History Main / SpecialAbilityShield

* ''ComicBook/PaperinikNewAdventures'': Pikappa's main equipment is the Extransformer, a [[MorphWeapon deformable]] shield which can form a [[PrecisionGuidedBoomerang boomerang]] and [[ThrowingYourShieldAlwaysWorksthrow it]], and is equipped with an [[PowerFist extendable fist]], an immobilizer beam, a rocket that lets Pikappa fly, and can communicate with [[VoiceWithAnInternetConnection One]].

** ''Series/KamenRiderFaiz'': The [[TransformingMecha Autovajin]]'s front tire becomes a shield/rotary gun in robot mode.

*** The Blessed Shield, Blessed Tower Shield, Holy Shield, Holy Tower Shield, Succour of Indoril, Velothian Shield, Velothi's Shield, and Veloth's Tower Shield all offer RegeneratingHealth.

* '''Barriers''': shields that deploy [[DeflectorShields force]] [[BarrierWarrior fields]] and extend the protected area well beyond the actual size of the shield, and defend way more people than just the wielder compared to normal ones.

* ''ComicBook/PaperinikNewAdventures'': Pikappa's main equipment is the Extransformer, a [[MorphWeapon deformable]] shield which can form a [[PrecisionGuidedBoomerang boomerang]] [[ThrowingYourShieldAlwaysWorks and throw it]], and is equipped with an [[PowerFist extendable fist]], an immobilizer beam, a rocket that lets Pikappa fly, and can communicate with [[VoiceWithAnInternetConnection One]].

** ''Series/KamenRiderRyuki'': [[{{Deuteragonist}} Ren Akiyama]]/[[TheLancer Kamen Rider Knight]] [[SuperMode Survive]]'s Darkvisor Zwei is a sword-and-shield combo, which he uses to activate his Advent Cards, and can even turn into an arm-mounted bow.

** Perseus' shield has a shiny, reflective surface like a mirror. While it doesn't have any magical abilities, it was instrumental in killing Medusa once and for all, letting Perseus look at her indirectly and not be affected by her [[TakenForGranite petrifying]] [[DeadlyGaze gaze]].

* ''VideoGame/WarriorsOrochi'': In the fourth installment, Athena's weapon is the Aegis shield from Myth/ClassicalMythology. While her standard attacks are a simple ShieldBash, her charge and magic attacks entail firing yellow [[TakenForGranite petrifying beams]], and red beams that forcefully thaw the petrified opponents, [[LiterallyShatteredLives causing]] [[{{Combo}} massive damage]].

* The buckler's unique advantage is its versatility: while it was [[CloseRangeCombatant useless outside of close-range combat]], its reduced size and mobility allowed it to block weapons like a normal shield, act as an [[ShieldBash iron box]][[PowerFist ing glove]], cover the wielder's movement and even grapple the opponent and impede their movements. When most shields [[ShieldsAreUseless became obsolete]] after gunpowder became widespread in large-scale conflict, the buckler still continued to be used in duels after that.

* Believe it or not, gunshields have at one point existed in history. Some of Henry VIII's bodyguards carried round shields outfitted with matchlock firing mechanisms inside. While a novelty, gunshields never became practical weapons, for the obvious reason of the having problems with aiming a gun that's part of a large heavy shield.

* ''VideoGame/TheElderScrolls'': the player can enchant shields themselves, but there are also a lot of pre-generated examples:

* ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'': Almost all Pokémon can learn the move Protect, which shields the Pokémon from opponents' moves for one turn. However, a select few Pokémon can learn protection moves with the additional effect of harming opponents who make contact with the shield, such as by inflicting a small amount of damage on them, lowering their Attack stat, or inflicting [[StatusEffects status ailments]] like poison or burns.

* ''VideoGame/Warcraft3'': The campaign-only Shield of the Deathlord increases [[ArmorPoints armor]], health, and {{Mana}}, and also gives the wielder a Permanent Immolation aura that damages enemies.

Shields are an important part of human history, with many different kinds of shield with different properties for different situations, and even in the modern age when firearm-based warfare is the norm, riot shield and ballistic shields still find a lot of use.
However, people often still see shields as [[BoringButPractical boring]], and sometime they are simply [[ShieldsAreUseless useless]] against what threat the heroes go up against. So some writers decided to give shields [[TookALevelInBadass more zest]], and turn them from disposable boards of wood or metal, into much more versatile protectors.

Special Ability Shields are shields possessing intrisic abilities that affect battles in ways ''other'' than simply blocking attacks; they're at home in {{Fantasy}} settings, where they are usually [[MagicalWeapon enchanted]], but they are not unheard of in more SciFi leaning media, where they'll be an EnhancedArchaicWeapon.

This trope is essentially about superpowered shields; instances of shields being used as weapons are already covered in ShieldBash and ThrowingYourShieldAlwaysWorks but can apply if the shield is modified for better bashing or throwing. Similarly, if a shield is used as transportation, it's ShieldSurf instead, but it can overlap if it's a special shield intended to be used as a sled. And if an item has a shield ''mode'', it goes under SwissArmyWeapon, BifurcatedWeapon, or MorphWeapon, but can be an example of this trope if it has other skills besides transforming into another weapon. Nevertheless, it is a SisterTrope to the first three tropes. Its more offensive counterpart would be the SpellBlade.

If the shield's special effects is "breaking after use" it's a SingleUseShield.

** The Erdtree Greatshield absorbs ranged spells and fires off a bolt in retaliation, if its skill is active.

%%** Dealing Geo damage to an enemy infused with another element will cause the "Crystallize" reaction, which creates collectable crystals that temporarily shield you from damage based on that element.

* ''VideoGame/MonsterHunter4'': The Charge Blade comes with a shield capable of storing energy. The player is supposed to [[ChargedAttack fill the weapon's gauge]] by slashing at enemies in Sword Mode, the enter Axe Mode to channel the stored energy and deliver explosive attacks.

* There are recorded cases of using shields to store swords, and it's even an old trope: various Nuragic figurines from Bronze Age Sardinia show round shields with 3 short swords sheathed inside, making this OlderThanDirt. Even better, some of the figurines are MultiArmedAndDangerous and [[DualWielding dual-wield]] shields, for a total of '''6''' spare swords. This kind of shield use was also known to the vikings, the ancient Greeks and Romans, and medieval knights.

This trope is essentially about superpowered shields; instances of shields being used as weapons are already covered in ShieldBash and ThrowingYourShieldAlwaysWorks but can apply if the shield is modified for better bashing or throwing. Similarly, if a shield is used as transportation, it's ShieldSurf instead, but it can overlap if it's a special shield intended to be used as a sled. And if an item has a shield ''mode'', it goes under SwissArmyWeapon, BifurcatedWeapon, or MorphWeapon, but can be an example of this trope if it has other skills besides transforming into another weapon. Nevertheless, it is a SisterTrope to the first three tropes. Its more offesinve counterpart would be the SpellBlade.