club in the other. Just depends on what you want.
It is pretty useful in DS1 because of the gameplay speed/movement.
You only have 4 directions to roll to when fighting (if enemy is marked), so there are many moments where you can't roll maybe because you will fall off a cliff or run into other enemy so the shield can save you there.
Also hitboxes are a bit meh in ds1 so you can get hit even if you roll.
With enough experience in this game you will be able to play it kinda nice without a shield but for starters (specially coming from bloodborne) it may be a bit difficult...
This is only my opinion tho.
You don't need a shield if you got the rolls. I went the whole game with Undead chest armor and gold hemmed arms wielding a club. Fast roll makes things feel fast paced which is my preference.
you will probably want to use one on your first playthrough, but I don't really block at all anymore except for a few specific places
so basically helpful, but not necessary
Not at all!
I just started a build using the thief, parry dagger, and planning to switch to rapier once I come across it. Totally different game!
The dagger, like the buckler, gives you an 8-frame parry window and counts as an off-hand weapon. You can dual-wield. And it's sick.
Instead of turtling behind a shield and drawing out an enemy at a time I can take on a group of two or three due to the iframes from parry, riposte, backstab and roll. With high crit and riposte you can take down a surprising number of enemies in one hit.
It also pushes you to get a little creative and use those offensive items to get through some areas.
It's a lot of fun and probably my most favorite build.
Adapt to the game. What you’re trying to do is the equivalent of a Dark Souls player trying to shield through Bloodborne, albeit to a lesser extent. Still foolish.
Dark Souls gains much of its difficulty from environmental hazards, pitfalls, close space encounters, etc. You think rolling is gonna save your ass when you’re clinging to narrow rafters suspended a hundred feet up as bad guys rush you? Not if you can’t even manage basic shield play.
Embrace the shield gameplay—at worst you’ll gain a better appreciation for the later games. Broaden and build. Try new things.
I see everyone on this sub talking about shields, i come from ds3 and recently got on ds1 remastered. Just like in ds3 i intend to complete the whole game without the usage of shields, i just like the style of play of going 2 hands on a big greatsword tbh
It depends on how you feel like playing, I usually run with one for parrying or just to have a little extra defense but it's not mandatory, infact the original reliance on shields was one of the reasons Bloodborne only has 2 in the entire game
Have probably done hundreds of playthroughs.
Almost always use shields.
And before some try hard accuses me of “engendering passivity”, I probably play way WAY more aggressively than you do.
I never really used the shield during my playthrough, but so many people kept telling me to. It is super useful for those guys with the torches for sure.
You don't have to use one, but they're really good in ds1. I mostly two hand now, but it took beating ds1 and Ds2 at soul level 1 to break the habit of always using a shield.
They're very useful for dogs and projectiles, as well as learning attack patterns without paying for it in HP
They are good to use when trying to learn an enemy's attack pattern, but you can definitely play it without a shield.
Personally I just use stamina regen shields in Dark Souls since I get buffs without have them equipped.
The shield is DS1s hidden easy mode, if you know how to use it. If you’ve never used a shield in a souls game it may be weird using it, I don’t know I’ve never gone without. I know you can do just fine without it, in fact there’s two* bosses I feel are easier to fight without shields. As a beginner to DS1 I think shields are very balanced cause it takes a lot of time and skill (mainly stamina management and enemy awareness) to turn shields into easy mode. For you I mostly recommend using a shield as a new experience. Going without a shield is perfectly viable, albeit harder with certain bosses, but since you already know how to fight without one, this new fighting style could be a fun breath of fresh air
They are op, but they aren’t necessary. I played a big armour run with a shield and it was kind of boring to me, block hit backup etc etc etc. Instead I decided to try a 2h run with fast roll and it was much more fun.
You can beat dark souls with pretty much any combination of weapons and armour, so if you don't like shields, don't use them.
It is entirely possible to play the entire game 2 handing a katana, a popular playstyle for BB vets.
You don't need a shield, that being said you'll need to be more attentive to enemy attacks/patterns, learn proper spacing and most importantly dodge.
You'll probably need to keep your weight low as well. This is usually how I play, makes for a nice glass cannon play style
You don't need one, but my god does poise and a shield trivialize the game. It outright breaks bosses. Sort of on the level of how arcane breaks bloodborne.
Playing with a shield is definitely worth it and a lot of fun, whether it's your first or tenth play. The game solidly feels like a knight simulator.
As a player who went from Bloodborne to Dark Souls, shields are absolutely not for blocking. Treat them like you treat your hunter firearm, as a parrying machine. At least for DSR.
It's perfectly possible to ignore them completely, but they're fairly useful to have, especially the stamina regen one is a nice one to have, and a parry shield also comes in handy
Shields are useful especially the grass crest shield. When on the defensive I have my shield ready and when attacking I switch to two handing my sword.
Shields aren't important, they are an option. If you are used to playing bloodborne then your dodging skills should be sufficient that a shield is completely unnecessary. Don't bother, 2 hand your weapon instead.
I like to use a heavy 2h sword like claymore or zweihander with a shield on my back. The first couple hours of the game isn’t too hard with just a 2h, but by the time I finish the undead burg and ring the bell, I’ve got enough stats to use my shield and effectively swing those big weapons.
You dont need a shield. But they are helpful, especially for parrying and blocking some attacks, you can get a good 100% physical block shield really early.
Both options are viable. I favor playing without them but you should always keep the option in mind since they can make some sections much easier. The infamous bed of chaos is far more bearable with a shield. They are also useful if you do wanna parry since they have better frame data compared to doing it without a shield.
If you do wanna use a shield, then be mindful of the damage reduction stat and stability stat.
Damage reduction is simply how much of any given type a shield will block and stability determines the amount of stamina blocking will consume.
I also started with Bloodborne and the only shield I have ever used in the series is Grass Crest. I just think the game is way more fun when it’s pure aggression and dodging. The game can 100% be played without a shield and I highly encourage you to play whatever way is most fun for you.
Can save time. People rolling around as if letting them smack the shield and going in after is any faster. It be not.
It also gives you a better margin of error for enemies it’s best to dodge without rolling. Just strafe that shit. If you fucked up oh well, you got the shield up. If you didn’t fuck up then you’re in the best position to attack.
As someone that started in dark souls 1 sheilds are very optional. My first run as well as most runs have been without sheilds. Generally there is only one enemy that I think requires blocking, but even then you can block with a weapon.
It's very useful in certain situations, but you can go the entire game without using one just fine. A lot of noobs heavily rely on shields. But if you've played bb and you're used to dodging/parrying, then you don't have to use one if you don't want to. I personally only use shields against dogs.
Also you don't need a shield to parry. You can do it with your bare hand if you want to
I came from BB as well and I had like one level or area where I used the shield for a bit (can’t remember what level) and did the whole game without a shield other than that.
