The humble shieldsman... you're not as flashy as 2h spam but you're essential for stopping the momentum of the enemy advance and locking threats into combat on your terms.

Pros:

You're a turtle.
Paint crosses all over your shield to show how Christian you are
Won't get nerfed soon
Essential for defending flags and blunting enemy advances

Cons:

Slow
Not as effective offensively
Weapons lack range

= = =

We'll start with the basic strategy:

1. Learn to be a clam

- Always be blocking with two hands. Constantly hold your shield up with RMB while holding your weapon up with LMB.

- Your competitive advantage is defense. It's not likely you'll kill as many as the 2h soldiers, but you serve your team by soaking up enemy attention.

2. Know your role

- Using the shield constantly is a slower, more methodical approach to comabt. Don't get caught outnumbered and without support.

- Counterattacking off of your block is essential. You can counter attack quicker if you block with your weapon.

3. Use your feet

- Footwork is how you can shine offensively. Draw enemies into the jaws of waiting allies, learn to circle strafe while attacking, and get comfortable overhand charging occasionally.

Accuracy, timing, footwork, and combat intuition

These elements are a diagnostic tool for you to understand why you’re failing and what you need to improve. Only combat experience will increase these attributes. Every fight will involve them. If you lose a fight, think of these elements and determine which one you failed.

Accuracy:

• If you’re inaccurate then nothing I can say here will help you.
  
• Developing accuracy takes time. Combat will be clunky for awhile - do not get frustrated
  
• Learn which attack strikes most effectively. I find a lot of success with the stab when bunched up, and kill most with sideways swipes while circle-strafing when dueling.
  
• Everyone acts in patterns. Watch your enemies in battle to see what type of patterns they use and cook up appropriate counters. Planning strikes will help your accuracy.

Timing:

• This touches upon everything you do. Most deaths are a result of poor timing. Again, only combat experience will really show you the limits of timing.
  
• Be aware that 2h can often outpace you in a flailing match. Focus on stopping the momentum of flailing enemies by blocking with your weapon and quickly countering.

Footwork:

• Good footwork is the most important element. Footwork draws enemies off of balance and goads them into foolish attacks
  
• Learn to range your opponent, but also know when to charge with an overhead strike.
  
• Backpedaling and sidestepping will save your life if you're outnumbered. Never let enemies encircle you and always hold your guards up.

Combat Intuition:

• This is your ability to read the battlefield and your enemies to place yourself in favorable situations.
  
• Identify enemies that are near death (watch for positive hit animations) and seek them out. Realize that you can quick stab them when they're busy fighting your allies or take more risks around them.
  
• Watch the patterns of your attackers. Do they like to counter strike? Do they feel comfortable close to you or far away? Do they alternate left/right swipes? Remember… EVERYONE has a pattern. The more aware you are of this, the better you can predict and counter your enemies.
  
• Are there any allies near you? If not, maybe it’s a good idea to find them.

Remember these attributes and focus on improving them specifically.

The Third Crusades - How to Approach Specific Threats

1. The 2h spam machine

- This is the most common, effective, and feared foe on the battlefield.

- Counter them by being defensive and consistently blocking their shots. Soak up their attention and let allies support.

- If caught one v. one, you'll need to master the Block - Circlestrafe - Swipe routine. Only counter after blocking with your weapon. Blocking with your shield alone will not give you enough time to counter a spammer.

- Break their momentum.


2. Shield v. Shield

- Now your shield bash comes into play. A bash/stab or bash/overhead combo can be effective.

- Practice strafing across both sides of an enemy shieldman's face. Learn how to strafe around their shield while swiping from right to left to hit them in the back. Learn how to strafe around their weapon while countering their strikes with overheads and low stabs.

- Always vary your angle of attack. Do not become predictable.

3. Many allies v. few enemies

- Play the support role. Soak up enemy attacks

- If an enemy is engaged with someone else, learn how to stab attack on command. The stab and overhead are very important in group combat. Save the slashes for when the herd has been thinned.

4. Many enemies v. yourself

- Continue to backpedal and keep your shield towards the threats.

- Keep your enemies stacked behind each other and circle strafe away if you're being cornered.

- Sometimes you just have to plant your feet and fiight. Keep all defenses up and counter-strike. Spam attack on occasion and don't go down like a ♥♥♥♥♥.

- Do not become frustrated. This is a game with a learning curve. Your accuracy/footwork/timing/awareness will all increase over time.

- Remember that the shield is rarely the star of the show. You're there to slow the enemy down.

- Be able to stab/overhead on command. Make these strikes quick and efficient.

- Always be blocking.

- Countering with your weapon is always more effective than countering with your shield.