As we all know Diablo 2 has shields and different options of shields to choose from. However 4 socket shields are very limited. Monarch which requires 156 strength to wear is the lowest strength requirement shield for the everyday character with the exception for paladins.
Yes you hear that right paladins have full advantage of those low strength requirement paladin shields that can have up to 4 sockets and requiring less that 100 strength. On top of that those shields can spawn with up to 45 all resist. Making a spirit ideally out of a 45 all resist Sacred Targe would provide 80 poison/light/cold resist and 45 fire resist.
As far as I see it paladins have an unfair advantage over the other classes as they can have a low strength requirement spirit and not the other classes. That’s just not right. If we want to balance the game more we need to make more of the other shield options to spawn with up to 4 sockets. I’m not saying this for myself but for everybody else that had to use a Monarch and had to waste extra points into strength for that 1 reason. That is to wear a Monarch.
New 4 Socket Shields
Normal
Tower Shield
Gothic Shield
Exceptional
Scutum
Pavise
Ancient Shield
Elite
Hyperion
Blade Barrier
Troll Nest
Please we need more shield options for spirit. I think it would balance the class issues even further while allowing people to be more creative with the style shield they like using while keeping the strength requirements low. It’s the only way around the high strength requirement people don’t like on Monarch.
6 Likes
I’m inclined to agree with more 4os shield options.
Though that that many… Just the Elites.
Strongly disagree. Spirit shield is strong and white monarchs aren’t that hard. Don’t need extra buffs. You think sorc needs more help?
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I just hate putting all those extra points into strength. Even builds like wind druid and bone necro don’t always achieve 156 str at base str even with enigma. Depends on your torch and anni really. It’s good to have more options with lower str req. People demanded this years back in patch 1.10 but it never happened.
And for the sorc needs more help yes I do. I’d take that extra buffable life over monarch any day. Hard points into vitality do benefit from bo. Just not +vita from items like treks.
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You’re already partially “refunded” a lot of that Str investment via Spirit granting 100 mana and 22 vitality, not to mention if using Enigma, torch, anni, etc, the Str investment you’d need is minimal to none. I think how it is currently is 100% okay/good/balanced.
9 Likes
I’m not arguing that it benefits a sorc to have more points to not have to use on str. It just doesn’t need it. No kidding we would all take the extra points if it’s there. Let’s not make this easier
Either reduce sockets or pally shields or increase sockets on regular shields.
Other classes already suffer from worse block rates…
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There is someone to complain about everything in this game huh. I think I am beginning to understand what happened to WoW.
2 Likes
Yes as they should. Other classes aren’t supposed to block like a PALADIN
This was already discussed, lower str requirement shield dont have 4sockets for a reason.
Of course you are…
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I think they should do what they did with body armor…
Body armor is basically a cosmetic thing… Shields should also be a cosmetic thing…
It’d be happy if they roughly equalised all the elite shield bases and made them all more-or-less equal in terms of Strength required, defense, and number of open sockets…
This is the current range we have:
Shield Types:
- Heater, Luna, Hyperion, Monarch, Blade Barrier, Aegis, Troll Nest, Ward
- Require Strength: 77 to 185 (depending on shield type)
- Max Defense: 110 to 170 (depending on shield type)
- Max Sockets: 2 to 4 (depending on shield type)
Just standardize all these values so they are more similar to Monarch shield (4 sockets max, about 150-160 str required, about 130-150 defense)…
Then players can select what shield they visually prefer without affecting current game balance 
Obviously finding perfect 15% ED bases becomes a little bit easier, but don’t know if it’s worth changing drop rates to keep this equal or not?
So jack everything up and likely buff every spirit using class for “cosmetics”? I think you are playing the wrong game
It doesn’t help with the problems other classes have. Most classes don’t have issues surviving in D2R that can be solved with a few hp. Spirit/Phoenix are very offensive shields and have crazy bad blockrates. So if a class wants to block and survive more, they choose different shields.
Your base reasoning for this change is invalid.
4 Likes
Sure. Just make spirit Ber, Mal, Ohm, Cham. Then you can put it in a tower shield all day. 
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But you have no problem with a pally using a spirit shield at 25… 
Intentional.
Yeah, we all knew that already but thanks for the heads up.
They do have an advantage in this area. I wouldn’t call it unfair. Other classes have other advantages. Sorceresses for example have teleport at level 18 without having to farm up two HRs. Tradeoffs are by design,
Tough. Deal with it. That’s the cost of being able to equip Spirit in two slots. There are other shield options if you choose not to invest the points.
No we really don’t. Spirit swords are already strong enough for low level characters. We don’t need double Spirit at low levels.
Then do so. Like I said, there are other choices for your shield slot. What you really want is to be able to have your cake and eat it too. Sorry that’s not how it works.
3 Likes
Paladin is mostly fighting at close range, he doesnt have big health pool like barb or druid, or evading like amazon. So he is great with shields and that is his advantage. Thats why he has access to better shields.
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Shields are sorta Paladin’s “thing”. What’s next, gonna complain Barb can dual wield but other classes can’t? Ooo ooo I know, how about Sorceress getting teleport, that’s a popular one to whine about.
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Can i have double spirit large shield on my sorc please? Thanks.
2 Likes
Strongly disagree, Spirit is one of the strongest and end game shields for a lot of builds; its a really bad idea to give easier access to it; also troll nest its a really good shield for Sanctuary, you wont be able to force it with larzuk with your bad idea.
idk why you casual guys want to destroy a good game changeing it into an easy game so you can farm and quit a week later the ladder begin.
4 Likes