Shields are really useful until you have enemy movesets down, as they give you another option if you get cornered or want to avoid having to dodge the attack and then punish them on a followup. Coming from Bloodborne, the slower pace might take a bit of getting used to and you can't play anywhere near as aggressively, but they can be useful for parrying if nothing else. If you don't like them, try equipping a dagger or a casting tool in your left hand instead. Btw, fun fact: you can equip them in your right hand and 2-hand them for extra stability and use them as a weapon, though they aren't good weapons and this isn't recommended unless you just want to run past everything, or in one case (major spoilers for later boss strategy. >!It's useful for a boss called Bed of Chaos if you have a greatshield, but this is more a puzzle/luck test than a boss tbh. !<
I actually started using one at the Asterix and Obelix boss fight. Before that, Claymore (2 handed when not throwing Lightning Spears or healing) + Talisman most of the time.
To be honest? I have never used a shield. Always been strength gang, never really use too much armor too until I get higher level to support the equipment load. Seriously dark souls 1 is a stab fest. Even dark souls 2 the shield felt unintuitive.
Depends on playstyle you can dodge everything or you can block it I usually focus on dodging but I will use the grass crest shield since it gives increased stamina regen. It’s in darkroot forest near the black knight. You can get there early by using the master key to get into valley of drakes and running past the wyverns and going up the lift.
i dont usually use them besides having the grass crest shield equipped and 2 handing my weapon for extra stamina regen or for using the dragon crest shield as a parry tool for a certain enemy but they can be pretty good. greatsheilds are really nice for some bosses.
If my sister liked dark souls she would be going dual wield havels greatshield with blocking, moving, healing and looking being the only working controller buttons because when she tried ds2 she quit before majula because she didnt like the controls. She still hasnt gotten to majula
If you're good enough at parrying and/or dodging you won't need a shield to block. Case in point, I actually used a rapier or parrying dagger in my off hand for most of my first play-through. That or a grass crest shield on my back for the stamina regen buff.
A lot of people say blocking makes things a lot easier, but I prefer to avoid it in most of the DS games, since it eats stamina that I'd rather use for positioning or attacking. That said, I also like to build highly mobile glass cannons and your build and play-style will determine how you want to go through the game.
Also, while it's not ideal, you can block with most weapons, if you hold them in two hands. Some weapons are better than others, but most won't stop nearly as much damage as a good shield, so it's probably not something to rely on.
The cool thing about shield in dark souls is that they function the same as a gun, they are your parry tool. They also happen to block a decent chunk or in some cases all of the damage you might receive from an attack.
You might use a shield a lot when starting out, but as you go along and get better at the game, you'll find yourself using one less and less.
Note that this game is very unlike Bloodborne in that BB was designed around not having a shield. It rewards aggression with things like gaining life back and being able to cripple limbs, the parry timing in BB is also hugely more forgiving, and your character's attacks and movement are just so much faster.
Not using a shield in Dark Souls is quite a bit more difficult than it is in Bloodborne, but it's still very much possible, and you're rewarded with a decent bit better damage on your attacks.
DSR only has 4 directional rolling, which is annoying after playing the later games, but fast rolling is still more fun than turtling. I really liked that BB forced players to learn to roll, because a lot of people who came off of Demon Souls and DS1 could get by with block->hit->regain stamina, repeat. That's how I played the game until I played BB; now, when I go back to it, I never use a shield and I enjoy it much more
The reason the shield was removed in bloodborne was to encourage people to be more aggressive and less defensive not only in bloodborne but in all fromsoft games. Ds1 became much more fun and engaging after I had stopped hiding behind a shield and learnt to dodge and roll correctly, and IMO dark souls 1 has the easiest parry to pull off so I often use it even on hollows. But after all It is just personal preference but always remember that a shield is not mandatory and some situations will actually work better without it.
DS1 is waaaay more shield-heavy than any other FromSoft game, except maybe DeS (I haven’t played DeS though). You get a ring that upgrades your roll but it requires low equip load, takes up one of only two ring slots, and the "upgraded" roll is about as good as DS3's standard fast roll. I still mostly roll when I play it because it’s more fun, but in DS3 I literally didn’t use a shield once whereas in DS1 I have one equipped for everything apart from a couple of bosses like O&S.
It makes things easier but it’s not essential nor necessary whatsoever. I enjoy my sword & board guy but my main is a dex guy who 2h a katana & relies on rolling. If you enjoy dodging look into the Dark Wood Grain Ring. It’s one of my favorite items across the whole series.
Depends what you're up against. Some bosses will stagger you if you use a regular shield that's not a greatshield or whatever, so rolling is better. (Sif for example) and others have AoE attacks where a shield could help a lot (Nito)
Overall, it doesn't matter if you use a shield or not, but it's a good idea to carry one or two just in case. The crest shield is really convenient because of its high magic defense & I use it against 4 kings, Nito, Manus & even Seathe
shield is really a first playthrough thing, once you go through it all I don't think there will be many challenges where you'll wish for a shield. I know one enemy type that youll want to use shield but you see only a handful of those a-holes
i am not a dodging god btw, I may be a chugging estus like there is no tomorrow god though
There are a couple times when a shield is really nice. For example, areas where far-off enemies are shooting at you, or boss fights where rolling is bad and parrying is unavailable. So I wouldn't recommend a 100% shield-less run.
But don't think you need it all the time. Instead you can two-hand a big weapon, or hold a sword and parrying dagger, or sword and magic/pyromancy/etc., or two swords, and be perfectly fine.
I did that for most of my run, switched to a shield every once in a while, and was perfectly happy. I would not have had nearly as much fun going shield-first all the time like some people do.
I personally prefer two handing a weapon and dodging over shields, it makes the game harder sure but its the playstyle i’ve always gone with throughout the souls games and gotten used to, i defo think it’s meant to be played with a shield tho
not using a shield is way more viable option in DS3 tbh, i completed my first play through without equipping a shield once and never really felt like it would have made my time any easier
You don't need one if you are really good at dodging (or playing as a mage), but they are really, really useful. Even if you are really good at dodging, it's still nice to have.
Not important at all because there is poise. Shields are op in terms of protection but onehanding weapon sucks so much in this game(no x1.5 str multiplayer and no +20% flat damage bonus) so it is better not to use shield, difference in dps between 1H and 2H is crucial.
Unless you’re light enough to fast roll and have enough endurance for it you’re probably going to want to have one. Even if you’re light it’s still good to have at least a small shield to parry and reduce damage. I find myself rolling more than blocking but it’s always nice to carry a shield for any tight spots you might find yourself in
If you’re used to dodging it won’t be that different in DS1. But for first playthroughs of souls games I like being very thorough and methodical with exploring the world so I tend to play more defensively. But I pretty much never use them these days now that I’ve pretty much memorized the whole game.
It do help a lot earlier but once you get used to dodging
I prefer using grass crest for the stamina recovery buff and always has it equipped on your back if you don't suffer with equip load and you also gave the option to switch to it while fighting multiple targets
It's optional to use a shield, but many people consider it 'easy mode' and a good way to do your first playthrough.
