Heart's Defender (RARE)
Though it's permanently rare, if you have this shield then there is no better option. Whenever you block an attack, you heal a large chunk of SP, similarly to the Ultraguardian shield.
Location: None
Fireworks (SEASONAL)
This shield returns every 4th of July, and is a fantastic option for those who need compression. It protects against fire and light, and you can switch between the two by clicking on the shield. The only downside is that the artwork is mediocre at best.
Location: Limited-Time Items
Cerberus Ward
Cerberus Ward is a nice compression shield that defends against fire and darkness, and switches between the two when clicked.
Location: Underworld -> Part 1
Shield of Agony's Blood
The best non-rare option for those who don't want to spend any real money. While you do take slightly more damage when hit than you would with a normal fire shield, the monster also loses 10 BTH.
Location: Rip in the Sky -> Adder's Forge
Grakma Hide Shield
Reduces every hit you take by 8 damage points. Perfect for players that like to go on the extremely defensive especially under 8% resists.
Location: Travel Map -> Mt. Thrall -> Hollow' s Garage -> I'm here to kick some demon tail!
Celtic Wheel
The best option not just for mages and hybrids, but even warriors and rangers too. By clicking on the shield, you gain 50 INT at the cost of 34 SP every turn. It's a given that mages can make use of this by powering up their spells, but the 50 INT boost also gives warriors and rangers enough MP to cast utility spells, such as Moonwalker's Grace (which boosts the player's DEX by 86 for 3 turns), once before running out.
Location: Warlic's Shop -> Mastercraft Sets -> Celtic Set
Kindred Spirits' Devotion
An excellent shield when used with the Kindred armor. Clicking on the shield lets you heal your MP or SP by a solid amount, for 40 charges each. Healing also does not cost a turn.
Location: Kindred Set
Figurehead
-26 water shield that attempts to inflict the Unlucky status. For pure defense, this is probably your best option.
Location: Warlic's Shop -> Explore shop -> Mermazon Kelp + Bad Juice + Magma Leaf -> Talk Like a Pirate Day -> Click the map in Captain Rhubarb's hand
Doray
-26 shield that after being equipped for 1 or more turns can turn back time.
Location: Battle Monsters -> Doray -> Attack with water to fill its MP bar, causing it to explode
Gemini (RARE)
Though it's rare, Gemini is an amazing compression shield. Clicking on it will swap it between earth and wind, and this makes it especially useful since unlike other compression options, such as Darkovian Bulwark and Daylight Savings Time, it doesn't overlap with the darkness shields listed.
Location: None
Accordion Shield (RARE)
-26 wind shield that gives 20 status potency for control making it the best wind shield for Vamp and Love Potion users.
Location: None
Fujin no Shukufuku
If you don't own either of the above options, then this is by far the best wind shield available to you. Clicking on the shield will grant you +50 DEX at the cost of 34 SP every turn.
Location: Bridge to the Sky
Cryo Chrono Shield
When monster blocks it is paralysed for 1 turn. Pair it with items that lower the enemy's BTH or increase your MRM to block monster's attacks more frequently and paralyze the monster even more.
Horo-Show Void Vindicator
Whenever you block an attack, you deal a small amount of Harm damage to the monster and heal a chunk of SP.
Location: Twilly -> Anniversary Events -> The Dragon of Time -> BONUS
Pies
Alternatively, if you run a Beastmaster build. you'll want to use Pies. When you click on the shield, you gain CHA at the cost of SP every turn.
Location: Warlic's Shop -> Mastercraft Sets -> Dessert Set
Father Time (SEASONAL)
Can turn back time (similar to Purple Rain) after being equipped for more than 1 turn.
Location -> Limited Time Items
Gemini Shield (RARE)
Already mentioned in the wind section.
Location: None
Tectonic Tower Shield
Tectonic Tower Shield is the best option for earth alone, and the best option overall if you don't have Gemini. As you take damage throughout the fight, the damage you take is gradually lowered. Once you've taken 50% of your maximum HP in damage, the amount of damage you take is about 7% less than the damage you'd take using a normal earth shield.
