Summary
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdomwelcomes players back into the world of Hyrule for yet another adventure with the Hero of Time, Link. Using the same map as its predecessor,Tears of the Kingdomadds two new realms both above and below Hyrule’s surface. With such a vast open world to explore, players have a lot of choices in how they spend their time.
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But one unavoidable aspect is combat. Players can put it off for as long as possible, but eventually, Ganondorf’s army of Bokoblins, Gibdos, and Lynels will catch up with them. When they do, players will need a goodshield if they hope to stand a chance. So, here are the best shields inTears of the Kingdom.
Updated May 16, 2025 by Ritwik Mitra:The combat in Tears of the Kingdom is pretty engaging, carrying over most of the systems from Breath of the Wild to make things familiar yet pretty challenging in its own right.
Given how much damage a vulnerable Link can sustain from a powerful enemy, it becomes important to wield the best equipment to turn the odds in the player’s favor. A shield is especially useful for deflecting attacks, with Link having access to many powerful shields in the game that can protect him against some truly damaging enemy offense.
18Soldier’s Shield
One of the most accessible shields is the Soldier’s Shield, which can be found in Hyrule Field and Eldin Canyon. It’s commonly dropped by Bokoblin enemies, so it’s also easy to replace when it inevitably breaks. The Soldier’s Shield has a defense rating of 16 and is made of wood and metal.
Due to the materials, the Soldier’s Shield is a decent early option for players facing off against archer enemies, as arrows will shatter upon impact. However, it’s also susceptible to fire and has a much lower defense rating than other shields in the game.
17Shield Of The Mind’s Eye
Another shield with the same defense level is the Shield of the Mind’s Eye, which will be given to players who assist Olkin in clearing the Ring Ruins of Bokoblins. ThisWooden Shieldfeatures a unique design meant to eliminate blind spots in battle. This makes it great for players who prioritize visibility and swift reactions in combat.
The Shield of the Mind’s Eye is also a great option for fusing with materials due to its high agility. It also features a high friction rate, making it afast shield surfing option. However, its susceptibility to fire and low defense rating means that other shields may be better choices.
16Gerudo Shield
To acquire the Gerudo Shield, players will need some luck on their side. Themany Like Like enemiesscattered across the Gerudo region will drop chests which randomly reward players with Gerudo weaponry. If Link is lucky, he’ll get a drop with this golden shield with its defense rating of 20.
Like theSoldier’s Shield, the Gerudo Shield will break incoming arrows due to its metal composition. Its improved defense rating makes it a better option than the two previous entries, and it’s stylish as well. However, its vulnerability to lightning is a drawback, and it can be difficult to acquire.
15Zora Shield
Another shield with cultural ties is theZora Shield, which can be easily found within Zora’s Domain. It has a defense rating of 24, is of strong metal construction, and features an intricate and beautiful design typical of the Zora aesthetic.
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This shield is a great option for thoseheading to the Water Temple, as it can be easily grabbed along the way. The metal does make it vulnerable to lightning, of course, but it’s still a decent option early on. Later, however, players will have plenty of other choices to upgrade to.
14Dragonbone Boko Shield
With its base defense level of 25, the Dragonbone Boko Shield is another great choice. This wood and bone shield is commonly dropped by enemies in various regions. It holds up well against a variety of weapons and is handy for players hoping to collect enemy arrows.
Being wooden, the Dragonbone Boko Shield is great to have during a storm. It is, however, vulnerable to fire. But with how easy it is to come across, it’s a great shield to keep in rotation.
13Lynel Shield
Lynels were some of the toughest enemies inBreath of the Wild, and fans are either pleased or horrified at their return in this game. At lower levels, even the easiest Lynel in the game can pose a massive challenge for the player.
However, taking on these enemies is worthwhile for the wealth of powerful equipment that Link can attain as a result. The Lynel Shield is especially useful in the early game when players aren’t really finding many shields of worthwhile quality.
12Forest Dweller’s Shield
Taking first place among the wooden shields is theForest Dweller’s Shield, a useful option handmade by the Koroks. It has a base defense of 30 and can be found in Korok Forest at the coordinates0421, 2150, 0150.
When facing off against electrical enemies, or simply being caught in a storm, Link will need to unequip any metal weapons if he doesn’t want to get shocked. In these cases, the Forest Dweller Shield comes in handy. Later,there’s armor to helpin these situations, but until then, this shield is a good choice.
11Radiant Shield
This striking metal shield is wielded bythe captain of the Gerudo warriors. However, somehow, Link is also allowed to use it. This purple, gold, and red shield can be found in the Gerudo Desert and Highlands area. It has a base defense level of 35 and a durability rating of 26.
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Like all metal shields, it has the useful quality of shattering enemy arrows upon impact. However, this also makes it susceptible to electrical attacks. Its increased durability goes a long way to make up for it, as does its commonality.
10Steel Lizal Shield
The Steel Lizal Shield can also be found in the Gerudo Desert region and is of similar metallic construction. However, where it differs is its weighty design. The Steel Lizal Shield has a defense rating of 35 and is usually dropped by Lizalfos.
Being of heavy construction, the Steel Lizal Shield is effective against heavy blows and gives players more stability during combat. While it’s still susceptible to lightning, it’s a good defensive option for those in enemy-heavy areas.
9Knight’s Shield
Though it may have seen better days, the metalKnight’s Shieldis a staple ofTears of the Kingdomgameplay. It has a base defense rating of 40 and can be found in Northern Hyrule, Hyrule Castle, and various otherlocations around the map.
Like other high-level metal shields, it has a heavier construction that allows it to withstand tough blows. It’s an incredibly durable option to have in players’ inventories and usually worth dropping other shields for.
