A Deep Dive into Shields in Video Games

Shields in Games Are Often Underappreciated, so today I decided to change that
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Daryl Talks Games Video on The Parry & Counter
• The Most Satisfying Me...
Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:58 Part 1: What Is A Shield?
1:54 Part 2: Conventional Shields In Games
7:56 Part 2: Zelda Shields
14:54 Part 3: The Shield IS The Weapon
17:31 Part 4: Non-Traditional Shields In Games
23:41 Outro
Music Used (That I remember):
Bravely Default Concert Battle Medley
NFL Main Theme
Spider-Main 2 Pizza Time Theme
Triangle Strategy Battle Preparation
Chasing Daybreak - Fire Emblem Three Houses
Frog's Theme Chrono Trigger Orchestra - • Chrono Trigger: Frog T...
Lagiacrus Theme - Monster Hunter Orchestra
The Wanderer - Live A Live Remake OST
Fragrance of Dark Coffee - Phoenix Wright Meets Jazz Soul
Trial of Echoes (Care For Us) - Fire Emblem Engage OST
Azura's Dance Song - Fire Emblem Fates
The Champion Urbosa - Hyrule Warriors Age of Calamity OST
Colgera Theme - Zelda Tears of the Kingdom OST
The King and The Bull ~ Hades OST
Endolphin Surge ~ Splatoon 2 OST
Deoxyribose ~ 13 Sentinels Aegis Rim OST
Super Smash Bros. Melee - Menu 1 (Trap Remix) - • Super Smash Bros. Mele...
Legion Assault - ASTRAL CHAIN OST
Big Blue Final Lap - Mario Kart 8 OST
Endolphin Surge from Splatoon 2 but it's me playing the bass part
Endolphin Surge from Splatoon 2 but I'm playing the bass part

[@cavneo]

When brella finally gets a good kit

[@xurany427]

Finally my terrible taste in weapons is being validated!

[@sziif]

It has the best kit it can (it still sucks)

[@darealtippy4realziez975]

@@sziifno brella is good i swear 😭

[@HouraisanKaguya]

The kits are not the problem. The netcode is. The shield... Does not work. They could also stand to be at least SLIGHTLY more generous with the damage radius. I swear to god, you need to be more accurate with the mother fucking shotgun weapon than you do with the SNIPER.

[@amberukiseve]

@@HouraisanKaguya that final line made me laugh so hard I almost dropped my phone on my face in bed

[@ZeldaZoura]

I played soccer so much when I was a kid, I was a defender. Whenever something went wrong I was the first one to get blamed, even when it wasn’t my fault. Appreciate your defenders my friends.

[@mang0_p]

i played goalkeeper I feel ya

[@scrps13]

i played a bit of soccer when i was a kid, i too was a defender. i wasn't good at soccer but defender was pretty fun and not too hard, just trip the other team's striker and pass the ball over to one of the actually good players. when our team was doing really good and always on the enemy's side i'd just go back and talk to the goalkeeper lul

[@Fermin-hw5pd]

That's why I don't play as healers or tanks in games, if I lose I always think it's my fault

[@teinmeizeshi5209]

*football It's a sport played with feet

[@creature6715]

​@@teinmeizeshi5209and you're a tool

[@xurany427]

I really think shields have a lot of untapped potential in games for devs to get creative and make them more interesting like shield surfing. Thx for making a vid about this this!

[@totalrandomness7200]

As is tradition with Captain Astro videos, this one rocked.

[@OniSamaGin]

As in rock bottom of KZbin suggestion list where some one was bribed to put that trash there. That kind of rock.

[@totalrandomness7200]

@@OniSamaGin L opinion

[@nxope]

Wanted to say, really appreciate the high-quality subtitles on your videos. Your sense of humour and line delivery are on-point too. Thank you.

[@coldfanta4963]

You forgot Athena from Hades. Her defensive abilities are rock-solid and helps you stay alive. There's also Athena in Borderlands, where her action skills focus around her Aegis shield.

[@nerugiganon]

divine dash saved so many of my runs in Hades. GOATed boon for sure

[@clockhanded]

Borderlands Pre Sequel had best classes out of all the games but for some reason gets no respect.

[@isaiahcook6471]

I’m totally the kinda gamer who prioritizes damage but Athenas boons were my favorite abilities. Always made me feel like I got the immortal god run

[@coldfanta4963]

@@clockhanded They were all such a blast to use. Aurelia's my personal favorite

[@coldfanta4963]

@@isaiahcook6471 Especially her secondaries. Restored many a defiance with her.

