History Main / ShieldBash

* ''VideoGame/FateGrandOrder'': Mash Kyrielight, as a unique "Shielder"-class Servant, carries around a massive cross-shaped shield as her only armament. Naturally, when she has to attack, she does so by smashing things with said shield. This leads to some amusing lines in the Orleans chapter of the story, where the protagonists decide to practice NonLethalWarfare against innocents who attack them due to a misunderstanding, and Mash replies "Got it, I'll use the back of the blade." The other characters ask how exactly that phrase can be applied to a shield.

** Captain America's expies, USAgent and his replacement during UsefulNotes/TheVietnamWar obviously fit in as well.

* In ''VideoGame/DissidiaFinalFantasy'', one of [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyII Firion's]] HP attacks is called "Shield Bash", though it's actually not an example of this trope: it's a BeehiveBarrier that, if it blocks an opponent's attack, triggers a counterattack (consisting of a flurry of thrown knives if the attacked blocked was physical, or a barrage of spells if magical). On the other hand, many of [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyI Warrior of Light's]] attacks play this straight, with the shield being thrown around and, apparently, controlled telekinetically to slam into enemies edge-first while charging or similar attacks. And then there's Shield of Light, his main HP attack, where he puts the shield in front of him, and it explodes in the opponent's face in [[LightEmUp a blast of holy magic]]. The prequel ''Dissidia 012: Duodecim'' gives him a new HP attack in 'Ultimate Shield', which, [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin well]], consists solely of a series of bludgeonings with his shield.

* ''VideoGame/CrisisZone'' features a riot shield that protects the player from anything, and I mean ANYTHING. From machine gun fire, grenades, to heavy objects being thrown, and even protection from a helicopter flying straight into their face!

* A bash is one of the combat moves added by the popular Deadly Reflex mod for ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion''. You can do it with a weapon or bare-handed too, but using a shield is more effective.

* 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.

* ''LightNovel/RisingOfTheShieldHero'', it takes a while, but Naofumi gets a skill explicitly called Shield Bash. It doesn't do much damage because of his inherently low strength, but it still allows him to stun enemies.

* LightNovel/GoblinSlayer is fully adept at using his small shield as a deadly weapon against Goblins. His very first kill involves him smashing a goblin into the wall with it before burning its face off with his torch.

[[folder:Fan Works]]
* In ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' fic ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/5598298/1/Il-se-passait-au-nuit-du-P%C3%A8re-Porcher It Happened On Hogswatch Eve]]'', the Assassins' Guild instructor in swordcraft, Madame Deux-Epées, practically demonstrates how a large heavy shield can get the better of a sword - specifically that it is a large item with a lot of mass and a big metal boss in the middle, with what might well be an unexpected offensive shock to the over-confident.

** Hunters will do this if you get too close, and since these shields are massive and composed of warship-grade material, this can and ''will'' result in a one-hit kill.

** 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]][[FrickinLaserBeams beams.]]

* In the old ''Stormbringer'' role-playing game from Creator/{{Chaosium}}, shields weren't treated as pieces of armor. They are actually weapons with a high parrying rate and surprisingly good damage - for example, the tower shield hits about as hard as a broadsword.

** ''VideoGame/DiabloII'' has some shield-bash skills for Paladin.

* Shields are awesome in ''VideoGame/FrontMission 3'' anyway, and the Shield Bash ability is one of the most damaging melee attacks in the game. Of course, the bashing is being done by a GiantMecha the size of a building.
** ''VideoGame/FrontMission 4'' keeps it, as an extremely damaging counterattack skill.

** Hunters will do this if you get too close, and since these shields are massive and composed of warship grade material, this can and ''will'' result in a one-hit kill.

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* In ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'', the Demoman can do this with the unlockable Chargin' Targe. Right clicking will send the Demoman into a high-speed charge, and attacking with a melee weapon at least halfway through the charge will result in a CriticalHit. The shield itself has a spike on it that will do damage if the Demoman himself collides with an enemy during the last quarter of the charge. Another shield, the Splendid Screen, trades most of the fire/explosive resistance for a more damaging ShieldBash and no minimum distance required to hit the enemy from to do it, and yet another one, the Tide Turner, is even better, allowing very sharp turning and recharging with a successful kill, allowing for rapid-fire rammings. Even if it ''is'' [[ImprobableWeaponUser a ship's steering wheel rather than a shield]].

* Shields are awesome in ''VideoGame/FrontMission 3'' anyway, and the ShieldBash ability is one of the most damaging melee attacks in the game. Of course, the bashing is being done by a GiantMecha the size of a building.

** In [[VideoGame/DarkSoulsII the second game]], shields do substantial damage, especially when upgraded or infused, making a shield-bashing build difficult but viable. There's even a pair of shields specifically designed for DualWielding together.

* In ''[[Literature/Dragonlance]] The Dragonlance Chronicles'', Tika Waylan, a barmaid who joins the heroes after her home is destroyed in the war, panics in her first fight and bashes a foe to death with her shield after dropping her sword. Later novels note that she never truly mastered the sword, but had turned shield-bashing into an art.

* In ''[[Literature/Dragonlance]] The Dragonlance Chronicles'', Tika Waylan, a barmaid who joins the heroes after her home is destroyed in the war, panics in her first fight and bashes a foe to death with her shield after dropping her sword. Later novels note that she never truly mastered the sword, but had turned shield-bashing into an art.

* 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're TheSouthpaw) into a PowerFist. Some models are made entirely of metal.

** [[MightyGlacier Shieldon and Bastiodon]] from ''VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPokemonPearl'' have shields for heads and can learn the head-bashing moves Iron Head and Headbutt.
** The legendary mascot Zamazenta from ''VideoGame/PokemonSwordAndPokemonShield'' has Iron Head become Behemoth Bash while in its Crowned form, where it enlarges its shield armor and strikes the opponent while it's holding the Rusted Shield.

** The legendary mascot Zamazenta from ''VideoGame/PokemonSwordAndPokemonShield has Iron Head become Behemoth Bash while in its Crowned form, where it enlarges its shield armor and strikes the opponent while it's holding the Rusted Shield.

** [[MightyGlacier Shieldon and Bastiodon]] have shields for heads and can learn the head-bashing moves Iron Head and Headbutt.
** The legendary Zamazenta trades out Iron Head for Behemoth Bash while in its Crowned form, where it enlarges its shield armor and strikes the opponent.

** In ''VideoGame/PokkenTournament'', Aegislash has several moves where it hits the opponent with its shield.