Buckler

Buckler

Attack	68 Physical
Critical	100
Scaling	Str E, Dex D
Requires	Str 8, Dex 13
Effect
Guard	74% physical, 45 guard boost
Type	Small Shield
Attack Type	Strike
Skill	Buckler Parry
FP Cost	-
Weight	1.5
Upgrades With	Smithing Stones, to +25
Sell Price	100

The Buckler is a Small Shield in Elden Ring. It turns up early in a run, in Stormveil Castle.

The Buckler is a small metal roundshield whose central bump is designed for parrying, a shield that favors aggression despite the risk. It is starting equipment for the Bandit, is sold by Gatekeeper Gostoc at Stormveil Castle for 1,500 runes, and is later sold by the Twin Maiden Husks once his bell bearing is handed over. Its unique skill, Buckler Parry, deflects a melee attack and breaks the attacker's stance faster than a regular parry, with the shortest recovery of any parry and a forgiving window that makes it a good shield for learning to parry. It can block in a pinch, but it is built for parrying, and it suits any build that wants a light, early parry tool, including against the Aging Untouchables of the Abyssal Woods.

Why Players Pick It

The Buckler is a light parry shield at 1.5 weight, built around its own Buckler Parry skill. It deals 68 physical with D Dexterity and keeps a 45 guard boost, enough for chip blocking between parries, and as the Bandit's starting shield it gives a parry-focused build its main tool from the first minute.

How to Get Buckler Guide

Starting gear for the Bandit class.
Sold by Gatekeeper Gostoc in Stormveil Castle for 1,500 Runes.

Where to find Buckler Location?

Buckler map location:

Map credit by Map Genie.

Upgrades

Regular Smithing Stones take it all the way to +25.

Level	Material	Amount	Attack	Scaling
+1	Smithing Stone [1]	x2	71 Physical	Str E, Dex D
+2	Smithing Stone [1]	x4	75 Physical	Str E, Dex D
+3	Smithing Stone [1]	x6	79 Physical	Str E, Dex D
+4	Smithing Stone [2]	x2	83 Physical	Str E, Dex D
+5	Smithing Stone [2]	x4	87 Physical	Str E, Dex D
+6	Smithing Stone [2]	x6	91 Physical	Str E, Dex D
+7	Smithing Stone [3]	x2	95 Physical	Str E, Dex D
+8	Smithing Stone [3]	x4	99 Physical	Str E, Dex D
+9	Smithing Stone [3]	x6	103 Physical	Str E, Dex D
+10	Smithing Stone [4]	x2	107 Physical	Str E, Dex D
+11	Smithing Stone [4]	x4	111 Physical	Str E, Dex D
+12	Smithing Stone [4]	x6	115 Physical	Str E, Dex D
+13	Smithing Stone [5]	x2	119 Physical	Str E, Dex D
+14	Smithing Stone [5]	x4	123 Physical	Str E, Dex D
+15	Smithing Stone [5]	x6	127 Physical	Str E, Dex D
+16	Smithing Stone [6]	x2	131 Physical	Str E, Dex D
+17	Smithing Stone [6]	x4	135 Physical	Str E, Dex D
+18	Smithing Stone [6]	x6	138 Physical	Str E, Dex D
+19	Smithing Stone [7]	x2	142 Physical	Str E, Dex D
+20	Smithing Stone [7]	x4	146 Physical	Str E, Dex D
+21	Smithing Stone [7]	x6	150 Physical	Str E, Dex D
+22	Smithing Stone [8]	x2	154 Physical	Str E, Dex D
+23	Smithing Stone [8]	x4	158 Physical	Str E, Dex D
+24	Smithing Stone [8]	x6	162 Physical	Str E, Dex D
+25	Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone	x1	166 Physical	Str E, Dex D

Skill

Buckler Parry costs no FP. A quick flourish of the buckler that deflects an incoming melee attack when timed to the blow, breaking the attacker's stance and leaving them open to a critical hit. The parry window is short but the motion recovers faster than a regular parry, so the riposte follows more quickly. No other weapon carries this skill, and it cannot be replaced.

