A lot of the weapons in Guild Wars 2 feature a wide variety of offensive skills to put your opponents down for the count, but weapons like the shield offer a more defensive option. History tells us that shields were tools of war that protected their wielder from mostly lethal blows, projectiles, and could even be a way to prevent the movement of their opponents. Celebrate the sheer awesomeness of the shield with these insanely cool skins and continue to hold the line in the battlefield!
10. Inquest Mark II Shield
Whether you love em or hate em, the Inquest sure does make some of the best sci-fi looking weaponry. The Inquest Mark II Shield is an upgraded version of the Crucible of Eternity dungeon weapon, Inquest Shield.
Why they are awesome
- The Inquest Mark II Shield is a futuristic designed shield with a hole in the middle that becomes enveloped by red energy grids when it is wielded by the player.
- The red pattern on the shield features a moving glow effect that appears after some time, giving it that unique sci-fi look the Inquest and asura are known for.
- If you take a closer look at the shield when wielded, you can see the floating hologram image of the Inquest.
See the Inquest Mark II Shield in action:
How to get the Inquest Mark II Shield:
- Guaranteed Wardrobe Unlock - random chance
- Guaranteed Weapon Unlock - random chance
- Recovered Black Lion Goods - random chance
- Purchasable from the Trading Post for roughly 42-80 gold.
9. Timekeeper Shield
Some shield skins prove that sticking with a core theme will earn you a fashion victory. This is the case with the Timekeeper Shield and how much Chronomancers flock to this shield skin. Whether or not you are one of them, there is no denying that this is one shield that belongs in your wardrobe collection.
Why they are awesome
- Upon wielding the Timekeeper Shield, you will hear the sound of clock hands gradually speeding up. As you do, the clock hands on the face of the shield also rotate much faster.
- The colors mix together with the golden decorative metal and blue energy within the shield. There is also a slowly rotating blue particle effect on the clock face of the shield.
- The shield is a favorite among Chronomancer players because of the theme and is a sought after item by them.
See the Timekeeper Shield in action:
How to get the Timekeeper Shield:
- Guaranteed Wardrobe Unlock - random chance
- Recovered Black Lion Goods - random chance
- Purchasable from the Trading Post for roughly 11-22 gold.
8. Cragstone Shield
When the Elementalist attunes to the earth element, they focus mostly on their defensive capabilities and increased toughness. They can also wield the powerful Magnetic Shield with their conjuration skills to summon a powerful earth shield that has many defensive abilities. With the Cragstone shield, the Elementalists aren’t the only ones that can summon this useful shield (minus the abilities of course).
Why they are awesome
- The Cragstone Shield resembles the Elementalist’s conjured weapon, the Magnetic Shield, minus the weapon skills tied to it.
- A subtle dust cloud effect swirls around the Cragstone Shield if you take a closer look at it.
- The Cragstone Shield is basically a craggy shield with a spiral design that seems to have been created from the player's surroundings.
See Cragstone Shield in action:
How to get Cragstone Shield:
- Combine an Eldritch Scroll, 100 Mystic Coins, 250 Onyx Lodestones, and 50 Obsidian Shards in the Mystic Forge.
- Purchasable from the Trading Post for roughly 190-300 gold.
7. Guild Tower Shield
The Guild Tower Shield is a return to the more realistic-styled weapons that some players enjoy. This amazing bulwark is large enough to block your enemies’ barrage of attacks while you plan to make a counterattack.
Why they are awesome
- The Guild Tower Shield is inspired from the real life tower shields from the medieval period, as well as the many designs of fantasy shields in all forms of media.
- The Guild Tower Shield is one of the largest shields in the game currently according to the Guild Wars 2 wikipedia..
- The Guild Tower Shield is designed with simplicity in mind. It may not have any magical effects or outrageous detailing, but it's realistic, simple design is what majority of players love about it.
- This handy shield is awesome on its own but can become something even greater as it is a part of two recipes to make different shields: the Tenebrous and Shimmering Shield.
See the Guild Tower Shield in action:
How to get the Guild Tower Shield:
Purchasable for 4 Guild Commendations and 3 gold from the following NPCs:
- ACLM-0403 at Mistlock Sanctuary
- Envoy Kahleem at Armistice Bastion
- Guild Initiative Representative from Postern Ward in the Gilded Hollow, Lost Precipice, Lion’s Arch, Windswept Haven, or Isle of Reflection
- Guild Officer at Postern Ward of Lion’s Arch, Plaza of Balthazar in Divinity’s Reach, Snowblind Peaks at Gendarran Fields, or Noble Ledges in Verdant Brink
- High-Flying Frieda at Osprey Pillars in Ember Bay
- Pavillion Elder at Thousand Seas Pavilion
- Samuel Darkwillson at the Hall of Monuments in the Eye of the North
- Stalwart Ben at Gilded Hollow, Lost Precipice, Windswept Haven, or Isle of Reflection
- Yucel at Bay of Elon in Crystal Oasis
6. Tormented Shield
The Tormented Shield and the rest of the weapon set is one of the highly-rated skin sets and for good reason. The pulsing effect on the transparent part of the Tormented Shield gives players that feeling of power that the majority love.
