Zelda Tears of the Kingdom Best Shields [Top 7]

Out of 36 Shields in Tears of the Kingdom, here's my list of 13 best options to go for.

In the perilous world of Legend of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom, selecting the most effective shield is crucial for Link’s survival. With a staggering array of 36 shields to choose from, careful consideration is essential. Each shield possesses unique attributes that can greatly impact Link’s defense against enemies. Thus, I’ve compiled a list of the best options you should keep in consideration.

Related: Tears of the Kingdom BEST Armor Sets

Comparison Of The Best Shields in Tears of the Kingdom

Zelda Tears of the Kingdom features a total of 36 shields, and not all of them offer a high defense. I have ranked all the best Tears of the Kingdom shields based on the defense rating they offer & have compared each one of them here in the table. 

S.noShield's NameBest ForDefense Rating
7Knight's ShieldN/A40
6DaybreakerThe Best Shield Among Gerudo-Series48
5Mighty Zonaite ShieldThe Best Zonaite Shield In Totk50
4Royal ShieldThe Most Versatile Shield For Fusions55
3Savage Lynel ShieldThe Best Shield For Offensive Parrying62
2Royal Guard's ShieldThe Best Defensive Shield In Fusions70
1Hylian ShieldThe Most Durable Shield In Totk90

7. Knight’s Shield

Knight’s Shield
Strength Strong
Durability 23
Defense 40
Uses Defense
Location Tabatha frontier depths, Gerudo desert
  • Why I Chose This: Knight’s Shield provides great defenses and plenty can be found in hyrule castle and also on higher levels.
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In Legend of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom, the Knight’s Shield is a trusted ally of those serving the Hyrulean royal family. Made of sturdy metal, demanding skilled handling due to its weight.

How To Get

  • To locate the Knight’s Shield, you must venture into the arid expanses of the Gerudo Desert
  • Or delve into the depths of the Tabantha Frontier. These challenging locations often reward successful adventurers with this formidable shield.

Best Feature of Knight’s Shield

The Knight’s Shield’s potential as the best defensive tool in Link’s arsenal is hard to deny. It offers an impressively high defense, promising to ward off even the harshest of blows. Despite the difficulty in acquiring the Knight’s Shield due to its challenging locations, I believe the defense it provides makes it an unrivaled choice.

  • High protection rate of 40.
  • Robust and durable due to its metal construction.
  • Heavyweight requires skilled handling.
  • Found in potentialy hazardous locations.

6. Daybreaker

The Best Shield Among Gerudo-Series.
Daybreaker
Strength Strong
Durability 60
Defense 48
Uses Defense
Location Gerudo town
  • Why I Chose This: Daybreaker is one of the legendary shields in Totk and is also very strong. It is also a returning figure from Botw making it worth for my list.
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The Daybreaker Shield is a significant piece in the Legend of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom, a cherished possession of Gerudo Champion Urbosa. Made with carefully selected gold, this shield marries lightweight handling with impressive durability.

How To Get

  • To acquire the Daybreaker Shield, you must venture into Gerudo Town.
  • After defeating the creature controlling the Divine Beast, you’re rewarded with this legendary shield.
  • However, there’s a catch. The shield degrades over time and eventually breaks.
  • It can be repaired using the Rock Octorock system, but this comes at the steep cost of 2000 rupees and four diamonds.

Best Feature of Daybreaker Shield 

With a solid defense rating and high durability, Daybreaker provides Link with excellent protection against attacks. Its lightweight design ensures swift reactions during combat. It has high durability and is resistant to elemental attacks. The Daybreaker Shield’s reliability in the heat of battle justifies its viability in my opinion, making it as a potent safeguard in Link’s journey.

It is easiy outclassed by another legendary shield; The Sea-Breeze Shield. This Shield has far greater defenses and durability then Daybreaker and is a reference to the Wind-Waker Shield (Hero’s Shield).

  • High defense and durability.
  • Lightweight for easy handling.
  • Difficult to aquire again if broken.
  • Very expensive to repair.

