Shield builds

[Flintsen]

WIth all these cool new shields are there still no good builds out there?

[Ranncore]

WIth all these cool new shields are there still no good builds out there?

Cool new shields? That's news to me. Which ones?

I know they changed the necro 4 shields, but using those shields at end game is pretty disappointing.

[Jay203]

WIth all these cool new shields are there still no good builds out there?

i think most builders are holding off on making new builds until the enhancement pass comes around...

[350zguy]

Well, they added doublestrike to the shield feats.

So that is cool. I assume you would just substitute out dual wield for two handed fighting, and use a bastard sword so you get the best of both?

[Morlen]

There are plenty of good tank builds that use sword and board, but if you're talking pure DPS then using a shield will never be the best option.

[Enoach]

A shield being used as an off-hand weapon is part of some tank builds.

Improved Shield bash Potentially adds 20% Chance to add the shield off-hand attack. This can further be increased by utilizing a shield with a Shield Bashing property. Which could bring you up-to 40% chance at the highest presently.

Shield Mastery/Improved Shield Mastery - Add Double Strike, this is actually a 3% to 8% chance of hitting twice with your main hand, so only having a shield is relevant as you will not be using it to calculate damage.

Additionally Paladins have a Spell that increases their Double Strike potential and the GMoF has a 3% Double Strike that is twistable. There are other forms of double strike available be it a specific weapon, buff or Feat.

Then you have the Bastard Sword/Dwarven Axe Glancing blow potential using the THF feat line which increases the damage done by glancing blows from 20% up to 50% as well as increase proc rates of special effects from 3% to 9%

The potential is there, but it would be divided between the Shield Bash effect and the Double Strike effects. With everything in the game for the same investment a S&B user will not see as many shield strikes as a TWF sees off-hand attacks.


Compared to:
Two Weapon Fighting - Uses Off-Hand attacks
20% base - No feats just holding another weapon
+20% Two Weapon Fighting
+20% Improved Two Weapon Fighting
+20% Greater Two Weapon Fighting
===
80% for Off-Hand


Now don't get me wrong - I built my tank to use his shield and do utilize both the Improved Shield Bashing as well as the Double Strike capabilities now granted by the Shield Feats.

[ShadowFlash]

Improved Shield bash Potentially adds 20% Chance to add the shield off-hand attack. This can further be increased by utilizing a shield with a Shield Bashing property. Which could bring you up-to 40% chance at the highest presently

Unless it's been recently fixed, Improved shield bash on an item does absolutely nothing for you if you have the feat. Additionally, it isn't really a 20% chance, but more of a special qualifying condition that takes place once every 6 seconds IIRC. *IF* this is/was fixed, then S&B full-time could indeed prove viable at least.


Shield Mastery/Improved Shield Mastery - Add Double Strike, this is actually a 3% to 8% chance of hitting twice with your main hand, so only having a shield is relevant as you will not be using it to calculate damage.

Legendary Shield Mastery (Sentinel ED) adds additional doublestrike. IIRC, the full line, including the ED twist totals 15%.

While possibly not a relevant build for the OP, http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=387351 has some insights into DPS increases via shield bashing and supporting links as well within the thread.

ShadowFlash

[Ranncore]

The question remains - what viable shields are there to use at end game?

[ShadowFlash]

The question remains - what viable shields are there to use at end game?

Oh, I agree, Talon is probablly the best "DPS" shield I know of and that's ML:12...hardly end-game.

ShadowFlash

[Morlen]

The question remains - what viable shields are there to use at end game?

While it's not entirely new anymore, Alchemical Fire/Air is a great shield to use.

Flaming Burst, Flaming Blast, Seeker +10, Lightning Strike, Doublestrike 6%, Alchemical Dex +2.

Granted, the Lightning Strike is pretty much just for show. I'm not sure I want to know how long I'd have to sit and beat on the training dummy before I actually see that proc off a shield bash... lol