Shield
A shield is a form of armor that appears in NetHack, and is one of seven armor slots available to the hero and certain monsters.
Description
Wearing a shield is incompatible with wielding a two-handed weapon or two weapon combat.
Wearing any shield reduces the hero's spellcasting success rate. A small shield has the lowest reduction.
Wearing a shield prevents the hero from dealing a staggering blow and prevents a Monk from receiving a to-hit bonus for martial arts.
If the hero or a monster is subject to a blast of disintegration, and they do not have reflection, and they are wearing a shield, then the shield is destroyed, but their other armor and their body are not affected.
Generation
A Valkyrie starts the game with a +3 small shield.
Many monsters generate with a shield.
Use by Monsters
Any monster that can wear armor and is not wielding a two-handed weapon can wear a shield.[1]
List of shields
| Shield | Unidentified Description | Cost | Weight | AC | Material | Special properties |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small shield | small shield | 3 | 30 | 1 | wood | Lower spellcasting penalty than other shields. |
| Elven shield | blue and green shield | 7 | 40 | 2 | wood | Can be enchanted to +7. |
| Orcish shield | red-eyed shield | 7 | 50 | 1 | iron | |
| Uruk-hai shield | white-handed shield | 7 | 50 | 1 | iron | |
| Large shield | large shield | 10 | 100 | 2 | iron | |
| Dwarvish roundshield | large round shield | 10 | 100 | 2 | iron | |
| Shield of reflection | polished silver shield | 50 | 50 | 2 | silver | Provides reflection. |
Strategy
It is safe to try on any noncursed shield.
In the early game, each point or two of armor class is a priority, and a shield is useful. The Valkyrie starting shield is a significant advantage. A non-Valkyrie hero who finds Valkyrie bones often benefits from wearing the +3 shield, even if it is cursed.
Some time in the middle game, the relative value of armor class declines (even for a Valkyrie).
From the middle game to the ascension kit, popular choices are:
- shield of reflection -- reflection is an important extrinsic property
- no shield -- enables two-weaponing, or a two-handed weapon, or better spellcasting
- small shield -- minimal spellcasting hindrance
An elven shield has a niche use for its +7 maximum enchantment.
For a Monk, there are additional advantages to not wearing a shield, as well as the roleplaying challenge.
Heroes who keep a strong pet often give them a shield of reflection.
References
