Shields have a bad reputation among fans of From Software games. In Dark Souls, the general consensus was that using them was worse than simply dodging your enemies’ attacks. As a result, they were mostly used by beginners and in meme builds.

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However, Shields are more viable in Elden Ring, in large part thanks to the introduction of Ashes of War, which grant Weapon Skills that can up the effectiveness of your Shield significantly. If you want to try a more defensive playstyle, here are ten Ashes of War that make good choices.

10 Storm Wall

Ash of War: Storm Wall Elden Ring

Players of the Dark Souls series will be extremely familiar with the concept of parrying. When timed properly, you can stun your opponent, leaving them open for a high-damage riposte. Unlike previous games, Elden Ring has multiple different types of parry, with different speeds, timing windows, and some unique effects.

Storm Wall isn’t the worst of them (sorry, Thop’s Barrier) but it’s also far from the best. It has worse frame data than some of the other parry types higher on this list (although it is more effective on Medium Shields than the regular Parry). More importantly, though, is the fact that its special ability, deflecting projectiles, just isn’t that good. Usually, you’ll be better off dodging or just strafing around the projectile. If you still want this Ash of War, head north from the Stormhill Shack in Stormhill, where you’ll find a Teardrop Scarab that drops it.

9 Parry

Ash of War: Parry Elden Ring

The conventional Parry is the fastest, longest-window parrying Ash of War that doesn’t cost any FP. If you want to pull off parries with a low Mind build, this is the easy option. That said, there are a few factors that are worth remembering. First, it works best on Small Shields; while you could put this on a Medium Shield or certain weapons, it won't be as effective. Second, the Buckler comes with a unique Parry that is better than the regular version, so if you really want a completely FP-free parry, you might want to opt for that instead.

Additionally, there are a couple parries higher on this list that come with some unique advantages and better frame data in exchange for a bit of FP. Still, if you are particularly strapped for FP, the Parry can be bought from Knight Bernahll, who you’ll first find at the Warmaster’s Shack, in Stormhill.

8 Shield Bash

Ash of War: Shield Bash Elden Ring

Shield Bash is the default Weapon Skill on many Shields, and it does exactly what it sounds like: you take your Shield and smash it into your opponent’s face. This can deal far more damage than you would expect, especially when equipped on Greatshields such as the Fingerprint Stone Shield.

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You will also continue blocking while the skill is active, and it’s nearly impossible to be staggered out of it, allowing you to attack and defend at the same time. There are only a couple of aggressive options for Shields, and Shield Bash is one of the earliest options you can find. It’s dropped by a Teardrop Scarab in Liurnia of the Lakes, just to the northeast of the East Gate Bridge Trestle Site of Grace.

7 Holy Ground

Ash of War: Holy Ground Elden Ring

Holy Ground creates a defensive area around your character that reduces the amount of damage you take by 20 percent and heals you for a total of 600 health over 35 seconds. The effect will buff your allies as well, including player phantoms and Spirit Summons, giving it potential uses when playing solo, co-op, or when competing in PvP. And of course, as an Ash of War, using it doesn’t require any stat investments, which is unusual for buffs in Elden Ring.

Unfortunately, Holy Ground is one of the trickier Ashes of War on this list to get. You’ll need to find the Azuria Hero’s Grave in the Capital Outskirts and destroy the three chariots within. Doing so requires raising a flame pillar to adjust their pathing causing them to crash into each other, although this can be simplified by using either Margit’s or Mohg’s Shackle to trigger the pillar from far away.

6 Vow Of The Indomitable

Ash of War: Vow of the Indomitable Elden Ring

Vow of the Indomitable is a unique Weapon Skill, for Shields or otherwise. When used, it causes you to briefly become invincible. It's not quite as good as that description might make it sound since you can't move during the duration. However, the invincibility lasts 30 frames, longer than any other ability in the game, including rolling.