Why they are awesome
- The design of the Tormented Shield is basically that of a transparent shield with a pulsing, radiating purple energy that gravitates toward the central shield boss.
- The shield is a massive favorite among the Sylvari players or those who use the Chronomancer elite specialization because of its color pattern.
See the Tormented Shield in action:
How to get the Tormented Shield:
- Guaranteed Wardrobe Unlock - random chance
- Guaranteed Weapon Unlock - random chance
- Recovered Black Lion Goods - random chance
- Purchasable from the Trading Post for roughly 66-93 gold.
5. Defiant Glass Shield
A lot can be said about the many awesome shield skins in the game, but to find some to be more inspirational can be a bit of an understatement. The Defiant Glass Shield strikes awe in the battlefield when it makes its presence known, as the radiant power of the player shines through the shattered glass shield body.
Why they are awesome
- The cross has all sorts of tiny detailing on it and the shattered glass resembles patterns of stained glass.
- The overall design of the Defiant Glass Shield makes perfect sense to give it to a Guardian.
- Because the design is basically a shattered stained glass window shield, you can make a case for this shield skin to look really good on a Chronomancer.
See the Defiant Glass Shield in action:
How to get the Defiant Glass Shield:
- Guaranteed Wardrobe Unlock - random chance
- Guaranteed Weapon Unlock - random chance
- Recovered Black Lion Goods - random chance
- Purchasable from the Trading Post for roughly 21-30 gold.
4. Glint’s Bastion
Glint was a champion of the Elder Dragon Kralkatorrik who was purified and turned to the forces of good. She sided with the other sentient races to help cultivate a plan to maintain the balance of magic. She lives on with Revenant characters as a legend and grants them the ability to become the elite specialization, Heralds, and gives them the chance to craft an awesome shield: Glint’s Bastion.
Why they are awesome
- This crystalline shield resembles that of a shimmering draconic wing, most likely Glint's.
- It is one of the first elite specialization ascended weapons the player can craft if they bought Heart of Thorns, unlocked the Revenant, and completed the first collection achievement for the weapon.
- You can see it either become transparent or opaque depending on what your viewing angle is. The left side of the shield which resembles the wing is bluish while the crystal webbing to the right is purplish.
See Glint’s Bastion in action:
How to get Glint’s Bastion:
Acquired after completing the Specialization Collection Achievement, Glint’s Bastion, by gathering these items:
- Herald’s Shield - obtained immediately after training as a Herald for the first time
- Mordrem Splinter - defeat a Mordrem Vinewrath and loot the item
- Crystalized Scarab - purchased from the NPC, Gentt, at Treadrock Uplands in Dry Top for free as long as the collection achievement is currently active
- Mystic Barricade - combine an Eldritch Scroll, 30 Mystic Coins, 5 Orichalcum Shield Backing and 5 Orichalchum Shield Boss in the Mystic Forge or buy from the trading post for 45-65 gold
- Vinetooth Fang - possible reward from the Legendary Vinetooth Prime in Auric Basin
- Herald’s Inscription - purchasable either from the Whisper Keeper in Vigilant Precipice or Dragon’s Domain in Dragon’s Stand for 50 Crystalline Ore, 26 silver and 40 copper, or the Heroics Notary in various WvW map locations for 35 Proof of Heroics or Testimony of Desert Heroics, 26 silver and 40 copper.
- Gift of Hidden Descent - unlock Stealth Gliding and use the skill as a Revenant or Herald
- Sanctum Scramble: Bronze - play the adventure and achieve at least Bronze as a Herald.
- Itzel Defense Strategy - unlock the Itzel Language Master and purchase from either the Itzel Mastery Vendor at Jaka Itzel or Maguuma’s Breach in Verdant Brink, Tarir, the Forgotten City in Auric Basin, or from Xochitl in Teku Nuhoch at Tangled Depths for 300 Airship Parts, 15 silver, and 36 copper
- Herald’s Auric Sharpening Stone - mine the various ore nodes in Auric Basin as a Herald with the Exalted Gathering Mastery.
- Invisible Herald’s Mushroom Spore - defeat a Treasure Mushroom as a Revenant or Herald
- Herald’s Shoulderplate - complete your Herald training
- Revenant’s Cache - map complete a Heart of Thorns map with a Revenant or Herald.
- Machined Shield - Complete the Machined Shield Basic Collection Achievement.