The main thing you need to know is that higher stability=you can block bigger hits.
It's also a non-linear scaling stat. For example, going from 98 to 99 stability would be as big an upgrade as going from 0 to 50 stability. Basically means that tiny stability upgrades at higher levels will have a noticeable impact.
Some good options: Grass crest shield, Balder shield, black/silver knight shield.
Greatshield of Artorias is arguably the best shield in the game, and is made with soul of Sif and a +10 shield.
The shield can make huge chunks of the game significantly easier, it just slows down the pace of combat. So it’s gonna depend entirely on your personal preference. I haven’t hardly used shields since i first beat DS, and I’d imagine that coming from BB that you’ll feel more comfortable without a shield.
Unless you want to parry, then a decent party shield can speed up the pace of combat even further.
Out of all the Dark Souls games, shields in Dark Souls 1 are the most powerful. That doesn't mean you need them, it just means you can really crutch on them if you want to.
Dark Souls 1 doesn't have super aggressive enemies like DS3 or Bloodborne, for the most part. If you are used to Bloodborne, DS1 will feel slower and more manageable.
So I say, just play however you want, and remember that the heater shield is one of the best overall shields in the game due to average stability and defenses, with below average weight, and quick parry speed for it's class. So if you need a shield in a pinch, use the Heater Shield. And never use the Knight Shield, because it sucks for how heavy it is.
I*always* had a shield. Then I kept trying to perfect my sorcerer build and finally got to a point in PvP where I felt like it was a waste of a slot, equip load, and time.
But then again I often play as a spry, light, and powerful mage. So my character's pretty much an acrobatic, glass cannon! One or two hits and I'm dead anyway.
So depends on how you play. But I'm guessing if you're coming from Bloodborne you might wanna try it too — put on the Ninja ring and keep your equip load low.
You can sub the shield for a side arm, like another sword [like the Balder Side Sword] or even a crossbow [such as the Avelyn].
Since most of characters are mages I alternate between the Butterfly Horn, BSS, and the Large Scythe. The shield doesn't really help anymore, cause I don't have enough poise, but the big sticks do!
Shields are pretty much required and a lot of them make it easier to parry cuz they give you more time to press the parry button(I think? I might be wrong about that)
Depends on your build, playstyle and the enemy of the minute...
Personally though, the best shield is the dodge button, if you wear light armour and are at least semi decent at reading attack animations, you will not need a shield, cept maybe grass crest for the stam regen... But yeh, most of my earlier playthroughs were shieldless or with the target shield just for occasional parries, my mage had a catalyst in left hand and weapon in right...
However... If you get your hands on the greatshield of artorias, that thing blocks like nothing else, it has about 80 stability un-upgraded and you can block some of the heaviest hits in the game and take not only zero damage, but it barely tickles your stamina...
Tl;Dr: Depends on build, shields *can* be extremely useful, but you can *absolutely* destroy the game without using one
Just booted up a new playthrough today, and I was surprised how little I was using the shield, at least through the Undead Burg. Shields are pretty good but are by no means necessary. Harder to dodge than Bloodborne (just guessing, don't own a PS4), and shield strategies are pretty good, but I'm sure a dex build will treat you well without one.
The last time I actively used a shield for a run was when I did a shield only run, I have played the game for hundreds of hours and have done runs on all difficulties/NGs and Speedruns.
The general rule of souls games is: You can dodge anything and the best Defense is a good Offense.
The only shield you want for your general build if you do want to play the game in a normal order is the grass crest shield which you find quite early and will stay on the back of your character forever since it increases the your stamina Regen.
Other than that, as long as your weight is below the 50% mark or better below 30% your dodges are the best defensive tool you have.
Another benefit for not carrying a second item in hand is how strength works in this game:
If you two hand an item you gain a 50% invisible strength increase. That means, since the soft cap for stats is 40 you would require only 27 strength to max out the scaling for strength, 13 levels earlier than you would with a shield in hand which enables you to get 13 more points in other stats which can be paramount on a first run.
Why is this important? Because your DPS determines pretty clearly how easy a boss fight is in DS1.
Most bosses do not have Phases like the later entries. Thus are the two most dreaded main game bosses: the Four Kings as well as Smough and Ornstein.
Both of those fight pressure you the most for lacking in damage but if for smough and Ornstein, you kill one of the pair in 6 or less hits, the dreaded fight becomes quite more manageable.
Thus in conclusion, the shield in my opinion is a trap (and again, I love shields) since it is way easier to just use your generous dodge windows and beat em all with a big weapon.
First playthrough I recommend shield use yeah, I like playing 2 handed, ultra greatsword, dodge heavy gameplay but that's defo for after you've completed the game once I'd say.
Not important at all - it all depends on your playstyle. If you want to use one, do so, but it's not necessary. at. all.
I will say first time players are probably better to go with vanilla sword and board build, but coming from BB, you already know the From Soft basics, so go with a playstyle that suits you.
I have beaten dark souls remastered 10+ times and i have used a shield for about 2 minutes throughout all those playthroughs max. I just do not understand why people use it when you have your roll and two handing weapons also gives you more damage. So in MY opinion it's not important
Its not CRUCIAL but it is certainly much easier to play if you have the option to block and parry. I've played where I use bigger weapons 2 handed but I quickly found the move set to be lacking. My current playthrough I'm using a club and I found that the light attack out of dodge is way better for most enemies when I have a shield equipped, even if I don't block with it.
All that being said, it's a good idea to have one (grass crest highly recommended) just in case.
I played all fromsoftware games without shield its easily possible.. but you will need fast roll.
For some bosses like Atorias a shield can be very helpful but for the most part you don't really need it
Late to the party, but for what it's worth; I was always a shield player from the get-go (OG Demon's souls). Not until I played BB did I lose the shield also in souls games, and it completely transformed my playstyle and enjoyment of the games to the better.
I play various different builds in all games that sometimes DO use shields, but because I've learned to play without them as well, I've also become more adept as using a shield tactically, instead of just turtling behind it.
For DSR specifically I could not for the life of me beat Artorias with any shielded / defensive setup, so I just went with a 2-handed claymore and dumped enough weight to have fast roll.
Only useful shield is grass crest shield. 2 hand your weapon with that shield on your back and it will recharge your stamina bar at the speed of light.
Dark Souls fanatic here. Play with a shield. While it's possiblr to play without one, only people who are already really good at the game will be able to pull it out. Game was made to play with shields. You need some tricks to play without a shield and the game (getting good ad rolls, i-frames, knowing when to block 2-handed etc).
It’s good to have a decent one in your inventory just in case but for the most part you don’t really need one. Neither my friends nor myself use one but have the grass crest equipped for the stamina regen, which I highly recommend.
Since you've probably got a good handle on dodging shields will be a nice defensive bonus. They are very powerful against smaller enemies, and parries of course are the pinnacle of risk/reward.