This allows you to dodge boss attacks that would otherwise be either extremely difficult or impossible to evade, such as Malenia’s Waterfowl Dance, with relative ease. Vow of the Indomitable is not hard to get either; head South from the Folly on the Lake Site of Grace in Liurnia of the Lakes until you find a Teardrop Scarab. Kill it, and your Malenia woes will be over.

5 Barricade Shield

Ash of War: Barricade Shield Elden Ring

The strength of Barricade Shield’s effect has been changed a few times since Elden Ring’s launch, but it still does essentially the same thing. It increases the Hardness of your Shield for ten seconds, causing many attacks to bounce off of you. The nerf did make it so this Weapon Skill is more effective on smaller Shields than larger ones, so choose your options carefully.

If what you want to do is make your Shield better at, well, shielding you, Barricade Shield is the perfect Ash of War. It is dropped by a Night’s Cavalry field boss, specifically, the one that patrols near the Castle Morne Rampart Site of Grace on the Weeping Peninsula.

4 Golden Parry

Ash of War: Golden Parry Elden Ring

Golden Parry is a strong competitor for the best parry in Elden Ring. It’s tied both as the fastest parry and the one with the longest active window. That alone would make it enough to be worth considering, but its unique ability also allows you to parry attacks from a surprising distance away from you, making it even easier to land a devastating parry.

Golden Parry does cost four FP each time you use it, but that’s a small price to pay for the many benefits it gives you. To get it, head up the stairs next to the Finger Reader Crone in the Capital Outskirts, where you’ll see a Teardrop Scarab on a railing to your left. Kill it, and this Ash of War will be yours.

3 No Skill

Ash of War: No Skill Elden Ring

The No Skill Ash of War might be overlooked by some players since its utility isn’t immediately apparent. After all, why would you want a Weapon Skill that doesn't do anything? But reading No Skill's description reveals its secret: if you hold a Shield in your left hand that has No Skill equipped, you can use the Weapon Skill of your main weapon without needing to put the Shield away.

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In other words, you can keep the benefits of a Shield without sacrificing offensive potential. To get this simple, but effective, Ash of War, you’ll need to find Knight Bernahl again, just like you did for the Parry.

2 Shield Crash

Ash of War: Shield Crash Elden Ring

Given its name, it should come as no surprise that Shield Crash is extremely similar to Shield Bash. Both involve using a normally defensive Shield as a bludgeoning weapon, but there are a few key differences. Instead of a quick smash, Shield Crash sends you charging forward, hitting multiple times before ending with a final strike. Even uncharged it deals more damage than Shield Bash and far more than that if the full effect hits. That makes this Ash of War a bit slower and riskier to use, but its potential power is far higher.

Additionally, the multiple hits from Shield Crash allow you to inflict status effects. The Spiked Palisade Shield, for instance, has innate Bleed buildup and can be given the Poison or Cold Affinity. When equipped with Shield Crash, it can trigger those effects with extreme consistency. Like many of the other Ashes of War on this list, Shield Crash is dropped by a Teardrop Scarab. This one is found in the Lux Ruins, early in the Altus Plateau.

1 Carian Retaliation

Ash of War: Carian Retaliation Elden Ring

Carian Retaliation is tied with the Golden Parry for the best parry when it comes to stats. And while it doesn’t get the extra distance, it has an arguably even better bonus: it can parry spells, stopping their damage and turning them into Glintblades. This ability can be used against certain bosses or against those annoying spell-spammers in PvP.

Additionally, Carian Retaliation doesn’t cost FP unless you parry a spell, giving it yet another advantage over the Golden Parry and making it strictly better than the basic Parry. Speaking of FP, the one disadvantage Carian Retaliation has when compared to the other parries is that it costs the most if you do land a spell parry. Although, at just eight FP, it’s not going to be a prohibiting factor for most builds. If you want to try what is arguably the best parry in Elden Ring for yourself, it can be bought from Pidia, Carian Servant, who you'll find by dropping off a cliff into Caria Manor from the Three Sisters.

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