Basic Shield

This secondary item starts the shield line. It protects you while held, with greater damage reduction against projectiles than melee attacks.

Mechanics

Hold the shield and face incoming attacks to block them; no attack input is needed. Attacks that miss the shield receive no reduction.

Switching to another item removes its protection, so you cannot attack with your melee weapon while blocking.

It also reduces knockback from spikes that touch the shield, without reducing their damage.

Shield	Melee damage blocked	Projectile damage blocked	Melee reflection chance	Unlock level
Basic Shield	40 %	65 %	0 %	5
Shield	55 %	80 %	8 %	11
Great Shield	70 %	95 %	12 %	14

Higher tiers block more melee and projectile damage and can reflect melee attacks. All tiers have the same speed while held.

Spend the secondary point earned at level 5 in the secondary tree. This chooses the shield branch instead of the Basic Bow branch.

Later secondary upgrade points let you replace it with the Shield and then the Great Shield.