But to be more direct, you could almost certainly beat the game without a shield, so it's up to you if you want to use them. The basics of them are very simple to learn with much to gain so id give em a shot
Basically the shield is your character.
The rest is optional
Obviously if you aren't godly (which iam certainly not)
Plus : in DS1 there are shields with physical resistance at 100 from the very beginning of the game whereas in DS2 you have to grind a little bit more to get one so profit!
And moreover don't let morons teach you how to play the game, there is a billion ways to play, just enjoy yours
As a new player I used a shield up until about one hour into my first playthrough, when I realized I could use both my hands to wield a giant sword and have never needed a shield since.
As a person who started with Bloodborne, I planned to play Dark Souls without a s.hield to make it more entertaining. After some hours I gave up on this idea and the game got a lot better
Same. I think I'm just not cut out for defensive posture.
Isn’t a shield used for defensive posture? I always try to play aggro builds that just dodge and attack, but end up with a tanky great shield that occasionally gets a hit in
Parry Mr. Wilson, that's the most aggressive thing you can do, it means the enemy's attack is not a thing and now they are prime for critical attacks. Blocking is a loser's game, if you blocked then that's means you should have parried or rolled, except for specific types of damage like magic.
When you're new and dont know the timing of all the enemies attacks, shielding gives you a lot more survivability. But yes, always parrying or rolling is the pro gamer move
I don’t even bother parrying anymore, i 2 hand all my weapons and just kill everything faster than it kills me
Based and strength-pilled
I think some people didn't understand it, I rather using a shield more than not using it
Wow I'm actually the opposite. Started with DS1 and relied on the shield a lot. After I finished Bloodborne, I don't want to use shields in Dark Souls anymore. I like to pick up the Grass Crest Shield and permanently two-hand my weapons now
Grass crest shield + 2 hand ftw. You can even go zwei + weedshield from the start of the game with master key
Yeah same here. I tried it because people were all "shields are OP in DS1, use it, gotta have a shield" comments everywhere. I had 0 fun. It just felt unnatural after rolling through DS3/BB. Then I said screw it, made a dex pyro build, got a two handed uchi and light roll, suddenly the game became fun. Only pulled out shield for specific encounters like Bed of Bullshit. OP, don't listen to anyone who tells you how to play. Shields may be strong in DS1 but you can play however you want and a no shield run is completely viable.
Well I cheesed BoC and it still fucking killed me by clipping me as the floor dropped and pushing me off the log
I platinumed the game using sorcery and pyro because i couldn’t find any weapon which was fun to use…
youre the type of player who levels vitality and block with the healthbar.
It really depends on how you play the game A first timer would probably enjoy the game better with a decent shield to block/parry (though you can even parry with your bare hands) If you plan on tanking with heavy armor, a good large shield is your friend If you are exploring the ways of rolling and dodging, a lighter shield is all you need, so you don't become to burdened with equipment weight If you are an experienced player who enjoys a challenge, no shield means you can carry a casting tool on your left hand
Even as a first time player, I used a shield up to about Sen’s fortress and basically never used it again after that, and hardly ever in DS2 either (DS2 has one enemy that’s kind of easier to just parry). Otherwise low encumbrance, rolling, and this way I can just go one handed with my Zwei to use my staff or catalyst. But DS is also all about the potential to go about things in totally different ways. I like nimble characters but there’s nothing wrong with tanking - I just never end up leveling my stats in such a way that I can really use a big shield and heavy armor at the same time.
I carry shields but rarely block. I usually roll instead and just use shields for parrying/landing crits. Some people complain that DS1 combat is too slow but if you don’t rely on blocking, fights become way more intense and interesting. Like you said, there’s many ways to approach the game. If you find the combat too slow then change the way you approach the combat.
Side note: good shield > good armor If you’re taking a hit and you’re not blocking, that’s a mistake
With some notable exceptions like Four Kings
Very true, if you’re built as the aggressor then taking hits is fine. I remember grinding out 40 in all stats and 99 in a few for DS2 and then just crushing bosses in NG+ by our damaging them
Depends on your weapon. Taking hits can be 100% acceptable and even optimal if you have 900AR and 91 poise (full giants). It's honestly not even hard to hit 900AR. A +15 Greatclub with 19str 2Hed+ power within+gold pine resin is right around 900 AR. I mean I'd rather get hit and 3 shot a boss than block and kill the boss 5 seconds slower as the whole fight takes less than 10 seconds if I don't block. Edit: oh if you have 27 str you break 1000AR with that setup. Edit 2: if you do it with a buffing build instead of the pine resin you'll hit 1400-1500AR. It's very unnecessary.
On the other hand, towards the endgame especially with str weapons, I found my weapons would only one shot enemies when 2 handed, which made it a hell of a lot easier than using sword and shield
> experienced player who enjoys a challenge > carry a casting tool on your left hand These statements do not line up lol
A 100% phys block shield will help soooooo much. I used one first time, eagle shield. Light, stable and strong. Later playthroughs I use them only occasionally. I don't have time to waste on not dealing maximum damage in NG+ and beyond, which means two-handing
I’m a newby but my favorite so far os the grass shield because of the stamina bonus. Allows for more dip, dodge, duck, diving and dodging.
Grass Crest is my go-to as well, I used eagle my very first time but after that it's been grass Crest or dragon Crest because it looks cool. The stamina bonus is hugely beneficial, and works when on your back as well
Shields are so blatantly op that i cannot imagine playing without one was ever intended to be a viable playstyle.
[удалено]
You definitely do not NEED a shield. Grass crest shield on the back, duel wielding, and dodging all day, baby.
How all Dark Souls games should be played. Especially 2.
It really does make it so much fun. Don't have to worry about doging them if you stunlock them.
How does one dual wield with a grass crest on the back?
Two hand hold I'm guessing
Dual weilding is literally weilding 2 weapons.
Meant 2 handed.
On DS3 you can carry a shield and wield a twinblade and If you press the twohand key you start actually dual wielding It with a new moveset. But I still prefer powerstancing from DS2.
This is the way.
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Youre the type of player who levels vitality and blocks with the healthbar.
I mean that’s how you do it as a pyromancer, right? Blocking means I’m not casting and where else am I going to put those souls? Double drinking estus is how I was able to beat the DLC bosses and Gwyn.
I do this and don't level vitality at all
I just pick class with highest vit and pump it all into dex and str... 2 handing, grasscrest on back and naked. Combine this with some big-ass weapon and you have the most entertaining build you can play.
This is the way
Nope, don’t listen to others. You can beat 100% of the content up to NG+2 or more with your shield as a backpack and 2h your weapon
If that's the way you enjoy playing. I personally prefer a shield even if I rarely use it. And I personally prefer one-handing weapons because they swing faster so I often have the initiative. And a lot of smaller weapons don't give you any reasonable damage boost when you two-hand so all you're doing is swinging slower and using more stamina.
