Shield

“	Blocks 1 instance of damage per layer of Shield.	”
	—In-game tip

Shield is a buff in Arknights.

Effect

Only friendly units can receive Shield, which protects the bearer from one instance of damage regardless of whether they are Physical, Arts, or True (which is also one of the few defensive measures against it), consuming the Shield in the process. Some units can have multiple stacking layers of Shields.

The Shield's visual varies on the source, but whenever it is used, a flash of white bubble can be briefly seen on them.

When a friendly unit takes damage while having both Shields and Barrier, the most recently obtained buff will be consumed first.

Sources

Operator	Source	Information
	Nobukage-ryu - Juumonji Masaru	One Shield is given for the duration of Nobukage-ryu - Juumonji Masaru or until it is expended.
	Iron Bowstring	One Shield is given upon deployment.
	Ward of the Fertile Soil	One Shield is given upon deployment and every 9 seconds, which caps at two/three (E2) Shields.
	Night-scouring Gleam	Two (L1-L3)/three (L4-L7)/four (Sp1-Sp3) Shields are given for the duration of Night-scouring Gleam.
	Clairvoyance	Three Shields are given upon deployment.
	Full Auto Modeler	A Modeler gives one/two (E2) Shield(s) to a melee unit in range so long as it is present, which can be stacked if one unit is supported by multiple Modelers.
	Nova	There is a 18% (+2% P3) that Viviana receives one Shield that can only block melee attacks when she attacks an elite or boss enemy, which caps at one Shield. The chance increases while "Flicker" is active: Level 1-3: 1.6× Level 4-6: 1.8× Level 7: 2× Spec. 1: 2.2× Spec. 2: 2.3× Spec. 3: 2.5×

Physical Shield

“	Blocks 1 instance of Physical damage per layer of Physical Shield.	”
	—Physical Shield's in-game tip

Physical Shield is similar to Shield, but it only blocks Physical damage and won't be wasted if the bearer is hit by Arts or True damage.

Operator	Source	Information
	Vision of Unity (INS-X Stage 2+)	One Physical Shield is given to friendly units with at least 3 block count when Whislash is deployed. At Stage 3, Kazimierz Operators will also gain one Physical Shield, which increase to two if they're having at least 3 block count.

Interactions

Operator	Subject	Interaction
	Iron Bowstring	When the Shield generated by Iron Bowstring is expended, Archetto receives 7 (+2 P5) SP.
	Ward of the Fertile Soil	Restores Mudrock's HP by 15%/17% (E1)/20% (E2) of her maximum HP when a Shield generated by Ward of the Fertile Soil is expended.
	Clairvoyance (PRO-X Stage 2+)	Whenever a Shield generated by Clairvoyance is expended, Nian gains ATK, DEF, and SP. Stage 2: +5% ATK and DEF, +2 SP Stage 3: +7% ATK and DEF, +3 SP

Trivia

• While not classified as a Shield, Hoshiguma's first talent, Tactical Armor, features the same visual of a Shield negating damage (a brief flash of a white bubble on the unit) when it successfully activates against incoming damage.

See also

• Barrier