I think the best use for shields (if you want damage) is to go for retal
e.g. 9min naked clear with extra spawn
That is my opinion. I made 2 block/recovery builds and both sucks. I would say this was mostly because of the cost of KEY shield constellations (like others have pointed out).
If you’re implying you can get the nodes, well, you’re right…
But my useless pet rock comment is in regards to what you have after picking all the crap constellation nodes to make this happen.
Like so many said before in this thread, and after.
Block/recovery shield just isn’t worth it. There is much cheaper for much better.
So I 100% stand by my post.
Why not just combine aeon’s with absolution?
LOL. Your story sounds like mine.
“How bad can it be”
…
“WTF was I thinking”
Block/recov shield is a dead-end road. Resistances, leech, cheat-deaths, and buffs like seals/skill shields (i.e blast shield) I think are better and CHEAPER.
Why are you being so myopic in your perspective?
As far as shields-centered specs go, clearly the mechanics of the game have shifted in favor of retal damage.
So trying to used a shield based spec while ignoring retal is akin to me using a 2H auto attacking build and ignoring things like attack speed.
Of course you’re going to have a terrible experience.
P.S: All the hints are right there for you to see too. Menhir’s bulwark - retal damage. Obelisk - retal damage. Targo’s anvil - retal damage. Shield maiden - retal damage, etc. etc
And you are entitled to it. It just isn’t true, however.
Definitely true, as far as I can tell. The question is: Should it be that way?
I agree with you, sir_spanksalot, that devotions speak a very clear language.
Itemization, at least IMHO, doesn’t. We still have tons of shields in the game, that don’t even have retal damage on them. We even have dedicated tank sets like Markovian, that also don’t include retal. If retal was the “intended” and only way to play S+B, why all these “inferior” items?
There must have been a time, when S+B wasn’t equivalent to “play retal”. And for the sake of build diversity, I’d welcome having strong S+B builds outside of retal. From my limited experience (I mainly focus on Warlords, when it comes to shield characters), I’d say, the only decent non-retal S+B build, that’s still left, is veretragna’s “Carrot Lord”. Apart from that - go retal or don’t use shields…
But markovican warlord does very well.
EDIT: Woops - just saw that you’ve included the carrot lord.
Doesn’t octavius aegis still do well? Virtue aegis too?
There’s Octavius still doing 7-ish in Crucible or better. There’s Voidsoul which is probably gonna rock in 1.1.5.0.
It’s just a matter of over-investing. Imo Overguard is rarely worth more than 7th rank, and Shield Training is a one-pointer. Those skills were overnerfed because of Crate’s overreaction to warlords after SR launch.
1 Like
Again… I dunno if I agree mate 
Perhaps on non-retal builds.
What does Overguard or Shield Training contribute to retal dmg? Slightly better proccing of Targo Hammers or Boar, and that’s it. 1% recovery for 1p is too expensive.
1 Like
Are these builds using the shields for defense, or just because they need a shield to complete the set/use certain skills? Over here Zantai makes a claim that shields are a reliable way to increase durability on any character. I’m not sure I agree with that general premise based on my experiences, but then neither of my two shield guys are at endgame yet. Of course, since he immediately mentions how kill speed can increase survivablility after that it’s possible the first statement was intended in the very narrow definition where if you stand still and get wailed on without doing anything you’ll survive a little longer with a shield than without, which is probably true.
I’m using it for defence mostly.
Here’s the unpolished GT - https://www.grimtools.com/calc/M2g7W962
It’s basically what I theorycrafted up for HC.
I need my shield recovery/block to be on point because I have to stay close to enemies to damage them with counterstrike.
Funny thing is that while the spec can clear naked crucible with extra spawns in 7:30 - 8:30, buffs/banners don’t affect it.
Imo Overguard is rarely worth more than 7th rank, and Shield Training is a one-pointer. Those skills were overnerfed because of Crate’s overreaction to warlords after SR launch.
Wow. And I thought shield builds were awful before.
I tested my 1.0.6 blocker in the new build. He’s off to the glue factory…
I guess I missed the golden age of 3 weeks.
sigh…oh well.
Shields are fantastic. You guys need to calm down with the whining.
1 Like
Next they might start saying good acid gun builds do not exist. Oh wait… 
1 Like
Are. You mean WERE.
1.1.2.0 Soldier
Counter Strike: reduced % Retaliation Damage Added to Attack scaling with rank to 15% by rank 16, 20% by max ultimate rank
Field Command: reduced % Armor scaling at ranks 9+ to 25% by rank 12, 30% by max ultimate rank
Overguard: increased Cooldown to 24s. Reduced % Shield Recovery Time scaling with rank to 35% by rank 12, 45% by max ultimate rank. % Reduced Stun Duration now scales with rank to 50% by rank 12, 60% by max ultimate rank. Increased % Health Regeneration scaling with rank to 135% by rank 12, 220% by max ultimate rank.
Markovian’s Defense: increased Cooldown Reduction to -9.5s. Added -10% Shield Recovery Time and a -18% Total Retaliation damage modifier.
Shield Training: reduced % Shield Recovery Time and % Block Chance scaling with rank to 12% by rank 10, 24% by max ultimate rankI’m literally giving you video evidence demonstrating how strong shields can be if built right.
In the video above, I literally aggro’d every enemy in every boss chunk from SR 75 - 80, where the game crashed.
1 Like
Don’t bother, mate. The evidence means nothing here lol
1 Like
Not all shields are built equal. Most are glorified off hands at best.
I want you to make build around Super Meat boy. And that’s not even the worst shield. Just few that are decent. Skyreach for example have nice stats.
1 Like
We’re polity disagreeing.
I posted the patch notes showing what it WAS.
If no one ever challenges the entourage echo chamber, forums like this fossilize with the same opinion.
When it comes to ARPGs, GD is at the bottom of the list when it comes to respectable shied builds. My Titan Quest conqueror was alot of fun to play. In GD, it’s like please don’t make this char suck more than it already does, than the nerf hammer comes flying in. Not asking for a D2 Hammerdin.
Why even introduce a new and exciting shield class (Warlord) just to starve it in the crib with an immediate follow-up nerf patch? Solider shield was better if no Oathkeeper ever came out at all. It was a total and clear reversal of trajectory by any measure. The Warder I had is dogfood. Kind of bait and switch.
Like the Fermi Paradox, If S&B builds are great, where are they? Other than an ancient vanilla Warder thread in the builds-guide, they’re missing in action. Strange, right?
New shield build coming…
EDIT: s/^exiting/exciting/g