Before the start of each round in Valorant, players have the opportunity to choose several items that will help them defeat their opponent. These include weapons, which should be selected based on your playstyle and economic situation, and abilities, which, in the case of limited credits, need to be carefully analyzed to pick the best ones. The last important thing we will talk about today is armour. It is divided into two types of shields, which differ in price and protection level. Today, the Bo3 editorial team has prepared material for you, in which we will tell you about the types of shields in Valorant, how they work, and which one is better to choose depending on the situation.
What Are Shields in Valorant
Shields in Valorant are an additional item of protection that does not increase your maximum health level but provides extra armour, giving a certain amount of HP. Shields come in two types, light and heavy, and regardless of the type, they both absorb 66% of the damage. Shields have a specific feature: first of all, they are retained at the start of the next round. That is, if you end the round with a shield density of 5, then you will start the next round with the same value. Moreover, shields do not protect the agent from damage received from falling from heights, nor can they be restored by healing abilities. Shields can only be replenished by purchasing new ones at the start of each round. Also, if one of your teammates leaves the match, your team will automatically receive a light shield in the first round when switching sides. Now that you know what a shield is in Valorant, let's move on to both types of protection and in which situations to use them.
Light Shields
The first type of shield, as the name suggests, is a lighter version, and accordingly, it provides less protection. Light Shields cost 400 credits, which directly suggests that it is worth buying when the economic component is poor, and it absorbs 25 damage. Light Shields will allow you to survive a direct headshot at a distance from 0 to 30 meters with the following types of weapons: all pistols except the Sheriff, all SMGs including the Stinger and Spectre, both shotguns Bucky and Judge, machine guns Ares and Odin, and one automatic rifle Bulldog. On the other hand, Light Shields do not protect from a headshot from all sniper rifles, as well as from the most popular automatic rifles Vandal and Phantom. However, the Light Shield has an advantage over most weapons at a distance of 0 to 30 meters when shot in the body. With it, you can survive a body hit from most weapons, the only types of weapons that penetrate light armour are the sniper rifles Operator and the recently added Outlaw. The latter rifle radically changed the current meta of Valorant after its addition, where players preferred Light Shields due to the low price and fairly good protection level.
When It's Best to Use Light Shields
As becomes clear from the description above, Light Shields are quite a budget protection. You should buy light armour when your credit situation is quite dire. If you have lost the first few rounds, and you do not have enough money for weapons and heavy armour, then Light Shields should be preferred. With it, you get less protection, but a full purchase of weapons and abilities compensates for the protection issue. Light armour is also perfect for purchase in the initial rounds when all enemies are armed with pistols and cannot inflict as much damage.
READ MORE: All Currency in Valorant and How to Get It
Heavy Shields
The second type of shield is Heavy Shields. Unlike the lighter version, it costs as much as 1000 credits, but in return, it allows players to absorb 50 damage. This difference in price and functionality is why players preferred light armour. Heavy Shields add 50 points to your HP value, allowing you to take a lot of damage without worrying about your life. At a distance of up to 30 meters, only shots from two rifles Vandal and Guardian, three sniper rifles Outlaw, Operator, Marshal, and one pistol Sheriff, will be lethal. In turn, other weapons will not kill you with one shot, which again speaks in favour of heavy armour. The situation remains even better with body shots, as at the same distance, only players with the Operator can kill you with one shot. Although survival is one of the advantages of Heavy Shields, many players are dissatisfied with the balance, where a heavy shield that absorbs 50 damage costs 600 credits more than light, which absorbs 25 damage less.
When It's Best to Use Heavy Shields
After the characteristics described above, it becomes clear that Heavy Shields are a universal protection that significantly increases your survival and opens up more possibilities in the game. With its price of 1000 credits, Heavy Shields will not allow you to buy it in the first rounds, which is not necessary, because the main emphasis is better placed on weapons. Usually, you can buy Heavy Shields together with a full set of abilities and weapons if your team has confidently won the first 2-3 rounds. If you lost the pistol round and the start of the match, then heavy armour is usually purchased after 4-5 rounds when you have available credits. Note that the choice of armour strongly depends on your opponents and the overall game. If you fail to plant the Spike or kill several opponents, then your credit amount will be very low, and therefore it is worth refraining from buying Heavy Shields so that there is a reserve of funds in the next round.
Conclusion
After reading our material, you learned what shields are in Valorant, what types they are, and at what moments you need to choose one or the other armour. Note that the choice of armour should also be discussed with your own team, as cooperation in Valorant is an important component of victory. Continue to follow our portal to learn more about all aspects of Valorant, and how to use them correctly.
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