Shield bashing

Active shield bashing

Shield bashing is the act of attacking with a shield. It is performed by making a standard attack while actively blocking and wearing a shield.

The shield's Damage Reduction bonus is negated while shield bashing. Also, the shield's shield bonus to Armor Class is similarly negated, unless you have the Improved Shield Bash feat.

• The applied attack, damage and critical values and on-hit effects of a shield bash depend only on the stats, effects and bonuses of the user's shield.
• Note: You will be unable to shield-bash if auto-attack is enabled, unless you have the Improved Shield Bash feat, in which case your character will automatically bash while blocking, if your target is close enough.
• Note: Doublestrike does not affect shield bashing. While guarding and bashing, the shield will never strike more than once on a single attack.
  • The Divine Crusader enhancement Bring Down Wrath allows your shield to doublestrike at a rate equal to half your main hand doublestrike rate, as if it were an offhand weapon.

Secondary (passive) shield bashing

A Secondary shield bash is a chance of striking your foe with your shield whenever you attack with your main-hand weapon.

• The player must not be blocking while attacking in order to make a secondary shield bash. A shield bash and a secondary (passive) shield bash are two separate attacks and should not be related as the same thing.
• In order to be able to make a secondary shield bash, the character must first increase his chance of making a secondary shield bash through various feats, enchantments and item bonuses.
• You'll actually see your character performing the bash when it happens. It is a quick combination-animation that does not slow down your normal attack rate.
• A secondary (passive) shield bash rolls a separate dice from your main-hand weapon when attacking, for damage, critical and to-hit values.
• The applied attack, damage and critical values and on-hit effects of a secondary shield bash depend only on the stats, effects and bonuses of the user's shield.
• Since update 23, secondary shield bashes can proc while moving and have a 1 second cooldown.
• Note: Doublestrike does not affect Secondary (passive) shield bashing. On a single attack, if you proc a doublestrike your main-hand weapon will strike twice, but your shield will always strike once.
  • The Divine Crusader enhancement Bring Down Wrath allows your shield to doublestrike at a rate equal to half your main hand doublestrike rate, as if it were an offhand weapon. This chance is independent of your main hand weapon's doublestrike chance, so your shield can doublestrike without your weapon doing so and vice versa.
• Note: When executing an attack, your shield will always strike after your main-hand weapon. Therefore it is possible that your weapon will touch (hit and damage) the target, but your shield will not.
  • This can happen if: (a) you move your character after your main-hand weapon has touched the enemy. (b) the enemy moves after your character has touched him with his main-hand weapon. (c) the enemy is out of your shield's reach, but close enough for your main-hand weapon to touch him.
• Note: Secondary shield bashes also occur when wielding orbs.
• Note: Druids cannot secondary shield bash while in Animal form.

Effects that affect shield bash and secondary shield bash attacks

Enhancements

• Overbalance - knock your opponent to the ground on a vorpal hit.
• Shield Champion - shield bash stuns enemies 5% of the time.
• Unbalancing Shove - damaged enemies get -1 to saving throws.
• Disorienting Smash - damaged enemies gain a stack of Vulnerability.

Effects

• Orlassk's Prison - A shield bash will turn the target to stone.

Sources of increased secondary shield bash chance

Feats

• Improved Shield Bash for +20%

Enhancements

• Fighter/Paladin Vanguard enhancements (Shield Combat I/II/Vicious Shield I/Armored Strength) for a total of +40%
• Sorcerer/Wizard Eldritch Knight enhancements (Shield Striking) for 5%/10%/15%
• Drive Them Back - +10% (with non-metal shields)
• Divine Crusader, Shield of Justice +5%/10%/15%

Items

• Shield Bashing
• Bashing or Improved Bashing
• new random loot Gloves of Bashing (Enhancement bonus)

Notes

• Shields in general have a smaller range in which they can reach enemies in comparison to other weapons. Although both weapons are considered melee, a longsword for example, has a long blade on its end and a character wielding it can reach his foes even while standing a few steps away from them, something which he can't do if he uses a shield.
• Therefore it is recommended to stick as close as possible to your enemies, when fighting with a shield, otherwise many Shield-related skills and attacks will very often miss your target.
• Some shields may have a higher or smaller range in which they can reach enemies, depending on their size.^{[Unverified"Some shields may have a higher or smaller range in which they can reach enemies, depending on their size." has not been verified in-game. Please verify it!]}

See also

• The math behind shield bashing
• Official Vanguard Feedback Thread