4 to 5 Sheild vs 4 to 5 ath?

[Aztek]

Just wanting some advice on which you guys think is better, My build is almost done but I have 1 point that im not sure where to stick (*Insert joke here*) I'm a polearm/cav hybrid with some 1handed. And my question is would it be better to go from 4 in shield to 5, or from 4 ath to 5? I dont think ath really helps all that much with that extra point but not 100% on that either.. any advice?

[TurmoilTom]

The difference between 4 and 5 athletics is pretty substantial, whereas 5 shield will only get you a little bit extra hits on your shield and unlock the Huscarl's Round Shield.

Personally, it would be best overall to get both up to 5 if you're going for 15 agility, but if you had to choose between them I think athletics would be more worthwhile.

[Vodner]

I've never tried 4 ath 1h, but it would probably be very painful to play 1v1 vs a balanced 2h or polearm build (which isn't an unlikely scenario if you get dehorsed).

[Macropus]

Athletics is obviously better, making you not too slow in case of you got dehorsed or just playing on foot. As cav you mostly use your shield against ranged, so 4 shield skill is pretty fine.

[Huey Newton]

best shield skill levels are 3,4,6
You unlock the elite cav shield, heavy round shield, and steel shield.
The 3 best in each's category

[Aztek]

Thanks for the input guys, 5 ath it is =)

[dreadnok]

If your carrying shiekd your ath is shot anyway. Steel shield is awful cause of the weight. And it goes down easy against an axe. The huscarl lasts longer. Heavy board shield lasts the longest but too heavy

[isatis]

best shield skill levels are 3,4,6
You unlock the elite cav shield, heavy round shield, and steel shield.
The 3 best in each's category

I mean... steel shield is the only shield at 6 shield skill

...

maybe we ain't talkin about same category!!

(5 ath ftw btw)

[Smoothrich]

I've never gone over 4 shield skill even on 24 agility 1handers.  Elite Cavalry Shield will be what you use as a cav and it won't get much better at 5 skill, so leave it at that.  If spawning as infantry, a Heavy Round Shield is usually the best as its basically a baby huscarl.  Plated Round is popular too, but I never used it.

5 athletics makes you way deadlier in combat than a few more auto blocks, and anything above 4 shield skill is a crutch anyways.  Do you really want to be some elite scimi huscarl strength build scrub like all the bads?

[Zanze]

The difference between 4 and 5 shield is negligible. Maybe one or two hits. You either get 4, or jump to 6. 5 Ath man, 5 ath.

[CrazyCracka420]

Agreed with the consensus here.  Going from 4-5 athletics is a lot more important than 4 to 5 shield.  4 skill shields are my favorite ones anyways. 

[Huey Newton]

I mean... steel shield is the only shield at 6 shield skill

...

maybe we ain't talkin about same category!!

(5 ath ftw btw)

Sorry,
By best in each category I meant,

Elite cav: Best usable-on-horse
Heavy round: Best value for infantry (1 slot coverage close to huscarl)
Steel shield: best metal shield

Shoulda been more specific

[CrazyCracka420]

Elite cav is good, but knightly heater is better for horsemen IMO.  I'd rather have the knightly heater on foot or horse, but elite cav is good on foot too.  But I play in first person on horse, so the round shields cover up too much of my screen.  Besides that, the knightly heater has better resistance, which is what you want (HP isn't that important compared to resistance).

For coverage, the regular heater shield (at level 3 difficulty) is also good bang for your buck.  Not nearly as good as the 4 difficulty Elite Cav Shield, or Knightly Heater shield.

[Smoothrich]

The knightly heater has better stats for durability sure, and I often take it as infantry.  Cav shield just gives a bigger shield, which means more of that bubble forcefield that makes people rage at cav so much.  Also more protection from ranged, the primary source of damage.

Personally I just don't use shield skill at all anymore, cav or no cav.  Time spent leveling up to put skill points in shield is time better spent demanding nerfs on ranged instead.