What attacks can you do with a shield?

I'm creating a character who uses shields as weapons. So far all I can think of is:

-Throwing the shield (like Captain America) -Swiping/Charging with it -Riding it like sled (like Goofy from Kingdom Hearts)

Does anyone else have any ideas? Thanks!

One could also punch with its edge, gives some extra reach(the radius of the shield) compared with bare fists. The edge could also be sharpened, teethed or something that makes it more offensive.

This youtube video(8 minutes in) shows how one can pin down the shoulder with edge, if the shield was sharpened it could do some damage to the shoulder region.

This site have a picture of a similar attack, but aimed for the face.

edited 1st Oct '13 3:27:08 AM by m8e

What if the shield were in a triangle shape rather than a disc shape? The pointed edge could add some offensive power.

However, that means the character can't throw it. Would it be a hassle to have two shields on different arms? One for the triangle and one for the disc?

I know the Zulus (and some gladiators) used the shield to pry open other fighters' guard- basically catch the lip of their shield with yours, lever it open, and slice them open like a pillowcase. Not an attack per se, but it makes the other guy dead, so who's counting?

A triangular shield makes me think it could be designed to be wielded like some kind of oversized katar.

You could take a look at the german dueling shield. Some of them had spikes at the tops and bottoms, hooks to catch weapons and the enemy. Some of them even had blades attached to the pole that running through the length of the shield.

like this◊

The shields that had a centre boss and were held in the fist were often used to punch at the opponent.

In most formation fighting the shield is an offensive weapon as much as a defensive one. You can swing the shield backhand to smash an opponent's guard open. Turn the shield sideways and the same motion can bash with the shield's rim.

Shields with bosses (that metal dome in the middle) can ram right into a foe. The scottish targe shield added a spike to the boss making such an attack deadly. For mid-large shields this is useful for closing onto a target. The Roman Scutum and Gladius style relied on the scutum giving them enough cover for the legionaire to get in close with their gladius. Likewise, if you get close enough you make it impossible for the enemy to get a good swing onto you.

You can also ram the shield into someone like a ram. It's similar to swinging the shield but it's more of a straight in attack rather than an arcing one. You can bring the shield down on someone's kneecap or up into their jaw. If you knock a man down you can bring the shield right down onto their throat or head. A good metal shield tends to have a relatively thin edge which means that with enough force the shield can chop like a dull cleaver.

Throwing a shield is probably a desperation attack. Normally, you'd use the shield for cover while you close in on an archer or slinger. Throwing a shield only makes sense if the enemy has a two handed weapon that would rend your shield in one it anyway.

The buckler is a small shield, no more than a boss really, that is the height of offensive shields. You can punch with it just like a fist, swipe with the edge like a dagger or flip the edge out and punch in like a katar.

In person to person fighting the shield ends up more defensive simply because it doesn't have much reach.

edited 1st Oct '13 7:42:28 AM by Belisaurius

Judging by the examples, I would guess you guys kind of miss the point. I mean, you give serious advice, and this looks like it's less about historical use of a shield, and more about stuff like the saw-edged cutting shield from Mortal Kombat.

So, that's my one example.

On the other hand, the punch-buckler sounds an idea worthy of mentioning here. I'd also throw in this crazy Russian shit◊, as well.

Also: let's wave hands to our old friends, the Goon guys. *wave*

edited 1st Oct '13 9:20:20 AM by lordGacek

Lantern shields!

Gacek is right haha. But still, these are great examples! It's so much more than I would've thought of. Thanks all! :)

Found this video on the site I linked to earlier. An odd(and funny ) variant of Throwing Your Shield Always Works.

Shields ARE weapons, they were mostly used offensively by hitting your foes with it's edge, you could swing it in an arc, stab with it, bash with it, charge with it. You could also use it in a less common way, blocking attacks.

and about that vid, bullcrap, if it's a reenactment it's a lousy one. A single missed swing from the two handed ax and any decent warrior would have killed the guy in just one counterattack.

edited 2nd Oct '13 7:46:18 PM by mbartelsm

How about that trick from Dragon Age: Origins, where you could knock your enemy off their feet with your shield?

Well, as they say in Berk, if you have a choice between a sword and a shield, take the shield.

I totally would. Shield can be used defensively AND offensively.

I'm not saying it's perfect, but you can shield bash your way through unexperienced sword fighters (not multiple of them at one time, though, that would not be wise no matter what kind of weapon you use).

I can't find it, but I've seen a video where a shield user let a guy with a sword keep hitting and pushing him forward...then the guy with a shield charges forward and knocks the opponent down in one go. That was pretty cool.

edited 3rd Oct '13 11:07:24 AM by dRoy

Only half an attack, but having a shield so hard that weapons and hands used upon it shatter like glass. Or bouncing things off it.

Also I reckon a shield would be great for knocking people around weather you sue it to shoulder-charge or just whack them with it. A particularly gonzo variant would be using it to play handball with the opponent as the ball.

"-Throwing the shield (like Captain America) -Swiping/Charging with it -Riding it like sled (like Goofy from Kingdom Hearts) "

Going with that direction, depending on what the shield is made of, you may be able to deflect certain projectiles in a way that it gets directed at other enemies.

Also, as you block attacks from say, swords, axes, spears etc, if you deflect it at a certain angle, you can have the attacker lose balance and become vulnerable. You may even cause them to slip into a trap that way.

edited 20th Oct '13 9:28:43 PM by PsychoFreaX

Also, if the shield is large enough, you can bring it down on an opponent's feet, causing him to wince and lose his balance and create an opening for an attack. There is evidence of Roman tower shields having sharpened bottoms for such a purpose.

How about setting the shield spinning aross the ground and riding on top of it so that your fists are spinning in a rapid circle?

Or maybe you catch a lot of arrows on the shield, then flip the shield around so the inside (where all the arrow heads are sticking out) is facing towards your opponent, and you slam it into them?