Skilling Up Shield..

Hey.. I've been skilling up some weapons on Thief out of boredom, using Dancer as a sub job. I'd like to raise my shield skill as well, and would like your opinion on which of these two shields would raise my shield skill faster:

1.) Master shield (shield Skill +10) This is a type 2 shield.

2.) Light Buckler (shield Skill +5) This is a type 1 shield.

I was told that having a higher shield skill will raise my chances of using a shield and thus having a chance at getting a skill up. I was also told that type 1 shields will block more often than any other type of shield. Unfortunately, no one really quantified the increases.. So, in your opinion, which of the two shields do you believe would raise my shield skill the fastest?

I'd go with Master Shield. I think the extra 5 skill would help it's proc rate more so than being a slightly higher tier. And tier 2 shield is still pretty down there and should have a decent activation rate.

But this is strictly opinion, I'm sure both shields would work nicely for what it is you're doing, I suppose the most clear solution is to use what is cheapest lol.

For skillups I'd go with Light Buckler. The type 1 shields have highest block rate. Grab other shield skill + items such as Shield Torque, Bucker Earring, Boxers Mantel, etc. You can easily make up for the +5 difference in skill from the two items.

Use AF legs for THF also =)

When it comes to block rate, type 1 shield > all shields. Go with Light Buckler and get as much shield gear as you can.

One other kinda-option... the Sipar from Adamantoise. It has a 98% chance to block supposedly, but blocks only 5% of the damage. If you are trying to skillup shield, and can have a HNM shell or helping a MNK friend this is an option (probably the best, but a lot of time invested camping it).

Thf can't equip sipar

A friend of mine is trying to do this as well...wants to have shield maxed for Maat fight, but it's slooooow going for him. With his evasion so high, he dodges like everything, so the shield never procs. He's only got WAR to 25 and PLD to like...1 (lol) so he can't even skill it on another job. I think he's got it in the 50's right now.

Anyone that's actually managed to level shield skill with a THF that has any suggestions, please lemme know, I'll pass it along to him.

i took a light buckler and as much evasion - gear i could into "skill level" appropriate zones. stack as much -evasion and -agi as you can for you level and it'll help tremendously

Agi is also the mod for blocking if i remember correctly, so that isn't something you would want to do.

y'know i totally forgot that. i gave up on fighting maat (steal method for me) but antigod doesnt have that choice. if that IS the case minus evasion onry!!!

I capped my shield skill in a very short time on the black mandies (pucks?) in den of rancor. Go PLD/RDM or PLD/WAR and bring a RDM friend to phalanx you and you'll loooove how quickly you get skill ups. I think I honestly used koenig shield (kicked myself for not grabbing a buckler), but still capped out very quickly.

dude this was a THF asking for suggestions not a PLD

like someone else said, small shields always block more often than the larger shields, so go with the small one. also add AGI to give you a higher shield skill (2 AGI gives 1 shield skill along with other nifty stats). i didnt look at your lvl, but mandragoras are best for skilling up for obvious reasons... if you can take on 3 of them at a time and turn slightly right then you will get shield skill like it's nothin.

Thanks for the advice! I'm out in Cape Terrigan skilling on rabbits and crabs now.. got the small shield and its working better than I expected.

as far as thf test goes steal if from tonberries and hide. i found that to be the easiest way to do it

An alternative to cape terrigan is the Korrigan in the boyhada tree. subbing dnc would be a big help too.

True, but I think the black mandies idea is a great one--Fighting MNK types means they attack faster=you get hit more often=higher chances of blocking with a shield.

The advantage to skilling WEAPONS on crabs is because of their high defense, meaning you don't need to pull as many crabs since you hit them for less HP.

In short, skilling up Shield/Parry/Evasion/Guard should be done on MNK types, and skilling up weapons should be done on PLD types.

i totally agree, but skill ups would be much faster in "skill level" appropriate zones. trying to get to 189 shield from 50 in boyhada will be a pain in the *** but 150>>189 not so much

there are other areas with mandragora. Yhoator Jungle will take you beyond 100 and the mandies in the past will take you even further.

Correct AGI is the mod. Honestly, I would atempt to level PLD to start if it is very low. a 70THF has the same shield skill as a 54 PLD.

For skillup mobs, I agree with MNK type mobs (ex:Mandies).

For THF test, try Gobs in Lab. of Onzozo. You won't have to worry about Tonberry hate. After 2 Tonberry steals, I swapped the gobs.