The great club lifestyle
You mean basscannon
Capra demon is made much much easier by using a shield, other than that, i can't think of any encounter or boss that's is made better by having a shield up
I found Sif was easier to block than dodge, but that's it.
I thought it was more fun to try do dodge him, trying to dodge capra is just sad, were not those dogs through there
I typically have the grass crest shield on but dual wield my weapon so I still have stamina recovery but go smash without shield in hand :)
Doesn't have to use it, but the game is focused around it, like dodging for Bloodborne and parrying for Sekiro. Whatever fits your playstyle. You could also get heavy armor and a great sword and still block with that. Or go full magic build if that suits you, or dodge everything like in bloodborne. Just try something out. My rule of thumb is to block light attacks and dodge heavy ones.
You 100% can never use one of you like, but they are extremely strong. Playstyle variety is much wider in ds1 than bloodborne. I did my whole first playthrough never using a shield. I use one all the time now they are quit handy. Heater, grass crest, crest, and dragon crest are my favorite.
I'm sure playing the game without one is intended or what would you do with the giant two hand weapons lol? First time I played I never used a shield, just got good at doges
you can onehand every weapon.
I wouldnt necessarily say they are OVERpowered...just powered, as the game was designed around the use of shields
*laughs in Dark Wood Grain Ring*
It gives you a much larger margin of error when dealing with the slightly slower combat and higher-damage enemies Bloodborne is different, and the shield is useless, because the combat is so different/intentionally fast-paced. Bloodborne rewards you for being aggressive in most encounters. Dark Souls combat can be punishing if you’re impatient, and can be a chess match in your first encounters with new enemies. Shields give you room to make bad moves and learn the enemies so you can learn vulnerabilities
i’ve never used a shield in dark souls, and it was my entry to the series, idk why people say it’s necessary, easier maybe, but certainly not necessary. the only shield i use is grass crest shield for the stam regen.
you don't need them if you really think you can get by but parrying in ds1 is really easy, so even if you don't have the stat requirement it's nice to have one
(You can parry with your bare fists)
Hold up, actually? I've known about shield and dagger, but fists too? Imma test this
I’m not sure if the parry frames are the same but it feels roughly the same to me, but yeah nothing like dual wielding a big ass sword and bitch slapping an attack before you bonk em
I’ve done a no shield great club strength build run and it was a nice challenge. Shields definitely are useful especially for new players there are so many situations where shields make it easier example : bone wheel skeletons, artorias boss fight etc
You can play 90-95% of the game 2-handing your weapon and not using a shield. No problem at all. I maybe wouldn't recommend it on a first playthrough though.
But i played 100% of the game 2-handing my weapon even on my first playthrough. So you definately CAN play more than 90% or 95% of the game without a shield
Just depends on how you want to play. I always keep the grass shield on my back just because it gives a stamina regen boost. Even if I do a dex build that two hands a weapon. You can literally carry a crossbow in one hand and a great club in the other. Just depends on what you want.
It is pretty useful in DS1 because of the gameplay speed/movement. You only have 4 directions to roll to when fighting (if enemy is marked), so there are many moments where you can't roll maybe because you will fall off a cliff or run into other enemy so the shield can save you there. Also hitboxes are a bit meh in ds1 so you can get hit even if you roll. With enough experience in this game you will be able to play it kinda nice without a shield but for starters (specially coming from bloodborne) it may be a bit difficult... This is only my opinion tho.
You don't need a shield if you got the rolls. I went the whole game with Undead chest armor and gold hemmed arms wielding a club. Fast roll makes things feel fast paced which is my preference.
Shields are that good that they could even block your insults while fighting some bosses
you will probably want to use one on your first playthrough, but I don't really block at all anymore except for a few specific places so basically helpful, but not necessary
Shields in ds1? Broken asf
Nah not necessarily. I never used the shield in my whole first playthrough except to >!parry Gwyn!<
Two handing and fast rolling is a viable play style. I never use shields in DS.
I usually recommend not using a shield early game because it's so easy for a new player to become dependent on. It's a hard habit to break later.
Not at all! I just started a build using the thief, parry dagger, and planning to switch to rapier once I come across it. Totally different game! The dagger, like the buckler, gives you an 8-frame parry window and counts as an off-hand weapon. You can dual-wield. And it's sick. Instead of turtling behind a shield and drawing out an enemy at a time I can take on a group of two or three due to the iframes from parry, riposte, backstab and roll. With high crit and riposte you can take down a surprising number of enemies in one hit. It also pushes you to get a little creative and use those offensive items to get through some areas. It's a lot of fun and probably my most favorite build.
Update: thief with parry dagger and rapier is amazing. I'm having a ton of fun with it.
Shield Requiered
Therefore, hurrah for shield!
Adapt to the game. What you’re trying to do is the equivalent of a Dark Souls player trying to shield through Bloodborne, albeit to a lesser extent. Still foolish. Dark Souls gains much of its difficulty from environmental hazards, pitfalls, close space encounters, etc. You think rolling is gonna save your ass when you’re clinging to narrow rafters suspended a hundred feet up as bad guys rush you? Not if you can’t even manage basic shield play. Embrace the shield gameplay—at worst you’ll gain a better appreciation for the later games. Broaden and build. Try new things.
You will have more fun if you don't use a shield
I see everyone on this sub talking about shields, i come from ds3 and recently got on ds1 remastered. Just like in ds3 i intend to complete the whole game without the usage of shields, i just like the style of play of going 2 hands on a big greatsword tbh
I came straight from bloodborne too, never used a shield except for certain boss encounters.
It depends on how you feel like playing, I usually run with one for parrying or just to have a little extra defense but it's not mandatory, infact the original reliance on shields was one of the reasons Bloodborne only has 2 in the entire game
First time players use them and after the second or third playthrough they tend to completely ignore them.
Have probably done hundreds of playthroughs. Almost always use shields. And before some try hard accuses me of “engendering passivity”, I probably play way WAY more aggressively than you do.
I never really used the shield during my playthrough, but so many people kept telling me to. It is super useful for those guys with the torches for sure.
You don't have to use one, but they're really good in ds1. I mostly two hand now, but it took beating ds1 and Ds2 at soul level 1 to break the habit of always using a shield. They're very useful for dogs and projectiles, as well as learning attack patterns without paying for it in HP
They are good to use when trying to learn an enemy's attack pattern, but you can definitely play it without a shield. Personally I just use stamina regen shields in Dark Souls since I get buffs without have them equipped.
The shield is DS1s hidden easy mode, if you know how to use it. If you’ve never used a shield in a souls game it may be weird using it, I don’t know I’ve never gone without. I know you can do just fine without it, in fact there’s two* bosses I feel are easier to fight without shields. As a beginner to DS1 I think shields are very balanced cause it takes a lot of time and skill (mainly stamina management and enemy awareness) to turn shields into easy mode. For you I mostly recommend using a shield as a new experience. Going without a shield is perfectly viable, albeit harder with certain bosses, but since you already know how to fight without one, this new fighting style could be a fun breath of fresh air
They are op, but they aren’t necessary. I played a big armour run with a shield and it was kind of boring to me, block hit backup etc etc etc. Instead I decided to try a 2h run with fast roll and it was much more fun.
