Ant's Skull Plate

Ant's Skull Plate

Attack	136 Physical
Critical	100
Scaling	Str D
Requires	Str 28
Effect	Increases immunity by 50 and causes poison buildup (90)
Guard	100% physical, 59 guard boost
Type	Greatshield
Attack Type	Strike
Skill	Shield Bash
FP Cost	-
Weight	13.5
Upgrades With	Somber Smithing Stones, to +10
Sell Price	200

Ant's Skull Plate is a Greatshield in Elden Ring. It becomes available in the middle of a run.

The Ant's Skull Plate is the huge head of one of the giant ants that inhabit the two underground rivers, used without modification as a shield that excels at repelling enemy attacks. It sits in a small chest in a room up the first set of stairs west of the Eternal City Site of Grace in Nokstella, Eternal City. Unlike any other greatshield it has the highest tier of hardness, so even greatswords and great hammers bounce off it when blocked. The venom of the giant ants raises the wielder's immunity while it is held, and its attacks build poison at 90. It scales with Strength at D, needs 28 Strength, and suits a block-counter build that wants its guard to stop heavy weapons cold.

Why Players Pick It

Ant's Skull Plate is the only greatshield with the highest hardness tier, so it deflects even greatswords and great hammers, something no other shield does without Barricade Shield. Its attacks build 90 poison and it raises Immunity by 50, alongside 100% physical block and a 59 guard boost. It weighs 13.5, upgrades with Somber stones and cannot be infused.

How to Get Ant's Skull Plate Guide

Nokstella, Eternal City.
Can be found in a chest in a small room found just up the stairs from the city's main Site of Grace.

Where to find Ant's Skull Plate Location?

Ant's Skull Plate map location:

Map credit by Map Genie.

Upgrades

It upgrades with Somber Smithing Stones up to +10.

Level	Material	Amount	Attack	Scaling
+1	Somber Smithing Stone [1]	x1	178 Physical	Str D
+2	Somber Smithing Stone [2]	x1	193 Physical	Str D
+3	Somber Smithing Stone [3]	x1	208 Physical	Str C
+4	Somber Smithing Stone [4]	x1	223 Physical	Str C
+5	Somber Smithing Stone [5]	x1	238 Physical	Str C
+6	Somber Smithing Stone [6]	x1	252 Physical	Str C
+7	Somber Smithing Stone [7]	x1	267 Physical	Str C
+8	Somber Smithing Stone [8]	x1	282 Physical	Str C
+9	Somber Smithing Stone [9]	x1	297 Physical	Str C
+10	Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone	x1	312 Physical	Str B

Skill

Shield Bash costs no FP. The wielder braces behind the shield and rams forward with full body weight while keeping guard up. Weaker enemies are shoved back and can be staggered, and because the guard holds through the motion, the bash can be thrown out against incoming attacks.

"Brace behind shield before using bodyweight to ram foes while maintaining guarding stance. Weaker enemies will be shoved backwards, and can even be staggered."

Guarding

With a guard boost of 59, a blocked hit that would cost 100 stamina only costs 41. It blocks all physical damage, and against the elements it holds up best to lightning, at 57%, and worst to fire, at 42%. A block that drains the last of the stamina bar breaks the guard, leaving an opening for a critical.

Build

Held in the off hand of a block-counter build, it makes heavy attacks rebound and opens them to guard counters and critical hits.

Stats	Strength 60 to 80 for the main weapon, Vigor 50 to 60, Endurance 30 to 40, Mind 25
Affinity	Cannot be infused; it keeps its own scaling.
Talismans	Greatshield Talisman, Curved Sword Talisman, Green Turtle Talisman

All Greatshields

Name	Physical	Magic	Fire	Light	Holy	Crit. Boost	Weight	Str.	Dex.	Fai.	Sell Price	Skill
Ant's Skull Plate	136 100	0 47	0 42	0 57	0 57	100 59	13.5	D 28	0	0	200	Shield Bash
Black Steel Greatshield	119 100	0 61	0 59	0 55	0 84	100 69	19.5	D 35	0	0	100	Shield Bash
Briar Greatshield	98 93	0 50	0 43	0 50	0 50	0 58	9.5	D 21	0	0	500	Shield Bash
Crossed-Tree Towershield	111 100	0 56	0 66	0 53	0 66	100 67	16	D 30	0	0	200	Shield Bash
Crucible Hornshield	147 100	0 51	0 50	0 46	0 64	100 60	11.5	D 26	0	0	500	Shield Bash
Cuckoo Greatshield	110 100	0 70	0 56	0 52	0 60	100 64	15	D 32	0	0	200	No Skill
Distinguished Greatshield	112 100	0 65	0 63	0 54	0 60	100 68	17	D 32	0	0	200	No Skill
Dragon Towershield	115 100	0 61	0 67	0 55	0 64	100 69	17.5	D 30	0	0	100	Shield Bash
Dragonclaw Shield	118 100	0 52	0 52	76 76	0 47	100 61	13.5	D 28	E 12	0	500	Shield Bash
Eclipse Crest Greatshield	110 100	0 72	0 57	0 51	0 59	100 67	15	D 32	0	0	200	No Skill
Erdtree Greatshield	120 100	0 66	0 49	0 45	78 76	100 60	13.5	D 30	0	D 12	500	Golden Retaliation
Fingerprint Stone Shield	139 100	0 77	0 81	0 79	0 75	100 77	29	D 48	0	0	200	Shield Bash
Gilded Greatshield	115 100	0 60	0 66	0 54	0 65	100 69	17.5	D 36	0	0	200	No Skill
Golden Beast Crest Shield	104 100	0 55	0 55	0 48	0 55	100 60	12.5	D 24	0	0	200	No Skill
Golden Greatshield	113 100	0 57	0 60	0 57	0 68	100 70	17	D 34	0	0	200	No Skill
Haligtree Crest Greatshield	116 100	0 61	0 67	0 55	0 79	100 71	18.5	D 36	0	0	200	No Skill
Icon Shield	133 95	0 49	0 45	0 51	0 48	100 59	11.5	D 22	0	0	500	No Skill
Inverted Hawk Towershield	111 100	0 66	0 56	0 54	0 66	100 65	16	D 30	0	0	100	Shield Bash
Jellyfish Shield	123 100	0 52	0 52	0 40	0 48	100 52	8	D 20	14	0	200	Contagious Fury
Lordsworn's Shield	99 94	0 51	0 44	0 52	0 52	100 60	10.0	D 16	0	0	100	Shield Bash
Manor Towershield	111 100	0 66	0 66	0 51	0 56	100 67	16	D 30	0	0	200	Shield Bash
One-Eyed Shield	175 100	0 57	0 69	0 59	0 63	100 67	20.5	D 36	0	0	200	Flame Spit
Redmane Greatshield	108 100	0 54	0 70	0 53	0 52	100 65	14	D 30	0	0	200	No Skill
Spiked Palisade Shield	116 93	0 50	0 43	0 50	0 50	100 58	11.5	D 20	0	0	200	Shield Bash
Verdigris Greatshield	194 100	0 72	0 74	0 67	0 68	100 82	28	D 49	0	0	200	Moore's Charge
Visage Shield	186 100	0 62	0 81	0 65	0 62	100 75	24	D 44	0	0	200	Tongues of Fire
Wooden Greatshield	95 91	0 49	0 41	0 51	0 47	100 56	8.0	D 14	0	0	100	No Skill

Notes

"Huge head of one of the giant ants which inhabit the two underground rivers, used without modification as a shield. Excels at repelling enemy attacks. Giant ants are venomous creatures, granting a boost to immunity when wielding this shield."