[@catheriner999]

One of the best parts about playing Paladin in FFXIV, your only job with a traditional shield, is sometimes enemies attack you and it just deflects off your shield without you even doing anything. It makes a very satisfying little "ping" noise - which changes sometimes depending on which shield you have equipped! Love it. The sound engineers at squenix are rock stars.

[@ela307]

Im lvl 90 on my paladin and never noticed the deflect making another noise depending on the shield.. have to try my different shields next time to see if i can hear it !

[@isaiahcook6471]

Also the satisfaction of popping passage of arms at a critical moment

[@adriankudsieh4892]

Zelda's shield mechanics go crazy I love being able to parry lynels makes you feel powerful and sturdy like a rock and seeing their face kills me

[@thoughtprism2963]

My favorite memory of playing good old Final Fantasy 2 was the discovery that you could equip a character with two shields. Great for your backline healers!

[@procow2274]

Phantasy star 4 lets you do the same thing

[@chillstoneblakeblast3172]

But FF2 It's optimal to go One Punch man builds

[@Cue-Ball.]

They actually took that even further in Bravely Default II (also by Square) where shieldmaster job actually is better when using two shields at same time with skills that defend the party! The ultimate tank and damage sponge lol

[@makeke02]

i love how this guy tries to bring up astral chain every chance he gets. I finally got around to playing it this year and it's one of the most satisfying experience I've had with an action game

[@viothesheikah1018]

Wish more people knew about the game because it's so good

[@DanteTorn]

The shields in Dragon's Dogma deserve some praise. As a Mystic Knight, you can enchant your shield with Riposte spells to do things like deflect an archer's arrows back at them as FIREBALLS!

[@TrashTawk]

Can't wait for the next one

[@Ramsey276one]

Return Fire Shield LITERALLY XD

[@NoForksGiven]

We all know Dragon's Dogma is one of the GOATs of ARPGs when it comes to combat. I'd say it even rivals Dark Souls

[@RiverWilliamson]

Oh, man. I've been meaning to play that one

[@izigurusumardi8934]

Don't forget you can literally parry the literal DEATH SPELL back to the caster

[@MrFaranox]

A lot of people like to say Link is left handed because he wields his shield in his other hand- I say he's just got his priorities right.

[@josiahtheawkward6008]

1:44 That sucks, that was your best transition to a sponsor yet

[@Logans_Login]

I always am left thinking of the Alm Shield Throw

[@Wiseblade]

Last time I was this early, I had to apologise afterwards.

[@Ajokehere]

NAAHHHH

[@miggle2784]

@@AjokehereYUUHHHH

[@birrock4]

I gotta thank you Mr. Man Space Astronaut Captain, I finally bought Astral Chain and it's just THAT good, your constant reminders and praises of it were what ultimately convinced me. Now, more people should buy it so that Nintendo takes the hint that we want more peak gaming

[@kane8165]

I enjoyed playing Dead Cells when duel wielding shields was a viable strategy. Shield was my main weapon and I'd use a regular weapon to attack when they were vulnerable.

[@ziggly0018]

The comedic value of you naming your palico "FurdinandVonAegr" was not lost on me. Thank you :)

[@Neoxon619]

I’m surprised you used Vanilla MvC3 instead of UMvC3. Don’t get me wrong, they both rock. But UMvC3 has a Steam version you could more easily record from.

[@SayisSaying]

I really love your videos man. Your sense of humor, you line and quip delivery, your little seasonings of political takes here and there (captain imperialist made me choke😩💀) I’m such a big fan of your work fr😭 You r o c k 😝

[@masterboa6321]

captain imperialist did what now

[@vopop30]

Decent defense in Etrian Odyssey games are pretty rare. These are games where your guys will die in 2-3 hits starting out, and it stays that way when playing at pace with the difficulty curve. So the tank classes that bring their shields are always a welcome sight. Be they the Protectors from 1 and 2, the Hoplites from 3, the Fortresses from 4, or the Dragoons from 5 (who also use said shields as make-shift bunkers while they fire artillery), they have the ability to take what would be lethal damage for their allies because of their mighty shields! They rock.

[@InfinitelyMasked]

The reason hunters prioritize shield attacks with sns is shield attacks do not degrade sharpness BUT still benefit from sharpness multipliers The stun and exhaust buildup is icing on the dps cake

[@DesignDoc]

May I request an episode about hammers in the future? Hammers are everywhere since they're essentially just a big rock on a stick.