5. Mighty Zonaite Shield

The Best Zonaite Shield In Totk.
Mighty Zonaite Shield
Strength  Strong
Durability  20
Defense 50
Uses Defense
Location  Inside a chest located in the North Lomei Castle Top Floor area.
  • Why I Chose This: The Mighty Zonaite Shield is the best shield if you like fusing zonaite machines to your shield and also provides substantial defenses.
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The Mighty Zonaite Shield is a force to be reckoned with in Legend of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom. Crafted by the ancient Zonai and made from sturdy Zonaite. Its unique ability lies in efficiently harnessing energy cells from an attached Zonai device.

How To Get

  • Getting your hands on the Mighty Zonaite Shield involves some puzzle-solving inside the Gemimik Shrine.
  • In this hidden Shrine, you’ll have to navigate through tricky paths and face challenges.
  • Once you overcome them, you’ll find the shield nestled inside a treasure chest, waiting to be claimed.

Best Feature of Mighty Zonaite Shield 

The Mighty Zonaite Shield excels as a top-tier protective tool in the game. Its high defense rating and durability make it a reliable shield in battles, absorbing enemy hits and ensuring your safety. its unique feature of efficiently using energy from a Zonai device adds to its utility, opening up possibilities for unique strategic approaches.

  • Strong defense rating of 50 with high durability.
  • Can efficiently use energy from an attached Zonai device.
  • Requires challenging puzzle-solving to acquire.
  • Limited to using energy from Zonai devices.

4. Royal Shield

The Most Versatile Shield For Fusions.
Royal Shield
Strength  Strong
Durability  29
Defense 55
Location  Hyrule’s castle
  • Why I Chose This: The Royal Shield is found in late-game areas but becomes a very frequent find afterwards and provides balanced defense and durability.
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The Royal Shield in Legend of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom is a symbol of nobility. Originally designed for the royal family’s guard, it’s as much a piece of art as it is a defensive tool.

How To Get

  • To find the Royal Shield, you’ll need to venture to a tower located northeast of the Second Gatehouse.
  • The journey may not be easy, but I assure you the reward is worth it.
  • Inside a chest in this tower, the Royal Shield awaits the worthy adventurer.

Best Feature of Royal Shield 

In defense terms, the Royal Shield stands among the best shields in the game. It’s high defense ensures that you are well-protected in any battle situation. The shield’s durability adds to its reliability, withstanding blows without breaking easily.

  • Provides high base defense of 55.
  • Pretty durable, with a rating of 29.
  • Difficult and challenging to obtain.
  • It has a low defensive stat as compared to its counterpart.

3. Savage Lynel Shield

The Best Shield For Offensive Parrying.
Savage Lynel Shield
Strength  Strong
Durability  20
Defense 62
Uses Defense
Location  Hebra mountains, Akkala Highlands, Central Hyrule depths
  • Why I Chose This: The Savage Lynel Shield provides substantial defense and damage. Difficult to obtain but well worth the effort.
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The Savage Lynel Shield is the cream of the crop in the world of shields. Made by the white-haired Lynels, the toughest of their kind, allowing it to endure the most punishing attacks.

How To Get

  • To lay your hands on this formidable piece of defense, you’ll need to challenge a white-haired Lynel.
  • These powerful adversaries can be found at several locations across Hyrule in Zelda Tears of the Kingdom.
  • Prepare yourself well for a tough fight, as I think the Lynels are among the strongest foes in the game.
  • Defeating them can be a tall task, but the reward – the Savage Lynel Shield – is worth the effort.

Best Feature of Savage Lynel Shield 

The Savage Lynel Shield is a top-tier shield due to its exceptional defense capabilities. With a high defense, it’s capable of withstanding aggressive attacks, making it ideal for encounters with strong enemies. The ability to cut down powerful foes when deflecting adds another layer of utility.

You can always use Other Lynel Shield Varients If you can’t manage to defeat a white-maned lynel as all the lynel shields can shield bash and possess solid defenses.

  • Considerably high defense rating of 62.
  • Can deflect incoming attacks easily.
  • Challenging to acquire.
  • Lower durability than some other shields. 

2. Royal Guard’s Shield

The Best Defensive Shield In Fusions.
Royal Guard’s Shield
Strength  Versatile
Durability  14
Defense 70
Uses Defense
Location  Hyrule’s castle
  • Why I Chose This: The Royal Guard’s Shield possesses great defense stats but has a demerit of low durability. Great for Fusions.
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The Royal Guard’s Shield, crafted using ancient Sheikah tech, is a defensive marvel in Zelda Tears of the Kingdom. It’s designed for unparalleled stopping power, despite its structural fragility.

