A good monk needs good defense. While kiting is a major part of survival, extra armor always helps. Switching to a right shield depending on a situation can significantly improve your defense. The following is a brief guide to shields that may be useful for a monk.
Defensive Weaponset
Axe/Spear/Sword of Defense
Shield of Fortitude (-5 physical (20%) or other depending on a situation, +30hp)
Potential total armor bonus:
+5 (weapon of defense)
+8 (if you don't meet req 9, half of 16 AL)
+8 (if you meet req 9)
+10 (vs damage type)
------------------------------
+31 AL
Tactics line has some useful skills for a monk such as Bonetti's Defense, Deadly Riposte, Balanced Stance, etc. If you put nine attribute points into Tactics, Command or Motivation, you gain +16 AL using shields with these requirements.
Damage Types:
Slashing: swords, axes, scythes, and some daggers
Peircing: daggers, spears, bows
Blunt: Hammers, Jittes (sword)
Elemental: Cold, Fire, Lightning, Earth
Switch your shield depending on the enemies you encounter. 10 vs X shields are very good against spike teams. These are default damage types. Please be aware that a weapon can have an elemental mod (ebon, icy, etc.).
Shield List
All these shields have 16 AL and requirement 9 in the respective attribute.
Forgotten Shield (Strength)
10 vs Earth, 30hp
Forgotten Shield (Tactics)
10 vs Cold, 30hp
Forgotten Shield (Command)
10 vs Lightning, 30hp
Forgotten Shield (Command)
10 vs Fire, 30hp
Geoffer's Bulwark (Tactics), Kunan's Bastion (Command)
10 vs Piercing, 30hp
Keht's Aegis (Tactics)
10 vs Slashing, 30hp
Chumab's Pride (Tactics), Arneh's Fury (Commanad)
10 vs Blunt, 30hp
PvE Shields: Aegis of Augh (Tactics), Stygian Defender (Command), Stygian Aegis (Motivation)
10 vs Demons, 30hp
Enadiz's Defender (Strength)
Reduces crippled duration by 20%, 30hp
Collector Shield (Tyria: Tactics or Strength, Cantha: Tactics or Strength), Baubao's Shell (Tactics), Churkeh's Defiance (Motivation)
-3(hexed), 60hp (hexed)
Jacqui's Aegis (Tactics)
-2 (enchanted), 30hp
Collector Shield (Cantha: Strength or Tactics, Elona), Exhalted Aegis (Strength or Tactics), Mallyx's Courage (Strength), Mallyx's Defense (Tactics), Sunreach's Shield (Tactics), Mallyx's Supremacy (Command), Shagu's Anthem (Command), Mallyx's Motivation (Motivation), Wandalz's Refuge (Motivation)
-5 physical (20%), +30hp
Collector Shield (Motivation): Gate of Torment, Vehtendi Valley
Inscription: None
Wintergreen Shield (8 AL)
Inscription: None
Guide to Monk Shields
Celestial_Kitsune
I Phoenix I
Nice guide. Good job at listing most of the combinations of Shield mods.
I just noticed that you didn't list any Tyrian shields though. May I ask why? They have +45 -2 Enchanted shields and Stance shields and stuff.
I just noticed that you didn't list any Tyrian shields though. May I ask why? They have +45 -2 Enchanted shields and Stance shields and stuff.
Ensign
Both of those shields are missing +30 health, instead having significantly weaker mods in +45 while enchanted or stance. They're pretty much useless because of it. The while hexed shields are at least somewhat useful against hex builds, but I personally don't ever bother.
Two shields that you should take, but don't have green versions available: +30 health, reduces crippled duration; and +30 health, reduces dazed duration. I've pulled out both often enough playing a caster. Similarly, reduces blind duration is all kinds of valuable on a shield for physical attackers.
Peace,
-CxE
Two shields that you should take, but don't have green versions available: +30 health, reduces crippled duration; and +30 health, reduces dazed duration. I've pulled out both often enough playing a caster. Similarly, reduces blind duration is all kinds of valuable on a shield for physical attackers.
Peace,
-CxE
Cathode_Reborn
Don't forget about the useful Armor bonuses that offhands can have 
My Nec has an offhand that gives 10+AL under 50%hp. I need to get one for my monk too, since it's very helpful. 2+ more armor than a Shield when you don't meet the req, and you don't lose 12 energy. I also usually equip an armor+5 Spear rather than wands - HSR/HCT mods arn't very helpful sometimes, especially on a Prot monk.
My Nec has an offhand that gives 10+AL under 50%hp. I need to get one for my monk too, since it's very helpful. 2+ more armor than a Shield when you don't meet the req, and you don't lose 12 energy. I also usually equip an armor+5 Spear rather than wands - HSR/HCT mods arn't very helpful sometimes, especially on a Prot monk.
I Phoenix I
Dark Escape + Stance Shield? I dunno...doesn't hurt to list them on for people who Stance/Enchant a lot...lol...you never know...had a Retribution Monk in a PUG once...that's why I hate PUGs...
Celestial_Kitsune
Unconditional equipment is good.
Focus
+12 Energy
+10 AL (health is below 50%)
+30 Health
Shield
+8 AL (if req is not met)
+10 vs X
+30 Health
Even if you don't take into account +10 vs X bonus, long term utility of unconditional +8 AL outweighs +10 AL health is below 50 in my opinion.
Focus
+12 Energy
+10 AL (health is below 50%)
+30 Health
Shield
+8 AL (if req is not met)
+10 vs X
+30 Health
Even if you don't take into account +10 vs X bonus, long term utility of unconditional +8 AL outweighs +10 AL health is below 50 in my opinion.
Effigy
The point is you'd use both. You won't be using a shield 100% of the time on a monk, so you have the focus as a swap. I'd take +5^50 over +10<50 though.
@ Ensign: There is a green -20% crippled +30hp shield, Enadiz's Defender. Unfortunately no -20% dazed shield though.
@ Ensign: There is a green -20% crippled +30hp shield, Enadiz's Defender. Unfortunately no -20% dazed shield though.
Age
Don't forget about WatchYourself as it helps give you an armour buff.
Celestial_Kitsune
Thank you Ensign and Effigy, I added Enadiz's Defender to the list.
olly123
Quote:
Originally Posted by Age
Don't forget about WatchYourself as it helps give you an armour buff.
u ur self wouldent carry watch urself, because it relys on adren, so normal monks dont attack ( as i find if ur attackign a foe thay can attack u to) so ud normaly leave this to a warrior, so imo doesnt need to b posted here
Cathode_Reborn
Quote:
Originally Posted by olly123
u ur self wouldent carry watch urself, because it relys on adren, so normal monks dont attack ( as i find if ur attackign a foe thay can attack u to) so ud normaly leave this to a warrior, so imo doesnt need to b posted here
A monk with an energy+5 spear might be able to charge it up somewhat easily, but since the nerf I wouldn't use it 
[skill]Conviction[/skill] This works great, and could be kept up for a long time even with a low rank in Earth prayers.
[skill]Conviction[/skill] This works great, and could be kept up for a long time even with a low rank in Earth prayers.