"Use this skill in time with a foe's melee attack to deflect it and break that foe's stance. This is faster than a regular parry."

Guarding

With a guard boost of 45, a blocked hit that would cost 100 stamina only costs 55. It lets 26% of physical damage through, and against the elements it holds up best to magic, at 30%, and worst to lightning, at 16%. Running out of stamina mid-block breaks the guard and opens the wielder to a critical hit.

Build

Held in the off hand to parry melee attacks on reaction rather than by memorized timing, then punish the broken stance with a critical hit.

Stats	Strength 8 and Dexterity 13 to wield it, Vigor 40 then 60, Endurance 20 to 30, with the main weapon's stats taking the rest
Affinity	Cannot be infused; it keeps its own scaling.
Talismans	Millicent's Prosthesis, Winged Sword Insignia, Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman

All Small Shields

Name	Physical	Magic	Fire	Light	Holy	Crit. Boost	Weight	Str.	Dex.	Int.	Fai.	Sell Price	Skill
Blue-White Wooden Shield	72 85	0 45	0 35	0 22	0 42	100 49	2	E 8	0	0	0	100	No Skill
Buckler	68 74	0 30	0 30	0 16	0 30	100 45	1.5	E 8	D 13	0	0	100	Buckler Parry
Coil Shield	92 78	0 38	0 29	0 35	0 36	100 38	1.5	E 10	10	0	0	200	Viper Bite
Gilded Iron Shield	74 88	0 40	0 38	0 17	0 51	100 51	3	E 8	0	0	0	100	Parry
Ice Crest Shield	74 87	0 57	0 41	0 18	0 35	100 51	3	E 9	0	0	0	100	No Skill
Iron Roundshield	74 88	0 42	0 42	0 18	0 42	100 51	3	E 8	0	0	0	100	No Skill
Man-Serpent's Shield	70 85	0 35	0 48	0 18	0 33	100 48	2	E 8	0	0	0	100	No Skill
Perfumer's Shield	67 78	0 35	0 35	0 16	0 33	100 45	1.5	E 8	0	0	0	100	Parry
Pillory Shield	71 82	0 46	0 23	0 38	0 46	100 50	3.5	E 10	0	0	0	100	No Skill
Red Thorn Roundshield	70 81	0 32	0 42	0 37	0 37	100 47	1.5	E 8	0	0	0	100	Parry
Rickety Shield	70 74	0 29	0 24	0 34	0 34	100 46	1.0	E 8	0	0	0	100	Parry
Rift Shield	70 85	0 33	0 37	0 18	0 37	100 47	2	E 8	0	0	0	100	Parry
Riveted Wooden Shield	72 86	0 43	0 31	0 24	0 45	100 49	2	E 8	0	0	0	100	Parry
Scripture Wooden Shield	70 82	0 40	0 22	0 37	0 45	100 47	1.5	E 8	0	0	0	100	Parry
Shield of Night	78 74	50 70	0 45	0 45	0 45	100 43	2.0	8	D 15	0	0	500	Revenge of the Night
Shield of the Guilty	75 81	0 36	0 36	0 31	0 37	100 42	2.0	D 8	0	0	0	100	Shield Bash
Smithscript Shield	72 84	0 38	0 38	0 38	0 38	100 47	2.5	D 10	E 15	E 11	E 11	500	Discus Hurl
Smoldering Shield	58 89	0 38	37 56	0 14	0 38	100 51	3.0	E 10	9	0	D 12	100	Shield Bash
Spiralhorn Shield	75 75	0 35	0 39	0 39	0 32	100 44	2	E 8	10	0	0	100	Parry

Notes

"A small metal roundshield. The bump in the center is designed to parry. A well-timed parry deflects an enemy's attack, breaking their stance and leaving them open to a critical hit. Though risk is inherent, this shield favors aggression."