[@CaptainAstronaut]

That sounds fun, I'll put it on the list

[@jacktheomnithere2127]

i main SnS, and i *always* go for Guard and Guard Up in Monster Hunter. i want to emphasize the "shield" in Sword & Shield: the sword attacks, the shield blocks. in fact, give me a choice between any other melee weapon and the sword n' board combo, i'll *always* pick the latter. i already appreciate shields.

[@MikeDaddyMCS]

Shield surfing should be in EVERYTHING

[@sansundertale8765]

These have gotta be some of the best gaming analysis videos on YT, also you're a Chrono Trigger fan so this channel is insanely blessed. Rock on

[@jandreplayz9833]

Love the music choice and timing of the music It ROCKs

[@MrDee001]

So glad I am subscribed. This ROCKs!

[@jtothel4219]

damn you really nailed that bass solo at the end

[@Sadeyo1]

Rock Good video on shield coverage and all the types. I was aware of all of them but it's fun to listen to an in depth version of it full of comedy. You have my subscription and likes like usual. Keep up the good work.

[@silverrath]

The Risk of Rain series has some shields too, some of which having very unique mechanics. In the first Risk of Rain, the Enforcer character has the "Protect and Serve" ability, which puts up your shield while activated. It reduces movement speed, but blocks attacks from the front and you can shoot your shotgun with increased attack speed while the shield is out. In Risk of Rain 2, the Engineer character has a deployable bubble shield that blocks projectiles. However, monsters will still be able to walk in, so it kinda sucks sometimes. The Enforcer is sadly missing from Risk of Rain 2, but there is a mod that brings him back. Also, there are shield items too that give you shield which goes over your health bar. Sometimes the shield will replace portions of your health, sometimes the shield will add to it. Shield works differently compared to health- healing does not affect shield, and instead shield will regenerate after a few moments of not taking damage. It is best to consider the pros and cons of this when picking certain shield items, particularly the ones that replace your HP. There is also an item that fires low-damage missiles after hitting an enemy while you have shield, which is a nice synergy. There is also the Aegis item, which is shaped like a shield but does not actually give shield, instead giving barrier when overhealing. Barrier is different from both health and shield- it is an extra layer of health, but it decays over time. The maximum amount of barrier you can have is equal to your max health + shield (so having max barrier would give you 2x your maximum health + shield in total). Honorable mention to the Baldur Shell charm from Hollow Knight. While equipped, it is able to block an attack while you are healing. You will still take knockback (giving you invincibility frames), and the healing will be interrupted, wasting Soul (the resource you use to heal and use other spells). It can block up to four hits before breaking, after which you will need to return to a bench to restore it. It has rather limited use for these reasons, but can still prove helpful in niche cases.

[@iljk]

awesome script and gorgeous editing as always!

[@lancestief1358]

19:50 the overwatch team (team 6) was the only team in Activision blizzard not involved in the scandals but seems to be the one that takes all the heat for it

[@andyf3269]

Dude I look forward to your videos. You are really entertaining and well versed! 😊

[@VaskoGames]

You know who has a ROCK hard shield, Jon Lee from Genshin Impac

[@cthtyler5995]

"What is the monster gonna do? Eat my shield?" No seriously, what are they gonna do to my lv 5 guard gunlance

[@Xerceis]

The video rocked dude. Keep it up.

[@Captain1455]

Remember, it's dangerous to go alone with just a sword. Take this 🛡 shield, too, always bring protection.

[@Zuse246899]

This one rocks. Manly.cuz you mention the best weapon in monster hunter multiple times.. The Charge Blade baby!

[@jonothanthrace1530]

The Super Robot Wars series of strategy games has shields for some robots. In most games they're triggered based on your character's stats vs. an enemy's and block ~40% of damage if they do so, but in Advance for GBA (And its remake Advance Portable for PSP) they're always used and serve essentially as an additional HP pool.

[@suburbangoat7550]

The editing in this is nuts

[@GamebroAdvance]

Another awesome thing about Monster Hunter's charge blade is that some attacks have periods where you'll automatically block anything because your shield is already out in front of you rock

[@viothesheikah1018]

I love these wide topic videos where you just talk about a theme across gaming. It really *rocks* Also you're like the only person I've ever seen who also thinks Astral Chain is goated so you're automatically correct about everything else as well

[@azulesmalls5514]

I'm glad that engage was so good that it lives rent free in your head :)

[@SushiRoll137]

I picked up SnS in monster hunter because attacking w the shield looks so cool

[@DirranProductions]

This is my first video from you, but the parry section reminded me of Darkmane. Subscribed.

