All paladin shields can be 4 socket depending on ILVL ( ILVL 26 or higher can have 4 sockets).
Non Paladins have just 3 elite shields to pick from and all take ridiculous strength. Why isnt the normal and exceptional versions of these 3 shields capable of 4 sockets as well and let ILVL determine if they can get 4 sockets.
I believe spirit shield is a over site on developers part as its a lvl 25 runeword but cant be used by non paladins until lvl 53.
Now before all of you bash me again about it being to powerful of a rune word, you dont have to use it if you think this way.
Name me 1 other rune word that you can not use until you are 28 lvls higher than what blizzard developers expected you to be able to use it at. If they wanted you to use it at lvl 53 they should make it lvl 53 to use it by all classes.
I WILL WAIT…
You can use it on a sword at lvl 25…
Because all characters are special, they have something unique in their kit. Paladin excel at resistances, defense and blocking. Thats why he has access to more shield options.
The special abilities on pally shield are all resist up to 45% and up to 65%ed %121 ar .
Paladins special ability has nothing to do with item level (ILVL) like the number of sockets does.
You didnt get it. Again, every class is good at something, something unique to the class, something that class excel at. And in case of paladin, its shield and blocking. Thats why he has access to better shields than others. To shields with more sockets early on.
Its not oversight, its design like that on purpose so characters with exception of paladin dont have access to both spirit shield and weapon with our sacrificing a lot of strength and waiting more level to use it.
This. Low req shields with 4 sockets would be a huge power creep. Pala shields are already a huge power creep
Because that’s how it is.
No, it’s not. Also, the word is “oversight.”
Irrelevant. Plus, as other posters pointed out, you CAN use Spirit at level 25. Just not in a shield.
Keep waiting. Let us know how that goes.
Correct they intended you to use it at lvl 25 so they had swords that have 4 sockets that can be used at lvl 25.
Swords ILVL 26 to 41 can have 4 sockets
ILVL 1-25 can have 1-3 sockets
ILVL 42 and higher can have 5 or 6 sockets
With that said you have to know how many maximum sockets a sword is capable of having and what ILVL the item is.
you can google it d2 sockets and find a table of all items and there number of sockets they can have for their item level.
I agree that Paladins excel at this, but shields do not. It makes zero sense for paladin shields to have resistance on them naturally, when other shields don’t. Either make all shields able to get resist or let all classes be able to use paladin shields. The functionality of a shield remains the same no matter who wears it how is a “paladin” shield supposed to require special training it’s exactly the same as any other shield.
Lol you cant find one instance where the level required to use item is 28 levels higher than they intended you to use the runeword so you deflect to something different like let us know how it goes.
I have no problem if they want to up the level to use spirit shield to 53 but make it that way for all classes.
Runewords were meant to be used by all classes unless stated. Which brings me to thinking the only class specific runeword is exile which has to be made in pally shield. might be wrong on this but is easy enough to check.
any class can use the other rune word just wont get the class specific + to skills unless your character is that class.
Maybe BLUE can chime in on this, but i know that they wanted us to use it at lvl 25 or they would of made it a different level to use. Unless it was a oversight…
Don’t need to. Irrelevant, like I said.
Do yourself a favor and Google “straw man argument.” You’re making one right now.
Once again: all classes can use Spirit at level 25. It’s not a shield only runeword.
You are.
No need.
You can.
It wasn’t.
Paladins are holy warriors infused with holy magic. I guess those shields might be blessed shields and only Paladins can use the magic from the blessings.
You would break balance of classes even more than it is now. Paladin shields have resistances for a reason. Most paladin builds fight close to monsters so paladin need high resistance as he take more hits than for example sorceress. Others do not need more resistance from paladin shields.
you’ve got it backwards mate.
Why paladins have 4 socket shields available so early? level 25 spirit sword and shield for hammerdins is pure craziness
having to dish out 156 strength for a spirit shield makes it somewhat balanced, unlike the stupid sword which is leagues ahead from any other option at level 25.
Now at least Splendor, Wall of the Eyeless and Lidless Wall have SOME use
They just weren’t thinking very hard when making spirit. Any attempts at trying to find logic in that are doomed
I can only Hope they make trolls nest, ward and ageis 4 sockets.
Ward and Aegis already can have 4 sockets, the only non-Pally shields other than Monarch that can, although they of course require even more strength than the Monarch.
I don’t think they should add the Troll Nest to that list for just that reason. Spirit Shields are that good for casters that they should come with a tradeoff, namely that they have to sacrifice some Vitality for Strength.
I think that it works in low level swords but only high level shields is deliberate. You can disagree with that but I don’t agree that it was done without thought. I believe your objection is to the weapon version being “too good” for its level. I disagree with that too but I do see both sides of it. Spirit swords are definitely BIS through NM for many builds and yeah a lot of mid-level weapons are lesser choices, but I’m not sure that’s a big issue. Something has to be BIS. If it wasn’t Spirit it would be something else. 
ya why i cant use clawson my wereworlf druid? i wana use chaos and ww around as a bear
i think it was a big oversight on developers part 20 years ago man we gotta fix it asap!
Ok… Let me see if i got this right.
Spirit runeword is for both sword and shield correct?
So i can make a spirit sword as well as a spirit shield at lvl 25 ?
Spirit runes for both are Tal Thul Ort Amn which ( Amn is highest rune and is lvl 25 so thats why its lvl 25 to use) as the game developers wanted. Got it.
So i have 2 questions and will make it super easy. 1st question is just yes or no now the 2nd question is harder cause it is a 2 part question with 1st part being yes or no and the 2nd part being a number from 1 to 99
1st question
Spirit sword can be used by any of the 7 classes at lvl 25 as the game developers intended ( Yes or No)
2nd question
1st part
Spirit Shield can be used by all 7 classes at lvl 25 as the game developers intended ( Yes or No)
2nd part
If the answer is No then at what lvl can non paladins use the lvl 25 runeword in a shield at? (1 to 99)
So if anyone knows the answer to these 2 questions please chime in, and also if BLUE is reading this please find out why there are no shields available at lvl 25 for non paladins to use at lvl 25 as the runeword was intended to be used at. Or maybe nerf them both (sword & shield) but still make both to be used at lvl 25.
Simple fix here just make the normal and exception versions of the elite shields that can have 4 sockets be capable of 4 sockets as well.
I reject the premise of this question. If the developers intended you to use a Spirit shield at level 25, they would have allowed shields of that level to have 4 sockets.
Therefore, the developers did NOT intend for you to use Spirit shields at level 25. Your question is based on a flawed premise, and therefore invalid.