Shield

Shields are a common defensive weapon that appear in every The Legend of Zelda game. It is Link's main method of defense. He often equips a sword with his shield. The shield allows Link to deflect projectiles shot by enemies, such as nuts spit by a Deku Scrub. If Link is swallowed by a Like Like, he usually loses his shield. Several enemies such as Stalfos Knights and Darknuts also carry a shield.

Several shields appear throughout the game. They are created from various material such as wood or metal. The size and material of a shield usually determines what it can protect against. For instance, shields made up of wood cannot defend against fire-based attacks, which cause it to burn up.

The Legend of Zelda
In The Legend of Zelda, the shield (also called the Wooden Shield ) is Link's most basic starting equipment. It deflects most physical projectiles in the direction that Link faces. It can be replaced with a Magical Shield if purchased from a merchant, but if a Like Like eats it then Link will resort to his regular shield.

Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
In Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, the shield that Link has equipped the entire game is the Magical Shield.

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
In The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, the shield (also called the Fighter's Shield or Blue Shield ) is received by Link's uncle in Hyrule Castle along with the sword. It can be improved as a Red Shield if Link throws it in the Waterfall of Wishing and answers the Water Faerie honestly. Both types of shields can be eaten by Pikits and have to be repurchased, but the Mirror Shield is a permanent shield (except in the GBA version, where Like Likes can eat it too). According to the SNES Player's Guide, every Hyrulian Shield is cast from a rare alloy, making them very strong and extremely light so that even a young boy like Link can wield the heaviest one; although people take it for granted that shields will always be available, the merchants who sell shields are not at liberty to discuss their origins, though it is rumored that the dwarven swordsmiths make them.

The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
In The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening, Tarin gives Link his shield, which has his name on it. It is replaced with the Mirror Shield in Eagle's Tower. In artwork, it looks like the shield from A Link to the Past, but in the Nintendo Switch remake, it greatly resembles the Hylian Shield.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
In The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, equipping the Kokiri Sword and Deku Shield will reluctantly stop Mido from blocking the way to the Great Deku Tree.

The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
In The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, Link starts out equipped with the Hero's Shield, which resembles the Hylian Shield from the previous game; however, Link must be in human form in order to use it.

The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons/Ages
In The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons and The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages, the most basic shield is the Wooden Shield.

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
In The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, the most basic shield is the Hero's Shield, obtained from Link's Grandma along with the Hero's Sword.

The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
In The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap, the small shield is obtained from Princess Zelda. In artwork, it looks like the Hero's Shield from The Wind Waker.

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
In The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, the most basic shield is the Ordon shield. If it catches fire, Link must sheath or unequip his weapon or it will burn away entirely. Link cannot get another one and must buy its equivalent, a common wooden shield. The player can also purchase and equip the Hylian Shield, but it lacks the ability to catch arrows. This game also introduces the shield attack as the second hidden skill.

The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
In The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, the shield is known as the Wooden Shield in the English version, and it is based on the Hero's Shield from The Wind Waker. It is the only shield in the game. If eaten by a Like Like, it can be replaced by purchasing one from a shop.

The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks
In The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, the shield can be eaten by a Like Like, which requires replacing by purchasing one from a shop. Link can also obtain the Shield of Antiquity by collecting ten stamps for Niko, which is implied to be a shield from Phantom Hourglass but is impervious to a Like Like.

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
In The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, the most basic shield is the Wooden Shield. One can be obtained from Owlan after getting the Goddess Sword. It is also available for purchase in the bazaar, along with other types of shields. Like Twilight Princess, it is capable of catching arrows, although it is more easily burned away. Every shield except the Hylian Shield has different durability, which will break the shield if is depletes. The Scrap Shop can fix or upgrade shields. The shield bash technique taught by Eagus at the Sparring Hall can bypass durability with the right timing.

The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
In The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, the shield can optionally be purchased in several shops for 50 Rupees. It can be replaced with the Hylian Shield, which cannot be eaten by Like Likes.

Link: The Faces of Evil / Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon
In Link: The Faces of Evil and Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon, the shield acts much like it does in Zelda II: The Adventure of Link. Both games also feature the Reflecting Shield, an upgraded shield that reflects the projectile attack of certain bosses and allows Link or Zelda to defeat them.

Hyrule Warriors
In Hyrule Warriors, shields come with Hylian Swords, Light Swords, and Phantom Arms. As of Ver. 1.2.0, a rendition of the original shield is paired with the 8-Bit Wooden Sword. The symbol on the front of the shield has been slightly modified to look less like a Cross. The original shield also appears unaltered on Link's 8-bit representation in Adventure Mode and bottled by the 8-Bit Fairy.

Cadence of Hyrule: Crypt of the NecroDancer featuring The Legend of Zelda
In Cadence of Hyrule: Crypt of the NecroDancer featuring The Legend of Zelda, the small shield is found outside Link's House.