The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom offers players a lot of options when it comes to what players can use. With the goal of making Link as strong as possible, these items are great. You can craft amazing recipes, find tons of armor, and even fuse weapons to create stronger weapons than any that has ever been seen in the Zelda franchise.
Another item that you can collect is shields. There are over 40 shields that you can find and use in the game. Some of these shields aren't the best, while some are absolutely amazing. Here are the top 10 shields you need to find as soon as possible.
10 Dragonbone Boko Shield
This is one of the earlier shields you can obtain in the game. You will usually find monsters holding these shields. They have a base defense of 25 and this is what makes the shield so great. It is one that can be found early on and offers a good amount of defense. There are certainly others that could have taken this spot; however, since it is so easy to find, it outshines those.
The shield's description reads, "This Boko shield is reinforced with fossilized bone. Its defensive capabilities are respectable, but its predictably slipshod craftsmanship spells low durability." It is great for beginners. You should start finding them after you complete your first dungeon. Though you could always find one before then.
Location: Monster Camps
9 Forest Dweller's Shield
The Forest Dweller's Shield offers Link 30 in base defense. It is a solid shield that can be found early on as well. You'll need to explore the Korok Forest to find this shield, which you can do that at any point in the game. All you need to do to access the forest is use The Depths. This will allow you to Ascend near the Great Deku Tree. What makes it great is that it has a great defense and is another shield you can find early on.
The description reads "The Koroks made this shield for Hylians. It's made from the finest hard wood of trees that grow only in Korok forest, so it's sturdier than it looks." This cute description shows that the Korok made these shields specifically for Hylians. This makes the shields even better.
Location: Korok Forest
8 Steel Lizal Shield
The Steel Lizal Shield offers Link a great 35 base defense, higher than most normal shields you'll find out in the open. The better shields are always harder to come by, however, this is another shield found with monsters, so it shouldn't be too tricky to stumble upon. This fact plus the defense makes it a solid shield.
The shield's description reads "This Lizal shield is adorned with several metal shells as a means of reinforcement. Its defensive capabilities are high, but its weight requires a skilled soldier to bear." The monsters who use this shield are usually tougher ones, as the description suggests.
Location: Monster Camps
7 Knight's Shield
The Knight's Shield is another shield that is pretty common and amazing for Link. It is based on the shields that Hylian soldiers use and offers 40 base defense. This is one of the best for players due to its high defense. You can find it all over Hyrule Castle. Since you can enter into a part of Hyrule Castle super early, you can get this early on as well.
The shield's description reads "A shield favored by the knights who served the Hyrulean royal family. Its sturdy metal construction makes it quite durable, but its weight requires decent skill to wield." This shield goes well with the Soldier's Armor set.
Location: Hyrule Castle
6 Daybreaker Shield
The Daybreak Shield is another amazing shield. Unfortunately, this one is a little harder to get than those before it. If you want to get this shield, you'll need to rescue a Gerudo shopkeeper from a Molduga. Then, she will be willing to transform a Gerudo Shield into this legendary shield. Here is a guide to do just that. The fact that it is Urbosa's shield, and it has such a high defense of 48 means this is an amazing shield.
The shield's description reads "This shield was cherished by the Gerudo Champion Urbosa. The gold used to make it was handpicked to ensure a design that is both lightweight and very durable." It is definitely one you want to pick up.
Location: Gerudo Town
5 Royal Shield
The Royal Shield is another amazing shield in the game that can be found pretty early on. This shield is found in Hyrule Castle. While it is mostly found in the Hyrule Castle floating in the sky, you can find a few in the other regions of Hyrule. Considering it has a base defense of 55 and is found relatively early makes this shield the perfect addition to this list.
The shield's description reads "A shield issued to the Hyrulean royal family's immediate guard detail. It boasts a high defense, but these days it's more a collector's item due to its ornamentation" It is another shield made for those who protect Hyrule.
Location: Hyrule Castle
4 Royal Guard's Shield
The Royal Guard's Shield is the second-best shield in the game defense-wise. The reason it isn't second on the list is due to its low durability. While it does have an impressive 70 base defense, it is very easily broken. This shield can be found throughout Hyrule Castle.
The shield's description reads "This shield was forged using ancient Sheikah technology. It boasts extremely high stopping power, but its structural weakness made its low durability impractical for combat." The shield goes well with the Royal Guard's Armor set and weapons you can find throughout the game.
Location: Hyrule Castle
3 Savage Lynel Shield
The Savage Lynel Shield is one that is very difficult to get and is probably the most difficult shield to obtain on this list. If you want this shield, you'll have to defeat one of the White-Maned Lynels roaming Hyrule. These are notoriously difficult enemies, and the White-Maned Lynel is the hardest Lynel there is. Its base defense of 62 is what makes this shield end up so high on the list. Even though it is a difficult shield to get, it is worth it.
The shield's description reads "This ultimate Lynel shield is favored by the White-Maned Lynels. It excels at defending against even the most brutal of attacks and cutting down powerful foes when deflecting." Even the description shows how amazing this shield is. You'll want this as soon as you're comfortable enough to take on one of these furious beasts. While there are multiple types of Lynel Shields, this is the best.
Location: Silver Lynels
2 Sea-Breeze Shield
The Sea-Breeze Shield is part of the Hero of the Wind set in the game. The shield is an amazing addition to your arsenal. It has a base defense of 65 and is easily obtained. You can either get it in Tabalh Grove in The Depths or via Amiibo. Once you have obtained it once, you can repurchase it from Bargainer Statues for 120 Poes. This means that while it may break, you can always obtain a second one.
The shield's description reads "A shield said to have been the favorite of a hero who traveled the open seas. It was apparently a family heirloom, passed down through many generations." This is a great shield to keep around.
Location: The Depths (Tabalh Grove) and Amiibo
1 Hylian Shield
Finally, the best shield in the game, by far, is the Hylian Shield. This trusty shield has become one of the most iconic aspects of the video game franchise and is probably one of the most well-known items from any video game. The shield offers Link an extremely impressive base defense of 90 and also has great durability. This means you won't be losing the shield after taking a few hits. If you do lose the shield, just visit Cece in Hateno Village. She will be able to replace it for you for just a few Rupees. The shield can originally be found in the Hyrule Castle Docks, located directly below Hyrule Castle.
The shield's description reads "A shield passed down through the Hyrulean royal family, along with the legend of the hero who wielded it. Its defensive capabilities and durability outshine all other shields." If you pair this shield with the Master Sword and any of the Amiibo armor sets, you will look like the past Link with the original green tunic.
Location: Hyrule Castle
If you're looking for some amazing fusions to pair with your shields, you can check out this guide here.