Are you about to embark on a perilous journey? You will likely want to protect yourself as much as possible, ensuring that no one or nothing can harm you. Naturally, you’ll need some weapons. It’s probable that you won’t turn down armor either. However, neither of these items can provide your character in Minecraft with complete protection, so something more substantial is necessary. I believe you know what’s missing for full defense: the shield has been chosen as this week’s highlight.
In a 2011 interview, one of the developers mentioned plans to introduce shields soon. Yet, players only encountered them in Minecraft Bedrock in 2016 during a combat update. Before shields were introduced, there were limited ways to avoid damage—only two options, both rather dubious: blocking with a sword or simply fleeing from an attack. Thankfully, with the addition of shields, there’s no longer a need to rely heavily on luck and risk your life.
The crafting recipe for shields is straightforward: arrange six planks in a Y-shaped pattern in the crafting grid, then place an iron ingot at the top. Like most items, shields can be purchased from villagers for five emeralds. When comparing the materials needed to craft a shield—one iron ingot and six planks—the price set by villagers seems quite inflated. Therefore, it might be easier to create a shield on your own.
If you’ve crafted a shield but haven’t had the chance to engage in combat, you can repurpose it creatively, such as by turning it into a banner and decorating its front with a design. In situations where your opponent is exceptionally strong, consider using magic—enchanting your shield to make it indestructible.
Oh, do you need a shield in Minecraft for battle rather than just carrying it around as an accessory? No problem! Simply right-click on it, which will reduce your speed while the shield starts blocking incoming attacks, pushing back attackers and keeping you safe. However, be cautious—some attacks cannot be blocked, and axes may disable shields.
If your shield is damaged, place it on an anvil along with a few boards for a complete repair that maintains its design. On the battlefield, you can combine two damaged shields, but both will lose their patterns.
In the real world, shields were utilized long before the beginning of recorded history. Some prehistoric shields were crafted from metal, primarily those used in ceremonial contexts. However, wooden shields were more commonly employed for practical purposes. In certain regions, people even devised ways to use turtle shells as a form of defense.
Numerous warriors from ancient times are renowned for their shields, but among them, the ancient Greek hoplites and Roman legionaries stand out the most. You may have seen in films how a group of soldiers raises their shields to form a turtle-like formation. This tactic is known as “testudo,” where the troops shield themselves behind their protective gear, creating a fortified box that deflects arrows.
A significant amount of time has passed, yet shields remain relevant today. Law enforcement agencies utilize them to guard against thrown stones and bottles. However, they are not designed to protect against more serious threats like bullets and swords. For such scenarios, sturdier shields—armored ones—were developed. These can withstand even rifle fire and are typically employed in situations where there is a genuine threat to life.
Therefore, I strongly recommend players of Minecraft Pocket Edition who encounter hordes of zombies and skeletons to heed law enforcement’s advice on public safety and carry a shield with them. I’m confident that no one who brought a shield into battle against hostile mobs has ever regretted it.