Location: Rip in the Sky -> Adder's Forge
Macka-Lot Buckler (SEASONAL)
This shield is the best option for Beastmaster builds. The damage you take is reduced based on your CHA stat, to a maximum of -7.14%.
Location: Grenwog -> Double O' Dozen
Darkovian Bulwark
This is a great option for those who need compression, as it resists against both earth and darkness, and you can switch between the two by clicking on the shield. However, this could pose a problem as it overlaps with the better darkness options listed below. When fighting Werewolves or Vampires, all of your combat defences are increased by 9.
Location: Valencia -> Golden Giftboxes -> Rare Shop
High Oracle's Taladosian Ward
This is the best option for energy. Every turn, you have a 10% chance for all incoming damage to be halved for that round. If you're lucky enough, then this could be very useful.
Location: Taladosian Set
Fireworks (SEASONAL)
Already mentioned in the fire section.
Location: Limited-Time Items
Chaser Bracer (RARE)
Can inflict Blind on your enemy when you block.
Location: Frostval 2017
Sol Defender
Location:
Elahi Ikm of Osiris
If you don't have Fireworks or you don't run CHA, then the Osiris shield is your best option as it offers higher light resistance than any other. It does have an MC, but it's pretty insignificant; every turn, you heal about 2% of your maximum HP.
Location: Warlic's Shop -> Mastercraft Sets -> Osiris Set
Daylight Savings Time
This is a good compression option that resists against both light and darkness separately, but like Darkovian Bulwark, it overlaps with some of the better options listed in the darkness section below.
Location: Ultimon's Fortress -> Part 2
Eclipse Shield / Lunar Eclipse Shield (SEASONAL)
These are both phenomenal shields, and there's no difference between them other than their names and appearances. They have a built-in skill, which can blind the monster.
Location: Limited-Time Shop, for up to 24 hours after a solar/lunar eclipse
ShadowWalker's Shield of Time (PREMIUM)
The ShadowWalker shield is absolutely phenomenal, both on its own and as part of the set. It has a bleed effect, which is inflicted whenever you block an attack. This effect can stack perpetually, and can be extremely potent over prolonged fights.
Location: Buy Heromart Calendar 2017 "Year of Adventure" -> Redeem code in Master Account
Terror Totem (Z-TOKEN)
On its own, this shield is nothing special. However, the synergy it has with the full set is amazing. Clicking on the shield will remove your opponent's Fear status, in turn healing you. By stacking the Fear status through repeated use of the armor skill or Werewolf's Snarl, you can heal yourself for a very high amount.
Location: Terror Set
Eternal Twilight's Regalia
If you don't have any of the shields above, Twilight's Regalia is your best option. Every turn, there is a 23.4% chance of lowering the BTH of the monster's attack by 13.
Location: Alnaphar -> Twilight Set
Lantern of Souls
This is another great option. It has a 3.57% chance of automatically causing any of your opponent's attacks to miss. On its own, it's inferior to the Twilight shield, but when used with the full Reaper of Souls set, it's amazing, as you gain a massive 30% damage boost at the cost of only 30 HP every turn.
Location: Death's Domain -> Retrieve 100 hourglasses
Cerberus Ward
Already mentioned in the fire section.
Location: Underworld -> Part 1
Darkovian Bulwark
Already mentioned in the earth section.
Location: Valencia -> Golden Giftboxes -> Rare Shop
Daylight Savings Time
Already mentioned in the light section.
Location: Ultimon's Fortress -> Part 2
Chieftain's IronThorn
This shield only gives a small bonus to earth resistance, and it increases your fire, wind, energy and light weaknesses. It also reduces your BTH by 10. However, it grants you a massive damage boost of 50%, making it the best shield in the game for pure offense.
Location: Berserker Class -> Eselgee's Shop
Exalted Paladin Guard
This shield decreases your light and darkness modifiers at the same time, by 21%. While the other light and dark options are individually superior, this shield is particularly great against Shadow monsters. If your class is Paladin, then the shield's blocking chances increase further.
Location: Paladin Class -> Paladin Armory