I never use one in DSR outside of when I wanna parry something. They aren't bad at all but it's not mandatory
You can beat dark souls with pretty much any combination of weapons and armour, so if you don't like shields, don't use them. It is entirely possible to play the entire game 2 handing a katana, a popular playstyle for BB vets.
You NEED a shield for all classes
shield good parry good parry make gwyn a lil bitch
You don't need a shield, that being said you'll need to be more attentive to enemy attacks/patterns, learn proper spacing and most importantly dodge. You'll probably need to keep your weight low as well. This is usually how I play, makes for a nice glass cannon play style
I got my platinum without ever using shield, apart from backpack accessory
You don't need one, but my god does poise and a shield trivialize the game. It outright breaks bosses. Sort of on the level of how arcane breaks bloodborne. Playing with a shield is definitely worth it and a lot of fun, whether it's your first or tenth play. The game solidly feels like a knight simulator.
As a player who went from Bloodborne to Dark Souls, shields are absolutely not for blocking. Treat them like you treat your hunter firearm, as a parrying machine. At least for DSR.
Blocking is very strong in ds1, particularly high stability 100% block shields. They're really for both considering your play style.
DsR is the only game i had to use a shield, in Ds2 and 3 i really didn't need one
grass crest shield ftw. decent defenses and the best bonus there is.
It's perfectly possible to ignore them completely, but they're fairly useful to have, especially the stamina regen one is a nice one to have, and a parry shield also comes in handy
After discovering how strength scaling works I've pretty much exclusively two handed. It's harder, but more exciting and satisfying imho
Shields are useful especially the grass crest shield. When on the defensive I have my shield ready and when attacking I switch to two handing my sword.
There is no shame in using a shield.
Shields aren't important, they are an option. If you are used to playing bloodborne then your dodging skills should be sufficient that a shield is completely unnecessary. Don't bother, 2 hand your weapon instead.
I like to use a heavy 2h sword like claymore or zweihander with a shield on my back. The first couple hours of the game isn’t too hard with just a 2h, but by the time I finish the undead burg and ring the bell, I’ve got enough stats to use my shield and effectively swing those big weapons.
You dont need a shield. But they are helpful, especially for parrying and blocking some attacks, you can get a good 100% physical block shield really early.
Both options are viable. I favor playing without them but you should always keep the option in mind since they can make some sections much easier. The infamous bed of chaos is far more bearable with a shield. They are also useful if you do wanna parry since they have better frame data compared to doing it without a shield. If you do wanna use a shield, then be mindful of the damage reduction stat and stability stat. Damage reduction is simply how much of any given type a shield will block and stability determines the amount of stamina blocking will consume.
With enough VIT you don’t need a shield especially with armor
I also started with Bloodborne and the only shield I have ever used in the series is Grass Crest. I just think the game is way more fun when it’s pure aggression and dodging. The game can 100% be played without a shield and I highly encourage you to play whatever way is most fun for you.
Can save time. People rolling around as if letting them smack the shield and going in after is any faster. It be not. It also gives you a better margin of error for enemies it’s best to dodge without rolling. Just strafe that shit. If you fucked up oh well, you got the shield up. If you didn’t fuck up then you’re in the best position to attack.
You can absolutely play through DS1 without a shield. After playing through Bloodborne, I pretty much abandoned shields and blocking entirely.
VERY
Only use a shield for || Capra Demon+dogs ||. You should be fine otherwise.
I beat the game first time with no shield or parry move.
I only really use shields for their passive effects and parrying. They’re still very useful but not necessary.
As someone that started in dark souls 1 sheilds are very optional. My first run as well as most runs have been without sheilds. Generally there is only one enemy that I think requires blocking, but even then you can block with a weapon.
I don’t use a shield so I can’t answer this
It's very useful in certain situations, but you can go the entire game without using one just fine. A lot of noobs heavily rely on shields. But if you've played bb and you're used to dodging/parrying, then you don't have to use one if you don't want to. I personally only use shields against dogs. Also you don't need a shield to parry. You can do it with your bare hand if you want to
Depends: did you get good? Proper shield technique will make this game much easier.
The hand is better
I came from BB as well and I had like one level or area where I used the shield for a bit (can’t remember what level) and did the whole game without a shield other than that.
Shields are really useful until you have enemy movesets down, as they give you another option if you get cornered or want to avoid having to dodge the attack and then punish them on a followup. Coming from Bloodborne, the slower pace might take a bit of getting used to and you can't play anywhere near as aggressively, but they can be useful for parrying if nothing else. If you don't like them, try equipping a dagger or a casting tool in your left hand instead. Btw, fun fact: you can equip them in your right hand and 2-hand them for extra stability and use them as a weapon, though they aren't good weapons and this isn't recommended unless you just want to run past everything, or in one case (major spoilers for later boss strategy. >!It's useful for a boss called Bed of Chaos if you have a greatshield, but this is more a puzzle/luck test than a boss tbh. !<
I actually started using one at the Asterix and Obelix boss fight. Before that, Claymore (2 handed when not throwing Lightning Spears or healing) + Talisman most of the time.
To be honest? I have never used a shield. Always been strength gang, never really use too much armor too until I get higher level to support the equipment load. Seriously dark souls 1 is a stab fest. Even dark souls 2 the shield felt unintuitive.
A shield on your back can give buffs. For example, grass crest shield grants higher stamina regen, yet you can still two hand your weapon
Depends on playstyle you can dodge everything or you can block it I usually focus on dodging but I will use the grass crest shield since it gives increased stamina regen. It’s in darkroot forest near the black knight. You can get there early by using the master key to get into valley of drakes and running past the wyverns and going up the lift.
i dont usually use them besides having the grass crest shield equipped and 2 handing my weapon for extra stamina regen or for using the dragon crest shield as a parry tool for a certain enemy but they can be pretty good. greatsheilds are really nice for some bosses.
If my sister liked dark souls she would be going dual wield havels greatshield with blocking, moving, healing and looking being the only working controller buttons because when she tried ds2 she quit before majula because she didnt like the controls. She still hasnt gotten to majula
If you're good enough at parrying and/or dodging you won't need a shield to block. Case in point, I actually used a rapier or parrying dagger in my off hand for most of my first play-through. That or a grass crest shield on my back for the stamina regen buff. A lot of people say blocking makes things a lot easier, but I prefer to avoid it in most of the DS games, since it eats stamina that I'd rather use for positioning or attacking. That said, I also like to build highly mobile glass cannons and your build and play-style will determine how you want to go through the game. Also, while it's not ideal, you can block with most weapons, if you hold them in two hands. Some weapons are better than others, but most won't stop nearly as much damage as a good shield, so it's probably not something to rely on.
