Top 5 Best Shields in Elden Ring & Where to Get Them

Using one of the best shields in Elden Ring can make the difference between life and death – here are our top 5 favorites!

Elden Ring is tough right from the beginning of the game so you’ll need all of the protection you can get.

Although equipping some good armor is important, having a great shield is even more integral to success in Elden Ring. After all, it’s much better to block incoming damage than be hit!

Here are our favorite shields you can use in Elden Ring to increase your survivability in the Lands Between.

Also, to help with boss fights, check out the top 5 best Spirit Ash Summons in Elden Ring too!

Elden Ring Where to Get Jellyfish Shield - Location + Map

Top 5 Best Shields in Elden Ring

These are the 5 best shields that you should get in Elden Ring as well as where you can find them!

All of these shields completely block physical damage, as every good shield should. However, they all suit different builds in Elden Ring.

5. Jellyfish Shield – Best For Damage

If you’re looking to deal some extra damage, it doesn’t get much better than the Jellyfish Shield. This is thanks to its unique ability, Contagious Fury, which increases your attack power by 20%.

Using this ability with a powerful weapon like the Rivers of Blood Katana or Sword of Night and Flame and you’ll be melting through boss health bars!

In addition to this, it absorbs all of the physical damage when blocking and can also block at least 40% of every other damage type.

Check out our guide on where to find the Jellyfish Shield in Elden Ring if you want to pick it up!

Requirements: STR: 20, DEX: 14

4. Carian Knight’s Shield – Best For Mages

The Carian Knight’s Shield is perfect for any mage in Elden Ring, but it works well whenever you are coming up against enemies using magic attacks.

Its lightweight for a medium shield as well as its full physical damage reduction are notable. However, what really sets this one apart is that it blocks up to 71% of magical damage when upgrade.

This means you can use one of the best spells in Elden Ring in one hand and block incoming magic damage with the other!

You can get the Carian Knight’s Shield by killing Moongrum, the Carian Knight in the Raya Lucaria Academy.

Requirements: STR: 10, DEX: 10, INT: 15

3. Beast Crest Heater Shield – Best Early-Game Shield

The best shield you can get early on in Elden Ring is the Beast Crest Heater Shield. Although, it is still just as useful even late into the game.

It weighs just 3.5 and blocks all physical damage, meaning that it is effective for any build and doesn’t weigh you down too much. We would even recommend it over any small shield because it is so lightweight and easy to get.

The Beast Crest Heater Shield can be picked up straight away! It is in a chest in a soldiers’ camp next to Deathtouched Catacombs in Stormhill, Limgrave.

Requirements: STR: 10

Also Read: Elden Ring: Best Early Game Weapons & Where to Find Them

2. Brass Shield – Best Medium Shield

If you’re looking for a medium shield that offers you some more protection in Elden Ring, then you can’t get any better than the Brass Shield.

Its weight is on the heavy side for a medium shield at 7.0 but it more than makes up for it by blocking the most damage out of any medium shield in the game. Plus, it goes perfectly with the powerful Tree Sentinel’s Armor set.

You can pick the Brass Shield up as a rare drop from any enemy that is wielding it. The best place to farm enemies for the Brass Shield is to the southeast of the Gatefront Site of Grace in Limgrave – there will be 4 Godrick soldiers wielding it.

Requirements: STR: 16

1. Fingerprint Stone Shield – Best Greatshield For Guard Boost

Finally, the Fingerprint Stone Shield is the best shield in all of Elden Ring, although not everyone will be able to wield it.

Like all hulking greatshields, it blocks all physical damage as well as the majority of all other damage types. However, what makes the Fingerprint Stone Shield so useful is that you can get it to 100 Guard boost when fully upgrading it and using the Greatshield Talisman!

To get the Fingerprint Stone Shield, you first need to defeat Morgott, the Omen King. Then, you can pick it up by platforming down the secret room behind the chest in the Cathedral of the Forsaken.

Requirements: STR: 48

Also, check out the best Strength and Dexterity weapons in Elden Ring to use alongside your new shield!

And those are the best shields to use in Elden Ring! Hopefully, these will make your journey in the Lands Between a bit easier.