History Main / ShieldBash

* Pantheon from ''VideoGame/LeagueOfLegends'' jumps to an enemy and bashes him with his shield, stunning him in the process. Singed holds his shield in right hand and autoattacks with it. Leona's "Shield of Daybreak" ability turns her next autoattack into a stunning shield attack. Taric, who usually uses his shield to send out a ranged Stun, bashes enemies with it in some autoattacks (when he's not [[DropTheHammer Dropping the Hammer]]). And Braum, who explicitly says "My shield is my sword!", attacks turrets by swinging his massive shield in both hands like a battering ram.

** The shield bash is an incredibly useful move in ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim'', and some of the perks within the Shield tree allow it to be enhanced further, so it can actually deal reasonable damage, knock an enemy back, cause them to drop their weapon, or even perform a FoeTossingCharge. The main use of it, however, is to stun an enemy for a few moments, which if used at the right moment can interrupt their attacks and leave them vulnerable. There are even special shields that provide bonuses from a shield bash, from causing damage over time to 'literally' blowing an opponent away.

* This is the very purpose of small but heavy shields like the buckler and targe. They don't provide much protection but they basically turn the left hand (or right hand, if you are left handed) into a PowerFist. Some models are made entirely of metal.

** In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess'', Link can learn it as one of the Hidden Skill techniques, and involves slamming your shield into an opponent, stunning them. It can later be used in combination with another devastating move, the Helm Splitter, that allows you to jump up over your opponent and cleave their skull in half.
** In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSkywardSword'' and ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'', Link has to shield bash just when an enemy attacks him, negating damage to his shield and opening up an opportunity for a sword combo. In the latter case, it can even reflect Guardian [[EnergyWeapon laser beams]]. Lynel shields, which have blades built into their rims, will also damage foes when parrying blows.

* In ''LightNovel/ACertainMagicalIndex II'' episode 24, Touma swings a riot shield at Hamazura, and ''rips out his nose-ring'' in the process.

* LightNovel/GoblinSlayer is fully adept at using his small shield as a deadly weapon against Goblins, especially when it's shown that he has the edges serrated to make certain they're just as lethal as his actual weapons. His very first kill in the main series involves him smashing a goblin into the wall with it before burning its face off with his torch.

* In ''LightNovel/SwordArtOnline'', it's part of Heathcliff's Unique Ability "Holy Sword", and he puts it to use against Kirito in their first battle. For bonus points, Kirito himself is surprised by this tactic, expecting that Heathcliff would only attack with his sword.

** Extra material mentions that the Elven leaf shields have a sharp point at the base so that it can serve as a emergency stabbing weapon.

** ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'': The warrior's "tank" skill branch has one skill involving a weapon. Others are passive skills, defensive stances or this. Its one of the few attacks that can break an Ogre's grab attack.

* In ''VideoGame/DragonNest'', the one of the Cleric's first two skills are this.

* ''VideoGame/LostPlanet2'' features a special folding shield that is virtually impenetrable from the front and covers an area about 3 riot shields wide. It also alows for a powerful ramming attack, complete with a taser function, zapping anyone unlucky enough to get rammed.

* ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'' Paladin's Shield of The Righteous (Avenger's Shield [[ThrowingYourShieldAlwaysWorks is another thing]]) and Warrior's Shield Slam and (former) Shield Bash abilities. The shield slam is a simple damaging attack, while the shield bash (when it existed in the game) interrupted spellcasting. In its last days, Shield Bash did no damage, despite working by smacking someone with a shield. Shield Slam on the other hand hits like a truck and can easily be the most damaging attack low level warriors have.

** The shield bash was also referred to as a "shield punch" in earlier editions. It's more effective if a spiked shield (a shield with a spike sticking out the front) is used. From second edition onward, characters could choose to specialize in shield-bashing (though it generally isn't a popular option). Third edition introduced the idea of shields being specially enchanted to make them better for bashing (though Dungeon Masters in earlier editions would sometimes allow the defensive bonus of a magical shield to be used offensively as well as a [[HouseRules house rule]]). Fourth edition had several powers available to Fighters that could allow a character to create an entire fighting style around shield-bashing and with the reintroduction of the spiked shield in ''Adventures Vault'' even rangers and other classes who could fight with two weapons could join the list of shield bashers.

* In ''Film/Prey2022'', one of the Predator's weapons is a buckler shield with a rim sharp enough to decapitate an enemy.

** In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSkywardSword'' and ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'', Link has to shield bash just when an enemy attacks him, negating damage to his shield and opening up an opportunity for a sword combo. In the latter case, it can even reflect [[DemonicSpiders Guardian]][[EnergyWeapon beams.]]

* In ''VideoGame/GenshinImpact'', Shieldwall Mitachurls primarily attack by charging into you with their shields, but will also bludgeon you with them if you come into melee range. If their shields are destroyed, their attacks don't really change, they just start attacking with [[UseYourHead their heads]] and fists instead.

* One of the most popular examples happens to be the [[TheSpartanWay Spartans]]. Every piece of combat performed was with the ''hoplon'' (or ''aspis'') shield (which, by the way, was a few FEET in diameter, and sturdy enough to carry a human body on), of bronze-plated wood, with a [[CrazyPrepared leather backing]]. This was, of course, excellent for bashing. Incidentally, as an indication of how important shields were to Spartans, they considered it better to come back from battle ''on'' their shields (i.e. dead) than ''without'' them (running away).
** The ''hoplon'' was the centerpiece of the hoplitic phalanx, the preferred tactic used by the Greek city states. It was so effective that the Persians, [[UsefulNotes/GrecoPersianWars having discovered the hard way just how effective the phalanx is once they manage to close range]], would often hire Greek mercenaries to serve as heavy infantry, and the tactic would spread to peoples all around the Mediterranean, including the late Kingdom/early Republic incarnation of [[UsefulNotes/TheGloryThatWasRome the Roman Army]].

* In ''LightNovel/BofuriIDontWantToGetHurtSoIllMaxOutMyDefense'', the main character Maple uses her large shield to defeat enemies by... falling with the shield above these. She does have a short sword too, but she prefers to use her shield as her primary "weapon".

* ''Series/DeadliestWarrior'': Used frequently: William Wallace's spiked Targe shield was made for this purpose, and the (lone) Spartan Hoplite uses it against his Ninja opponent. Also, they measured it: getting a Shield Bash from a Spartan means the same amount of force as a ''car crash''. Usually directed at the chest or neck. Ouch.

* In ''VideoGame/EtrianOdyssey'', shields are normally used for their defensive stats and for defense-based skills, but some shield skills are attack skills that inflict bash-type damage. They are notable in ''Etrian Odyssey Nexus'' for using the shield's defense stat with a rather large multiplier to calculate damage, allowing the otherwise-StoneWall Protector class to inflict massive damage with the correct build.