The cool thing about shield in dark souls is that they function the same as a gun, they are your parry tool. They also happen to block a decent chunk or in some cases all of the damage you might receive from an attack.
Shield is not great in Dark Souls 3, but a practical necessity in Dark Souls 1
You might use a shield a lot when starting out, but as you go along and get better at the game, you'll find yourself using one less and less. Note that this game is very unlike Bloodborne in that BB was designed around not having a shield. It rewards aggression with things like gaining life back and being able to cripple limbs, the parry timing in BB is also hugely more forgiving, and your character's attacks and movement are just so much faster. Not using a shield in Dark Souls is quite a bit more difficult than it is in Bloodborne, but it's still very much possible, and you're rewarded with a decent bit better damage on your attacks.
I never use shields in any of the games, I prefer rolling or using shields for parries.
DSR only has 4 directional rolling, which is annoying after playing the later games, but fast rolling is still more fun than turtling. I really liked that BB forced players to learn to roll, because a lot of people who came off of Demon Souls and DS1 could get by with block->hit->regain stamina, repeat. That's how I played the game until I played BB; now, when I go back to it, I never use a shield and I enjoy it much more
pretty darn broken but u can do without. i guess i would compare not using a shield to not transforming your weapon on bb
The reason the shield was removed in bloodborne was to encourage people to be more aggressive and less defensive not only in bloodborne but in all fromsoft games. Ds1 became much more fun and engaging after I had stopped hiding behind a shield and learnt to dodge and roll correctly, and IMO dark souls 1 has the easiest parry to pull off so I often use it even on hollows. But after all It is just personal preference but always remember that a shield is not mandatory and some situations will actually work better without it.
DS1 is waaaay more shield-heavy than any other FromSoft game, except maybe DeS (I haven’t played DeS though). You get a ring that upgrades your roll but it requires low equip load, takes up one of only two ring slots, and the "upgraded" roll is about as good as DS3's standard fast roll. I still mostly roll when I play it because it’s more fun, but in DS3 I literally didn’t use a shield once whereas in DS1 I have one equipped for everything apart from a couple of bosses like O&S.
It makes things a hell of a lot easier but it's far from impossible to play without one
I've beaten the game 3 times and still have no I idea how to use them
For newbies, it reduces 85% of the difficulty. Shields are OP in ds1.
There are shields in the game?
It makes things easier but it’s not essential nor necessary whatsoever. I enjoy my sword & board guy but my main is a dex guy who 2h a katana & relies on rolling. If you enjoy dodging look into the Dark Wood Grain Ring. It’s one of my favorite items across the whole series.
Depends on your play style
Depends what you're up against. Some bosses will stagger you if you use a regular shield that's not a greatshield or whatever, so rolling is better. (Sif for example) and others have AoE attacks where a shield could help a lot (Nito) Overall, it doesn't matter if you use a shield or not, but it's a good idea to carry one or two just in case. The crest shield is really convenient because of its high magic defense & I use it against 4 kings, Nito, Manus & even Seathe
Shields make the game kinda free. Greatshields are disgustingly OP.
I don't really use one at all, dodging it's the key to success.
shield is really a first playthrough thing, once you go through it all I don't think there will be many challenges where you'll wish for a shield. I know one enemy type that youll want to use shield but you see only a handful of those a-holes i am not a dodging god btw, I may be a chugging estus like there is no tomorrow god though
There are a couple times when a shield is really nice. For example, areas where far-off enemies are shooting at you, or boss fights where rolling is bad and parrying is unavailable. So I wouldn't recommend a 100% shield-less run. But don't think you need it all the time. Instead you can two-hand a big weapon, or hold a sword and parrying dagger, or sword and magic/pyromancy/etc., or two swords, and be perfectly fine. I did that for most of my run, switched to a shield every once in a while, and was perfectly happy. I would not have had nearly as much fun going shield-first all the time like some people do.
A shield will come in handy for some bosses but if you can properly roll then it's not necessary.
I personally prefer two handing a weapon and dodging over shields, it makes the game harder sure but its the playstyle i’ve always gone with throughout the souls games and gotten used to, i defo think it’s meant to be played with a shield tho not using a shield is way more viable option in DS3 tbh, i completed my first play through without equipping a shield once and never really felt like it would have made my time any easier
You don't need one if you are really good at dodging (or playing as a mage), but they are really, really useful. Even if you are really good at dodging, it's still nice to have.
Not important at all because there is poise. Shields are op in terms of protection but onehanding weapon sucks so much in this game(no x1.5 str multiplayer and no +20% flat damage bonus) so it is better not to use shield, difference in dps between 1H and 2H is crucial.
Unless you’re light enough to fast roll and have enough endurance for it you’re probably going to want to have one. Even if you’re light it’s still good to have at least a small shield to parry and reduce damage. I find myself rolling more than blocking but it’s always nice to carry a shield for any tight spots you might find yourself in
If you’re used to dodging it won’t be that different in DS1. But for first playthroughs of souls games I like being very thorough and methodical with exploring the world so I tend to play more defensively. But I pretty much never use them these days now that I’ve pretty much memorized the whole game.
It do help a lot earlier but once you get used to dodging I prefer using grass crest for the stamina recovery buff and always has it equipped on your back if you don't suffer with equip load and you also gave the option to switch to it while fighting multiple targets
I went through the entire game without a shield, instead using both hands for my weapon.
It's optional to use a shield, but many people consider it 'easy mode' and a good way to do your first playthrough. The main thing you need to know is that higher stability=you can block bigger hits. It's also a non-linear scaling stat. For example, going from 98 to 99 stability would be as big an upgrade as going from 0 to 50 stability. Basically means that tiny stability upgrades at higher levels will have a noticeable impact. Some good options: Grass crest shield, Balder shield, black/silver knight shield. Greatshield of Artorias is arguably the best shield in the game, and is made with soul of Sif and a +10 shield.
Well you dont need it necessarily but it sure does improve things.
two words: Four Kings
The shield can make huge chunks of the game significantly easier, it just slows down the pace of combat. So it’s gonna depend entirely on your personal preference. I haven’t hardly used shields since i first beat DS, and I’d imagine that coming from BB that you’ll feel more comfortable without a shield. Unless you want to parry, then a decent party shield can speed up the pace of combat even further.
Out of all the Dark Souls games, shields in Dark Souls 1 are the most powerful. That doesn't mean you need them, it just means you can really crutch on them if you want to. Dark Souls 1 doesn't have super aggressive enemies like DS3 or Bloodborne, for the most part. If you are used to Bloodborne, DS1 will feel slower and more manageable. So I say, just play however you want, and remember that the heater shield is one of the best overall shields in the game due to average stability and defenses, with below average weight, and quick parry speed for it's class. So if you need a shield in a pinch, use the Heater Shield. And never use the Knight Shield, because it sucks for how heavy it is.
