While they're hardly needed to conquer the dangers of the Lands Between, shields can be a huge boon in Elden Ring, especially if you keep one handy that works well with your build. Aside from enabling you to block incoming strikes you'd take significant damage from otherwise, many shields also feature the ability to parry; if timed properly, this maneuver will deflect an enemy's attack and leave them open to being stuck with a critical hit. Some larger greatshields can be used to shield bash foes, too, and all of them are ideal for guard counters — special heavy attacks that can be thrown immediately after blocking a hit. There are even one-of-a-kind shields with special Ashes of War that can give you powerful buffs or unique options in combat.
There are tons of shields to find and use in the game — and more are coming in Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, including dueling shields — but which are the best? It's a tough question with different answers depending on what type of character you have. To help you pick some to use, I've put together a list of the best shields in Elden Ring below that goes over what makes each one a top-tier pick, along with each one's location and stat requirements.