[@jakewerling64]

So glad you spread the gospel of charge blade. Did you know, attack moves where the shield ends up in front of you can block attacks without having to cancel the attack and manually block? It's a technique called guard point and one of the only times I feel cool with a shield

[@Ramsey276one]

1:20 I finally know more about those shields other than price and what characters can eauip which! XD

[@haoshydranoid9462]

The Void Titan class on Destiny uses the shield in pretty cool ways on a multiplayer scale. Not groundbreaking but still cool.

[@vasarolnik]

Awesome and funny vid, thanx!!

[@sergiomendoza251]

One of the example of a character with a shield as a really good defensive and offensive character is Jack Bulwark from Shadow Fight Arena.

[@Noisymedal]

YEAH my man with the charge blade!

[@ninjaoshawott1498]

This video rocks! Man shields are so underrated this video does them justice!

[@SkyfoxDartner]

Knowing that thumbnail exists makes my life totally worth it.

[@simonegainey4329]

Rock! Love your content so much.

[@gabo6327]

Mash Kyerlight from the Fate series uses the round table as a shield, she is also the best defense suport in the game and the first character you get

[@Marika_ER]

Nah the best defense support is castoria

[@Joseph-s]

Now THIS is my type of content

[@MegaMask335]

Great video, Captain! Always love watching your content. On the topic of Smash Brothers and unconventional shields, there's also the Back Shield from Kid Icarus Uprising. It might be a temporary item in both games but it protects a vulnerable area, the behind. Floating shields are just as cool as dual wielding shields, and man those things durable! I guess the Pits' Guardian Orbitars could be an honorable mention, a good mix of defense and attack in Uprising and a funny Uno reverse in Smash. What's better than one flying shield? Two flying shields that shoot more flying shields!

[@Noisymedal]

In Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, the gladiator character "Athena" has a shield that can absorb damage from enemy bullets, and when you're done holding the shield up, you can throw it to whip all that damage back at your enemies. That's pretty cool.

[@josiahtheawkward6008]

Astro swearing as soon as it hits 5 minutes is so funny

[@chrisray7728]

Fantastic video.

[@SexxStar]

Another great video!! So glad you're putting out content. I love your vids like this.

[@Octorocker743]

7:48 FFVI gang, I thought there were none of us left. Interceptor best doggo shield

[@modernprimate3279]

The shovel knight realization is so real

[@procow2274]

The guard point in mh is kinda like a parry and does damage

[@raphialfehr8593]

I love how in the middle it just turned into another episode of CAN YOU PARRY THAT!? lmao

[@emanuelecampo6265]

babe wake up, new captain astronaut video just dropped

[@paladinslash4721]

You forgot the best part about charge blade. It has guard points in its attack animations where when attacked during these instead of taking damage, you block.

[@TyGuy9001]

Rock. An odd type of shield is the defend plus badges from Paper Mario that innately boost your defense and Damage Dodge which boosts your defense if you block correctly.

[@rubixtheslime]

for that second defend plus, did you mean damage dodge

[@TyGuy9001]

@@rubixtheslime Yeah lol. Whoops. Thanks, I edited the previous comment to reflect this.

[@gta71000]

There's also auriel's shield on Skyrim which absorbs attacks then once fully charged if shield bashed releases a fus ro dah. Very fun to use in small rooms

[@du6z]

The returm of mister space mannnnnn

[@draghettis6524]

The brellas are shotguns. Shotguns with shields. Somehow, they are the worst weapon class.

[@silverlyder]

20:15 saying that with the pyra shirt really adds that well fit irony

[@RuralSquirrelJuror]

I want to see double wielding shields

[@smone7882]

But Dr. Spacéman, you forgot Sonic 3 and the flame shield that lets you run through an inferno and getta go fast, bubble shield that lets you bounce on some heads and breathe underwater, and lightning shield that gives you a double jump and turns you into a MAGNET TO COLLECT (Au gold???) RINGS. Don't make me say "rock," I don't want to say "rock."

[@MrIsaac95]

The shields in GoW Ragnarok were pretty good

[@MistuhRobe]

Two of my favs: -the Medusa Shield from Spartan: Total Warrior. Could petrify every mfer on screen. -the Vortex Shield from the Titanfall games. Uno reverse card for bullets and missiles.

[@BetterNicholas]

Wow this video ROCKs

[@KinaliBZP]

Captain Astro puts more effort into a costume for a one-line gag than some KZbinrs do for a whole dang video!