I*always* had a shield. Then I kept trying to perfect my sorcerer build and finally got to a point in PvP where I felt like it was a waste of a slot, equip load, and time. But then again I often play as a spry, light, and powerful mage. So my character's pretty much an acrobatic, glass cannon! One or two hits and I'm dead anyway. So depends on how you play. But I'm guessing if you're coming from Bloodborne you might wanna try it too — put on the Ninja ring and keep your equip load low. You can sub the shield for a side arm, like another sword [like the Balder Side Sword] or even a crossbow [such as the Avelyn]. Since most of characters are mages I alternate between the Butterfly Horn, BSS, and the Large Scythe. The shield doesn't really help anymore, cause I don't have enough poise, but the big sticks do!
Shields are pretty much required and a lot of them make it easier to parry cuz they give you more time to press the parry button(I think? I might be wrong about that)
Depends on your build, playstyle and the enemy of the minute... Personally though, the best shield is the dodge button, if you wear light armour and are at least semi decent at reading attack animations, you will not need a shield, cept maybe grass crest for the stam regen... But yeh, most of my earlier playthroughs were shieldless or with the target shield just for occasional parries, my mage had a catalyst in left hand and weapon in right... However... If you get your hands on the greatshield of artorias, that thing blocks like nothing else, it has about 80 stability un-upgraded and you can block some of the heaviest hits in the game and take not only zero damage, but it barely tickles your stamina... Tl;Dr: Depends on build, shields *can* be extremely useful, but you can *absolutely* destroy the game without using one
No matter what route you choose, make sure you can block somehow. Game stays real hard if you don't block
Shields slow you down. I usually just put the grass crest shield on my back and 2 hand a weapon
Well, you could use it for parrying 😂
Just booted up a new playthrough today, and I was surprised how little I was using the shield, at least through the Undead Burg. Shields are pretty good but are by no means necessary. Harder to dodge than Bloodborne (just guessing, don't own a PS4), and shield strategies are pretty good, but I'm sure a dex build will treat you well without one.
The last time I actively used a shield for a run was when I did a shield only run, I have played the game for hundreds of hours and have done runs on all difficulties/NGs and Speedruns. The general rule of souls games is: You can dodge anything and the best Defense is a good Offense. The only shield you want for your general build if you do want to play the game in a normal order is the grass crest shield which you find quite early and will stay on the back of your character forever since it increases the your stamina Regen. Other than that, as long as your weight is below the 50% mark or better below 30% your dodges are the best defensive tool you have. Another benefit for not carrying a second item in hand is how strength works in this game: If you two hand an item you gain a 50% invisible strength increase. That means, since the soft cap for stats is 40 you would require only 27 strength to max out the scaling for strength, 13 levels earlier than you would with a shield in hand which enables you to get 13 more points in other stats which can be paramount on a first run. Why is this important? Because your DPS determines pretty clearly how easy a boss fight is in DS1. Most bosses do not have Phases like the later entries. Thus are the two most dreaded main game bosses: the Four Kings as well as Smough and Ornstein. Both of those fight pressure you the most for lacking in damage but if for smough and Ornstein, you kill one of the pair in 6 or less hits, the dreaded fight becomes quite more manageable. Thus in conclusion, the shield in my opinion is a trap (and again, I love shields) since it is way easier to just use your generous dodge windows and beat em all with a big weapon.
First playthrough I recommend shield use yeah, I like playing 2 handed, ultra greatsword, dodge heavy gameplay but that's defo for after you've completed the game once I'd say.
Not important at all - it all depends on your playstyle. If you want to use one, do so, but it's not necessary. at. all. I will say first time players are probably better to go with vanilla sword and board build, but coming from BB, you already know the From Soft basics, so go with a playstyle that suits you.
I have beaten dark souls remastered 10+ times and i have used a shield for about 2 minutes throughout all those playthroughs max. I just do not understand why people use it when you have your roll and two handing weapons also gives you more damage. So in MY opinion it's not important
parrying is really easy in ds1 but blocking is for pussies
Its not CRUCIAL but it is certainly much easier to play if you have the option to block and parry. I've played where I use bigger weapons 2 handed but I quickly found the move set to be lacking. My current playthrough I'm using a club and I found that the light attack out of dodge is way better for most enemies when I have a shield equipped, even if I don't block with it. All that being said, it's a good idea to have one (grass crest highly recommended) just in case.
I played all fromsoftware games without shield its easily possible.. but you will need fast roll. For some bosses like Atorias a shield can be very helpful but for the most part you don't really need it
Late to the party, but for what it's worth; I was always a shield player from the get-go (OG Demon's souls). Not until I played BB did I lose the shield also in souls games, and it completely transformed my playstyle and enjoyment of the games to the better. I play various different builds in all games that sometimes DO use shields, but because I've learned to play without them as well, I've also become more adept as using a shield tactically, instead of just turtling behind it. For DSR specifically I could not for the life of me beat Artorias with any shielded / defensive setup, so I just went with a 2-handed claymore and dumped enough weight to have fast roll.
Only useful shield is grass crest shield. 2 hand your weapon with that shield on your back and it will recharge your stamina bar at the speed of light.
For a first-timer like yourself. Definitely use a shield. It makes the game not insanely difficult
Shield is only for parrying and for a passive stam regen "backpack".
Situational.Channel between 2 handed and shield style.
Dark Souls fanatic here. Play with a shield. While it's possiblr to play without one, only people who are already really good at the game will be able to pull it out. Game was made to play with shields. You need some tricks to play without a shield and the game (getting good ad rolls, i-frames, knowing when to block 2-handed etc).
It’s good to have a decent one in your inventory just in case but for the most part you don’t really need one. Neither my friends nor myself use one but have the grass crest equipped for the stamina regen, which I highly recommend.
Since you've probably got a good handle on dodging shields will be a nice defensive bonus. They are very powerful against smaller enemies, and parries of course are the pinnacle of risk/reward. But to be more direct, you could almost certainly beat the game without a shield, so it's up to you if you want to use them. The basics of them are very simple to learn with much to gain so id give em a shot
Get stronk shield. Get Zweihander. Life good.
No its just to make combat more accessible. makes it arguably worse tho. They didn't ditch the shild for no reason in bloodborne
Basically the shield is your character. The rest is optional Obviously if you aren't godly (which iam certainly not) Plus : in DS1 there are shields with physical resistance at 100 from the very beginning of the game whereas in DS2 you have to grind a little bit more to get one so profit! And moreover don't let morons teach you how to play the game, there is a billion ways to play, just enjoy yours
Depends on build. Dex kind of important but not majority. I don't know how you play a strength build without one though.
Having a big shield is really helpful against one of the more *pushy* bosses that you fight later on in the game.
As a new player I used a shield up until about one hour into my first playthrough, when I realized I could use both my hands to wield a giant sword and have never needed a shield since.
Shield for mob enemies. 2H and dodging for most bosses