Buckler type shield vs Scutum type shield

[ttop]

Hello fellow Pld. Which type of shield do you prefer? Buckler vs Scutum.

[n1MB1s]

I prefer shields with high block chance vs shields that mitigate a ton. After experimenting with both I am still not 100% positive which is "better" but I am starting to feel there may be situations where one or the other are best suited.

[OptimusPrime]

I personally prefer buckler-type shields. Maybe its because I like to see that I'm blocking frequently, but I'm not sure which ends up being better. They seem like that would be pretty balanced out because most rate/mitigate is just swapped. i.e. 19 mitigate 75 block rate - 75 mitigate 19 block rate

[n1MB1s]

Shield Slash, in my opinion, is an EXCELLENT skill to use and when timed properly (and with a little luck) you can keep a full 6+ second stop on weapon skills of your target. This is why I like to block often rather then take every bit of damage or try to soften it.

Shield Slash doesn't work on EVERY mob or boss though but still worth it.

[ttop]

Shield Slash, in my opinion, is an EXCELLENT skill to use and when timed properly (and with a little luck) you can keep a full 6+ second stop on weapon skills of your target. This is why I like to block often rather then take every bit of damage or try to soften it.

Shield Slash doesn't work on EVERY mob or boss though but still worth it.

That's a really good point. Im leaning towards buckler type myself.

[Judge_Xero]

I prefer Kite Type

[RhazeCain]

Speaking as a Warrior here.. I play Gladiator occasionally as 2nd class. Don't actually know which shield type is which, but I assume it boils down to choosing better block rate vs. better block amount.

Higher block rate wins (assuming other things equal). Here's why:

Compare the following 2 series of damage from enemy.
100, 75, 75, 100, 75, 75, 100, 75, 75 (higher block rate, smaller block amount, sum=750)
100, 50, 100, 100, 50, 100, 100, 50, 100 (higher block amount, smaller block rate, sum=750)
The total damage in the end is the same, but the point is to not die. The most likely times to die are when a big hit comes and you're low health. Thus the less frequently 100s occur, the better. The big hits occur more frequently in the high block amount/small block rate scenario.

Of course, should you have the choice between a big difference in block amount and just a small difference in block rate, then going for block amount is great.

Also, if you already have a really high block rate, even a mediocre increase in block amount could be a big reduction in total damage received. TL;DR: the "other things being equal" part matters a lot.

It's ye olde evasion vs. mitigation debate. One of the classics of MMO tanking across many games and has multiple forms in most games. Similar to HP vs. Def, Determination vs. Parry, and other flavors in other games. Mitigation always beats evasion when quantity is equal.

[Snugenz]

I tend to prefer block chance shields because of shield slash.

[Unaki]

Sorry, I am a historic military buff and I kind of get annoyed with improper usage of terms when it comes to weapons. GLA/PLD use round shields and tower shields and CNJ/THM use decorative bucklers and targes.

Shield Swipe is your hardest hitting move for the lowest amount of TP and it also blocks the enemy's weaponskills for 6 seconds every time you hit with it. Rage of Halone hits harder but in order to do so you have to combo it off of Savage Blade. At 46 you get Bulwark, a skill that increases your block chance by 60% for 15 seconds so you could be able to use a tower rather effectively and still proc swipe in a long battle. If you already have a high block rate, say 150 you are already blocking a lot. Using Bulwark would increase it to 240 a whopping 90 point increase. Use it when you need to burn through a boss with a round shield and you will basically just be shield swiping for 15 seconds. At that point you won't need the threat from your Halone combo anyways.

[Ariyn]

-snip-

Shield Swipe gives very little emnity ... so you will still be needing the halone combo no matter how many shield swipes you do. The only threat from swipe is the dmg you do with it x2 with shield oath vs x10 dmg with halone