Shield of the Guilty

Shield of the Guilty

Attack	75 Physical
Critical	100
Scaling	Str D
Requires	Str 8
Effect	Focus +40 and causes blood loss buildup (50)
Guard	81% physical, 42 guard boost
Type	Small Shield
Attack Type	Strike
Skill	Shield Bash
FP Cost	10
Weight	2
Upgrades With	Smithing Stones, to +25
Sell Price	100

The Shield of the Guilty is a Small Shield in Elden Ring. It can be picked up early, in the Weeping Peninsula, within the first few hours of a run.

The Shield of the Guilty venerates a maiden whose eyes were crushed by the Briars of Sin before she was reborn in these lands, and its briars can be turned on foes. It lies in a chest in the cellar beneath the Demi-Human Forest Ruins, reached by jumping over a wall, before the building where the Demi-Human Queen waits. Attacks and Shield Bash with it build blood loss, and venerating the repose of the soul, it raises focus by 40. It accepts Ashes of War and suits a light build that wants a shield able to strike as well as guard.

How to Get Shield of the Guilty Guide

The Shield of the Guilty is found in a chest in the cellar of the Demi-Human Forest Ruins in the Weeping Peninsula. The cellar entrance will be visible behind in a hole in a wall behind some branches; however, entering requires jumping into the building section.

Where to find Shield of the Guilty Location?

Shield of the Guilty 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	79 Physical	Str D
+2	Smithing Stone [1]	x4	83 Physical	Str D
+3	Smithing Stone [1]	x6	88 Physical	Str D
+4	Smithing Stone [2]	x2	92 Physical	Str D
+5	Smithing Stone [2]	x4	96 Physical	Str D
+6	Smithing Stone [2]	x6	101 Physical	Str D
+7	Smithing Stone [3]	x2	105 Physical	Str D
+8	Smithing Stone [3]	x4	109 Physical	Str D
+9	Smithing Stone [3]	x6	114 Physical	Str D
+10	Smithing Stone [4]	x2	118 Physical	Str D
+11	Smithing Stone [4]	x4	122 Physical	Str D
+12	Smithing Stone [4]	x6	127 Physical	Str D
+13	Smithing Stone [5]	x2	131 Physical	Str D
+14	Smithing Stone [5]	x4	135 Physical	Str C
+15	Smithing Stone [5]	x6	140 Physical	Str C
+16	Smithing Stone [6]	x2	144 Physical	Str C
+17	Smithing Stone [6]	x4	148 Physical	Str C
+18	Smithing Stone [6]	x6	153 Physical	Str C
+19	Smithing Stone [7]	x2	157 Physical	Str C
+20	Smithing Stone [7]	x4	162 Physical	Str C
+21	Smithing Stone [7]	x6	166 Physical	Str C
+22	Smithing Stone [8]	x2	170 Physical	Str C
+23	Smithing Stone [8]	x4	175 Physical	Str C
+24	Smithing Stone [8]	x6	179 Physical	Str C
+25	Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone	x1	183 Physical	Str C

Skill

Shield Bash costs 10 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. It is the weapon's default Ash of War, so another can take its place.

"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 42, a blocked hit that would cost 100 stamina only costs 58. It lets 19% of physical damage through, and against the elements it holds up best to holy, at 37%, and worst to lightning, at 31%. If a block empties the stamina bar, the guard breaks and a critical hit can follow.

Build

Kept in the off hand to guard and to bash for bleed; Shield Bash shoves weaker enemies back and can stagger them while the guard stays up.

Stats	Strength 8 to wield it, Vigor 40 then 60, Endurance 20 to 30 for the stamina to hold a guard, with the main weapon's stats taking the rest
Affinity	Standard keeps its full guard values, since an affinity changes a shield's damage negation while guarding.
Ash of War	Shield Bash, its default, to push and stagger enemies while still guarding and to build its bleed; Parry or Barricade Shield if it is held purely for defense.
Talismans	Carian Filigreed Crest, Ancestral Spirit's Horn, Curved Sword 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

"Shield made to venerate a maiden whose eyes were crushed by Briars of Sin before being reborn in these lands. Venerating the repose of the soul, this shield boosts focus. The briars can be used to attack foes."