Shield (PSR Supplement)

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If you wield a shield or otherwise benefit from one, it increases your defense. This increase is called your shield bonus.

• Wielding any shield gives you a shield bonus of +1.
• If you are proficient with shields, wielding one instead gives you a shield bonus of +2.
• If you are proficient with shields and your Strength score is at least 15, wielding a heavy shield gives you a +3 shield bonus. A "heavy shield" is any shield that has the heavy property.

Aside from literal shields, spells and other game effects can sometimes grant a shield bonus.

Doesn't Stack. You can only benefit from one shield bonus at a time. If you have multiple shield bonuses, only the highest of them is added to your defense. Unlike armor bonuses, shield bonuses don't stack with each other.

Donning & Doffing. Donning or doffing a shield takes a Use action.

Hand Restriction. While you're wielding a shield, if the wielding hand is used for anything else, you lose the shield bonus until the start of your next turn.

Buying & Selling. A shield costs 5 gold and weighs 5 pounds, while a heavy shield typically costs 10 gold and weighs 10 pounds. Your campaign might have other shields with special properties.