Ive been playing great lancer for a while now. Yes it will block arrows and attacks, however for some reason the sheild comes up at a very bad angle to the point where it is very esay for an archer to just shoot you despite the fact your sheild is up, because it really only protects your left arm in the position its in. It doesnt give anywhere near the protection that you have when your just holding up the sheild yourself. I was dissapointed by this, i thought the sheild in the couch position should be much more effective, cover up your chest and what not instead of jsut your left arm.