How To Get

  • Acquiring this mighty shield requires a trip to Hyrule Castle.
  • Located in the Second Gatehouse, you’ll need stamina-boosting the best recipes for the journey.
  • From Landing Skyview Tower, glide north to the castle and navigate to the castle’s backside.
  • The shield, along with other Royal Guard equipment, is found here.

Best Feature of Royal Guard’s Shield 

The Royal Guard’s Shield reigns supreme in defense. With a high defense rating, it provides superior protection, blocking even the most potent of enemy attacks. Its durability may not be its strongest feature, but after my testing, I conclude that this shield’s defense capability makes it a worthwhile piece of equipment.

  • Provides high attack protection of 70.
  • Can be used in fusions for increased defense.
  • Very low durability rate of 14.
  • Difficult to obtain, as it is complex to find.

1. Hylian Shield

The Most Durable Shield In Totk.
Hylian Shield
Strength  Strongest
Durability  800
Defense 90
Uses Defending, Blocking fire, electric & curse attacks
Location  Hyrule castle
  • Why I Chose This: The Hylian Shield takes the spot of The Best Shield in Totk, too. This is the most durable and has the highest defense, which is viable for every situation.
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The Hylian Shield, recognized as a classic symbol of Link’s adventure, is a powerhouse in Zelda Tears of the Kingdom. With an unmatched defense, this shield, while challenging to acquire, promises an extraordinary level of protection.

How To Get

  • To secure the Hylian Shield, you must brave the docks under Hyrule Castle.
  • Embark on your journey via a boat, aiming for the castle’s northwest moat.
  • Upon finding the hidden docks, ascend the stairs and prepare for an encounter with five Gloom Hands and Phantom Ganon. 
  • Defeat or bypass them and light the central brazier to reveal the prized Hylian Shield.

Best Feature of Hylian Shield

The Hylian Shield stands as an unbeatable defense tool in your arsenal. With its high defense, it surpasses all other shields, allowing you to endure even the most powerful attacks. This resilience, combined with the iconic status of the Hylian Shield, makes it an invaluable asset for crucial battles. It has a whopping 800 durability. I think it’s safe to say that it wipes the floor with the competition.

  • Exceptionally high defense value of 90.
  • It can tank fire, electric, and curse attacks easily.
  • Requires a challenging journey to obtain.
  • Costly to replace if broken.

Other Honorable Mentions

Here are some other shields in Zelda Tears of the Kingdom that you might consider using based on your own personal preferences.

  • Sea-Breeze Shield: An excellent shield, but you need to follow a long process in order to get your hands on this one.
  • Zora Shield: A decent option for early gameplay, but because of its metal, it is much more vulnerable to lightning, which makes it weaker.
  • Forest Dweller’s Shield: An overall useful shield, but I suggest you not use this one for head-on attacks, as it can break easily.
  • Spiked Boko Shield: This shield is easier to find than the others mentioned above and also offers slightly more protection.
  • Lynel Shield: Another good early-game option that can easily take down enemies.

My Thoughts On The Best Shields In Tears Of The Kingdom

When it comes to shields in Tears of the Kingdom, you need to be aware of how long it would take for your shield to break when facing enemy attacks. Thus, picking durable shields with high guard should be your focus. If I say about myself though, I just put up a Hylian Shield and call it a day, it’s just that tanky.

Other than the Hylian Shield, which is the best defensive option by a mile, you can opt for other less-durable shields to save as much of your durability on the “boss” shield as possible. Thus, you can use the Sea-Breeze Shield or the Daybreaker Shield to get good defenses and durability as well.

With this, I summarize my Tears of the Kingdom Best Shield guide. Now that you know about the amazing shields, which one are you going after besides the Hylian Shield? Just in case you move on to the next read, do consider visiting Zelda Tears of the Kingdom Dinraal, Master Cycle Guide, Where Is Foothill Stable, and Bubble Gem guides. 

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Haris Umer is a Guides Writer on eXputer who can be seen torturing himself by playing FromSoftware’s offering of Souls games. He speaks about games with overwhelming passion, which readers can spot in his guides. Haris has been avidly playing video games for 15+ years now. You can learn more about his gaming experience through his PSN and Steam profiles.

Experience: 3+ Years || Education: Bachelors In Medicine And Surgery.

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