3. Ghastly Grinning Shield
Halloween is a special festival in Guild Wars 2 where all sorts of creepy ghouls, zombies, and candy corn monsters come out to play. With the undead forces coming to steal your candy, what would be a better way to protect yourself from those evil fiends than by fighting fire with fire! The Ghastly Grinning Shield eerily laughs at their attempts to strike you down as you prepare to unleash a torrent of blows to smite the undead for good. Mental note: Do not replace pumpkin lanterns with this shield because it frightens children too much.
Why they are awesome
- The Ghastly Grinning Shield is a menacing looking shield skin that envelops itself with a dark, shadowy smoke as the face on the shield glows an eerie reddish orange.
- When the shield is stowed, the face on the shield has its eyes and mouth closed and when wielded, they slowly open and glow brighter.
- The Ghastly Grinning Shield is one of the most sought after shield skins in the game because of its rarity and its price often fluctuates in the trading post. Find a time to purchase it while it is cheap and hope you come out lucky.
See the Ghastly Grinning Shield in action:
SwimmingSalmons’ YouTube Video
How to get the Ghastly Grinning Shield:
- Guaranteed Weapon Unlock - rare chance
- Combine four random weapons (preferably exotic shields) in the Mystic Forge - rare chance
- Purchasable from the trading post but the price is currently fluctuating. It ranges from 500 all the way to 5,000 gold.
2. Shooshadoo
Quaggans are one of the most peaceful, fun-loving, and cute creatures in the world of Tyria that resemble tiny whale tadpoles. These adorable creatures look even cuter as babies, such as in the case of Shooshadoo the Quaggan. This little one just wants to become an adventurer like you and wants to see the world. Note: No quaggans are harmed in the utilization of this shield skin and has been replaced with a professional stunt quaggan.
Why they are awesome
- Aside from the fact that it is a legendary weapon with all the abilities they all share with one another, as a skin, Shooshadoo is the name of the baby Quaggan living inside the shield. The actual shield is the “aquarium” it lives inside of and is a large glass container with ornate brass decorations with depictions of two quaggans on the top sides.
- Shooshadoo can often be seen either floating inside the shield or on top of the shield, holding on to it as water splashes all around. Do not ask us how the water somehow never seems to run out or spill completely.
- Upon wielding Shooshadoo, a burst of snow and ice explodes from your character.
- While you have Shooshadoo on your character, you leave behind snowy footfalls on the ground as long as you have no other legendary weapon.
- Your character’s arm is wrapped with frost and turns white while it is wielding Shooshadoo.
- Shooshadoo will often coo adorably as you are wielding this legendary shield.
See Shooshadoo in action:
How to get Bifrost:
Unlike the first and third generation legendary weapons, second generation legendary weapons need to be crafted from scratch and need the following materials in the Mystic Forge:
- The precursor weapon, Friendship
- Mystic Tribute
- Gift of Shooshadoo
- Gift of Maguuma or Desert Mastery
1. Flameseeker Prophecies
There is no denying that the clear winner at the top is the Flameseeker Prophecies. From its design to the lore that ties it together, and the many players that seek this legendary shield out is what makes this the most awesome shield skin to date. It was foretold that you, Commander, will one day attempt to seek this shield out too, but the choice is still up to you.
Why they are awesome
- Aside from the fact that it is a legendary weapon with all the abilities they all share with one another, as a skin, The Flameseeker Prophecies resembles the very same tome that holds Glint’s prophecies and is embedded unto a glorious, radiant, golden shield.
- There are many intricate details in the book itself with New Krytan writing on the book that can be read, as well as the ornate decorations surrounding the tome.
- When The Flameseeker Prophecies is unsheathed, a burst of light shines from within the player character as New Krytan symbols float around you as the shield glows with royal blue accents and a high-pitched sound is heard. While it is stowed, the shield reverts to its non-glowing form.
- Whenever the shield is used while attacking except for being used as a projectile, you can see a page flip over on the tome.
- As you are carrying the weapon on your character, you leave behind bursts of light with New Krytan symbols floating upward as footfalls as you move across the field.
- All of the projectiles that come from this weapon are changed from the standard model to being that of the Flameseeker Prophecies with an addition of a trail effect that resembles pages flying around.
See the Flameseeker Prophecies in action:
How to get the Flameseeker Prophecies:
Combine the following in the Mystic Forge:
- The Chosen - precursor weapon
- Gift of Mastery
- Gift of Fortune
- Gift of the Flameseeker Prophecies
- Can also be purchased from the trading post for roughly 1,635-2,101 gold.
Closing Thoughts
The humble shield is the partner of the mighty sword and mace, often seen together in medieval depictions, and is a beloved offhand weapon. The shields on this list are at the top of the majority of player’s lists but many more are out there. Tell us down below, dear reader, if there are any freaking awesome shield skins we may have missed.
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