With the release of Patch 1.14, which is known as the most difficult expansion of Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, the major changes to various weapons and equipment in the game have brought great shock to players and increased a lot of playability.

The most exciting thing is that the damage negation and guard boost functions of Small Shields and Medium Shields have been enhanced, which will allow you to equip it when using various builds. In addition, Greatshields have also received some improvements.

But there are nearly 100 different shields for you to choose from in the base game and DLC of Elden Ring. Which one should you choose? Don’t worry, this guide will list the best choices for several shields after the release of Patch 1.14, so that you don’t have to spend too much time on this.

Small Shields

In the previous game, the best Small Shield was Buckler, which has the unique skill of Buckler Parry. It has also received some buffs in this patch, so it continues to be your best choice. You will find this very useful Small Shield at the end of your exploration of Stormveil Castle. Although Buckler can not block as far as Ashes of War such as Golden Parry or Carian Retaliation, its movement speed and blocking speed make up for this shortcoming.

Because of the nature of Small Shields, some enhancements mentioned above are not the highlights of this patch 1.14, as it cannot block continuous attacks from enemies. However, you can use it as a blocking tool, because the default blocking skill on Small Shields has a 5-frame startup with a 5-frame Parry window.

At this point, Buckler Parry skill in Buckler, with the most prominent 4-frame startup window and shorter recovery time, makes it a favorite Small Shield for many novice players. Some high-level players will also use Buckler as a common shield for farming experience and Elden Ring Runes, because when facing some low-level enemies, a very fast blocking speed is required.

Additionally, if you’re an offensive player, you can’t miss Smithscript Shield, an offensive Small Shield that can be thrown to deal ranged damage to enemies. Best of all, it can be enhanced with Smithing Talisman, just like regular weapons.

Read More: Elden Ring DLC: How To Choose An Item That Can Make You More Survivable? - Increase Maximum Health

Medium Shields

Like Small Shields, the best Medium Shield after Patch 1.14 is still Brass Shield, which was previously loved by players. This is because compared with other Medium Shields, Brass Shield has a higher average Elemental Damage Negation and have the highest Guard Boost stat.

In addition, you only need to defeat Godrick Soldiers and Raya Lucaria Soldiers during the exploration of Altus Plateau to obtain this powerful shield, and these two battles are very simple. This is another reason Brass Shield has a large audience.

Besides Brass Shield, another best choice is Twinbird Kite Shield, which was rarely mentioned in the previous game process. But don’t underestimate its inherent ability - when your health is below 20%, your attack power will increase by 5% and your defense power will increase by 10%.

This will give you some chances to turn the tide in some tough battles, or even defeat the enemy with one blow. If you combine Twinbird Kite Shield with Red-Feathered Branchsword and Blue-Feathered Branchsword, you’ll also get an extra 20% attack damage and 50% defense, which should make it much easier to get Elden Ring Runes that are awarded to you at the end of a fight.

While it’s traditionally been a risky move to lower your health to get these damage and defense buffs actively, thankfully, Damage Negation and Guard Boost buffs for Medium Shields after Patch 1.14 will make this a much safer option.

Greatshields

Whether in the base game of Elden Ring or the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, Greatshields have always been the best choice for players in their builds, as they allow players to withstand some devastating combos from bosses easily. Even because the combos of bosses in the DLC are longer than those in the base game, many players set them as a must in some challenges, such as in the battle with Remembrance Boss Commander Gaius.

Among the many excellent Greatshields, the best choices are Fingerprint Stone Shield or Verdigris Greatshield. Fingerprint Stone Shield has higher Elemental Damage Negation, and Verdigris Greatshield has higher Guard Boost. Choose one of the two, depending on your build strength and usage habits.

However, since Fingerprint Stone Shield can be infused with some Ashes of War, such as Barricade Shield for enhancement, it is more popular for many builds and has more uses.

The above are the choices for shields after the release of Patch 1.14 of Elden Ring. I hope you can defeat some bosses faster and easier with the help of these shields, so that you can get better rewards. If you have any expectations for the subsequent changes in Elden Ring DLC, you are welcome to express your thoughts in IGGM Discord. In the meantime, you will also have the opportunity to get some free Runes in it. I wish you a happy game!