This guide lists all Shield, Paladin Shield, and Necromancer Shrunken Head socketed base items for Runewords in Diablo II: Resurrected for Normal, Exceptional, and Elite qualities, together with key features for example Defense, Level, Strength Requirements, Maximum Number of Sockets, Weight, and Quality Level. These will collectively be known as "shields".

Shield Base Item Properties in Diablo II: Resurrected

Shields, Paladin Shields, and Shrunken Heads can all be used as base items for those but one Runeword. The exception for this is Exile, which could only be squeezed into Paladin shields.

Paladins must always pick a Paladin Shield base item when possible, as these often include auto mods (extra Paladin properties), will always be Lightweight, and may always be available in up to 4 sockets. 4 socketed normal Shields don't appear otherwise until Monarchs in Hell.

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Necromancers are only able to use Shrunken Heads for Runewords if making Rhyme or Splendor, the only real 2-rune Shield Runewords available. Shrunken Heads never can roll a lot more than 2 sockets. However, they're excellent selections for these as Shrunken Heads will include auto modes (extra Necromancer properties).

Defense: This may be the Defense range where the base item can roll. Higher Defense is mainly important for melee-range characters, but really should not be ignored by anybody.

Level: This may be the minimum character level necessary to equip the product. In a finished Runeword item, the minimum level to equip with is either that of the bottom item or those of the Runeword, whichever value is higher.

Strength: This may be the minimum required Strength the smoothness needs to wear. Be careful not to create a product your character can't wear because of too-high Strength requirements.

Sockets: This may be the maximum quantity of sockets -- not a guaranteed quantity of sockets. An item that can roll with 4 sockets is available with 1, 2, 3, or 4 sockets. You can use the Horadric Cube recipe to roll a random quantity of sockets inside a Normal unsocketed base item, as much as the maximum. However, if you are using a Normal unsocketed base item to use sockets using Larzuk in Act V, he'll always install the maximum quantity of sockets. If you need a 3-socket item, don't provide him an unsocketed Base item having a maximum of 4, or else you will be disappointed.

Block%: This is the bottom block from the shield. Add +30% for this number if playing Paladin, +25% for Amazon, Assassin, and Barbarian, and +20% for Druid, Sorceress, and Necromancer.

Weight: Both Armor and Shield weight impact Run/Walk speed and stamina drain. Characters can compensate with extra Run/Walk speed, Vitality, and items that reduce stamina drain.

Light: No effect.

Medium: +50% stamina drain and 5% Run/Walk speed penalty

Heavy: +100% stamina drain and 10% Run/Walk speed penalty

Lvl: This is the level of quality of the bottom item. This determines what level of mobs you have to be killing for the product to have an opportunity to drop. For example, one of the best levels for farming normal base items may be the Secret Cow Level. Normal Secret Cow Level will work for items as much as qLvl 28 (most Normal base items), Nightmare as much as qLvl 64 (most Exceptional base items), and Hell as much as qLvl 81 (most Elite base items).