The Ward

The Ward is a unique Gothic Shield that offers substantial all-resistance bonuses for its level. Requiring level 26 and 60 strength, this shield provides solid elemental protection that makes it valuable for characters transitioning from Normal to Nightmare difficulty.

All-Resistance Defense

The defining feature is All Resistances +30-50, a significant boost that helps characters survive the resistance penalties in Nightmare and Hell. This single stat makes The Ward more valuable than many other Normal-tier unique shields. The shield also provides Magic Damage Reduced By 2 and +10 To Strength, helping with damage mitigation and equipment requirements.

Defensive Stats

With +100% Enhanced Defense, +40 Defense, and 10% Increased Chance of Blocking, The Ward offers respectable protection. The high enhanced defense percentage gives it decent physical defense, though the blocking chance is modest. As a Gothic Shield, it's large and heavy, taking up significant inventory space. While The Ward is excellent for Normal and early Nightmare, its lack of faster block rate and modest blocking chance mean it will eventually be replaced by runewords like Rhyme or Ancient's Pledge, which offer better combinations of resists and defensive stats.