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.

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.
• 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.

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