Shielder (offensive)

[Mala]

Umm, just one question.
Some of the other shielder  know a nasty trick. If i use the rule of thumb "wait for the clank", then i catch an instant hit when i try to swing back.
When i try to evade this hits, it looks like a common feint combo, but shouldn´t there some kind of a hit stun, if the blade hits my shield?
Anyway, how does this work?

[rustyspoon]

Umm, just one question.
Some of the other shielder  know a nasty trick. If i use the rule of thumb "wait for the clank", then i catch an instant hit when i try to swing back.
When i try to evade this hits, it looks like a common feint combo, but shouldn´t there some kind of a hit stun, if the blade hits my shield?
Anyway, how does this work?

I'm guessing it's a combination of lag and your opponent turning into their hits.

A big advantage of 2h is that their high damage means they rarely glance. Because of that, they can turn into their hits much more than a 1h could.

When you attack and move your mouse at the same time, you'll hit much earlier in your swing. With a 1h you'll often glance, but not with a 2h.

[Bobthehero]

27/15 Only if you know how to work it. 

Oh balls thats something you got there, but no IF avaible eh?

[Socrates]

Nope just good old 9 PS/5 Ath/3 Shield.

[zagibu]

Umm, just one question.
Some of the other shielder  know a nasty trick. If i use the rule of thumb "wait for the clank", then i catch an instant hit when i try to swing back.
When i try to evade this hits, it looks like a common feint combo, but shouldn´t there some kind of a hit stun, if the blade hits my shield?
Anyway, how does this work?

The wait for the clank rule is only for new shielders to avoid falling for feints. I don't think you have to do it, Mala, as you are quite fast with canceling your own swings.

I also think this "trick" you talk about is due to movement/turning. If they do a left to right swing, turn right and move around you on your right side, they will hit VERY early in their animation, which, with a fast weapon like the steel pick, might be fast enough to hit before your return swing. In theory, the hit should glance/whiff, because it is too early in the animation, but I guess the formula which is responsible for glances is not perfect. On the other hand, you never wear a helmet, so I think that's the reason why they don't glance on you at least...

[San]

24/12
8 Power Strike
8 Iron Flesh
4 athletics/weapon master

Very light armor (7.7 effective weight)

Beautiful. I'm really loving this, even with a short weapon like the steel pick. Light armor and 4 athletics would still make one very fast. You have to approach with many more right swings for the extra length, but it doesn't matter if they block since you're inside anyways. I like all of the short weapons and the elite scimitar a lot.

I am more tempted to go even higher with strength to 9 max with the heater shield now that we can respec. The iron flesh is essential for archers who sometimes hit past your shield, or so you can take that extra hit. My non-heirloomed knightly heater shield can take more than enough punishment.

In addition, when your shield breaks, you begin to move insanely quick. I am fine scavenging for shields or even without one if there are no archers.

It definitely takes a dedicated 1h/shield build to make this work, but it is very rewarding. If you make use of speed bonus, head swings, and footwork, you can deal a lot of damage with very few glances, while avoiding attacks. You're quick enough to avoid attacks on strength builds and get in without them even hitting your shield.

[Siiem]

8 Power Strike

steel pick.

You sir, might be the biggest douchebag in the world.

you can deal a lot of damage with very few glances

And also a noob.

[Desverger]

Hello, im new here and loving this game and mod. Question i have and sorry if its been raised before (i couldn't find it) this guide is based on a level 30, if im leveling up the old fashioned way from level 1 rather than instant 30, is there any particular order i should go on what stats to raise first that would help at lower levels?

eg should i put more into shield earlier rather than athletics weaponmaster etc early on, or is it best to just to spread the points equally amongst all these from the start?

[VVarlord]

Depends on what you want and how you play if you are decent at blocking id say go STR first but if you'd rather you shield for protection go AGIL.

[zagibu]

Focus on STR until you can use decent gear, then bring Shield skill up to 3, and catch up with the rest.

[San]

You sir, might be the biggest douchebag in the world.

And also a noob.

Well excuuuse me, Princess. Way to indiscriminately flame. Nice contribution to the topic at hand, also. The point of the post was that you can use a higher strength/lower agi build and really short weapon with light armor. No need to pick (no pun intended) at every word and misconstrue it as negative as possible.

Anyways, I think shielders can have a wide variation in builds they can utilize, which was pretty surprising for me in the past. I didn't like the heaters much until I ended up solely using them in one of my 4 shield skill builds.

[Elmetiacos]

I'm returning to shielding for the first time since the upkeep patch. My old characters are wiped, meaning that I'm gen 1 once again. Which is the best thing to heirloom, my weapon or my shield?

[rustyspoon]

A MW weapon will grant you +1 speed and +3 damage.

A MW shield gives you +4 armor, +53 hp and +3 speed.

By the numbers you get more value from a shield heirloom, but I still think weapon heirlooms are the way to go. I'd take being able to kill a guy slightly faster over taking two more hits on my shield any day.

That said, my shield was the second thing I MW.   

[Vibe]

Weapon, then shield.

[Spawny]

Weapon, then armour.

Allthough I must say, masterpiece knightly heater shield does sound sexy.