Light Battle Shield

Including bucklers, target shields and other small shields, light shields are typically made of wood or metal and are not much larger than the wielder's hand or forearm.

Special. This weapon can be treated as both a weapon and a shield. If you have proficiency with shields, you gain a +1 bonus to your armor class while wielding this weapon and no other shield.

Light. A light weapon is small and easy to handle, making it ideal for use when fighting with two weapons.

Thrown. If a weapon has the thrown property, you can throw the weapon to make a ranged attack. If the weapon is a melee weapon, you use the same ability modifier for that attack roll and damage roll that you would use for a melee attack with the weapon. For example, if you throw a handaxe, you use your Strength, but if you throw a dagger, you can use either your Strength or your Dexterity, since the dagger has the finesse property.

e.g. Bucklers

Medium Battle Shield

Including heaters, round shields and similar, medium shields are typically made of wood or metal and are about the size of the wielder's arm or torso.

Special. This weapon can be treated as both a weapon and a shield. If you have proficiency with shields, you gain a +2 bonus to your armor class while wielding this weapon and no other shield.

Thrown. If a weapon has the thrown property, you can throw the weapon to make a ranged attack. If the weapon is a melee weapon, you use the same ability modifier for that attack roll and damage roll that you would use for a melee attack with the weapon. For example, if you throw a handaxe, you use your Strength, but if you throw a dagger, you can use either your Strength or your Dexterity, since the dagger has the finesse property.

Versatile. This weapon can be used with one or two hands. A damage value in parentheses appears with the property—the damage when the weapon is used with two hands to make a melee attack.

e.g. round shields, heater shields

Heavy Battle Shield

Including kite shields, tower shields and other large shields, heavy shields are typically made of wood or metal and are as tall as, if not taller than, the wielder.

Special. This weapon can be treated as both a weapon and a shield. If you have proficiency with shields, you gain a +3 bonus to your armor class while wielding this weapon and no other shield.

Heavy. Creatures that are Small or Tiny have disadvantage on attack rolls with heavy weapons. A heavy weapon's size and bulk make it too large for a Small or Tiny creature to use effectively.

Versatile. This weapon can be used with one or two hands. A damage value in parentheses appears with the property—the damage when the weapon is used with two hands to make a melee attack.

e.g. tower shields, kite shields

Bladed Battle Shield

A shield with a specially designed blade can be used more offensively than a regular shield. When becoming a bladed shield, the weapon gains a +2 bonus to damage rolls and deals piercing damage rather than bludgeoning.

You can blade a single shield for four times the cost of the base item. This cost represents not only the price of the materials, but the time and expertise needed to add the blade to the shield without making it less effective.

Base items. This item variant can be applied to the following base items:

• Light Shield
• Medium Shield
• Heavy Shield

Finesse?

Alternatives

Shield Warrior

Feat or Fighting Style

Prerequisite: Proficiency with Shields

You have mastered the art of using shields offensively. Shields become simple weapons, as well as shields, when you wield them. See the table below for each shield's damage die and properties.