Shields | Skyrim Wiki

Shields in Skyrim are used to deflect physical attacks. Shields allow players to block effectively as well as provide additional armor to reduce physical damage taken further. Shields are available in both heavy and light variants, the shield is useful to many warriors and other offensive classes. The Block skill and the corresponding armor skills affect the effectiveness of the shields. When allocated with the right perks, shields are able to block not only direct melee attacks, but also incoming arrows, power attacks, and even fire, frost, and shock damage. Their bash ability can be used to stagger and even knock down opponents.

Why Use Shields In Skyrim

Shields are powerful tools that can help players fight through multiple combat situations. Blocking with a shield can additionally reduce the amount of damage players are taking and with the right perks can even mitigate arrows entirely and reduce damage from elemental magics. 

Shield bashes can be used to interrupt enemy attacks preventing the attack entirely. Damage prevention is especially important against enemies that deal large amounts of damage such as dragons using dragon breaths.

Shield bashes are a good method to stagger enemies to stop them attacking and give the player plenty of time to do damage.

Shields also provide Armor to the player reducing damage taken from physical attacks for the attacks that make it past the shield.

All Skyrim Shields

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Name	Armor Type	Weight	Armor	Effects
Chitin Shield	Light Shields	8	24.5	Can be made with the Elven Smithing perk and Smithing level 30
Dragonscale Shield	Light Shields	6	29	Can be made with the Dragon Armor perk and Smithing level 100
Elven Shield	Light Shields	4	21	Can be made with the Elven Smithing perk and Smithing level 30
Glass Shield	Light Shields	6	27	Can be made with the Glass Smithing perk and Smithing level 70
Hide Shield	Light Shields	4	15	Can be made without any Smithing perks
Imperial Light Shield	Light Shields	4	19	Can be made with the Steel Smithing perk and Smithing level 20
Stalhrim Shield	Light Shields	10	29.5	Can be made with the Ebony Smithing perk and Smithing level 80
Aela's Shield	Heavy Shields	12	24	Can be found on Aela the Huntress after completing the quest Take Up Arms
Banded Iron Shield	Heavy Shields	12	22	Can be made without any Smithing perks
Blades Shield	Heavy Shields	12	26	Can be found in the Sky Haven Temple
Bonemold Shield	Heavy Shields	8	21	Found on Solstheim Can be made with the Steel Smithing perk and Smithing level 20
Daedric Shield	Heavy Shields	15	36	Can be made with the Daedric Smithing perk and Smithing level 90 Can also be made at the Atronach Forge
Dawnguard Shield	Heavy Shields	10	26	Adds 10 damage to shield bash attacks against Vampires
Dented Iron Shield	Heavy Shields	12	15	Dropped by Hulkin Draugr
Dragonplate Shield	Heavy Shields	8	34	Can be made with the Dragon Armor perk and Smithing level 100
Dwarven Shield	Heavy Shields	12	26	Can be made with the Dwarven Smithing perk and Smithing level 30
Ebony Shield	Heavy Shields	14	32	Can be made with the Ebony Smithing perk and Smithing level 80
Falmer Shield	Heavy Shields	15	28	Can be found on Falmer and Falmer corpses
Hrolfdir's Shield	Heavy Shields	12	24	Can be obtain during the quest Recover Hrolfdir's Shield
Imperial Shield	Heavy Shields	12	20	Can be made with the Steel Smithing perk and Smithing level 20
Improved Bonemold Shield	Heavy Shields	11	26	Can be made after completing the quest Paid in Full
Iron Shield	Heavy Shields	12	20	Can be made without any Smithing perks
Nordic Shield	Heavy Shields	10	26.5	Can be made with the Advanced Armors perk and Smithing level 50
Orcish Shield	Heavy Shields	14	30	Can be made with the Orcish Smithing perk and Smithing level 50
Roggi's Ancestral Shield	Heavy Shields	12	25	Can be obtained during the quest Find Roggi Knot-Beard's Ancestral Shield
Steel Shield	Heavy Shields	12	20	Can be made with the Steel Smithing perk and Smithing level 20
Falkreath Guard's Shield	Heavy Shields	3	17	Can be found on Falkreath Hold Guards
Hjaalmarch Guard's Shield	Heavy Shields	3	17	Can be found on Hjaalmarch Hold Guards
Markarth Guard's Shield	Heavy Shields	3	17	Can be found on Markarth Hold Guards
Pale Guard's Shield	Heavy Shields	3	17	Can be found on Pale Hold Guards
Riften Guard's Shield	Heavy Shields	3	17	Can be found on Riften Hold Guards
Solitude Guard's Shield	Heavy Shields	3	17	Can be found on Solitude Hold Guards
Whiterun Guard's Shield	Heavy Shields	3	17	Can be found on Whiterun Hold Guards
Windhelm Guard's Shield	Heavy Shields	3	17	Can be found on Windhelm Hold Guards
Winterhold Guard's Shield	Heavy Shields	3	17	Can be found on Winterhold Hold Guards
Aetherial Shield	Unique Shields	12	26	Can be crafted in the Aetherium Forge during the quest Lost to the Ages
Auriel's Shield	Unique Shields	14	32	Stores the energy of blocked attacks. Performing a power bash will release the stored energy.
Dawnguard Rune Shield	Unique Shields	6	27	+10 Bash damage against vampires, and sustained blocking creates a minor sun shield doing 10 points of damage while draining the wielder's stamina.
Shield of Solitude	Unique Shields	12	26-32	Increases Magic Resistance by 10-30% Blocks 15-35% more damage
Shield of Ysgramor	Unique Shields	12	30	Increases Magic Resistance by 20% Increases Health by 20 Points.
Spellbreaker	Unique Shields	12	38	While blocking, creates a ward that protects against spells for up to 50 points
Targe of the Blooded	Unique Shields	8	20	When bashing, does 3 points of bleeding damage for 5 seconds