[@dockingwater1713]

Kirby has had a guard in many games, primarily Super Star and games after Return to Dream Land. However, numerous Copy Abilities and other playable characters utilize shields for the guards. Ice forms an ice shield around Kirby to work better than the normal guard, Smash utilizes the bubble shield from Super Smash Bros, Mirror also uses a bubble shield that reflects projectiles, Magolor brings the shield he has during his boss fight into both Star Allies and Kirby Fighters 2, even Sword Hero from the Clash games has a shield that gives him a large bubble shield that can protect teammates as well.

[@MelodyTCG]

Garl's shield in sea of stars is just the lid to his pot and he is the best character

[@tronushka]

this guy reads my mind! SO BASED VIDEO

[@metalhead_frank]

Great video, Cap! As someone who mains SNS in Monster Hunter, the shield may be a rock, but a rock that drains half my stamina and knocks me back half-way across the map. I want mega dash juice back.

[@francinefraga9929]

Astro ROCKS

[@stampylongnoah]

I sat through this whole video in anticipation, but but was rocked to my core at the realization there was no segment about- OH YEAH! REYN TIME, BABY! ALLEY-OOP!

[@foxos7776]

Captain: Cassandra also has a move where she sits on your face. “It’s time to D-D-D-D-D-D-Duel!”

[@biggrayalien4791]

@8:40 Haha! I too get that reference

[@inazumarai7690]

goofy blocks everything i swear, he's the goat. *rock*

[@roughjuff]

The giant chicken in Monster Hunter, aka Kulu Yakiniku, uses a ROCK as a shield against you, the hardest rock that can block anything.

[@Marika_ER]

Unless you have minds eye but that's an exception

[@solarflarecj1067]

It’s about drive it’s about power, we block lasers ‘round the hour, put in the work deflect the powers, protect what’s ours!!!

[@Noisymedal]

Nah fam, Aegislash is a GOAT. You're telling me I can have a haunted sword Pokémon that comes with its' own shield, AND its' abilities are busted? We TAKE those.

[@usnerdswillbenerds4889]

Nah this video was made for me. I loved defense but it hits different because I played basketball. Y'all liked MJ, Lebron, or some other person on offense. Closest I came to that was my enjoyment of Pistol Pete. But who I really liked? Mutombo. Don't know what he was like as a person since I was young, but the commercials he was in were funny and nothing was more satisfying than stuffing someone who thought they were about to get a freebie. I ALWAYS gravitate towards tank characters in games because while other people have a power fantasy of cutting dragons in half and what not, I have the power fantasy of being the guy to say "If you wanna get to them, you have to go through ME." Obviously the same quote can apply to people with swords or powerful abilities, but it hits different when you know your whole "thing" is protecting others. There's a tender spot in my heart for (kind) healers, supports, backline dps, mages etc. If you yelped out for help, I was probably the tank who turned around.

[@lunerblade13]

Imagine if Shield knight instead of using just a shield she used a mirror with the same function of a shield to match how shovel knight uses the shovel as a sword

[@Ramsey276one]

6:11 Makoto Naegi: ... it's not me this time [sighs in relief]

[@rubixtheslime]

Minecraft also has shields, they come in two types: actual shields, and regular blocks. they're called blocks because they are better at blocking attacks. shields are made of wood and are good at: - blocking fireballs - blocking explosions - bouncing back arrows - looking cool by means of having a banner on it they are not good at: - blocking melee attacks, especially axes - having durability - activating before you take damage and on bedrock: - they cannot have a banner - you have to crouch to use them if you also wanted a sword

[@Joblerone]

One thing you did miss about gunlance is it's parry, I've recently discovered it's great at making openings for your best moves. I main gunlance and have completed master rank, and I only learned this *now*

[@Axecon1]

Now I want a way to duel-wield shields in Zelda TOTK

[@megapokesonicx]

4:38 the Taco Bell Bong sound had me dying lmfao 😂

[@3XHS]

We love defense here, that's why I play xenoblade x, the game where there are multiple different methods of invulnerability that are all different in how effective they are in various situations, and also the Shield is a weapon class in itself (that specializes in knocking people over and beating the hell out of them Also Rock

[@jackjohnson6044]

If there is one game that taught me the value of shields, then it's Dark Souls 3. In my first playthrough I used shields and then didn't for some hundred hours of playtime. When I used them again, they felt like a godsend, especially in dog heavy areas. Funniest thing was that I read so many comments on how hard and unfair Oceiros is. I simply said that he gets hardcountered by a decent shield and then the entire comment section had a meltdown.