Stellar Blade: What is Shield Effect?

In Stellar Blade, both the player character and enemies possess shields that reduce incoming damage. Understanding the mechanics of shields and learning effective methods to break through enemy defenses is crucial for success in combat encounters. This guide will explore the effects of shields and provide strategies for breaking enemy shields.

Shield Effects

The primary function of the shield is to defend against incoming attacks and reduce the amount of damage taken. The shield gauge, displayed as "SH" below the health bar, represents the shield's durability. A higher shield value corresponds to greater damage reduction.

Players can further enhance their shield's defensive capabilities by increasing its defense level. Equipping certain gear, such as Reflex Type Exospines, can raise the shield's defense level, effectively increasing the shield gauge and providing additional damage reduction.

How to Break Enemy Shields

Overcoming an enemy's shield is essential for inflicting significant damage. Here are various methods to break through enemy shields:

• Attack and Destroy: The most straightforward approach is to continually attack the enemy with normal attacks or skills. Sustained offensive pressure will gradually deplete the enemy's shield, eventually breaking through their defenses.
  
• Equip Appropriate Gear: Equipping specific gear can aid in breaking enemy shields more effectively. For instance, the Shield Destruction Gear increases shield damage by 18%, while the Shield Penetration Gear provides a 9% boost to shield penetration, allowing attacks to bypass the enemy's defenses and directly target their health.
• Use Pulse Grenades: Pulse Grenades offer a quick and effective way to bypass enemy shields without risking damage. These grenades instantly deal damage to an enemy's shield upon contact or detonation, making them a valuable tool for breaking through defenses. However, their limited quantity must be considered.

Restoring Your Shield

While breaking enemy shields is crucial, it is equally important to maintain and restore your own shield. Here are a few methods to recover your shield:

• Regeneration Over Time: Your shield gradually regenerates over time, especially during combat encounters.
• Equip Reflex-Type Exospine: This gear increases the rate at which your shield regenerates when performing guard actions, Perfect Dodges, and Perfect Parries.
• End of Battle Recovery: After completing a battle, your shield gauge is fully restored to its maximum capacity.

By understanding the effects of shields and employing the appropriate strategies to break through enemy defenses, players can gain a significant advantage in combat encounters within Stellar Blade.